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The Charlotte Observer Universal Orlando® Resort Sweepstakes Official Rules
No Purchase Necessary. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning.
1.ELIGIBILITY. The Charlotte Observer Universal Orlando Resort Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open to all current legal residents of the states of North Carolina and South Carolina who are at least of the age of 18 in their state of residence and have an internet connection at the start of the Sweepstakes (“Entrants”). Sweepstakes is sponsored by The Charlotte Observer, 600 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 (“Sponsor”). Promotional consideration is provided by Universal City Development Partners, Ltd (“Prize Provider”). Entrants must be available to travel to Orlando, Florida by November 25, 2013 (“Prize Period”). Void where prohibited by operation of law. Employees, shareholders, officers, directors, agents, representatives of The Charlotte Observer, The McClatchy Company, Prize Providers and the promotion and advertising agencies of any aforementioned entity (collectively, the “Sweepstakes Entities”), and their immediate family members and those living in their household, and each person or entity connected with the production or administration of the Sweepstakes, and each parent company, affiliate, subsidiary, agent and representative of any aforementioned entity are not eligible.
2.SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD. The Sweepstakes begins at 12:01 a.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) on November 11, 2012 and ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on November 25, 2012 (the “Sweepstakes Period”).
3.HOW TO ENTER. Online Entry Only. Only one entry per natural person. During the Sweepstakes Period, visit Sponsor’s website www.charlotteobserver.com, follow the link to the Sweepstakes entry form and complete all required contact information. Submit your completed entry form according to the online instructions.
Online entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on November 25, 2012 according to the computer time on Sponsor’s server. Entrants must provide valid, truthful and current information. Late, incomplete, void, corrupted, garbled, misdirected, or otherwise unintelligible entries are void and will not be accepted. None of the Sweepstakes Entities are responsible for such entries and for any problems, bugs or malfunctions Entrants may encounter when submitting their entry. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Persons discovered entering under several names will be disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify false entries or entries suspected of being false. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a Selected Entrant, the Selected Entrant will be deemed to be the person in whose name the e-mail account governing the e-mail address was opened.
4.ODDS. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.
5.DRAWING AND NOTIFICATION. Each qualified entry will be entered into a random drawing for the grand prize. Drawing will be held on or about November 25, 2012 (“Drawing Date”) to determine one (1) potential winner (“Selected Entrant”). The Selected Entrant will be notified by phone or email in Sponsor’s discretion. The Selected Entrant will be required to respond (as directed) within 72 hours of attempted notification (“Notification”). Assumed notification by caller ID and any subsequent returned calls do not constitute a winner. Sponsor will not make multiple attempts to contact Selected Entrant. The failure to respond timely to the notification may result in forfeiture of the prize and, in such case, Sponsor may randomly select an alternate chosen entrant from among the remaining eligible entries. Selected entrant will also be sent an affidavit of eligibility / liability / publicity release (“Release”) and must return the signed Release to Sponsor or Prize Provider, as directed, within three (3) calendar days of receiving it. Except where prohibited by law, the Release will state that Selected Entrant agrees to allow Sweepstakes Entities to use (without additional compensation) his or her name, hometown, photograph, testimonial, likeness and/or biographical information for purposes of advertising and promotion (including, without limitation, posting on Sponsor’s website(s), social media page(s) and affiliated website(s)). Selected Entrant may also be required to provide name, U.S. Social Security Number (for tax form purposes), birth date, current address and phone number. Unless restricted by law, the Selected Entrant will be required to complete and return the Release within the time period specified therein. The Selected Entrants’ first/last name, hometown and picture may be published by the Sweepstakes Entities, including without limitation in The Charlotte Observer, at www.charlotteobserver.com, in affiliated publications, social media pages and/or websites. An alternate Selected Entrant may be randomly selected from among the remaining eligible entries if a selected entrant: (i) cannot be reached; (ii) fails to obtain all signatures on the Releases (including Releases from travel Guests) and to return the documents in a timely manner as required pursuant to these Official Rules; or (iii) cannot accept or receive the prize for any reason. In the event of a dispute about the identity of an entrant, each entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. Limit one (1) prize per person and household.
6.PRIZE. If eligible under these rules, one (1) Selected Entrant will receive a four (4) day, three (3) night trip for themselves and up to three (3) guests (“Guests”) to Universal Orlando® Resort in Orlando, Florida. The trip will include, for the Selected Entrant and up to three (3) of his or her Guests: round trip coach-class air transportation from a major commercial airport near Selected Entrant’s home to Orlando, Florida as determined by Prize Provider in their sole discretion; three (3) nights standard hotel accommodation (one room, quadruple occupancy) at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel or at another on-site hotel (as selected by the Prize Provider in their sole discretion); non-exclusive ground transportation to and from airport and hotel in Orlando, FL for; 3-Park Unlimited Pass Tickets that allow access to Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Wet ‘n Wild ; attendance at one (1) Blue Man Group performance (exact date and time to be determined by Prize Provider in their sole discretion).
Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of Prize: three thousand, seven hundred and five dollars ($3,705).
Selected Entrant and Guests must travel together on the same itinerary on the stated Prize Period and must have all necessary identification. Selected Entrant may only bring minor Guests if Selected Entrant or another Guest is the parent or legal guardian of said minor Guests.
Choice of airline(s), hotel(s), transportation and itinerary shall be at the discretion of Prize Provider. Prize may be awarded in the form of coupon(s), voucher(s) and/or gift card(s). Actual value of travel prizes may vary based on point of departure and airfare fluctuations.
Selected Entrant may be issued an IRS form 1099. The Prize is a taxable event.
All Sweepstakes entries are subject to verification prior to awarding of any prize. Eligibility, age, and any and all other claims shall be subject to verification prior to the actual awarding of a Prize. All elements of the Prize must be redeemed at the same time, and no changes will be permitted after confirmation of any redemption. If Winner is between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21), he/she must be accompanied by an adult of at least twenty-one (21) years of age in order to check into the on-site hotel. All details regarding redemption of the Prize, including the method of booking the accommodations and flights are at Sponsor and/or Prize Provider’s sole discretion and will be provided at the time of Selected Entrant’s Notification. Guests of Selected Entrant must sign a liability/publicity release and all signed release must be received by Sponsor or Prize Provider before travel will be booked or permitted or the Prize will be forfeited and another Selected Entrant will be randomly selected. In the event that parent or guardian of a Guest who is a minor does not provide the appropriate permissions to travel, Selected Contestant will forfeit the winning title and the prize. Once airline tickets and hotel reservations have been issued, they shall not be changed, re-sold, endorsed, exchanged, transferred or in any other manner modified by Selected Entrant. Selected Contestant must notify Prize Provider of requested travel times at least sixty (60) days in advance; otherwise Sweepstakes Entities reserve the right to alter the request to accommodate availability. Travel must be completed by November 25, 2013. Travel arrangements are subject to availability to the terms and conditions of the airline, resort and hotel. Selected Entrant and Guests are solely responsible for any other unspecified expenses related to the travel prize, including without limitation: meals, ground transportation, gratuities, incidental hotel expenses, upgrades and any and all federal, state, and local taxes on prize, including special airport taxes and fees. Selected Entrant and Guests are not entitled to any surplus between actual retail value of prize and stated ARV and any difference between stated ARV and actual value of the prize will not be awarded. No substitution, transfer, or cash redemption of prize, or cash for any portion of prize not used, provided however that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize with another prize of equal or greater value should the advertised prize become unavailable for any reason. Any and all activities related to the prize, including without limitation flying, are at the Selected Entrant’s and Guest’s own risks and subject to whatever restrictions are imposed by the entities that govern activities. Selected Entrant and Guest(s) must have all necessary identification and travel documents and are responsible for all costs related thereto. Selected Entrant and Guest(s) are responsible for obtaining travel insurance (and all other forms of insurance) that they may wish to obtain (at their own expense) and hereby acknowledge that neither Sponsor nor any of its prize suppliers have or will obtain or provide travel insurance or any other form of insurance. If Selected Entrant is unable to participate in or accept the prize or any portion of the prize for any reason, Sponsor shall have no further obligation to the Selected Entrant. Travel restrictions, conditions and limitations may apply, including but not limited to holiday “blackout” dates. Neither Sponsor nor any of its prize suppliers will replace any lost or stolen tickets, travel vouchers or certificates. All additional costs, including taxes, are the sole responsibility of Selected Entrant. Prizes shall only be delivered to North or South Carolina. Open tickets may not be issued and stopovers are not permitted. Travel arrangements must be made through Prize Provider. All Prize elements must be redeemed at the same time.
7.CONDITIONS. The Sweepstakes is subject to these Official Rules. By participating, Entrants agree: (i) to be bound by these complete Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor which shall be final and binding; and (ii) to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Sweepstakes or these Official Rules, except where prohibited by law. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of Selected Entrant and Selected Entrant may be issued an IRS Form 1099 for the Estimated Retail Value of any awarded prize. All federal, state or other tax liabilities (including income taxes) arising from this Sweepstakes will be the sole responsibility of Selected Entrant. Except where prohibited by law, the Selected Entrant's entry and acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for Sweepstakes Entities to use said winner's full name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, and city and state address for promotional or advertising purposes in connection with these Sweepstakes on a worldwide basis, and in all forms of media, now or hereafter known, in perpetuity, without review, permission or further compensation. This Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws of the United States.
By participating, Selected Entrant agrees to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor and waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Sweepstakes or these Official Rules. Selected Entrant also agrees to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless Sweepstakes Entities and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (“Releasees”) from and against any claims, damages, disability, attorneys' fees, and costs of litigation and settlement, as well as any liability due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from redemption, acceptance, possession, ownership, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Sweepstakes-related activity or participation in these Sweepstakes. Releasees shall not be liable to the Selected Entrant for failure to supply any Prize or any part thereof, by reason of any acts of God, any action(s), regulation(s), order(s) or request(s) by any governmental or quasi-governmental entity (whether or not the action(s), regulations(s), order(s) or request(s) prove(s) to be invalid), equipment failure, threatened terrorist acts, terrorist acts, air raid, blackout, act of public enemy, earthquake, war (declared or undeclared), fire, flood, epidemic, explosion, unusually severe weather, hurricane, embargo, labor dispute or strike (whether legal or illegal), labor or material shortage, transportation interruption of any kind, work slow-down, civil disturbance, insurrection, riot, or any other similar or dissimilar cause beyond any of the Releasees’ control. The Releasees shall not be liable for: (i) late, lost, delayed, misdirected, incomplete unreadable, inaccurate, garbled or unintelligible entries, communications or affidavits, regardless of the method of transmission; (ii) telephone system, telephone or computer hardware, software or other technical or computer malfunctions, lost connections, disconnections, delays or transmission errors; (iii) data corruption, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to or alteration of entry or other materials; (iv) any injuries, losses or damages of any kind caused by the prize or resulting from acceptance, possession or use of a prize, or from participation in the Sweepstakes; or (v) any printing, typographical, administrative or technological errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.
Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes, to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, or to be acting in an unsportsman-like or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes, or to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass other entrants or Sponsor's representatives, and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. You may not enter with multiple identities or use any system, bot or other device or artifice to enter or obtain more than the maximum number of qualified entries. Any portion of the Sweepstakes may be canceled, suspended and/or modified, in whole or in part, if in Sweepstakes Entities’ opinion any fraud, technical failure or other factor beyond our control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Sweepstakes. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to terminate the Sweepstakes and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the potential winner(s) in a random drawing from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to action taken. Disputes regarding these Official Rules and/or this Sweepstakes will be governed by the internal laws of the State of North Carolina. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes should a virus, bug, computer problem, unauthorized intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control, corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Sweepstakes. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE SWEEPSTAKES. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEES) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
8.PRIVACY. All personal information collected by Sponsor will be used for administration of the Sweepstakes. In addition, entrants shall receive email correspondence from, or on behalf of the Sponsor, subject to the Sponsor’s privacy policy. Sponsor uses reasonable commercial efforts to comply with federal CAN-SPAM guidelines, and entrants may subsequently opt-out of receiving further emails by following the opt-out instructions contained in the email. Any questions regarding privacy matters should be directed to the address set out below. Please refer to Sponsor’s privacy policy located at http://www.charlotteobserver.com/privacy_policy/ for important information regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by Sponsor.
9.WINNER’S LIST AND SWEEPSTAKES RULES. To obtain a copy of these official rules or a winners’ list within 90 days of the close of the Sweepstakes, send your request and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: The Charlotte Observer Universal Orlando Resort Sweepstakes, c/o The Charlotte Observer, 600 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. Selected Entrant’s lists will be sent once all Selected Entrants have been verified and prize(s) has/have been awarded.
Universal City Development Partners, Ltd. is the Prize Provider of this sweepstakes.
© 2012 The McClatchy Company. All rights reserved.
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