MagicMeets 2009 proved once again that Disney fans have the most generous hearts on the planet.

550 fans in the ballroom, and many others watching and listening online to WDW Today's live podcast, said to heck with the economy, we're going to make some Magic!

The final breakdown of the money raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America worked out to this:

The Celebrity MagicTunes and Arooga's Karaoke meets on Friday night: $830

Minnie's Mart on Friday night raised $1360. Then when I was packing up the few leftover items to take home, a little more shopping was done, so the new Minnie's Mart total is $1410.

Note Cards, Poster Sales, and Donations: a few more donations were received after the sign was written up, and Lou didn't realize he had a can full of money sitting on his WDW Radio table until after the meet was over... so the new total for this category is $1521.

Online donations as encouraged by the gang at WDW Today continued to come in after 4 p.m., and one made on Sunday morning I'm going to count in this total, since it was from a Dream Team staff member who couldn't attend MagicMeets due to other commitments, so the online donation total is now up to $1680.

The auction itself raised $10,495.

Beci Mahnken & Mouse Fan Travel contributed $700. I'm heading to YouTube next to find out just what the Moonwalking Challenge was!

So that puts us at $16,676.

I like nice round numbers (except on birthdays), don't you? So I'm chipping in $364 to make it an even $17,000. Makes the numbers much easier to remember, right?

Then there was Tony and Charlene.
The day hadn't already been emotional enough, I guess, because they still had a surprise hiding up their sleeve. And they got CMO Justin in on it, just to mess with my carefully typed cue cards.
$10,000. I still don't know what to say. Thank you isn't enough. You are incredible!

That brings the Grand Total for this year, after all the last donations have been counted, to $27,000.

Wait, sorry, that just wasn't big enough. Let's try again:

$27,000

Thank you again to everyone who donated items, who placed a bid, bought some note cards or a poster, donated online or in the cash cans, or even just came by to say "good job." Together we have made dreams come true, and there is no more powerful magic than that in the world.

Thank you to the Dream Team Project Auction staff - the best team on the planet! I could not be more grateful for and proud of all of you, for the work you have done and the dedication you have shown. The last week before the meet, I was emailing page after page of "summer reading assignements" - directions, policy, instructions, and reminders, that I have been told by the team member who works for NASA that "Not even the Space Shuttle has instructions this detailed." I know I asked a lot of all of you, and you came through with everything I asked and then some. I am very lucky to call you friends as well as team mates. Janet, Lori, Lesa, Tracy, Linda, James, Valerie, Steve, Amanda, Brian, Tony, Charlene, Kate, Tracy S, Terry, Kathleen, Kathryn, and Cassidy. You guys are the best!

Thank you to the members of the Dream Team Project who helped with planning and wrapping and more throughout the year, especially Meg, Kellie, and April.

Thank you to Colleen and the MagicMeetsketeers for their help too. Colleen, Mary & Tacey made sure that our every need was attended to, from the tables being ‘moved just a little bit more' to getting the team fed, and always done with a ‘Just tell me what you need and we'll take care of it" and a smile.

Thank you to Fred, for allowing us the time and space to hold this event each year. It takes a special kind of person to give so much, and so much more than people realize.

Thank you to Lou, who got us into this to begin with. It was his dream to send a child with cancer to Walt Disney World that got this whole thing started. Almost $60,000 later ($3,822 + $9,000 + $20,000 + $27,000), the dream has grown a bit but still shines brightly as our inspiration and motivation. There's lots more ahead for the Dream Team Project, and a lot more wishes to be granted out there.

The Dream Team Project is a great example of what can happen when people come together because they believe in dreams, they wish upon stars, and they care about making someone else smile. For a child who has their wish granted because of our efforts, the world has become a much happier place. I thank you for your support and your contributions, and for making dreams come true.

Thank you!

[EDIT 8/16/09 after a discussion with Fred, the Aroogas/MagicTunes total was incorrect. The total amount will remain the same after an additional donation to correct it.]

The Dream Team Project would like to thank the many people who donated items or otherwise made a contribution to this year's auction. Many thanks to everyone who donated their time, talent, souvenirs, creativity, super-sale-priced-finds, collectibles, special-stuff-we-got-two-of's, supplies, and too-cool-to-pass-it-up stuff. From the smallest of pins to the largest of art pieces, it takes a lot to make our auction what it is, and we are grateful for each and every contribution.

We wouldn't be able to make the magic happen without these generous people!

Thank You!!!!

Since many of you may be first time guests at MagicMeets, and since there are some changes to the auction from previous years, I thought it might be helpful to post this information here:

Rules and Information for Bidders

Auction Format: This is a silent auction. In front of each item you will find a bid sheet. To place a bid on an item, print your name and the dollar amount you are bidding on that item's sheet. There is a suggested starting bid listed on the item's bid sheet, however if you are the first bidder you may bid lower. After a bid is placed on an item, you must raise the bid by at least one dollar. No cents, please!! The highest bid when close of bidding is called that shows a complete, legible last name and dollar amount will be declared the winner.

NEW in 2009 Close of Bidding: Bidding will end in 4 waves as follows:

Wave 1 --- Pink Lot Cards --- Items #  51 - 75 ---- bidding ends at 1:45 p.m.

Wave 2 --- Yellow Lot Cards --- Items #  76 - 100 --- bidding ends at 2:00 p.m.

Wave 3 --- Blue Lot Cards --- Items #  26 - 50 --- bidding ends at  2:15 p.m.

Wave 4 --- White Lot Cards --- Items #  1 - 25 --- bidding ends at 2:30 p.m.

When a wave is about to close, Dream Team Auction staff members will be stationed in front of the auction tables with the bid sheets. Please be sure that you are bidding on the correct item! During final bidding, you must finish placing your bid within 10 seconds of holding the pen. A bid must contain a fully printed legible last name and a dollar amount when time is called to be accepted. Dream Team staff reserve the right to nullify any bid deemed placed in an unfair or improper manner, based on these rules and our judgement, and all decisions are final.
Please remember, this is a charity auction and the goal is to raise money to help seriously ill children. Please conduct all bidding in a fair, respectful and proper manner.

Highest Bidders, Payment, and Pick Up: The list of highest bidders will be posted in the convention center lobby after 3:30 p.m. Payments for lots will be taken in the lobby until 6:00 p.m. Cash, credit cards via Firstgiving.com, or PayPal will be accepted for payment. After paying for your lots, you may pick up your items at the auction tables any time before 6:15 p.m. by showing your receipt to the auction staff at the tables.

More Ways to Help Some Great Causes at MagicMeets 2009

The Dream Team Project Auction isn't the only way MagicMeets attendees can help bring a little magic to those in need. Check out these other great ways to make a difference:

Celebrity MagicTunes
Friday night, August 7th, MagicMeets will hold Celebrity MagicTunes, a fun game show that challenges some of our Disney community "stars" to name that MagicTune! There is a minimum $5 donation at the door for event admission, and all proceeds will benefit both Deb Wills' Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and The Dream Team Project.

Magic ‘Meets' Arooga's Karaoke Meet
Arooga's is the new restaurant next door to the Radisson Penn Harris, home of MagicMeets. And for some more Friday night Fun, it's a Karaoke Meet! A $5 charity donation will be requested in advance.

Minnie's Mart
Friday evening holds one more new event at MagicMeets: Minnie's Mart, hosted by The Dream Team Project. You'll find all sorts of Disney-related goodies on sale: toys, pins, collectibles, posters, and more! All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America. Minnie's Mart will be open in the lobby of the Convention Center on Friday, August 7th, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Come early for the best selection! Minnie's Mart is cash-only, with items ranging from $0.50 to $25.

Limited Edition Note Cards
The Dream Team Project will be selling a limited edition set of notecards featuring art by Sandy MacGowan. These beautiful cards will be sold in sets of 8 cards, 4 each of two designs, for a donation of $7.00 per set. All proceeds from the sale of these cards will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America.

Limited Edition Posters from Deb Wills
Be sure to stop by the AllEars table in the Main Ballroom during MagicMeets to purchase your own limited edition poster of The Flying Dutchman, the ghost ship seen in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, anchored off Castaway Cay. These 11 x 17" glossy posters are sure to sell out quickly! They cost just $20, and Deb will sign them for you personally. She is donating the proceeds to the Dream Team Project. Thank you, Deb!!

And even if you are unable to attend MagicMeets, you can still help out! Thanks to the guys (and Annette) at the WDW Today podcast, if you make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America at http://www.firstgiving.com/dwtdreamteam between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 8th, your name will be announced on the WDW Today Live Podcast. All donations made during the time period will be included in the Auction total announced at MagicMeets. When you fill in your donation, please include your Internet community affiliation in the comment field, so that you can be thanked properly on the air.
Check out the WDW Today podcast website for details on how to join them for this and all their live shows. They will have a chat room going during the broadcast, which is always lots of fun, and sometimes have a live video feed direct from MagicMeets.