castle night stay

[TinkerbellFan16]

for anyone who has wonthe cinderella castle stay, what do they do if u have already paid for ur room(s) at another hotel on or off site? i was thinking about this one day and i thought that someone here would have the awnser.

[BeccaO]

I'm glad this question was asked, cause I was wondering the same exact thing, do they reimburse you for the night that you WOULD have spent at your resort or what???? Very good question Tinkerbellfan16, I 'm anxious to see if anyone comes along with an answer.

[tinkerbell04]

Ian on here won the castle stay and I think that I remember him saying that they did not refund the price of the room for that night....I am sure that what you get with that prize is much more then the cost of one night's lodging.

[jszczur5]

You still pay for your room, as you are not completely vacating it. Most of your stuff remains at your original room, and you only take what you need for your one night castle stay. Your hotel cannot re-let your room to anyone else, so there is no reason to offer you a refund for your night away.

[DDuck66]

I, for one would gladly give up a night's lodging price to be able to stay at the castle. I wonder if anyone that has won the dream has not been staying on property???

[Ian]

You still pay for your room, as you are not completely vacating it. Most of your stuff remains at your original room, and you only take what you need for your one night castle stay. Your hotel cannot re-let your room to anyone else, so there is no reason to offer you a refund for your night away.

Correct. When we won they did not rebate us the night at our Disney resort because we still occupied the room.

Well ... our stuff did anyway.

[KateMW]

Correct. When we won they did not rebate us the night at our Disney resort because we still occupied the room.

Well ... our stuff did anyway.

Ian~ How cool was the castle? I have such bad luck that I know I'll never win, but my daughter would pass out if we did. How did you win?

[diz_girl]

Another question for Ian - Did Disney report your stay to the IRS as taxable income?

It's not like it's a pin or a fastpass where they just hand them over to people, but for this prize they know your name and where you live.

I'm a CPA, so anytime I hear of any kind of non-monetary winnings I always think about the taxes owed on it. I know that for the DVC memberships, Disney gave the membership, all annual dues and a cash amount that should pay all or most of the taxes.

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Another question for Ian - Did Disney report your stay to the IRS as taxable income? . . .

1) We have won several prizes.
2) Most only get reported over $1,200.
3) I wonder what WDW does?

[bleukarma]

I, for one would gladly give up a night's lodging price to be able to stay at the castle. I wonder if anyone that has won the dream has not been staying on property???

I think I recall reading a story about a guy that was at DTD for the day and won a nights stay. He didn't have any reservations anywhere, he was just at DTD for the day. Every time I drive over there I wish that would happen to me!!!

[HiHoKermitTheFrogHere]

Good question by the original poster. Here's another one along similar lines that DW and I considered as we saw the newest and best Year of a Million Dreams commercial on TV last night:

What if you win the Castle Suite on the last day of your Disney vacation and you have a flight home that night? I suppose the obvious answer is that you [unfortunately] decline the offer. Does anyone have any experience in this regard? And what if you can't accept the prize due to having a flight home later that day? Will they substitute a new prize?

Also, this is probably more likely to occur in Disneyland than WDW since there are more single-day guests at DL and more multi-day vacationers at WDW, but. . .what if you are at WDW just for the day without a hotel or any personal belongings for an overnight stay and you win the Castle Suite? Typically (as I understand it), when you win the Castle Suite, you are taken back to your hotel to pick up a night's worth of things and brought back to MK for your night in the Castle Suite. But what if you don't have anything (pajamas, toothbrush, deodorant, etc.) because you are just there for the day? I suppose the obvious answer to this question is. . .WHO CARES?!!! I'd deal with it and sleep in my clothes for a night in the Castle Suite! But the obvious answer aside, does anyone have any experience in this regard?

[CandleontheWater]

I've heard of people winning on the last day of their vacation, and they either have to accept the prize and make changes to their travel plans or decline. They will not substitute another prize. Personally I think this is a no brainer- I'd move heaven and earth to stay at the castle.

[CaptainJessicaSparrow]

I think if you didn't have anything with you, they would offer some from the resorts nearby. It's not like it's overly expensive.

Either that or they would already have them there. After all, Cinderella and Price Charming have to bathe as well.

[Ian]

Ian~ How cool was the castle? I have such bad luck that I know I'll never win, but my daughter would pass out if we did. How did you win?

Very cool ... check out the Trip Reports archive. My whole report is in there.

Another question for Ian - Did Disney report your stay to the IRS as taxable income?

Yes. We'll get a tax form from them at the end of the year. I think the value is something like $450 or so. Nothing major.

What if you win the Castle Suite on the last day of your Disney vacation and you have a flight home that night?

If you win on your last night you either have to change your travel plans or decline the prize.

Now when we won we were talking to some of the Dream Squad and they said that, although they don't officially give out any prizes to those who have to decline, they normally will shower them with gifts anyway.

And just FYI, the suite is fully stocked with bath products so even if you didn't have any of your own you'd still be okay. You'd just have to do something about a change of clothes, I guess.

[#1donaldfan]

.......and I thought my YOMD Mickey Ears were cool.....actually they are.....anyway, I don't see why they would refund your money for a nights stay when your still "staying" at a Disney "resort" of sorts.....I would change my plans for a nights stay....I think most peoples jobs / bosses would understand, or just use the "I'm sick and won't be in tomorrow thing.....that would be pretty cool anyway, while standing in line at Space Mtn. calling in sick......

[princessjojo]

Oh how cool that would be... I have another question though. What if your party is 6 or 8? Do you have to choose who from your party will stay in the castle and who won't. For us, that still wouldn't be an issue. Me and the girls would choose the castle and send the boys, back to home with the evil step-mother & step sisters, uh our two br. villa. Oh how cool...

[Ian]

Oh how cool that would be... I have another question though. What if your party is 6 or 8? Do you have to choose who from your party will stay in the castle and who won't. For us, that still wouldn't be an issue. Me and the girls would choose the castle and send the boys, back to home with the evil step-mother & step sisters, uh our two br. villa. Oh how cool...

Well if you're 6 you'd be fine, because the prize is for the winner and up to 5 guests.

But yes ... if you have more than 6 in your party someone has to sit out.

[Pirate Granny]

In September we rode the bus back to Pop Century with the winners of the Castle stay for the evening...they were very excited, and had never heard of the "Million Dreams"...they had eight in their party...and yes indeed they could only have six stay...the eight could participate in the parades and other special things, but could not stay in the castle...and we did ask them if they were going to rebate the room fee for the Pop and they were told no, they had to pay that night even if you emptied the room and were not staying there (although the two men who stayed behind 'cause of the numbers were in one room anyway)...I've been four times now and haven't even seen a Dream Team member...we'll be back three more times this year, maybe we'll be luckier...

[TinkerbellFan16]

ok good to know. i totally agree its worth it. i wasnt expecting them to either. just curious.