Save for any visitors who may have fallen asleep on a bench, to be awakened by maintenance men at 2 a.m., no guest has spent the night inside Disneyland.That will change as of Jan. 31, when the theme park opens its first on-site suite for visitors. But don't bother calling for reservations. The accommodations are open only to those who happen to have Disney magic on their side.Disney is extending its Year of a Million Dreams promotion into 2008, and with that, the company is adding new daily giveaways, including a night in Walt's Dream Suite, perched atop the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland's New Orleans Square.Few at Disney anticipated the success of the Year of a Million Dreams when it began in October 2006 in Disneyland (Anaheim) and Disney World (Orlando). Faron Kelley, Disney's global project development director, said officials were surprised at how the daily giveaways resonated with guests. By the end of December, more than 1.25 million prizes, from pins to shopping sprees and more, will have been given away. In 2008, another million prizes will be handed out, at a cost of $13 million, Kelley said."Our guests are very excited when they come to our parks, but it's amazing how they've taken to this promotion," Kelley said. "Out of nowhere someone hands them Mickey Mouse ears, or a pin, even a $500 shopping spree. It really fires them up. We'd hoped for this kind of response, but never really expected it."Walt's Dream Suite, now under construction, occupies a space that was to be Walt Disney's apartment, much larger than his original in-park lodgings above the fire station on Main Street (which remains in its original condition with a single bulb burning in Disney's memory). The larger apartment would allow family and friends to stay, but plans were abandoned upon Disney's death in 1966.The apartment was most recently the Disney Gallery, featuring art from cartoons and rides. Imagineers now are returning the space to its original purpose; though expect such high-tech updates as HDTV and broadband Wi-Fi.Other grand prizes for 2008 include:
• Your own private island. Well, just for a day. The winner and up to three guests will be escorted to Castaway Cay by Disney Cruise Line, staying overnight on a luxury yacht. A gourmet dinner is included and, everyone hopes, those Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie treats.
• Time as sorcerer's apprentice. The winner and one guest will be escorted behind the Imagineering curtain to see how the magic is made. The tour of the Walt Disney Imagineering campus also includes a guided Disneyland tour. The winner, once armed with behind-the-scenes secrets, should feel free to make suggestions.
• A trip as Disney grand marshal. One winner and three guests will take a 15-day trip to four Disney destinations: Disneyland in Anaheim, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. The winner also will serve as grand marshal of the Disney parade in front of a large (if disappointed) crowd.
• A spot along the red carpet at the world premiere of High School Musical 3. Two winners and up to three guests will attend the premiere of one of the most popular made-for-cable movies. If you don't win, you can hope for similar prizes to High School Musical 4, 5, 6 . . .
• Chance to wave to your family on TV. One winner each from Disneyland and Walt Disney World will be the park's special guest during Disney's Christmas Day Parade. Make sure to practice your parade wave.
• Dinner dockside. A winner and up to nine friends will enjoy a gourmet dinner next to the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, then enjoy a cruise through Disneyland's lagoon in search of the animated fish. The dinner is nice, but avoiding what is typically a two-hour wait - priceless.
Although most of these prizes go to only one winner (and two for High School Musical, one winner per American park), Walt's Dream Suite will host a different lucky guest for most nights through 2008.
A similar suite was completed earlier this year at Walt Disney World. One guest each day is chosen at random to stay in the luxurious accommodations hidden inside Cinderella Castle. The space originally was to house members of the Disney family, though it eventually became a staging room for various park events. It is now the Cinderella Castle Suite, complete with a Magic Mirror that houses a flat-panel TV.Other than the new prizes, 2008's version of Year of a Million Dreams will resemble the 2007 version. Each day cast members will hand out hundreds of prizes in the parks, including pins and parts in parades or other staged events. The Dream FastPass is among the most popular, as it allows guests unlimited use of the shorter FastPass lines for one day.