A Goldsboro, North Carolina, dad hit the first $1 million top prize in a $10 scratch-off that went on sale Oct. 6. His four daughters have never been to Disney World. That’s about to change.
A $10 scratch-off ticket is sending four girls to Disney World for the first time.
Willie Dennis of Goldsboro, North Carolina, won the first $1 million top prize in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s new Moneybag Cashword game, the lottery announced Nov. 4. He already knew where some of it was going.
I’m going to take them to Disney World,” Dennis said of his four daughters. “They’ve never been before.”
He bought the ticket on a Saturday at Adams Convenient Mart on West Ash Street in Goldsboro. Apparently it had been flirting with him for a while.
“Every time I go in the store it’s been catching my eye,” he said.
How much did the Disney World lottery dad take home?
Not quite $1 million. That’s how lottery math works.
Dennis claimed his prize on a Monday at lottery headquarters. He had two choices: $50,000 a year for 20 years, or a $600,000 lump sum. He took the lump sum.
After required state and federal tax withholding, he took home $432,063, the lottery said. By our math, about $167,937 went to withholding.
That’s still about 43,206 times what he paid for the ticket. Mickey can work with that.
What is the Moneybag Cashword scratch-off?
It’s a $10 crossword-style game the lottery released on Oct. 6. So Dennis hit the first top prize less than a month in.
Here’s how it plays, per the lottery’s game page. You scratch to reveal 18 letters, then rub off the matching letters in the puzzles. Finish three or more words in a puzzle and you win that puzzle’s prize.
A moneybag symbol on a finished word doubles that prize. A stack of cash symbol reveals a bonus prize.
The overall odds of winning anything are 1 in 3.56. Most of those wins are a lot smaller than a Disney trip.
Are there more $1 million prizes left in Moneybag Cashword?
Yes, three. The game launched with four $1 million top prizes, and Dennis claimed the first one.
As of Nov. 4, the lottery listed the odds of hitting one of the remaining top prizes at 1 in 1,334,430.
So, technically, three more Disney World trips are still out there in North Carolina. Statistically, don’t book your Lightning Lanes yet.
Where does North Carolina lottery money go?
The lottery pointed to Dennis’ home county. Wayne County has received more than $28 million in state grants from lottery money to help build a new elementary school.
The lottery’s website has an “Impact” section that lists other local projects, county by county.
Has anyone else used a lottery win for a Disney World trip?
Dennis isn’t the first winner with this exact plan.
-
Kings Mountain, North Carolina, April 2024: A dad who won $100,000 on a $10 Million Spectacular scratch-off said, “We are planning to take our kids to Disney World,” WCCB reported.
-
Northbridge, Massachusetts, March 2024: A woman who won on a $10 Cashword ticket and took a $650,000 lump sum planned to take her kids to Disney World, Boston 25 News reported.
That’s two Cashword games and two Disney trips, if you’re keeping score at home. Crossword fans, take note.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
-
North Carolina Education Lottery (Nov. 4, 2026), Willie Dennis’ win, quotes, prize options, take-home amount, remaining top prizes and Wayne County grants
-
North Carolina Education Lottery game page (Nov. 4, 2026), Moneybag Cashword price, launch date, odds and how to play
-
People (Nov. 5, 2026), the tip
-
WCCB Charlotte (April 19, 2024), the Kings Mountain dad’s Disney World plans
-
Boston 25 News (March 24, 2024), the Northbridge winner’s Disney World plans
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.
Pirates & Princesses (TM) (Stylized as PNP) is an independent, opinionated News and Information site focused on Travel, Entertainment, Fashion, the “Geek Girl” Lifestyle, and more. We focus heavily on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Orlando Resort, and other themed entertainment and travel destinations. Our news staff includes former theme park and entertainment industry employees, journalists and dedicated pop culture and theme park enthusiasts. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of this site, our affiliates or our sponsors.