jlmlodzik
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2005
INTRODUCTION:
I am the January 1st winner (no lie) of the Disney Flip Side Contest!!!
I got my initial e-mail from Betty Woods (bwoods@sweepspros.com) on January 7th stating that I was a "potential winner". The subject line of the e-mail: Disney Flip Side Sweepstakes - Potential Winner - Please Respond (Jan 1). Like many others stated, I felt it sounded a little off; however, the only information they were asking for at the time was my full name, complete mailing address, 10 digit phone number, and date of birth. Since it is Disney, I took the risk. I also went back to the contest website and read all of the details and it listed Ventura Associates as the contest facilitators which was in her e-mail signature which also made me more confident. I didn't tell anyone at first because of the "potential winner" thing. I was afraid to tell family and then take it back if it wasn't real. I didn't see the e-mail until 2 days later . . . the date my info. was due (January 9th) (whoa!--would have kicked myself if I had missed my 5 p.m. deadline) and returned the info.
Betty responded 3 days later (January 12) with the affidavit attached. It needed to be returned by January 17th. Needed to include names of people traveling with me, name, address, SSN (for tax purposes), DOB, phone number, e-mail address, employer's name, employer's address, occupation, signature, and notarized signature. I had asked about the "potential winner" thing because I wanted to tell my family if I could and she said: "We say 'potential winner' because according to the Official Rules, before this prize can be awarded, the potential winner must complete, have notarized and return the attached Affidavit of Eligibility and Compliance with the Official Rules/Liability and Publicity Release (“Affidavit”). This is to enable us to verify your eligibility, confirm your present address and obtain information needed to award your prize."
I sent back the scanned affidavit by e-mail the same day and placed the original in the mail (January 12).
Betty sent me back an e-mail the following day (January 13):
"Congratulations!
You are a winner in the Disney Flip Side Sweepstakes!
You will receive a five (5) day / four (4) night trip for you and up to three (3) guests (“Group”) to Walt Disney World® Resort near Orlando, Florida (“City”) which includes the following: [a] hotel accommodations (one (1) standard room/quad occupancy, including room tax) for three (3) nights at a Walt Disney World® Resort hotel selected by Disney in its sole discretion; one (1) night at the Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom® Park (date selected by Disney in its sole discretion); [c] four (4) 5-Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper® and Water Parks Fun & More Options; [d] one (1) Disney Gift Card with a value of five hundred dollars (US$500) for you; [e] one (1) personalized “Disney Side” Welcome Basket in Winner’s hotel room; [f] one (1) Glass slipper gift inspired by the new live-action film “Cinderella” in theaters March 13, 2015 (for you only); [g] round-trip coach air transportation (with possible layovers) if 250 miles or more from Orlando, and [h] round trip ground transfers between the Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World® Resort via Disney’s Magical Express Servicewhen air transportation is provided (“Trip”). Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): US$7,181.40, which will vary depending upon point of departure and seasonal fluctuation of hotel rates and airfares.
Someone from Disney Parks will be contacting you in the next few weeks to set up your trip.
You will receive a 1099 next January which you’ll file with your taxes.
Congratulations again!"
On January 28, I received an e-mail from TWDC Disney Vacation Winners again congratulating me on winning the contest and listing the actual prize. Only difference was the glass slipper isn't mentioned. And this was added: One (1) night stay at the Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom¨ Park at Walt Disney World¨ Resort with select food and beverage snacks, breakfast at Cinderella Royal Table. I don't know if we still receive the slipper or if Cinderella's Royal Table is taking its place but we are equally thrilled either way. The travel questionnaire was attached and asked: personal information, guests, preferred travel dates (list 3), preferred hotel (list 3), preference of times for air travel (check one box for departure and another for departure from MCO from 6-10 a.m., 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 2-6 p.m., and 6-10 p.m.), additions to your vacation (additional room nights or additional hotel rooms), if yes, which room category (value, moderate, deluxe) and we were told that we needed to give them a minimum of 90 days to make necessary arrangements. Travel questionnaire also stated: "Your vacation package includes a Deluxe Resort hotel, so select your preferred hotels from that category. An FAQ was also attached to the e-mail. Basically stating that we would receive our confirmation within 3 weeks of our travel dates and once airline tickets are booked, we are responsible for cost of any changes, we can bring extra guests but we are responsible for cost and expense and they would not be admitted to a select experience reserved exclusively for a contest winner, we cannot purchase the dining plan, and stating the blackout dates (Jan. 1-3, Feb. 16-23, April 12-26, Nov. 27-30, and Dec. 17-31).
On February 1, I returned the Trip Questionnaire. On February 5, I received an e-mail back stating that they had received my information and would begin booking my trip.
I hadn't heard anything back on March 8 and I was getting antsy, so I asked for a timeline. They said that they had everything they needed from me but hadn't booked my trip yet because they "are booking resorts for our contest winners based on their arrival dates at this time". They said that they hoped to plan my trip in the next month or hopefully earlier.
Two days later (March 10), I received my confirmation--We got our first choice dates (late Sept.-early Oct.) and our second choice resort (Wilderness Lodge). We were told that airline tickets would be issued in the coming months and that we would receive our tickets at least 60 days prior to our trip.
On March 16, I sent an e-mail asking when our Castle Suite stay would be arranged. Sherry from TWDC responded on March 23 that our Castle Suite night would be on the second night of our trip and our Castle Suite Guide would escort us to breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table the following morning. So, our itinerary looks like this: Day 1 (extra day I booked for hotel so we could start with a full park day) at Art of Animation Resort (Cars Family Suite), Day 2 Wilderness Lodge, Day 3 Castle Suite, Day 4 Wilderness Lodge, Day 5 Wilderness Lodge, Day 6 Departure. I wanted to know the castle suite and Cinderella's Royal Table dates because I needed to know if I needed to reserve that dining (no, I didn't
).
We received our park tickets and $500 gift cards by FedEx around June 20th. We received our Airline Confirmation and Castle Suite Itinerary by e-mail on June 22nd. Our return flight from MCO was 1:00 p.m. which would have meant meeting the Magical Express by 10:00 a.m. and no 5th day of park ticket usage for us. I called Southwest and they were able to change us to a 7:00 p.m. departure with no extra fees! All of our park tickets are adult age 10+ (she said that they purchase all of them way in advance and order all adult since they don't know the break-down of children's tickets they will need). The $500 Disney gift card is going to burn a hole in my pocket! LOL
I think that's it! Now, we wait!
I know that this post was LOOOOONG but some of our DISers said they wanted to live vicariously through us and here in the Disney world, the dream that you wish will come true! Also, I thought it might help to have a timeline for next year if they do the contest again.
Here were our top 3 resort choices: 1. Contemporary; 2. Wilderness Lodge; 3. Beach Club
Our traveling party includes: ME!!!!, DH, DS (11) and DD (8).
We are arriving on a Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party night and bought tickets so we actually will get to go to a park that day, too!
We have dining reservations for: Whispering Canyon Cafe (Dinner), Tusker House (Donald's Safari Breakfast), Be Our Guest (Lunch), 'Ohana (Breakfast), Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (Lunch), The Garden Grill (Dinner), Chef Mickey's (Breakfast), Beaches & Cream (Lunch)
I have a reservation for my DD (8) at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique as well.
We book Fastpass+ tonight at midnight! Wish us luck!!
Table of Contents:
DETAILED ITINERARY
OFFICIAL WINNER'S LIST
ANOTHER BIT OF UNEXPECTED MAGIC
ONE WEEK HAPPY DANCE
ONE SLEEP
I am the January 1st winner (no lie) of the Disney Flip Side Contest!!!
I got my initial e-mail from Betty Woods (bwoods@sweepspros.com) on January 7th stating that I was a "potential winner". The subject line of the e-mail: Disney Flip Side Sweepstakes - Potential Winner - Please Respond (Jan 1). Like many others stated, I felt it sounded a little off; however, the only information they were asking for at the time was my full name, complete mailing address, 10 digit phone number, and date of birth. Since it is Disney, I took the risk. I also went back to the contest website and read all of the details and it listed Ventura Associates as the contest facilitators which was in her e-mail signature which also made me more confident. I didn't tell anyone at first because of the "potential winner" thing. I was afraid to tell family and then take it back if it wasn't real. I didn't see the e-mail until 2 days later . . . the date my info. was due (January 9th) (whoa!--would have kicked myself if I had missed my 5 p.m. deadline) and returned the info.
Betty responded 3 days later (January 12) with the affidavit attached. It needed to be returned by January 17th. Needed to include names of people traveling with me, name, address, SSN (for tax purposes), DOB, phone number, e-mail address, employer's name, employer's address, occupation, signature, and notarized signature. I had asked about the "potential winner" thing because I wanted to tell my family if I could and she said: "We say 'potential winner' because according to the Official Rules, before this prize can be awarded, the potential winner must complete, have notarized and return the attached Affidavit of Eligibility and Compliance with the Official Rules/Liability and Publicity Release (“Affidavit”). This is to enable us to verify your eligibility, confirm your present address and obtain information needed to award your prize."
I sent back the scanned affidavit by e-mail the same day and placed the original in the mail (January 12).
Betty sent me back an e-mail the following day (January 13):
"Congratulations!
You are a winner in the Disney Flip Side Sweepstakes!
You will receive a five (5) day / four (4) night trip for you and up to three (3) guests (“Group”) to Walt Disney World® Resort near Orlando, Florida (“City”) which includes the following: [a] hotel accommodations (one (1) standard room/quad occupancy, including room tax) for three (3) nights at a Walt Disney World® Resort hotel selected by Disney in its sole discretion; one (1) night at the Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom® Park (date selected by Disney in its sole discretion); [c] four (4) 5-Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper® and Water Parks Fun & More Options; [d] one (1) Disney Gift Card with a value of five hundred dollars (US$500) for you; [e] one (1) personalized “Disney Side” Welcome Basket in Winner’s hotel room; [f] one (1) Glass slipper gift inspired by the new live-action film “Cinderella” in theaters March 13, 2015 (for you only); [g] round-trip coach air transportation (with possible layovers) if 250 miles or more from Orlando, and [h] round trip ground transfers between the Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World® Resort via Disney’s Magical Express Servicewhen air transportation is provided (“Trip”). Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): US$7,181.40, which will vary depending upon point of departure and seasonal fluctuation of hotel rates and airfares.
Someone from Disney Parks will be contacting you in the next few weeks to set up your trip.
You will receive a 1099 next January which you’ll file with your taxes.
Congratulations again!"
On January 28, I received an e-mail from TWDC Disney Vacation Winners again congratulating me on winning the contest and listing the actual prize. Only difference was the glass slipper isn't mentioned. And this was added: One (1) night stay at the Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom¨ Park at Walt Disney World¨ Resort with select food and beverage snacks, breakfast at Cinderella Royal Table. I don't know if we still receive the slipper or if Cinderella's Royal Table is taking its place but we are equally thrilled either way. The travel questionnaire was attached and asked: personal information, guests, preferred travel dates (list 3), preferred hotel (list 3), preference of times for air travel (check one box for departure and another for departure from MCO from 6-10 a.m., 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 2-6 p.m., and 6-10 p.m.), additions to your vacation (additional room nights or additional hotel rooms), if yes, which room category (value, moderate, deluxe) and we were told that we needed to give them a minimum of 90 days to make necessary arrangements. Travel questionnaire also stated: "Your vacation package includes a Deluxe Resort hotel, so select your preferred hotels from that category. An FAQ was also attached to the e-mail. Basically stating that we would receive our confirmation within 3 weeks of our travel dates and once airline tickets are booked, we are responsible for cost of any changes, we can bring extra guests but we are responsible for cost and expense and they would not be admitted to a select experience reserved exclusively for a contest winner, we cannot purchase the dining plan, and stating the blackout dates (Jan. 1-3, Feb. 16-23, April 12-26, Nov. 27-30, and Dec. 17-31).
On February 1, I returned the Trip Questionnaire. On February 5, I received an e-mail back stating that they had received my information and would begin booking my trip.
I hadn't heard anything back on March 8 and I was getting antsy, so I asked for a timeline. They said that they had everything they needed from me but hadn't booked my trip yet because they "are booking resorts for our contest winners based on their arrival dates at this time". They said that they hoped to plan my trip in the next month or hopefully earlier.
Two days later (March 10), I received my confirmation--We got our first choice dates (late Sept.-early Oct.) and our second choice resort (Wilderness Lodge). We were told that airline tickets would be issued in the coming months and that we would receive our tickets at least 60 days prior to our trip.
On March 16, I sent an e-mail asking when our Castle Suite stay would be arranged. Sherry from TWDC responded on March 23 that our Castle Suite night would be on the second night of our trip and our Castle Suite Guide would escort us to breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table the following morning. So, our itinerary looks like this: Day 1 (extra day I booked for hotel so we could start with a full park day) at Art of Animation Resort (Cars Family Suite), Day 2 Wilderness Lodge, Day 3 Castle Suite, Day 4 Wilderness Lodge, Day 5 Wilderness Lodge, Day 6 Departure. I wanted to know the castle suite and Cinderella's Royal Table dates because I needed to know if I needed to reserve that dining (no, I didn't
).We received our park tickets and $500 gift cards by FedEx around June 20th. We received our Airline Confirmation and Castle Suite Itinerary by e-mail on June 22nd. Our return flight from MCO was 1:00 p.m. which would have meant meeting the Magical Express by 10:00 a.m. and no 5th day of park ticket usage for us. I called Southwest and they were able to change us to a 7:00 p.m. departure with no extra fees!
All of our park tickets are adult age 10+ (she said that they purchase all of them way in advance and order all adult since they don't know the break-down of children's tickets they will need). The $500 Disney gift card is going to burn a hole in my pocket! LOLI think that's it! Now, we wait!
I know that this post was LOOOOONG but some of our DISers said they wanted to live vicariously through us and here in the Disney world, the dream that you wish will come true!
Also, I thought it might help to have a timeline for next year if they do the contest again.Here were our top 3 resort choices: 1. Contemporary; 2. Wilderness Lodge; 3. Beach Club
Our traveling party includes: ME!!!!, DH, DS (11) and DD (8).
We are arriving on a Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party night and bought tickets so we actually will get to go to a park that day, too!
We have dining reservations for: Whispering Canyon Cafe (Dinner), Tusker House (Donald's Safari Breakfast), Be Our Guest (Lunch), 'Ohana (Breakfast), Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (Lunch), The Garden Grill (Dinner), Chef Mickey's (Breakfast), Beaches & Cream (Lunch)
I have a reservation for my DD (8) at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique as well.
We book Fastpass+ tonight at midnight! Wish us luck!!
Table of Contents:
DETAILED ITINERARY
OFFICIAL WINNER'S LIST
ANOTHER BIT OF UNEXPECTED MAGIC
ONE WEEK HAPPY DANCE
ONE SLEEP
Last edited:
Congratulations on winning. We are headed to the world in 20 days and have booked many of the same ADR's as you have booked. Hope you have a wonderful trip 
Thanks for sharing your experience ... I'm always dreaming of winning this contest every January 
