Fairy Tales Can Come True. It Can Happen to...the Spanglers?

Disney launched its Year of a Million Dreams program this past Wednesday morning by making the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World the exclusive playground for the Spanglers, a family from Ohio who was randomly chosen for the VIP treatment. Before the park opened to the general public, Ray and Tammy Spangler and their children, Derick and Ashley, entered Main Street U.S.A. to an eerie silence. Without a soul in sight, they proceeded down a red carpet toward the iconic castle. A booming voice broadcast from a loudspeaker welcomed them by name, and Disney characters and cast members came out of hiding to storm the startled family with hugs. Before the throngs arrived later in the day, the Spanglers had attractions, such as Space Mountain, all to themselves. While Disney's promotion was unique and apparently a big hit, I'm not so sure most people would necessarily choose an empty theme park as their first choice for a dream prize. Parks are inherently social experiences, and half the fun is sharing the communal experience with friends, family, and strangers alike. Nobody likes an overly crowded park, but everyone (I think) enjoys the festive atmosphere of a lively crowd. Have you ever ridden a roller coaster with only a couple other passengers--or worse, alone? It's not nearly as much fun without the shared anticipation and the collective screaming. The Year of a Million Dreams continues through October 2007 at Disney parks worldwide. Cast members at the parks will randomly choose guests for "Magical Moments," such as leading a parade, a dream FASTPASS to bypass all ride lines, or an overnight stay in a newly created hotel suite inside Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World.

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Image: Disney 2006. Used with permission