Anyone picked to be in the Parade? Any advice?

[ImagineEar]

Being in a WDW Parade is a dream of many of us DIS'ers I'm sure - but I thought I would ask anyway!

Has anyone out there Lucky enough?

 

[tink2]

I myself haven't actually been picked, but my daughter and nieces were picked to dance with the characters. Not sure if this is what you mean since it wasn't like the grand marshall or anything- but Dopey walking with my 2 1/2 DD and her dancing with Dopey and Snow White was priceless!! Definitely a magical moment!

 

[tink2]

Sorry- I fogot the advice part! If you would like your child to be able to do this, there is a list of where the parades stop on the tips board I believe. We sat in the hub in front of the castle sort of to the left- if you are facing the castle.

I think being a guest of honor in the parade is by luck- from what I've read. A CM usually picks a family in the morning. The only tips I've read for this are to wear shirts alike, be overly friendly to CMs, etc.

Good luck! I'm interested in what others have experienced!

 

[gshoemate]

I have asked Guest Relations at DAK and they said it is completely random. I have also seen people sitting on a bench talking to a Cast Member filling out paperwork and then later seen them in the parade. So I think higher up cast member walk the park and randomly pick people. If celebrating a special occasion it doesn't hurt to stop off at Guest Relations and ask. I know recently there were 2 cast members from Disney Tokyo visiting AK and they were in the parade.

Ginger

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

My kids seem to get picked a lot. Just lucky I guess! Pinocchio picked them for magical moments several years back, later that year she danced with some of the dancers and she danced in a circle with Snow White and the Dwarfs last visit ! Makes WONDERFUL priceless photos!

 

[g&m]

Hi ! Have'nt posted for a while. We (our family of 4 and also my cousin's family of 3)were chosen to be in the Jammin' Jungle parade last May on our annual trip. What a super,unforgettable experience. I'm not sure if it was luck or random,but we had asked a cast member the day before if we could be in the parade. He responded that if all the chosen members did'nt show up, then we'd be in (cause' the show must go on!). But as our luck happened hat day, they all showed up. It was the following day that the magic dust fell on all of us (that unforgettable one)and here's how it went ,and here's what you can try:

About a half hour before the parade we hung around the entrance to the safari ride(that's where the parade began..did this both days..and this is where the chosen are to meet)

Well on that lucky ,hot ,day,some of the chosen did'nt show up! Can't imagine but was to our luck!

It was then that the cast member(look for a cast member carrying a clip board and looking all around,a half hour before the parade,at the meeting spot. If you see that person...ASK..you just may get lucky like we did...except on that day,he asked us!)

We were given a souvenier backstage pass card(you needed that to get back stage to costuming),fitted with Mickey eared hats and a safafri vest to wear,were then placed on a float backstage and were given a disposable camera to take pictures of people taking pictures of us.

One of the most important of the instructions we were given was to SLILING AND WAVING AT ALL TIMES! They did have parade monitors along the route who made sure that you did!

At the end,we took some pictures with the float driver(but nothing else..picture taking backstage is exteremly prohibited),handed in our costumes,and given a free bottle of water!

A super day that we'll never forget and always talk about.
Hope that helps and good luck !

 

[Mich Mouse]

My family had the pleasure of riding on Rafikii's float at the AK Jammin' Jungle Parade. We were walking over the bridge to Harambe when a cast member approached and began a conversation. Within a few minutes he found out that AK was my families favorite theme park and he invited us to be a part of he parade!! The cast member was walking around Harambe with a clipboard about two hours before the parade started when he was scouting for parade families.
It was absolute magic riding on the float looking at everybodys smiling faces. WDW really brings people such great joy and it was so evident to my family as we rode in the parade.
I think the chances are best at being in the AK parade because they involve at least 7 diferent families each day!!

 

[chatty]

Husband and I were picked for their 100th. MGM Motor Cars Parade. It was right after 911. It was also WDW's 30th anniv. on Oct.1st.2001...It just so happened to be our 30th. anniv. Oct 1 2001..We were married Oct.1st.1971 same day WDW opened..We were just kids and our wedding date had nothing to do with WDW's opening. But God knew we would turn out to be Disney Junkies. Anyways we were to have a 8:30 am Breakfast at Hollywood and Vine but because of the 911 attack they were very strict on security. They were not letting anyone in at 8:30am and said someone should had told us. (they didn't) So we showed them our conformation letter for that time and my husband told them that it was also our 30th.anniv. on the same day as theirs. Orig.the first day lead Motor Car was to be for Regis and Kelly, but they like a thousand others wouldn't come due to 911. (they rescheduled for Dec.) So the security officer went into the Guest Service office and came out with a young lady named Jennifer. She asked if we would start off the Big 30th. Motor car Parade at 4:00 pm and we said GREAT!!
We were given a big sheet with all sorts of special front in line privelages and front row seating for shows. We were even given special pins and a certificate and a 8x10 picture of us in the Parade. They even took pictures of us through the whole Parade. They gave me a wedding hat with ears I had to wear and a Top hat with ears for my husband to wear. So that's how it happened for us..
I wish everyone could get a chance to be in a parade. It was alot of fun and a once in a lifetime experance.
Good Luck to all..
Chatty

 

[dsneygirl]

We were also chosen for the AK parade last summer. It was totally random. Dh and I were in the middle of DinoLand on a very crowded day when a manager came up and sked us to be in the parade. It was a blast!

 

[Niagara2]

Chatty = we were there that day and saw you = remember it being announced about the 30th Wedding Anniversary. You looked like you were having alot of fun!

 

[chatty]

Niagara2,
Thank You for letting me know you saw us. It was a once ina lifetime adventure. We would have never in a million years thought we would have been asked. But that's the Magic of WDW! We will be back in 20 days and are very excited. But this time we are taking our fiur Children and 2 of their friends. So for all who think that it will never happen have faith in all the Pixi Dust that floats around the most magical Place on Earth!
Chatty