FROM: Why Did Disney DO That?!? Published As Necessary

Disney Movie Rewards Program

Finally, after so many rants, it seems that Lee Beatens has found something about Disney he likes: movie rewards. Over the years, this program has enriched Lee with many freebies. Disney is aware of it. And so they're playing with Lee's mind...

- Lee Beatens, July 10, 2011

So if I asked you what is Disney's best-kept secret you'd probably say the Disney Vacation Club. You know the one: It's plastered on every billboard and bus-side at the Walt Disney World Resort. What a way to keep a secret, guys!

Or maybe you might think of the Utilidors under the Magic Kingdom. Again, not really that big of a secret, are they?

My vote for Disney's best-kept secret is the Disney Movie Rewards Program. It's awesome!

Here's the skinny: You can join for free. You can collect points on things that you're going to buy anyway. Then you can redeem those points for FREE stuff! And Disney even eats the shipping costs. Also, you can get exclusive stuff not available anywhere else.

Now that's one sweet deal!

Are You Using Those Used Tickets?

But even though it's a wonderful program with virtually no down side, many Disney fans still don't seem to know about it. Now how is this possible, you ask?

One of the ways you can collect points is by submitting your used theater tickets from any Disney movie. You can submit up to four tickets per registered account. I only have two Disney fanatics in my family, so I have to get creative to find the other two tickets!

So after each movie we see I troll the garbage littered floors for discarded tickets and 8 times out of 10 I'll find what I need. But once in a while the theater audience is fairly responsible and chooses not to throw their stuff all over the floor. So what do I do then?

One time I noticed a mother with two children in the lobby of the theater that I recognized as having been in the same movie as myself (don't ask me what they were doing during the movie to make me remember them so well) so I approached them. I asked if she still had her tickets and if she was going to discard them. She said she was and looked at me like I was crazy.

I get that a lot.

I quickly explained about the Disney Movie Rewards program (this being about 2 years after it was begun) and she was surprised to hear about it. She thought it was a wonderful idea but still wasn't planning to join. She gave me her tickets and then edged nervously away.

I get that a lot, too.

So I had my four tickets to redeem, which gave me 200 points, 50 per ticket.

Now You Redeem It, Now You Don't

Since joining I have redeemed over 10,000 points for everything from DVDs to jewelry. And all has been well in the collecting universe. Finally, we have a perfect program from the Mouse that does nothing but give! So how could this possibly go wrong?

Disney planned this to be a temporary program.

Why would Disney DO that?!?

Yes, Disney announced early on that this program would only last about a year and a half. So I collected points like there was no Tom Morrow and prepared to redeem them just weeks before the cut-off date.

But then a miracle happened. Disney announced an extension for the program.

Then later they announced another cut-off date.

Then they announced another extension. And that brings us up to the present. I'm not aware of a final cut-off date anymore. Perhaps one doesn't exist, but I don't really know.

With so many complaints about the new D23 Fan Club and how it's administered, why would Disney mess with something so perfect? Why not leave it alone?

The Disney Movie Rewards program benefits every Disney fan across North America and provides a loyal fan base for purchasing Disney merchandise. It's a win/win situation.

And perhaps that's why Disney is flirting with ruining it!

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