So what's the point of this contest again?

[LittleDollClaudia]

For some visitors, Walt Disney World's "Year of a Million Dreams" giveaway is a reason for a million excuses.
The yearlong campaign bestows randomly selected guests at the resort with prizes such as a night in Cinderella Castle, but some folks say "no thanks."

"Sometimes, believe it or not, which I can't understand, people say, 'Nah, I'm leaving tomorrow or I don't want to move my stuff . . .' " said Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo. "We have had some guests for whatever reason say that they couldn't do it, so we go to the next person."

Rasulo said he doesn't know exactly how many people have turned down the prizes that range from a stay fit for a princess in the castle to much smaller giveaways such as free popcorn or a pass to the front of thrill ride lines, but "it does happen."

While giving up a night in the castle may be unfathomable to parents of young princess wannabes, Disney has a backup plan for when it happens.

Another winner is simply selected at random.

"It's the most complicated, complex mathematical system you can imagine," Rasulo said of the process developed for Disney by an outside firm.

Each day the system pinpoints an exact location -- such as the seventh person to exit a specific show at the Magic Kingdom -- and whoever is at the right place at the right time wins the prize.

The campaign started last year with more than 1 million prizes, some worth tens of thousands of dollars apiece, such as time-share contracts and trips halfway around the world.

On average, 1,700 to 3,000 prizes big and small are given out on a daily basis, said Disney spokesman Jacob DiPietre.

[dazyhill]

Wow

It's one thing when a guest doesn't want to leave a line in a store, but when someone is offering something free? I just don't get it? :confused:
I can't believe someone would turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sleep in the castle. Don't they realize that this would be the only opportunity to go inside the castle? (Note: I am thinking of the castles at DL and at Tokyo which used to have walk-throughs until 9/11 security issues put an end to them.)

[BirdMom]

I also wonder about the tax issue on the bigger prizes. A couple of months ago, I saw a guy walking around DL with a giant check looking thing (like you see with Publisher's Clearing House), but he'd won a Disney Cruise for his family. I think that any prize valued at over a certain amount (probably in the 4 figure range) has to be reported to the I.R.S. Maybe some people turn prizes down because of existing tax liability issues.

:cool:

[dazyhill]

The tax liabilty is probably a factor, but what about those who decline popcorn ,pins, and other trinkets?

[Brayon]

I know a couple of CMs on the Dream Squad. The ones that turn down the prizes, the most common reason when asked, is "Nothing is free. This must be a sales pitch for the Disney vaction club." :eek: :cool:

I can honestly see why people would think that, but come on. Its the castle for crying out load! :rolleyes:

[Marilou]

I also wonder about the tax issue on the bigger prizes. A couple of months ago, I saw a guy walking around DL with a giant check looking thing (like you see with Publisher's Clearing House), but he'd won a Disney Cruise for his family. I think that any prize valued at over a certain amount (probably in the 4 figure range) has to be reported to the I.R.S. Maybe some people turn prizes down because of existing tax liability issues.

:cool:

It's been awhile since I read the rules but I want to say I remember seeing something about Disney also giving a cash amout to go along with the big prizes to help out on the IRS tax issue thing? Course, I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time)
These days people feel they get pounced on too much everywhere they go with one sales pitch or another so I agree with Brayon's thoughts too. I work at a large (Orange) home improvement type store and would you believe that we are required to get at least 30 new customers to sign up for our store credit card every week. I hate it because IMO we are just pi$$ing of the people that do come to our store by hounding them every time they walk thru our doors.
My trip is in 115 more days, would love to win something during YOAMD but it sure as hell won't blow my vaca if I don't...cuz I just love going to WDW each yr with my mom & my kids and I'm grateful we have the means to do so. OH YEAH....and the CM's ROCK!!!

[Buggy]

I know a couple of CMs on the Dream Squad. The ones that turn down the prizes, the most common reason when asked, is "Nothing is free. This must be a sales pitch for the Disney vaction club." :eek: :cool:

I can honestly see why people would think that, but come on. Its the castle for crying out load! :rolleyes:

I am *extremely suspicious* of free offers, and if I didn't know that there was a contest, and a CM came up to me and said that I won a free night's stay somewhere, I might turn them down too.

[brad]

i meant to post this last night, but i have the same feelings. it's good ol american cynicism.

it really shouldn't be a shock. you still hear people refuse to try FASTPASS because they assume it costs money and refuse and even get insulted by other guests who try to offer them FPs that would otherwise go to waste.

[mechurchlady]

Any wins over $600, last I heard, has to be reported to the IRS. You do have to report ALL wins on you income tax form. IRS does not care if it is a $1 lotto ticket or money from selling homemade marmalade as they want all income reported.

How much depends. Refigure your taxes but change your income to $50,000 more and then try other numbers. I as a sweepstaker can deduct the cost of stamps, envelopes, postcards, pens, conventions, clubs etc. however if you win on your Disneyland trip then you would not be able to deduct the cost of the trip.

I won a trip to New York City and got about $750 in items that could be sold like a tennis racket. If I was paying taxes then I would have owed $1,000 to $2,000 on that trip. Win a dream home worth $500,000 and you have to pay $100,000 or more in cash donation to the IRS. Winning a trip is the worst thing for a sweepstaker because you have nothing to sell off. At least with a brand new car you can sell the car for cash, pay off the IRS and then buy a used car.

People at parks turn down prizes for many reasons. Most often is miscommunication. They do not understand they won, how valuable the prize is, or that there are options that would make the win feasible. Some are not eligible such as related to Disney employees, age, and residence. Some are sheer idiots and others are so focused on what they are doing that they will not make the time to go get that free gift. You got so much time and so much park so do you really want to go collect a prize when you could be riding rides. I have seen some really stupid things done in sweepstaking.

It has happened where a person wins a prize, makes the news and then is hounded by former spouses, the IRS, or the laws. "Look there is Bill and he won the lottery, isn't he wanted for murder?".

I promise if you let me win then I would take the prize.

[felinefan]

Hi, guys! It's me again! I finally figured out how to get online from home using an AOL program left on my computer. As for trips not being given away, I have seen ads in the Pennysaver for trips somebody won and couldn't use; most recently one was a free trip to Catalina. Now, here's hoping I get a job before my three free months end, or that what they take out for phone fees doesn't exceed the miniscule amount in my bank account....

[Rob562]

It's been awhile since I read the rules but I want to say I remember seeing something about Disney also giving a cash amout to go along with the big prizes to help out on the IRS tax issue thing? Course, I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time)

Nope, you're exactly right. All of the top-level prizes include a cash portion to cover (estimated) taxes. (The rules say that Disney makes no guarantee that the cash portion is sufficient to cover all taxes) The Castle Suite and Mickey Mouse Suite stays are both valued at under $600, so the IRS forms aren't necessary.

In the case of the three DVC memberships, not only are the (estimated) taxes included, but the yearly maintenance fees are paid for, as well as money to cover an exchange fee every three years into a non-Disney timeshare through Intervals International.

I'm sure Disney doesn't want the media fiasco like Oprah did when she awarded a new car to every member of her audience one day The audience was made up of poor/under-priviledged people who could use a new car, but turned out couldn't afford to pay the taxes on the prize. Oprah ended up paying for the taxes, too.

-Rob

[mechurchlady]

Good point about cash included to pay taxes. There is a myth that people will pay half the value of the prize. When people do not know the rules and do not know things like that cash is included then they may turn down a prize.