anyone ever been the family to open a park?

[carri5317]

Just wondered if anyone was ever choosen to open a park(or knew of someone), if so, how did you get picked. Just curious, tried to do a search but it wasn't working.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

i did this 3 weeks ago. last year DW DD and DN were at MGM to see the opening day for the Narnia and we were all wearing are MVMCP shirts and DD and DN were in a different line then us when a CM asked DD were her parents were and i thought oh @$#& what did they do wrong(you know playing with the turnstyle. then he asked use what we were doing and he then asked us if we wanted to be the luck family to open the park. woohoo what a rush. here are a few pictures to show you the views.

DD and DN waiting

getting story on how to open park

First Family Picture

 

[OctDisney]

If you want to open the Magic Kingdom, you have to be there very early and get chosen.

The other way is to ask to see if they will.
That is what we did.
My oldest wanted to open the park, so I asked a CM and we were told we could do it later in the week. They even changed our character breakfast.
We were lucky, the CM took one look at my boy and knew something.
I was so grateful, since the year before my youngest was chosen to be in the MGM parade and also the Lion King show.

My advice, ask when to get to the MK and be prepared to be flexible if they say yes for later in the week.

It was worth it.

 

[chigirl]

It's a right time/right place thing...they chose my DS on his birthday to open MGM because a CM saw his "It's My Birthday!" t-shirt he was wearing, so she picked him. They took a picture which we were givem, actually a bunch but we got to pick one, and they gave us a "Magical Moments" certificate and a day-long fastpass for Tower of Terror (they asked him which ride and he picked that). It was a special treat!!! But we were there at 8:45 when the park opened at 9am.

 

[Kris Puyear]

I was so worried about the crowds during the week before Easter, that I had my family of 4 up and out the door at 6:25am (the sun hadn't even come up yet). Loaded onto a bus (with 4 other early risers), got to MK and were at the turnstiles with plenty of time to spare for the 7:00am opening.

We started talking to a couple CMs about the Virtual Magic Kingdom. Entered the turnstiles, but they had a rope at the train station, that was when one of the CMs came over to us and asked if we wanted to help open up the park. We said definitely and he handed over a bunch of Mickey confetti (which my husband kept pulling out of my hair for the rest of the day ).

What a great way to start the day!!!

Kris

 

[Bronte]

we were choosen a few years ago to open MK ... it was the BEST !!!!!!!!
All I can say is that my parents were there with my two girls very, very early and were asked to open the park ... my husband and I arrived about 15min. before the opening and were really surpized ... we all got to stand up on stage, get introduced by Mickey, do the count down and throw some pixi dust. My girls got to keep their magic wands full of candy and we recieved a free photo of my entire family up there on stage ... it was really cool to be infront of all those people waiting to get into the magic kingdom that day.
I do not know if this helps but we were called "Gate Keepers" to the Magic Kingdom for that day.

Hay ... what a small world ... my family was at MGM the very day they opened Narnia too ... How cool is that ...
I remember being there for the opening of the park because I thought Narnia would be open right away too but it did not open up till later that day .... we waited in line to be the first group to go through the wardrobe.
I did not know that they picked a family to open MGM like they do for MK. Do they pick a family for every park?????

 

[IBELIEVE2]

Last September we were asked to open up Animal Kingdom. We were just waiting in line at the turnstyle when a CM asked our grandaughters if they wanted to open the park. It was great! A real memorable moment.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Hay ... what a small world ... my family was at MGM the very day they opened Narnia too ... How cool is that ...
I remember being there for the opening of the park because I thought Narnia would be open right away too but it did not open up till later that day .... we waited in line to be the first group to go through the wardrobe.
I did not know that they picked a family to open MGM like they do for MK. Do they pick a family for every park?????

from what i know the answer is yes. the last trip we tried to open MK but got luck to open MGM. open any park any time. it's ture disney magic.

 

[carri5317]

These are great stories, I just wondered and of course you Dissers had the answer!

 

[kaysmommie]

Wow I would love to get chosen for this. I guess we could get there early in matching Tshirts and hope for the best. It sounds like a magical moment.

 

[disneyfreak74]

Does anyone know if I bring it to their attention that we are there with the make a wish. . . do you think that thye may choose us? (We are a party of 9)

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Does anyone know if I bring it to their attention that we are there with the make a wish. . . do you think that thye may choose us? (We are a party of 9)

that might do it. call them inadvance. can't hurt.

 

[liveforthemagic]

I think the big key is to be there early. We opened MK in 2003. We were so worried that there would be a long line to buy tickets that we were honestly the 2nd car in the parking lot. We weren't wearing matching shirts--but we were clearly very very excited. I did mention to the lady at the ticket window that we had been saving since my son was born and he was 7 at the time....I don't know if they share that info with the CM that picks or not. Or perhaps it could be the sight of me practically skipping away from the ticket window towards my bouncing family with our tickets that convinced the CM that we definitely were in a magical mood.

 

[boston4415]

My family and I opened Blizzard Beach. It's my sons favorite park and we had to be the first there. It was back in 2001 and I forget what time we got there but it was even before the workers arrived.

We got a large medal - like an olympic medal, free locker rental, free towels, free refill sport bottle and a special spot to sit in the park. I had to open the park by going down the tall water slide. The big one, I forget the name. I know my son was disapointed because he couldn't because he wasn't old enough.

An annoucement was made and then I was prompted to take the plunge and everyone was then let in the park. I meet my family at the bottom. We had a great time. Free soda & Towels.