Have you ever been a grand marshall?

[KMH1]

I've always wanted to be a grand marshall for any Disney parade, but we've never been in the right place at the right time...

What was your grand marshall experience like?

How did you get picked?

I'd love to hear the details!

Amy

 

[DawnAK]

Amy-
DH and I were chosen to be Grand Marshalls at the Magic Kingdom parade in January 2003. What an absolutely amazing, unforgetable experience. We had been at MK about an hour, just running around getting all the character's autographs and pictures. So, it must have been around 9-10 am on a Monday morning (I think).
DH is a huge Tigger Fan, so every day of our Disney vacation, he goes all out Tigger. DH is 6'4, about 250lbs...a big guy! He wears the fuzzy Tigger ears on a headband, a Tigger T-shirt and a lanyard full of only Tigger pins (not to mention the Tigger keychains that hang from the bottom). I had forgotten my fuzzy Pooh ear headband at home (didn't get packed), so sadly, I didn't have much Disney stuff on, although DH has enough for the both of us, LOL. So, CM Robin approaches us and just starts asking all sorts of questions about our vacation, past Disney trip questions, etc. I was getting a little "antsy" to start our day...and it was a long little "chat". Then she asked if we would be in the park for the 3 O'clock parade, we said yes, then she said "do you know the best place to watch it?" We said no. She said "in front of it", so I lamely replied "wouldn't we get run over!". She said, not if you were IN IT!!! We were thrilled and the entire morning and early afternoon were a blur, we had such anticipation! We had to meet around 2:15 I think. We rode in Walt's electric car. The driver was so friendly! They gave us mouse ears with our names embroidered on them. The driver taught us the little dance. We were right in front of the band. The most unfortunate thing that happened was...our digital camera was new to us, and we didn't have it on the best quality setting. So, the photo they took of us is all digital and grainy looking. We received a certificate and all day we were recognized around the park. So fun! That night at dinner at Flying Fish, we told the hostess of our amazing day and she told our waitress and she was bowing to us since we were Grand Marshalls! Haha. Good luck being in the right place at the right time. Now, we find that we "critque" other GM families if they aren't smiling or waving. Some people just look like they don't want to be there!
Dawn

 

[KMH1]

What a great story Dawn...thanks for sharing!

I agree, sometimes it looks like some of the people chosen don't want to be Grand Marshalls at all!

We've been to WDW 7 times over the past 4 years...hopefully trip #8 will be the one! We are, after all, bringing our new lucky charm along...our new baby daughter Alyssa. She'll be six months old when we go in October! We are so excited!!!

 

[Safari Steve]

For logistical reasons, the CMs who pick grand marshalls are looking for families who no longer use strollers.
They are looking for happy people.
They are looking for people who are not dressed in immodest or revealing clothes.
They are looking for people who do not have large tattoos or facial piercings (clean-cut, wholesome look)
They are looking for people who are not looking for them.
There is no sure-fire way to be picked as Grand Marshall. There is one sure-fire way to not be picked: requesting it.
Have fun, be friendly, and let it be a surprise.