Is the Family of the Day Ever Not a 'Traditional' Family?

[cbg1027]

I figure they like to reserve those honors for families with small children, but hey, wouldn't we all like to be a family of the day?

I'm just wondering if I will have a chance of being picked when it's just me (24) and my grandmother (81)? Or do I need to bring my niece and nephew?

[Wishes4ev]

Well myself and the wife were chosen as the family of the day at Animal Kingdom last week or so , we were on our honeymoon though. So I am pretty sure that is the only reason we were chosen. We didn't have any kids there with us.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by Wishes4ev

Well myself and the wife were chosen

the wife?

Yours... or just one standing nearby?

[Wishes4ev]

I hope she was mine. Although she kept calling me Steve, and that is not my name.

[chessie]

You guys are too funny. At least he didn't say "the little woman".

The FOD at the MK the morning we were there had 2 older children. I’m guessing HS and or College age.

[Silver Queen]

Way to go Robo!
Concerning the original question, I've wondered about that too. We are two adults whose children are grown. Sometimes they travel with us, but in either case I don't think we have a chance to be family of the day. Actually, I'd really love to be picked to be in the parade at Animal Kingdom. I love that parade. It has so much positive energy!

[Claire&TheBoys]

Originally Posted by Wishes4ev

I hope she was mine. Although she kept calling me Steve, and that is not my name.

Maybe she called you that because of your matching plaid suitcases?

Thanks for the giggle this morning - great movie reference!!! One of my family's faves!

[chicagoshannon]

I've seen a non traditional family of the day at DHS, not sure about MK.

[Vickie46]

I have seen one time when a mother and small child was picked at MK for opening but its always those families that have about 4 people in the family with small kids... I however have seen different at other parks.

[mickeyfan1973]

Sorry to hijack..but how do you get to be family of the day?

[Robo]

Originally Posted by mickeyfan1973

Sorry to hijack..but how do you get to be family of the day?

Arrive very early before rope drop.
Chat excitedly and happily with the CM's at the front gate.
Be extremely lucky.

[si-am]

We were picked as Family of the Day at AK a few years back, and our group didn't have children. (We were me, my husband, my mom and my brother).

Of course we also suspected that it was because my brother had some of those Christmas cracker things (the ones you pull, they pop, and there are jokes and a crown inside) in his backpack that he couldn't really explain at security. We figured they just wanted to keep an eye on us.

[mickeyfan1973]

Sorry...another ? What does the family of the day do?

[Robo]

Originally Posted by mickeyfan1973

Sorry...another ? What does the family of the day do?

They assist in/participate in the "Rope Drop Ceremony."

That ceremony can be very elaborate and complex, or very simple.
It all depends on the park, the day, and your luck.

-------------------------------

Here's an excerpt from my Coffee Table Novella, "Rope Drop Wars: Ep. IV- A New Rope."

I arrive 30 minutes before opening time at any park, on any day.

MK's Rope Drop Ceremony called "Magic Kingdom
Welcome" (see link below) is, by far, the best and
most elaborate.

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, to WAIT just inside the gates, in front of the trains station (near the "flower Mickey face.")

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled opening time.
There is also a "mini" version (far less "hoopla") that lasts about 2-3 minutes.
There is also an "AUDIO ONLY" version (no characters at all) that lasts under minute.
Which one you will see can be tough to guess. (See link below.)

There is really only one more "formal" Rope Drop Ceremony... at DAK
called "The Adventure Begins"(see link below.)

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, and they re-group to wait at the far end of the bridge from the Oasis (near the "Tree of Life.")

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled opening time.


The above two shows feature Disney characters with "speaking
roles".
MK:* (called "Magic Kingdom* Welcome") at the train
station (with lots singing and
dancing, and a guest family).
DAK: (called "The Adventure Begins") after your cross
the bridge from the "Oasis" (no singing, but cute).

Epcot allows guests to "re-group" near Innoventions
and, on certain mornings, some of the characters show up
to quietly shake hands with a few of the folks standing at the rope.
CMs "hold" guests until scheduled open time, then
allow folks to go either way towards Soarin' or Test
Track/Mission Space.

At DHS the CMs have ropes across the street near the
Call-board/Tips-board/Starring Rolls eatery.
There will be a short (about 3-4 minutes) "show" which
will include a couple of selected Guests and then the
ropes are dropped
and everyone walks briskly
STRAIGHT AHEAD (with CM escorts)
towards the new Toy Story Midway Mania...
or turns RIGHT, and walks
briskly (with CM escorts) to ToT and/or RnRC.

At MK, if you have attended Cindy's Royal Breakfast
early, they do have a rope to hold you from FL until
"opening time".

If (IF) they perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park, it will ONLY be ONCE per day (not twice.)

They might not perform it at all.

If (IF) they do perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park on an AM EMH day, it will ONLY be performed for the EMH opening crowd and not at the "regular" opening time that day.

If (IF) they do perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park, it will begin about 5-8 minutes before the scheduled opening time.

But, guests will be let into the park about 10-20 minutes before the scheduled opening time to get ready for the Rope Drop Ceremony.

To see if they will be performing the ceremony, look at the Steve Soares site.
(see link below)

Note: Like everything else at WDW, not EVERYTHING will
happen the same way or the same time (or even happen
at all) every day.
The best you can hope for is for what USUALLY happens.

Rope Drops are no exception to this.

I never miss being there before opening, EMH or
regular, but not just because of the "Rope Drop
Ceremonies"... its because you can do SO MUCH MORE
before the throngs of folks (who simply will NOT get
up early on vacation, bless their sleepy little
hearts) arrive later in the mornings.

---------------------------------------------

LINK Below-


The following site posts the stage shows, in-park and
other on-property shows and their times for the
CURRENT week.
(It is updated every weekend.)
The times may be "similar" for other dates as well.

Near the top of the page,
click on the colored links for the various
parks
and their show times.

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/index.htm

Be sure to check back to the site as the actual dates
of your trip get closer.

---------------------------------------------





On many mornings, guests (B) are held for Rope Drop near the HAT (#2)
before being released into the park at opening time.


On some days following Rope Drop, the CMs will direct guests to enter thru the "Alternate Path" via the Animation archway.

[twentysix]

Originally Posted by Wishes4ev

Well myself and the wife were chosen as the family of the day at Animal Kingdom last week or so , we were on our honeymoon though. So I am pretty sure that is the only reason we were chosen. We didn't have any kids there with us.

Originally Posted by Robo

the wife?

Yours... or just one standing nearby?

Originally Posted by Wishes4ev

I hope she was mine. Although she kept calling me Steve, and that is not my name.

I needed that laugh this morning.