How do you get selected for a WDW parade?

[JLDSMD]

DW was wondering if there is any certain things that we could do to be selected to ride in any of the Parades at WDW (any park, but MK would be first choice). Can we talk to any CMs in Guest Relations or is it totally by random?

Thanks for your responses.

 

[mmccoy]

Someone posted some tips a few weeks ago on how to get selected for a parade. I think, more than anything, you need to be lucky. But, to increase your chances:

1) Be at the park well before it opens, particularly if you want to participate in the park opening itself. And, when I mean well before it opens, I mean at least an hour before it opens. We got to MK 45 minutes before it opened one morning - already a couple of hundred people there. And, I thought we were excited!

2) Dress in Disney-like clothes, dress similarly, or, at the very least, dress nicely. I don't mean a coat and tie, but I would be willing to bet if you're wearing "revealing" or "raunchy" clothes, you won't make the short list. As I recall, the person who started the post I referred to above was on her honeymoon. Big plus! One respondent, who was part of a group, said they all dressed alike, in homemade Disney shirts. Pretty cool.

3) Someone said they look for the "typical" family - DH, DW, DS, DD - but I don't think its a big deal.

4) Be enthusiastic while you're waiting. You don't have to lead the crowd in a sing-a-long or Mickey Mouse Club cheers, but, as you can imagine, they want happy folks.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[ahoff]

Might be a lot of luck, but the dressing up part has some weight. Our kids were selected for the NSSHP parade the last time we were there. The whole family was in costume, and we were also there at the beginning of the party. We were just walking up Main St and were approached by a CM. Needless to say the kids were thrilled!

I heard from others that familys in matching attire have a good shot at it as well.

 

[Snoopymom]

We have a distant relative who tried to get my son into the AK parade last year, but he was too young, I think he had to be 8? and he was only 3, anyway, maybe most are CM friends or relatives?

 

[LibertyBelle]

The only participation that they offer at MK is the Grand Marshall for the day parade. The selection process for that is totally random. There is a "Grand Marshall" liason that roams Main Street in the morning to early afternoon and scoops out the people. Mingeling and talking to random guests until they feel they have found "the perfect family". The one thing that I know is that everyone in the family has to want to do it. If one person is hesitant at all they will not choose you. You probably would not even realize you are speaking to "the liason" as they fit right in with everyone else (for that purpose) so make sure when you are wlaking down Main Street in the morning, if someone stops to talk to you or says hi you are cheery happy and stand out... Good luck!

 

[Sabor]

My daughters were also selected to ride on a float in MNNSHP last year.
We were apporached by a CM at the start of Main Street.
My DDs both had an on Princess Costumes (the higher end ones)
and were extremely dolled up.
All they could talk about was how much "Stich" was acting up out back.
It really was a Magical moment for them that they will never forget.