Any tips for getting chosen as family to open MK On the Train?

[barbnjmom]

Last year was the first time I ever saw the show at the opening of MK with the train pulling into the station..it brought tears to my eyes...we actually went back twice just to see the show again!!!

Anyway...I would love to surprise my family (Husband and 2 boys, ages 4 & 9) to get to be the family who rides in with the characters...

Does anyone know how you can do this? Is it random or can you call somewhere???

 

[barbnjmom]

bump

 

[zurgswife]

It tends to be random...but if you arrive very early and be very chatty with the CM's it is a good start...I say tends because for us we have been lucky enough to open the MK a few times....now we have a "friend" at the entrance that has offered to let us do it the next trip. We will definately catch up with her at the beginning of our trip to make sure we can fit it in ....

 

[dpuck1998]

How early is "very" early? What time should we arrive? Should we ask "can we open the magic kingdom?" or is that frowned upon?

 

[terribm]

bump

 

[nntucket]

So what is this about? What happens at the opening of the MK?

 

[zurgswife]

We have tried to get there on the first bus....sometimes this is 1/2 prior to scheduled opening.....We have never asked to be the opening family...so I'm not sure how that would work...we were Picked the first time and have formed bonds since then that have enabled us to be "picked" again.

It really is a gamble so I wouldn't get your heart set on it...

 

[vicb]

We were there on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) this year and the family chosen was from La. and were decked out in Mardi Gras colors! We arrived around 8:35 for 9am opening and they must have already been picked by that time.

At about 8:45 a CM in turn of the century dress comes out of the train station and talks to the crowd, welcoming you to MK. Then music plays and more costumed CMs sing and dance then the train comes with the family and characters. They throw pixie dust and open the gates. The characters do meet and greet in town square. We high tailed it to TL and were met by a CM with a rope. We waited there until 9am sharp, rope dropped and off to Buzz and SM we went.

It was neat, we had never seen the show or done an official "rope drop".

 

[01Sweetpea]

during our Feb trip. We were standing at the rope, probably close to the middle of the rope, there were people there before us, there just happened to be a spot open in front. The CM was walking the rope speaking to the various families. I noticed her when she was about 2 families away, knew right away what she was doing. When she got to us I was very friendly, all smiles, when she asked us a questions, I asked one back, about her hometown, how long she was working here, etc.

It was so fun to open Epcot, not sure the kids understood how special it is to be picked, but I sure did, and it is one of the highlights of our trip!

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by dpuck1998
How early is "very" early? What time should we arrive? Should we ask "can we open the magic kingdom?" or is that frowned upon?

The choice is totally, absolutely random. CMs look for happy families that are having a good time. Chatting up CMs will help, since you never know which CM is doing the choosing.

Asking specifically to open the MK won't really get you very far. You would literally have to ask every CM you see, since there's no way to tell which CM is choosing the "opening family" that day. And, frankly, you're less likely to be chosen if you look like you're trying too hard. They want families who will be truly surprised and delighted.

There's no real way to plan it in advance and "surprise" your family with it. It's simply the luck of the draw ... being in the right place at the right time.

 

[aesalsa]

I never knew that the MK opened with such spectacle! I certainly hope to see that this year when we go the last week in October!

 

[tinkerbee]

When we went last January we stood next to relatives of the "first" family the women said that her husband and three children had arrive at the park at 6:45, MK opened at 9:00!!

 

[disneyfan551]

Arriving at 6:45??? Sorry, but that's insane.

 

[Aisling]

Has an "unconventional" family ever been chosen? I mean, like a mom with two teenagers and no little ones?

 

[terribm]

6:45 is INSANE!! I saw the opening with my DH this past Jan. I had never seen it before and didn't know anything about it. I was standing there watching and before long I had tears. DH laughed at me and thought I was crazy. I can't wait to take my ds3 and dd2 to see it. It would be so magical to get picked to open the park. I will not be anywhere at 6:45 however. lol

Terri

 

[pintrader]

Never in all my times of experiencing the opening or the Grand Marshals for the parades have I witness the choosing of a "family" sin kids.

It is almost like an unspoken "Rule" or Guideline that kids MUST be a part of the party mix to even be considered, although I am sure if asked, any CM would disagree that it is either a rule or guideline.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Originally posted by Aisling
Has an "unconventional" family ever been chosen? I mean, like a mom with two teenagers and no little ones?

On one of the days we were there last summer, a dad with a teenage boy and a preschooler were chosen.