sassy_cat

So Disney is giving away free tickets to anyone that volunteers through their site this year.

There are lots of opportunities all over the US and a million tickets available.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/dis...t-A-Disney-Day

Has anyone done this yet, got their tickets and been to a park? I'd like some feedback if possible.

We've signed up to volunteer next month and have booked a long weekend at Disney in May (to celebrate my DH's 50th birthday; his choice).

I didn't notice until I started this application how complicated it was so do allow plenty of time to complete everything and actually volunteer at least 2 weeks before your trip.
Good luck if you're doing this and I think it's a great idea to encourage volunteering.

Orlando_Vic

Be careful. There are signs that this program may be coming to an end. No one knows when the cut-off date will be. Take a look:

http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010/...-a-disney-day/

_______________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

sassy_cat

Thanks for the link O_Vic.
Honestly, we hadn't planned the trip around the free pass and I figured a cut-off date was looming. I think Disney may well honor all the currently registered volunteers with volunteer dates arranged but I'm not depending on it!
The sign-up site was mobbed in January!

gail

My college daughter has several friends who have volunteered and received tickets - turn around time was a few weeks. She and some friends were planning on doing same to get a pass for during their spring break - but found it difficult to match volunteer agency need with their schedule (in semi-rural North Carolina). Part of problem was their scholol schedule and that most agencies wanted a full weekday during normal business hours - but that may have been limited to their area.

michigandra

Update: The program has ended:


"Disney has reached its goal of inspiring 1 million people to volunteer by offering a free one-day admission to one of its American theme parks in 2010, according to the HandsOn Network, which Disney worked with to coordinate the program.

The promotion, called "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day," was announced in September and started on Jan. 1. Registration has since closed and the program has ended."

klam_chowder

Yes, the program has ended but those who have a confirmed volunteer activity with an agency are supposed to get their ticket vouchers if they complete their service.

Enjoy-la!

sassy_cat

Thanks klam_chowder.. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

swalter518

We did it with Project Linus, making blankets for kids in hospitals or otherwise traumatized and it was super easy. Make the blankets, emailed us a confirmation that the Project Linus people confirmed our participation and got an email voucher a few days later that we traded for a park pass at the will call window at the park. I knew the response was huge and that there was a 1 million cut off. When we were there, the employees were saying that even they were shocked at how fast they went through the 1 million people.

cmfoxe

We tried to do this but most places really wanted more than a one day participation. The few that had one day commitments filled fast and we had problems with our original application getting to the volunteer group. There also were not many opportunities in our area and we are not rural. All in all not worth the effort.

sassy_cat

Wow, cmfoxe I'm surprised most places required more than one day of participation. We had a few choices of half day commitments but many slots that included kids seemed to fill up quickly including the ones based in Boston that only required a 2 hour volunteer session!

We're helping out at a food bank for 5 hours each on a Saturday.

swalter518, glad it all worked out for you!

NeoPatrick

Dozens of our regular volunteers at our community theatre in Naples have taken advantage of this offer.

But in all honesty, I think the program was designed to reward people who volunteer in their communities, not attract people to do some work to get a free ticket.

sassy_cat

I think Disney's aim was to encourage more volunteering in general and to initiate new volunteers rather than to reward people who volunteer within their communities though I agree the latter are deserving.

I volunteer for several things within my community but none are recognised by Disney for this offer so this is a new volunteer position for me and my family.

lparise

I tried signing up for this and was discouraged when I went through the whole process (2 days of volunteer for ALA, received confirmation), went through Disney's online sign-up screens, provided them with the dates I signed up for (which are in mid-June), and received a red screen error saying that "The volunteer date must be within 60 days." None of the rules listed this as a restriction. Very frustrating experience! I wrote the the email address and they said thank you for bringing this to our attention and we apologize for the confusion or problems you encountered.

sassy_cat

lparise, Unlucky I guess.. I know my DD tried several times to find a volunteer opportunity in our area ...that had availability .. for adults and children her age (12)..that fitted in with our schedules.
Each of the things mentioned turned out to be a stumbling block. All in all I'm pleased we were able to schedule this and surprised so many others have managed to 'jump through the hoops' to get free tickets so quickly.
(1,000,000 registered before March 10th)

TravelParis23

Dear neighbor got a voucher for 2 free tickets.
He registered just a few weeks ago - right before the cut-off.
Only "worked' a couple hours with a friend taking groceries to cars using a dolly.
Voucher came within days.
Black out dates during Easter - but can use them on Friday April 9 so he is driving to Disney
He is overjoyed and I am "jealous" since I volunteer weekly doing dirty hard work for 8 hours but did NOT qualify
Who knows?

nicbur

I signed up to make blankets before the cut off but now that the cut off has been reached I can no longer open the directions in my email for the criteria to make my blankets. So I'm not sure how I would still complete it to their specifications.

sassy_cat

nicbur, you could try calling Disney. I believe that signing up was just the first stage though.
We had to hear back from the volunteer organization and confirm dates by email then we were directed to complete our application on the Disney site (before the cut off date).
Maybe you left it too late to open the directions which would have included how to complete your volunteer application.

nicbur

sassy- we did already hear back from the organization and completed the application with Disney. So it seems odd that we can't open the package info anymore. Maybe I will give Disney a call...or actually maybe I should try to email the organization--don't know why I didn't think of that earlier.

sassy_cat

Good luck!

sassy_cat

A quick update.. we volunteered last Saturday in Lowell, MA.
We were given the job of cleaning some offices and waiting rooms filled with toys. So we swiffered , chloroxed and swept for a couple of hours and received our Disney vouchers yesterday (so within a week) as promised.

I had no idea my 12 yr old DD could clean so well. I plan to make use of this knowledge though

We're off to Disney in 3 weeks so the timing was perfect.