Disneyland grand prize: Walt almost slept here
Lucky Disneyland visitors who snag the top daily prize in the Anaheim theme park’s yearlong promotion will sleep in Walt Disney’s private in-park apartment — something the chief imagineer never did.
Each day starting in January 2008, a visitor to the park will be chosen at random to spend the night in the Disneyland Dream Suite — a 2,600-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath apartment above New Orleans Square valued at $594 per night. The suite adheres to Walt’s original vision: a French Provincial-style living room, a Victorian-era bedroom and another bedroom with an American frontier theme. Special effects and surprises await in every room. Walt died before the suite was completed.
Similarly, starting in December 2007, the Disneyland Hotel has converted a top-floor suite into the Mickey Mouse Penthouse — which conjures up images of the famous rodent lounging Hugh Hefner-like in a smoking jacket surrounded by scantily clad meeses. The 1,600-square-foot penthouse prize, also awarded daily, looks like the interior designer walked into a Disney Store and said “Gimme one of everything.” Mickey’s mug adorns every conceivable surface — chairs, carpet, wallpaper, pillows, bookends, even the shower curtain.
Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” marketing campaign proved so effective (as in printing-money profitable), the theme park giant decided to stick with what works. Call it “Two Years of Two Million Dreams.” Or “One More Year, Many More Million $$$.” Disney simply slapped a Roman numeral II on the end of the old slogan.
While the vast majority of the million prizes fall into the nickel-and-dime category (100,000 lanyards, 400,000 ears and 400,000 FastPasses), a number of the top prizes reach into the low five-figures (at least on paper). The best, in my humble opinion, is the Global Grand Marshall valued at $36,881: a worldwide pass for four to every Disney park in California, Florida, Paris and Hong Kong.
How much would you be willing to pay to sleep where Walt almost slept?
– Brady MacDonald / Theme Park Blogger
[Photos: Courtesy of Disneyland]
6 Comments on “Disneyland grand prize: Walt almost slept here”
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October 2nd, 2007 at 6:28 pm
i went to Disneyland this summer and loved it. We got pulled out of line in the Haunted Mansion and was told that we won the year of a thousand dreams sweepsteaks. I thought that we were going to stay in the cinderella castle suite!!! But we didn’t. I was so sad :-(
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:15 pm
I am going to Disneyland on the 17th of November, all I want to do is take it all in, it is a magic please where dreams come true. Walt Disney did a great job and put other before himself. What a great man!!!!!
February 11th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I wouldn’t care if I only got to sleep in one of the Toontown cars. I think it would be great fun. My birthday is the same as Walt Disney and I am also an artist. I was born the year they opened Disneyland and I try to take my family every year. We even stayed at the Grand California Hotel. It was lovely. My husband gave me a blue diamond ring in my champagne at the Story Teller Cafe on our 25 Wedding Anniversary. We want to come back in November and bring my 2 year old grandson to get him started in his Disney appreciation.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:11 am
Where has the magic gone? Where are the dreams?
I have travelled from Canada for the second time during this promotion and have not seen any of the magic I have read about in blogs and websites. I found someones Complimentary Silver Pass yesterday and handed it to an employee without so much as a thank you. I gave away fast passes to someone else rather than throwing them away hoping that Karma would find my family with dreams. Nothing. When a kid pushed his way into the front of the monorail car after my family had been approved, again nothing. After I stood in line for an hour for Indiana Jones when the sign said 20 minutes nothing - oh, except listening to the complaints from the locals. I even questioned a variety of employees about how busy it was and that the long lines seem unanticiapted by Disney, and I was told that it wasn’t busy and hence fast passes were not available at some rides. And still nothing. The posting at the entrance states which attractions are closed each day, and we find the Matterhorn closed for two days without being posted and Storybookland being closed without anything posted. But again, nothing. We went to City Hall and asked why Daisy Duck never makes appearances and we were told she was out shopping, again. No apologies (except from City Hall), no understanding, no magic, no dreams. When Disney has me drive in off Disney Way to pay, only to route me through the park down Disneyland Drive and into the Parkade using up 20 minutes of my early entry time, nothing. And that is just the beginning of the parking issues.
But Disney is right on top of surveys about where you are from, where you are staying, and if you have been there before. They just don’t ask, or seem to care, whether it is any longer the Happiest Place on Earth once you are there.
If you are looking for the dream, try another Disney location, or one of the many other exciting places to visit in the Los Angeles area.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
David Hartwick you think you are a great person but you are not you complain so much about Disney which is a beautiful and great place. If you are going to complain then just leave and nver go back but don’t talk about such a wonderful place that many love and enjoy.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
A response to David Hartwick’s comments:
Food for thought:
David, “I have traveled from Canada for the second time during this promotion and have not seen any of the magic.” The magic begins in your heart. You create your own memories and if you are coming to Disneyland “expecting” all these wonderful things to happen “to you” then you have come for the wrong reasons.
David, “Found a Complimentary Silver Pass and gave it to an employee..no thank you.” Maybe the employee was having a bad day and could have used some cheering up from a guest.
David, “I gave away fast passes to someone else rather than throwing them away hoping that Karma would find my family with dreams.” You don’t do something nice so you “get” a reward. (Again with the wrong attitude.) You are reasonably for making your own dreams come true.
“When a kid pushed his way into the front of the monorail car after my family had been approved, again nothing.” You could have told this kid, “So glad you were able to join us. Are you having a wonderful time here at Disneyland?”
“After I stood in line for an hour for Indiana Jones when the sign said 20 minutes.” Try looking at this time as time well spent with your family talking and sharing. (It makes the time go by…we have even played cards in line.)
I could go on. I am a local and have purchased yearly passes for me and my two children for many years. They have told me what fun memories they have of all our trips to Disneyland…even when the workers or the other guests were not too nice. Disneyland is where “I” make dreams come true for my family…not where I “expect” Disney to make my dreams come true. My youngest son and I were at Disneyland when it turned 50. I told him that day, “When the park turns 100, I will bring you, your children and grandchildren to Disneyland…so mark your calendar. Of course I will be in my early 93 but my family lives well into their 90’s. But what a great dream I have planned!
Sincerely,
Forever a Disney Fan!