Has your child ever been chosen?

[snowmouse]

........to participate in a parade or live show?? I know my daughter would love to be in the Lion King show at AK, or something of that sort. How do they choose children to particate? Is there somewhere you put your name in, do you get there early, or is it just totally random? Anyone out there with any experience?

 

[Gone Disney]

My little girl has been in a few of the prades and such at WDW. The lion king show at AK I believe they do a little skit with a few audience members in the very beginning and I can't seem to remember if they have the kids come out a bit later or not. Seems like they do but I can't place it. But they usually pick a person (not only kids) from one of the lower seats there. If it's a birthday or something you may be able to catch a CM and let them know. Don't know if it'll get you anywhere but it never hurts to ask.

As for parades they usually stop and allow all the young children near by to come out and dance or play-along with their particular performance. What ever it may be. Stop at customer relations and ask them where the parade stops are. They should be able to tell you. You'll want to be near where it stops to get a good shot at getting her out there. I won't let my little one out of my site for a second, even at WDW.

There's no box to put your name in that I've ever seen. Usually you need to get there early get a good spot for being seen and pray. It's mostly random. Although 2 years ago at the Star Wars weekends at MGM they had Jedi training. We showed up every weekend and my little girl was picked every time. The trick was that they were looking for a particular type child. Just one who was NOT too excited but excited enough to be interested. So I imagine the CM's for what ever reason do pick certain children for certain reasons.


Good Luck and have lots and lots of fun!

 

[bjakmom]

My DS was really good (and lucky) at being chosen when he was younger - couldn't even list all the shows he managed to be part of over the years. My advise would be to get to the pre-show area early, be enthusiastic and engage the CMs by chatting or making eye contact, sit either in the front or on the end of an aisle as they usually pick kids who can easily make it to the front if they haven't already chosen kids in the preshow area, and if you get talking to a CM, by all means ask them (this is how he got selected to be in a parade stop - when the CMs picking out kids came along, the CM he had asked pointed him out to them). When he was about 5 or 6 he was selected to pull the sword out of the stone at MK - I think that happened because he was being well behaved and offered to help Merlin put up the rope when he first appeared - I'm sure he'll never forget that one - he got to wear a big medal around his neck all day and all the CMs fussed over him! . . . and of course he's just really, really cute (IMHO) !

 

[bscs]

The MK parade stops in front of the Liberty bell (Liberty Square)

 

[pewing]

My boys were in the Lion King Show in December. It was wonderful...the camera was snapping The cast members just came up in the audience and picked them. I hope you have some luck...it was great fun

 

[padkasper]

when my daughter was younger she used to always get picked for the "lion king" show in the AK. she loves to get her face painted, so before we would go she would get an animal print of
some sort on her face.(they do great face paints by the kilimanjaro safari)then we would always make sure to sit as close to the front as we could get and near the end of a row. the dancers in the show do the picking. they get kids to shake different instruments and parade around with them for awhile. it is very cute. Also, i think it's better to hang back a little when going into the theater. they make the first people into the theater fill in the top rows first, filling to the front as others enter. The face painting always got her noticed!

 

[momx2]

In Dec. my 4 yr. old DD was chosen when we were entering the Beauty and Beast show at MGM to be their guest of honor. We were given 2nd row, center seats and she was called on stage by the warm - up show performers and was sung to while in the spotlight and given their Christmas cd. She said it was the best thing that ever happened to her.

 

[sconstantz]

My DS was picked to open AK last year. We were there early (I messed up the times, something I shouldn't do as I know the times from this board). Well, we went ahead and got in line up front and were hanging out. DS is very cute (IMHO), and he was dressed in Safari type shorts (you know, with pockets on the side) and he had a T-Shirt with a lizard on it and the defination of a lizard. And he was being well behaved with a hint of fun and outgoingness. I saw the cast members eyeing him, and they went up to him and asked him who his mommy and daddy were. They came up to me and asked if he could open the park and help wake up the animals. Then he got to meet Mickey and Minnie and his picture taken (actually the whole family) and a special certificate. Really neat.

Then he was picked to be in the Lion King Show. He face was painted like a leopards. We were sitting very close to the front. He was very "in to" the show and the music. The kids that are picked get an instrument to play and parade around the stage. He loved it.

He has been in other things, but those are the ones he loved most.

Have Fun,

shelly

 

[KathyTX]

This was such a wonderful memory!

It must have been December of 1997, our second trip to WDW (I think...) DS Andrew was 4. We were at the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, it was to be the first time we'd seen the show. We got to the theater a little early and were enjoying our day and having fun, sitting near the control booth area toward the front.

A CM who had been chatting with us a bit asked if DS would like to help out with the show. Being (usually) extremely shy, I was sure he'd blush and say no... but instead, he grinned and nodded. Of course I gave my blessing. To my great surprise, DS and the CM happily trotted away to "costuming". A few minutes later, kiddo comes back decked out in an adult size leather flight jacket and Indy hat! When the show started, he was there on stage, in costume, clapboard in hand, with a CM who "interviewed" him, the great adventurer, "young Indiana Jones." After a few short questions and answers, he launched the show with his one great line: "Lights, Camera, Action!"

After his fabulous debut, he turned back into the shy kid who can't even look Belle in the eye when she's flirting with him!

(edited to see if I figured out how to link a picture!)

 

[Alice28]

My child hasn't been chosen (yet!! ;-) but my husband has! We watched the Sword and the Stone ceremony 8 years ago, and he was chosen to be "security." I don't know if they often do this, but it was pretty funny. He has a military haircut (Marine Reservist), and was wearing aviator glasses and a leather bomber jacket so I guess he looked pretty serious.

 

[dahess]

Yes, my 2 dd's have. They had soooo much fun. We were sitting right up front. Some of the dancers came right up to my daughters and grabbed there hands. The loved it!

 

[TreeOfLife]

One year my peanuts were like magnets. They were chosen for parades and demos and then when we went to Universal they were chosen in the Xena and live animals shows!

My little one had a blast working with "Lassie" but was freaked out almost to the point of tears when the huge crocodile scared him. Lassie of course, saved the day...

 

[vicb]

When my DD was 6 she was chosen to dance with a frog in the parade at AK, DS age 3 was taken out too but was too shy to dance so DH "rescued" him. It was very cute!

Last year DH was chosen to be in the Backlot Tour show of Pearl Harbor. A CM came up to us in line, we were being pretty animated about our plans and how much fun we were having that day so maybe that's why they appoached us. The kids were thrilled because we got taken out of the long line and lead right up to the front of the show area. DH was a good sport and we got some fun photos.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

My children were in the Pochahontas show. We were the first in line and the CM asked if they wanted a part. One is very outgoing, the other is very shy, but they both went for it. They got a certificate after their performance.

I, myself, starred in Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.

 

[jennymouse]

My DGDthen6 was chosen to be the "Gatekeeper" and open MK. It was awsome!

 

[cboudre1]

My advice is get there EARLY. My son opened the Hunchback Show one year, was in the Goosebump show another year, and played Gilligan in the old Superstar television show. We always were one of the first people at the shows. He is always very lucky. This past trip he got on Millionaire. He loved doing every one of them. The Goosebump ahow and the Hunchback show each gave him a certificate to keep. Good luck.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Jennymouse: Do you remember how your DGD was chosen? We're going down with friends in March, and we'd love to see their little princess get to open the MK - how early should we get there (we have reservations for the Princess breakfast) and whereabouts do CMs pick from (front of line, randomly, whomever they've talked to)?


Also, has anyone ever been the closing family in the parks?

Like I said, we're really hoping for atleast one of these extra-special Magical Moments!!

 

[Samirella]

As a performer in the Lion King show I can tell you the choosing is completely random. It doesn't usually matter where you sit (as long as you aren't in the back center of the audience) and not all the children get chosen. Usually the performer is encouraged to only choose two children (with more people it takes longer to get around the stage). Birthday buttons and painted faces do help sometimes but not always. Children who are being shoved by their parents while screaming in terror are usually not chosen (Believe me, this happens a lot!) Just remember if your's isn't chosen, it's not personal, the performers just have to choose quickly in order to make their cues. Also, people picked for the animal noises in the beginning aren't always picked for the sing along since there are different people picking. I hope this helps!

 

[stinkerbelle]

When my FI and I went to WDW in 1999, he was picked to be the Indian on stage at the Hoop-Dee-Doo. Then, on our second trip to WDW in 2000, we got to sit in the "inner circle" at Who Wants to be a Millionaire and we got to be the "actors" on the first part of the back lot tour.

So you never know if the CM are coming after your kids...or YOU!