Grand Marshalls for a Disney Parade

[andynrobbie]

We are planning a trip in 47 days for my two boys who will celebrating their 1st and 3rd Birthdays while we are there. We were wondering if there was a way that we can be grand marshalls for a disney parade as an extra special celebration. Has anyone ever done this?

 

[disney junky]

I may be wrong but I believe I read somewhere that it is totally random. A family is selected by a CM sometime after opening.

 

[amandadaddy]

Being selected as Guest Marshalls is totally random and very rare. I don't think it can be bought, but I'll tell you how it happened to us!

DW, DD (age 7 then), DMiL, DFiL and I were walking down Main Street USA shortly after opening. As we approached the Main Street Bakery for a light breakfast, we were stopped by a CM with a tie and a clipboard who was just standing around watching guests going about starting their day. He basically said hello, asked who was travelling with us, and then invited us to be Grand Marshalls for the day. I can't remember his name right now, but he said that it had been his job for the last couple of years to select the parade Grand Marshalls, so I wouldn't be suprised if he still had that job.

We were selected in January '04 and rode in the fire engine, while a young couple rode in the antique car ( the little one with the lever for steering ). We received Mickey Ears with our names emroidered on them and front row reserved seats for the rest of the parade for our effort. It was truly a magical moment that none of us will ever forget. I had never thought of it before, but when you consider how many millions of guests visit the MK every year, and that there only 730 chances per year to be Grand Marshall (approx 2 times per day ), you realize just how rare it is.

For what it's worth, here's my advice on how to get picked: don't be in a rush to beat the crowds to one ride or another, dress appropriately, remember you're at the happiest place on earth....and act like it, and should you see a CM with a clipboard and a tie watching guests go about their day, don't storm him, just give him a polite and cheerful "goodmorning". Even if you don't get picked, you'll enjoy your trip more that way, and I doubt that guests in halter tops who frown and gripe at their kids as they trample over other guests on their way into the park get picked that often. Good Luck!

 

[HollyNEd]

As someone else stated you cannot buy this or even request it. It is totally random. My DEXH and I got to be grand marshal's back in Dec of 94. We got it because of just being picked at random.

 

[kpm76]

As other posters have said, it's random. We were chosen last September to be the Grand Marshal's in the Stars & Motor Cars Parade in MGM. Gisella, the special CM that chose us, was working at the Guest Relations booth and we spoke to her when we asked about the Fantasmic Dinner Package. We were on our honeymoon and wearing the bride and groom ears. She asked if we were planning to be in park for the 3:30pm parade and we said yes. She then asked if we would like to be the GM. We were speechless....it was so magical....Gisella was wonderful....she even took our pictures while we were riding in the car and gave us a nice place to stand at the end of the route to watch the rest of the parade. After the parade concluded, we were brought into the VIP lounge and given sodas along with a frame, the GM signs that hung on the side our our car and signed pics of the characters. We were also handed special tickets for Fantasmic that night. It was unreal Gisella told us that a different CM in MGM is chosen every day to pick the Grand Marshals. I hope you and your family are able to experience something as magical, but remember magical moments happen when you least expect them