First visitors of the day.

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I've heard a few people talking about being the first visitors of the day at the parks and "opening the park", what is this all about? Anyone do it? how can someone get to do it?

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I've heard a few people talking about being the first visitors of the day at the parks and "opening the park", what is this all about? Anyone do it? how can someone get to do it?

Yes I do that. And yes you should do it. And yes anyone can do it. It is easier if you are staying at an onsite resort but anyone can do it. How you do it is show up at an unholy hour of the morning that makes you wonder if you have actually taken a vacation!!!! Be at your selected park a min of 20 minutes early. Preferably 40 minutes early. WHICH if you are staying at a resort and are doing earoly entry mornings at the park means you will be at the front gate at 7:20 am for an 8am opening!!!!!! Just be really friggin early.

 

[Excited2Go2Disney]

Do you actually have to be the first one to the gate?

 

[Daisy'sMom]

This brings up another question if you could help me out. Does the "park opening" mean the rope drop at the end of Main Street or the front gates?

 

[Daisy'sMom]

Bump.

 

[WDSearcher]

"Park Opening" means when they allow people past the train station and into Town Square. They don't do "rope drop" at the end of Main Street any more because of the opening ceremony they do at the train station.

As for being "first family," there is no way to guarantee that you are chosen, as it's totally random. You do not need to be the "first people in line," nor do you need to get to the parks at the crack of dawn to be considered. I've known people who wandered up at five to 9 who were chosen. You do, obviously, have to be at the gates prior to park opening, but that's about all you can really do to ensure that you have a chance. If you are having fun, talking to CMs and enjoying yourself, you have a better chance than if you're just sitting like a bump on a log waiting to get in. The more you ask to be the "first family," the less likely you are to be chosen. The more you look like you're angling to be the first family, the less likely you are to be chosen. CMs like to choose people for whom it will be a surprise, not people who are campaigning.

FYI ... they don't do the opening ceremony on EMH days, so there is no "first family" chosen.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Okay, well... I'm still confused. What does it mean though?? Do they do something special for you? If they don't pick someome who asks or is wanting to be pickied then what can you do to be picked?

 

[cudworth]

Our 2 children opened magic Kingdom last year at Easter. It was very cool and something we would love to do again . We were not the first ones at the park but we did happen to find a turnstile far to the left with no line . My son who is 9 loves to talk to people . He just happened to talk the right person, out of the blue he asked my son if he would like to open the park. We never went to the park even hoping for this or thinking about it. You just get lucky. The person who did the choosing was a fellow who was in his 50's and a superviser. Good luck another great thing is being chosen to be the big kahuna at typhoon lagoon we had this happen easter of 2003 . You get to sit in a special area and pick the first wave , you also get to wear a special necklace that lets you go to the front of the line on the family raft ride.

 

[WDSearcher]

Okay, well... I'm still confused. What does it mean though?? Do they do something special for you? If they don't pick someome who asks or is wanting to be pickied then what can you do to be picked?

As I said ... it's totally random. You can't "do" anything. You just need to be a happy family, having fun and enjoying the day. The family that is chosen gets to help open the park that day. They go up to the train, meet the characters, and stand with Mickey Mouse while they toss "pixie dust" to open the park. I believe the family gets a certificate and maybe pins or something else special. It's like being Grand Marshal of a parade, only it's at park opening. Does that help explain it a bit more?

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Yeah, thanks for the explantions! I hope we're able to do that someday, it would be fun.