How do you get to open a park?

[BMEngineer]

I have seen in the past families get to open the park for the day. How do you get to do this? Do you have to be the first person there or is there some other way?

Thanks

 

[zurgswife]

Be one of the first people to arrive. Make sure you are pleasant and strikeup conversations with the Cm's. Doesn't hurt to have cute kiddos....It's just whom ever they warm up to that morning.

 

[Nipsy88]

We opened MK on July 8th with our two daughters 3 & 5 and with my in-laws. We arrived at the turnstiles at about 8:15 and a CM approached us, asked us where we were from and where we were staying, etc. He then asked us if we could help them open the park. They took us into the empty park, we took the old fire truck down Main Street and back to Toon Town Fair where about 15 characters came out. We got to take pictures and hang out for about ten minutes and then we got on the train and rode it around to the front of the park, sitting with Mickey and the gang. It was the first day of our vacation and it was such a great experience. The looks on our girls faces were priceless and it really kicked off the week perfectly. I think it's just a matter of luck and being friendly with the CM. Good luck.

 

[chigirl]

We were picked at MGM last September...we were there about 20 minutes before opening and it was my son's birthday. My DH had made up a t-shirt (he's an artist) with a Disneyesque cartoon of my son and "It's my 8th Birthday!" on it. Well, I saw a nice CM look at us several times and then she asked my son, "Would you like to help open the park?" He was like, "Would I????!!!"

...so she swiped our cards and we went inside, with her skipping off with my DS! We went to the Hollywood Avenue area (sorry if that is the wrong name, the street infront of the hat) and they took pictures of us. Then we went back and they gave my DS a clapboard and the CM and my son had everyone say "Lights, Camera, Action!" It was very cute and cool and we caught it on tape. They gave us a picture and a magic memories certificate and an all-day fastpass for Tower of Terror (they let DS pick). My cynical, rich brother in law asked us how much we paid for this when he saw the video!

I think it is true that it is kinda like 50% being there early and 50% luck that the right CM sees you, and being a happy family helps! It was such a treat for my son, because he is obsessed with movies and everything Hollywood, especially old Hollywood, so what a thrill!