The Year of a Million Disappointments

[Mountain Man]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

There have been so many times over the years when a CM took just a moment to talk to me like a real person rather than treating me like just another steer in the herd that I couldn't tell you how often that has happened. It's a personal touch that never seems forced. I appreciate that kind of attitude. This makes me feel welcome and valued. "How's your day going? Are you having a good time?" That sort of thing. My point is this: Perks are always nice and certainly add to the experience, but CM's who really understand how to make a person feel welcome are key to creating an atmoshere unique to Disney. To those who have done so, thank you. I've never been disappointed.

[lazyboy97O]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

Well actually the campaign is a promo campaign designed to get folks to come to Disney parks and to spend their money. It was a way to offer the expectation of a special experience for all - and the delivery of a special experience for many. It is a money making advertisement promotional campaign - that's all. And some of the budget is being used to give the guests some prizes. And I am OK with it all.

[Lore]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

To be honest, what the CM's and local parks are doing with this promotion is quite amazing. Imagine what they could do with a good idea!

[Janie]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

My favorite is the so-called "Cast Member" empowerment when in fact they really can't give you much. I mean nothing says magical like ringing up your own merchandise like the the Wal-Mart self checkout.

:roll: :bow:

[thmar]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

It's hard for me to understand where some of you are coming from...I feel lucky if I can even make it to Disneyland once every 5 or 10 years!! I would love to be able to go to Disneyland whenever I wanted to, but I can't. Believe me when I say, sometimes even the smallest "dream" can make a lasting memory!

[Disneykat]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

It's hard for me to understand where some of you are coming from...I feel lucky if I can even make it to Disneyland once every 5 or 10 years!! I would love to be able to go to Disneyland whenever I wanted to, but I can't. Believe me when I say, sometimes even the smallest "dream" can make a lasting memory!

As long as there are Disney fan's who expect to win cars, trips, and anything else that is not "ordinary" to them...there will be complaints.

I was a So Cal'er who would be happy with the little things. It doesn't take something big for it to be a "good promotion." Am i settling? No, why? Because I am not one who eats at Cafe Orleans or buys lanyards, or pins on a regular basis. I don't drop thousands at Disneyland each year...or month for that matter.

The Year of a Million Dreams should be renamed to "The Year of a Millions Whine and Complaints". Because IMHO it's all anyone who expects the park handed to them on a silver platter knows how to do. As was said...they don't HAVE to do anything.

[Disney Analyst]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

well said disneykat. THe best things in life come in small packages. you dont need something huge to make something special. As I have read from CMS, it seems the only thing thats computerised in when a dream must take place, the rest is up to them.

[Lore]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

Since when was Disneyland about being a casino or lottery? Sure, it's always been about those unexpected moments, like turning a corner and finding a character, or a magical well, or a cave. Still, unexpected moments are NOT anything like a lottery. A lottery is mostly dashed hopes and dreams, not unexpected surprises. Sure, if people were realistic, it might be, but people aren't that good with math and statistics. It's really just as bad as those Paradise Pier carnival games. What's next? The Fontierland indians opening up a casino?

[elly]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

what ever happened to simply enjoying being at Disneyland?

once you get past the turnstiles at the front gate, the rest is just icing on the cake. i think people are forgetting the simplicity of enjoying the parks and becoming too focused on getting more and more stuff from them.

[DisneyCarnivora]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

If you REALLY get down to it - For a lot of people the Dream Come True is just getting to walk into the park. Everything else is just the icing on the cake.

(Or what Elly said right above me >.> Forgive my obliviousness)

[Darkbeer]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

what ever happened to simply enjoying being at Disneyland?

once you get past the turnstiles at the front gate, the rest is just icing on the cake. i think people are forgetting the simplicity of enjoying the parks and becoming too focused on getting more and more stuff from them.

But the Disney Marketing machine is pushing these prizes and the whole "Disney Dreams Giveaway"....

And that is the big issue.... Of course I would love to win one of the 60 vacation related prizes, those are truly dreams.

But so far, the use of the Dream FASTPASSes is much less than expected... many guests don't understand what they were handed out and/or don't use them for whatever reason (such as not everybody in the group winning them).

The worst thing about YOAMD is the hype, and it is DISNEY that is doing the hype, not the folks here on the boards.

[elly]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

Well I think it boils down to the old addage "Looking a gift horse in the mouth"

of course people who go to disneyland every week (sometimes multiple times in a week) are going to be disappointed. they are there all the time, and that much time spent there would have to eventually remove most of the joy and mystique you get when you don't get to visit the parks that often. its a sad side affect of having such an attraction in your (so to speak/type) backyard.

i just mentioned the whole table service at the buffateria resturants thing to my husband who doesn't troll the boards like i do, and he said "Woah, that's pretty neat"

its all about enjoying the moment, getting something you weren't expecting and ejoying your time at a place some people never get to visit. the extra "stuff" is nice..but he who dies with the most toys...is still dead

oh and about the marketing: sure those of you who live in so cal and florida are prolly getting the most of the marketing, so of course you're inundated by it...but i've only seen one commercial up here (and was shocked to see it, hated the Disney Parks monikor, but LOVED the commercial in general). this week will be my 4th trip to DLR this year..and everytime i set foot on the property, *that* is my ultimate dream come true

[ima_mickeyfan]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

I think that we should just appreciate the fact that Disney is doing something. They just got over their big 50th celebration, and it's not like they have to do or give us anything else. Do you honestly think that with the disney people offering these promos that more people will be comming to the parks to see if they will win? People are going to visit Disneyland no matter what is being celebrated, why? because it's DISNEYLAND. So if we as a society don't get off of the attitude of expecting something everytime we go, the disney people may stop giving us extra's all together. Enjoy what you get and what you have, not what you could have!

[Disneykat]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

The worst thing about YOAMD is the hype, and it is DISNEY that is doing the hype, not the folks here on the boards.

You're right, cause they are too busy creating thread after thread complaining about it.

[minnietoo]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

It would be just as easy for Disney to launch a generic ad campaign with no special perks or prizes at all. Remember, this really is an AD campaign to drive up attendance. Ad campaigns are not directed at message board addicts and AP's (like me). They are directed at the general public. There are some VERY cool prizes and some little nice prizes. But it's really all just something to sell tickets and hotel rooms in print and on radio and TV. And thats not being cynical, it's simply what the campaign is, and I think as ad campaigns go, it's pretty clever in that it does give something back.

Well said!

As long as there are Disney fan's who expect to win cars, trips, and anything else that is not "ordinary" to them...there will be complaints. I was a So Cal'er who would be happy with the little things. It doesn't take something big for it to be a "good promotion." Am i settling? No, why? Because I am not one who eats at Cafe Orleans or buys lanyards, or pins on a regular basis. I don't drop thousands at Disneyland each year...or month for that matter. The Year of a Million Dreams should be renamed to "The Year of a Millions Whine and Complaints". Because IMHO it's all anyone who expects the park handed to them on a silver platter knows how to do. As was said...they don't HAVE to do anything.

Well said!

what ever happened to simply enjoying being at Disneyland? once you get past the turnstiles at the front gate, the rest is just icing on the cake. i think people are forgetting the simplicity of enjoying the parks and becoming too focused on getting more and more stuff from them.

ITA!

But the Disney Marketing machine is pushing these prizes and the whole "Disney Dreams Giveaway"....And that is the big issue.... Of course I would love to win one of the 60 vacation related prizes, those are truly dreams.But so far, the use of the Dream FASTPASSes is much less than expected... many guests don't understand what they were handed out and/or don't use them for whatever reason (such as not everybody in the group winning them). The worst thing about YOAMD is the hype, and it is DISNEY that is doing the hype, not the folks here on the boards.

Where is your evidence that many guests don't understand what they were handed out or don't use thier fastpasses? When I was in the park - the guests that won these knew exactly what they were and were thrilled! And enough were given away that their whole group did win.

oh and about the marketing: sure those of you who live in so cal and florida are prolly getting the most of the marketing, so of course you're inundated by it...but i've only seen one commercial up here (and was shocked to see it, hated the Disney Parks monikor, but LOVED the commercial in general). this week will be my 4th trip to DLR this year..and everytime i set foot on the property, *that* is my ultimate dream come true

RE: marketing and the Disney marketing machine pushing YOAMD down our throats so to speak - I live in So Cal and have finally seen one commercial on TV - I would not have even realized it was a big promo with prizes if I hadn't read it on this board. I have to agree with a previous poster - it is the board that is creating the hype at this time - Disney's adds have been pretty low keyed. AGain - if folks don't like what Disney is offering they can simply say "no thank you" and let someone else have the "moment" or prize - someone who will appreciate it.

[Tinkerbelle]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

You're right, cause they are too busy creating thread after thread complaining about it.

:lol:


I just wish I could go back to the park...I'm really missing it.

as far as the dreams...well for some people it's the little things...the moments, for others they will only be happy with the big grand gestures...

you can make some of the people happy some of the time, but you can never make all of the people happy all of the time....

People who go in expecting a hotel suite are setting themselves up for disapointments, people just wanting to have fun it the park, that end up with a special set of mickey ears....their the one's that will be the happiest.

Small example...it was over the summer, not the dreams promotion yet. I had dinner with my family at BB, now I love the Chocolate Mints...but every time I have ever been, I got one or two....this time my waitress came out and gave me a bunch....she saw we liked them and brought more over....I walked out of there with 16 of the mints...something small? maybe, but it sure made my day....I rationed those out for a long time after...brought my trip back to me....

not part of the promotion, but just an example of how something small and unexpected can be a real treat...


I'll stop rambling now....

[minnietoo]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

What's next? The Fontierland indians opening up a casino?

Maybe that's what's being planned for the TSI remake!

[PragmaticIdealist]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

I think many people in the general public may have misunderstood my meaning.

Disneyland has operated a program for several years now that is called Magical Moments. It's objective is to provide the hosts and hostesses with tools and other resources that enable the Disneylanders to create "magical moments", or, rather, personal interactions that will exceed the expectations of the guests.

Many hosts and hostesses, for example, often give complimentary food and merchandise to guests, even if the items are not meant as remedies to guest concerns. Similarly, each location has special experiences it offers that enable the Disneylanders to provide more personal and individualized treatment to specific guests. For example, a Disneyland Railroad conductor might offer someone a trip riding the tender of one of the locomotives.

The Year of a Million Dreams, however, is just Magical Moments on a bigger scale, but the problem is that Disney is now advertising these experiences and this treatment.

The phenomenon is equivalent to that when Disney started stating in its hotel advertising that cookies would be left in the rooms at night.

Before, Disney just left the cookies as a surprise, and many guests found it to be a thoughtful bit of generosity. But, when Disney started advertising the cookies, their purpose, from the company's point of view, to exceed the guest expectations, was lost.

The consumer calculated the few cents worth of dough into the cost of the hotel room, and the gesture no longer had a point. The Year of a Million Dreams promotional campaign has the potential to do the same to the Magical Moments program.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

Moreover, most hosts and hostesses used the Magical Moments tools and resources for selfless reasons, but now the human and personal touch has been replaced by attorneys, accountants, and algorithms.

While one can argue that getting table service at a buffeteria-service restaurant is a potentially disappointing sweepstakes prize, I'm more concerned about Disney not being able to manage expectations in the future so that guests always leave impressed. That feeling is the key to repeat visitation and positive word-of-mouth.

[lazyboy97O]

Re: The Year of a Million Disappointments

Moreover, most hosts and hostesses used the Magical Moments tools and resources for selfless reasons, but now the human and personal touch has been replaced by attorneys, accountants, and algorithms.

While one can argue that getting table service at a buffeteria-service restaurant is a potentially disappointing sweepstakes prize, I'm more concerned about Disney not being able to manage expectations in the future so that guests always leave impressed. That feeling is the key to repeat visitation and positive word-of-mouth.

Are you suggesting there is a world beyong the next fiscal quarter? Blasphemy!