[QuickGold]

Thoughts on the new promotion? Basically, volunteer for a day with an approved agency and receive a ticket for free one free day at Walt Disney World

[yulilin]

I like the idea, even if people volunteer just to get a ticket that's going to be helpful, also if you already have a muktiday ticket or AP you get a FP for 6.

[IndyandMarion]

To me this says "Two Years of a Million Dreams and Free on Your Birthday" didn't pay off at all. At least this is the first time since, what? 1999 that we have not had some "celebration" inside the parks?

[queenofthehouse]

QuickGold, on Sep 29 2009, 10:53 AM, said:

Thoughts on the new promotion? Basically, volunteer for a day with an approved agency and receive a ticket for free one free day at Walt Disney World

How do you know if the agency is "approved". My son is volunteering at college, in a jumpstart program. Montoring and reading to children.

It sound like a great idea. This can really get people motivated to do some good. But what's in it for Disney?

[QuickGold]

I believe the list of approved agencies/projects on the Disney site.

[ADP]

I like this promotion. It's a great PR move by Disney. Whoever thought of this idea/promotion should get a lot of credit. Although i will say I don't think they can make a year-long celebration out of it.

It does get them out of the $78 gift card thing which I have to believe was causing some problems financially and enforcing certain gift card policies.

[QuickGold]

I think perhaps they purposefully chose a promotion like this, which isn't the sort of large pizazz type event like 50th or YOAMD were, on purpose because coming in the next year or so are some major in park stuff (Star Tours 2, Fantasyland 2.0) and so they may use that to create promotions around it.

[TheInfrequentVisitor]

I like this idea a lot. It's always a good thing when community service, Disney World, and free stuff can be combined.

[HDLady]

I like the idea that Disney is encouraging people to volunteer. However, I did hear on the news Disney is looking to give out a million one day tickets so that translates to more crowded parks.... An idea I'm not fond of but will probably impact weekends more so than weekdays I would imagine.

[YoPaulie]

Do you think that it will bring in more people than the current birthday promotion or the Year of a Million Dreams did?

[MJMcBride]

so what will you celebrate is out by January 5?

[HDLady]

I think it will definitely bring in more people than the free birthday promo because you had to be at the park the exact day of your b-day to get the benefit. I know even a few locals that couldn't take advantage of theat promo because they had other plans for their birthday. I'm not sure YoaMD generated that many more people than would normally take a Disney vacation - maybe it did. With this donate time & get a free day in the park promo, I assume you get some sort of voucher from the approved organization that you then take to Disney to get your free day so it could be days or weeks later when you get around to visiting the parks.

[YoPaulie]

See, I disagree.

The give a day means people will have to set aside a day to volunteer, and I just don't see a lot of people doing that.

[QuickGold]

YoPaulie, on Oct 3 2009, 09:48 PM, said:

See, I disagree.

The give a day means people will have to set aside a day to volunteer, and I just don't see a lot of people doing that.

I agree, I don't think this program will bring in crowds because of the program. My take on it is the program is designed to garner some good PR for Disney so that even if folks don't volunteer, they will think positively about Disney World and does more for the brand. Just my thoughts.

[chopsva]

I think there are a few reasons for this promo and they have mostly been mentioned here:
1. Good PR for Disney. (Doesn't this match up with some program called "Volunt-ears" or something like that?)
2. Not as much $ impact to Disney as current programs (ie Gift Card)
3. A low key promo. This allows other smaller/shorter promos to exist with it without diminishing it. Also it could make a big promo based on 40th anniv. appear bigger since it will be a year since a real "celebration"
4. Along with low key promo, less revenue ($ and people) needed to promote it in the parks. I refer to signs, parades. Also with this the vol. orgs will advertise *for* Disney - "Work for us and get a day......"

IMHO

[squishybear]

I really like the idea. I think its good publicity for Disney.

However, I do think it will be difficult to theme the park accordingly. It was easier with WWYC with the balloons.
I just don't know what they are gonna put up around the park.

[FRD714]

Seems like a great deal if your local. I would definitely participate if I lived closer.

[YoPaulie]

Question... why would being a local make it a better promotion?