Everything you need to know about winning a Disney Contest or other vacation

Winning a Disney Contest--Everything You Need to Know

So you've entered a Disney contest and you are hoping to win a vacation to Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Vacations to anywhere are a contest entrant's dream come true, but for a kid, a trip to Disney is like winning a jackpot.

There are important things to take into consideration when entering a contest where the prize involves a vacation such as taxes, additional fees, etc. While entering a Disney contest means that thousands of other people will also be entering and the odds of winning are actually slim, someone has to win and it could be you. Here is what you need to know about entering and winning a Disney contest.

The first thing you need to know about winning a Disney contest is that not all of the contests are sponsored by Disney itself. Sometimes they are sponsored by product manufacturers, vacation companies, etc. Just make sure that the company who is offering the vacation is well known and reputable, and that you aren't obligated to do anything as a clause to winning the contest, like taking a timeshare tour for example.

Next, be aware that vacations are expensive, and it is most likely that taxes will have to be paid for the vacation prize. This money will not be due up front; instead the IRS will issue a 1099 for the winnings and the money will be filed at by April 15th of the following year.

If the IRS doesn't issue a 1099 for miscellaneous income then it has to be declared on the tax return anyway. Vacation contests can have other fees or hidden costs as well. This is where it is important to read the sweepstakes guidelines very carefully. Is the airfare included? How many nights at a hotel are included with the package? Are meals or spending money given as part of the prize? What about transfers from the airport to the hotel? Usually, when a hotel is near Disneyland or Walt Disney World, they generally offer free transportation to and from the parks so guests can easily enjoy them without the hassle of walking, renting a car or taking a cab.

Knowing all of the costs and the exact details of the prize for a Disney contest is important before you enter. And just remember that in case one particular Disney contest doesn't cover all the travel expenses, another one may. At any given time there are always several Disney contest vacation giveaways. Check our Disney Contest page frequently to find the latest and greatest contests to enter to win.