has your child ever been picked??/

[valandemmy]

Has anyones child ever been picked to Ride in any of the Parades. My daughter will be turning 4 while we are in the world, and we told her about sometimes children get picked to ride in the parade...and now that is all she is talking about.....what kind of odds are there to get picked...... Am I crazy to hope she will get it????/

 

[DVC Jen]

I think it is pretty rare, especially considering the vast amount of children there on any given day.... but with that said, ya never know. Pixie dust is everywhere.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

When our ds was little he was picked to be in the parade twice. Not like the grand marshalls, but he got to interact with a float and characters, I think it was the lion king float or something. They picked a certain amount of kids to do it and gave them like instruments or something. We got there really early, which we do anyway to line up for the parade, this happened to us twice in frontierland, by the country bears, we talked to the cms before they started putting up the ropes, not to ask to be in the parade, just talking about the park, general stuff etc, I had ds dressed up in some cute mickey shirt or some disney thing and gosh, I must say he was really cute anyway. I dont know I totally didnt even expect it, they asked and he said yes, I think one of the other ds did it too. I actually saw one mom push her kid up into it and she was not even invited by the cm. Hope some pixie dust falls your way.

 

[aec]

Due to safety concerns, there are no parade stops anymore during the MK parade for kids to partipate. Everyone has to stay behind the rope.

Try the Frontierland Hoedown instead. It is one of the lesser known events and was very easy to get "picked for". Square dancers and characters (brer rabbit, brer bear, country bears) come dancing down the street and stop in the area of pecos bill and country bears (they come in the same direction as the beginning of the share a dream come true parade). We were the only ones standing there as the "parade" approached and both DDs got to square dance and had a great time. By the time it was over every child around was participating in the hokey pokey. I think it would count as a "parade" in the eyes of a 5 yo and was a lot of fun. I got the following info from Steve Soar's site. Schedule subject to change obviously.

Frontierland Hoedown
Interactive parade featuring dancers and the Country Bears. Guests are invited to participate in a square dance and a line dance. Takes place outside the Country Bear Jamboree, Prairie Outpost & Supply and Pecos Bill's Tall Tale Inn & Cafe.
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday at 10:10, 11:00 & 11:50am
Saturday at 4:50pm

The other cool character interaction we had was at the opening of toontown. Toontown was scheduled to open at 10:00 and we stood at the rope btwn fantasyland and toontown starting about 9:45. We were the first ones there. Pooh, tigger and eyeore came out to "open" toon town. When the CM dropped the rope, Pooh took both of my DDs by the had and marched them through toontown and brough them into the hall of fame. They got to be first in line to meet cinderella, snow white and sleeping beauty. You can't count on being picked but it would be worth a shot.

 

[danny1649]

Good post to help OP Thank You

 

[2kidsnutsfordisney]

Our dd and ds were also "picked" to walk with Tigger at the opening of Toontown (highlight of the trip). My other suggestion is to try the Lion King show at AK. All three trips our dd has been selected to participate in the show. My tips for being selected are to sit near the front (first 5 rows) on the end! The characters who are in the show will come around and take about 3-4 children per section and give them an instrument to play and then parade them around the room. I would recommend bringing your video camera in case your child is selected. Good luck and have fun

 

[CamColt]

My kids were asked to participate in the MK tree lighting ceremony over Christmas, 2003. Of course, my little darlings said NO! Them turning down an opportunity like that just about killed me. I still read them the riot act over that one.

 

[junebug]

for MNSSHP last year my daughter was chosen to be in the parade, she was dressed up in her halloween costume. She rode on a float with Lilo! She had a blast and received a Grand Marshall Certificate at the end. I think it was pure luck of being in the right place at the right time (with a cute costume)

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

On our very first trip my DD was picked twice to interact in the Share a Dream come true parade - first a chimney sweep picked her to come out and dance and then Minnie came and picked her to skip around the float with her - it was really cool. I am bummed that the parade doesn't stop anymore as that was the highlight of her trip that year. She talks about how she got picked twice in one parade - LOL.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Our family was picked to be in the Jamin' Jungle parade at AK, and ride on Rafiki's float. We were approached by a CM who asked us "Are you having a good time at AK today?" We replied "It is our favorite park!" Then he spoke with us for a few minutes about why we love AK so much, and he said "Well then you must be in our parade." This was about three hours before the parade, on the bridge to Africa. He gave us laminated card that identified us as parade participants, with back stage access to get in costume for the parade.

Definitely a magical monent. Our favorite park, in the parade!

 

[jessiesmom]

My DD8 must have the "look" . While visiting MK in Jan 2004 she was chosen to be Grand Marshal in the parade. We were given our very own Mickey ears with our names on them. The very next day the "look" got her chosen at AK to be in the Jammin' in the Jungle parade. She is cute, but we were both a little surprised by two parades in two days.

 

[WiscMomof2]

for MNSSHP last year my daughter was chosen to be in the parade, she was dressed up in her halloween costume. She rode on a float with Lilo! She had a blast and received a Grand Marshall Certificate at the end. I think it was pure luck of being in the right place at the right time (with a cute costume)

My girls were picked to be in the MNSSHP parade in 2002. How funny! they were on a float with Lilo and Stitch too!! I agree that it's mostly about being in the right place at the right time. They did look awfully cute in their costumes though. We were approached by a gentleman as we entered the MK near the train station and asked if they'd be interested. I think I may have been more excited than they were. Definitely a highlight of that trip!

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

Due to safety concerns, there are no parade stops anymore during the MK parade for kids to partipate. Everyone has to stay behind the rope.

aec, do you know when they stopped doing this, and why? My DD has been picked almost every time we watched the Share a Dream parade and absolutely loved it. Sorry to hear it's not going to happen anymore.

 

[HollyJoy]

On our last trip to WDW this past December, our family was picked to ride in the Animal Kingdom Parade. We were in the meet and greets and as we were leaving one character, a CM approached us and invited us to join the parade. We rode right in front of Donald! Also, in MK's toontown, my oldest dd was "picked" to walk with Winnie the Pooh, and my youngest DD was picked to walk with Tigger! So magical!

oldest dd walks with Pooh

youngest dd walks with Tigger

Here we are in the AK parade!

 

[minivan3]

We were in Tomorrowland having a turkey leg and a CM asked about our sweatshirts- we all had on matching ones, then he tells us he has a problem- he has a float with no one on it and did we think we could help him?!!

We were jumping up and down and screaming before he could even finish asking us!!

Definitely a magical moment of a lifetime.

 

[BeckWhy]

Never been picked for a parade, but have been picked for attractions.

My sister and I were picked to do a part of the Backlot Tour (I don't know if they still have it). Where one person is in a lil ship and the water come crashing down... and the other gets like shot at. (We were just lucky, first in line.)

My other sister got picked for something, maybe sounds dangerous. She was loud though. PICK ME PICK ME type of deal.

And my dad was picked for something at Universal. But yeah.

 

[Aquagirl]

aec, do you know when they stopped doing this, and why? My DD has been picked almost every time we watched the Share a Dream parade and absolutely loved it. Sorry to hear it's not going to happen anymore.

I am not sure when they stopped doing this, but it was due to safety concerns after the cast member was killed during the parade last year.

 

[Aquagirl]

My sister and I were picked to do a part of the Backlot Tour (I don't know if they still have it). Where one person is in a lil ship and the water come crashing down... and the other gets like shot at. (We were just lucky, first in line.)

They still have this. I was chosen in September. I was the lucky one that had 1000 gallons of water dumped on me. We were asked to participate as we walked into the attraction. I avoided being asked a couple of weeks ago, it was way too cold!

 

[strmtroopr96]

They still have this. I was chosen in September. I was the lucky one that had 1000 gallons of water dumped on me. We were asked to participate as we walked into the attraction. I avoided being asked a couple of weeks ago, it was way too cold!

My brothers were chosen for this also. Then I was able to do it myself on another trip with my cousin. The best was when I told DH to raise his arm while waiting in line and he was picked but totally clueless as to why. He didn't realize what he was in for! LOL

 

[polkadotladybug]

When we were there in July 2003, we got to Goofy's Barnstormer right after Toontown opened - and there was NO line and we must have gone on that thing 10-12 times in a row - (we would come back around and there was no one in line so the CM just told us to stay on!) - when we were leaving, out traipsed Goofy and Max - they somehow asked Anna Grace if she wanted to go on it again - I encouraged her to say yes! and grabbed around for my camera! They walked up the exit ramp and proceeded to get right on the Barnstormer - Anna Grace and Goofy were in the front seat! Max picked a little boy and they were in the seat behind them -

She was elated! It's great because that was her favorite ride!