How to be Epcot family of the day?

[MomtoGKC]

Good morning! So I screwed up the time change and woke up extra early by accident! We're headed to Epcot today so I thought, who knows, maybe we could be there early enough. How do they usually pick? Is it like MK where you stand in acertain place at a certain time?

Who knew the hotel clock would change the time automatically??!!

 

[Robo]

Arrive early.
Talk cheerily with the CM's near the gates.
Wear bright clothes.
The rest is luck.

 

[Mamu]

Good morning! So I screwed up the time change and woke up extra early by accident! We're headed to Epcot today so I thought, who knows, maybe we could be there early enough. How do they usually pick? Is it like MK where you stand in acertain place at a certain time?

Who knew the hotel clock would change the time automatically??!!

OK If I'm reading this correctly you got there an hour before the park opens for early morning entry. If that correct you deserve to be Family of the Day.

 

[2Tiggies]

Arrive early.
Talk cheerily with the CM's near the gates.
Wear bright clothes.
The rest is luck.

Loving the fashion tip you threw in there Robo

 

[LaurenT]

Loving the fashion tip you threw in there Robo

It's true though! The last RD I did at MK, it was a family of five....each wearing the same mickey head t-shirt in a different color. They looked like a rainbow!

 

[MomtoGKC]

Two of my kids slept in so the rest of us decided to take it easy and slowly made our way over here. Still got here an
hour early but didn't rush to the rope- got a locker, met stitch. Hopefully we'll have a relaxing day!

 

[StephC1217]

What does the family of the day get to do? Do they pick one at every park at RD or just MK and EP?

 

[LaurenT]

MK is the big one....at Epcot, when they pick one, they get to ride the Test Track car over to the TT pavillion and I guess be the first ones to ride for the day.
I don't think there's a family of the day at DHS or AK (though I'm never at the rope for AK - I'm always at Tusker House!

 

[stargazertechie]

MK is the big one....at Epcot, when they pick one, they get to ride the Test Track car over to the TT pavillion and I guess be the first ones to ride for the day.
I don't think there's a family of the day at DHS or AK (though I'm never at the rope for AK - I'm always at Tusker House!

I've never seen a family of the day at AK, but at DHS, they do sometimes pick a family and they get to be part of the opening show (usually when they have a small car along with the "movie truck") and they get to yell the "Lights, Camera, Action" and then the streetmosphere actors drive them over to the ride of their choice ahead of the crowd.

 

[44disney]

We got picked to be the Epcot family of the day in Sept. about 3 years ago. We arrived early, got through the turnstyles, and were waiting by the fountain for rope drop. The kids wanted to train pins so I went with them, and the castmember that we traded with told us to get my DH (who did NOT want to leave his spot by the rope, at least initially). Once I got my DH he took us under the rope and then told us that we were the family of the day!

 

[Meriweather]

We were picked to open DHS....just me and DH.
It was a dreary rainy day in Jan a couple years ago. We were laughing and one of the guest relations people saw us and liked our attitute, so asked us if we wanted to open.
It was fun. We got to be part of a little skit and sit in the old car and ride away at opening. Usually it goes to ToT, but DH doesn't do that, so we got whisked to TSM. We went on, the CM got us fast passes for later. She also took a ton of pictures for us while we were in the opening.
It was so much fun!

 

[RabFlmom]

Just remember though........being the first family at the park in any of the parks does not guarantee that you or your child(at on of the waterparks) will be the one chosen. It is mostly luck; but being upbeat and wearing bright clothes to get noticed probably helps get the attention of the CM that chooses.

 

[mom2rtk]

We were chosen at DHS in Sept 09. But when we went to DHS in Dec 2010 nobody was chosen.

 

[Brave teacher]

We were picked as the first famil at AK in 2009. We carried the rope from the opening show to KS and were the first family to ride for the day. They brought us through the back way to get to the front of the line before everyone else.

 

[v_gan]

Me and my boyfriend were picked to be Family of the Day at DHS in September 2007 and at Epcot in May 2010. Both times we were the first people to be at the turnstiles, however that didn't matter as much at Epcot. Both times we were really excited and happy + we were wearing Disney shirts.

At DHS, we got picked at the turnstiles after talking to a jolly, older CM. This was during the Year of a Millions Dreams, and I don't think they pick people to do this every day anymore. It hasn't happened each time we've been since then, anyways. The CM that picked us recorded everything on our camcorder while we were in the show! We got to ride in the pretty white car (which, I'm not sure if I really believe it or not, but we were told it was one of Walt's cars!) down Sunset Boulevard down to the Tower of Terror. We got to ride by ourselves on the first ride of the day, were given a free souvenir photo, and were given Family of the Day pins. The CM let us pick up our photo, as well as our Year of a Million Dreams certificate, at Guest Services later that day. He also included a very nice, hand-written note that wished us a happy vacation This is us behind the rope at DHS:

At Epcot, we got to the rope in front of the fountain and were asked if we were excited about our day, etc. After a few more questions ("Is it just the two of you?" being asked multiple times, so I had a good idea about what was about to happen) the CM asked us if we'd like to help Mickey and his pals open the park! Duh. So she let us behind the rope and we went to stand by the fountain. We had people explaining what was going on and then Mickey and everyone came out and took a bunch of pictures with us! (Photopass as well as our own camera.) Once the little show was over, we got into the Test Track car and rode to Test Track. We got to ride twice by ourselves and were given a free photo at the end. We were then asked if we'd like to ride Mission: Space. Duh (again). So the CM that had been with us all along walked us to M:S and took us to the "control center" behind the glass of the queue. We got to push all the fake buttons we wanted and were told to sign the guest book that Family of the Day members sign! We were then taken to the front of the line. Once the ride was over, we were given two vouchers that were basically paper Fastpasses that were good for up to four people for any ride at any time that day. (I kept one as a souvenir ) We were also offered VIP seating for Illuminations that night but we had to be somewhere else I hated not getting to do that, because Illuminations is my absolute favorite fireworks show. Here's some pictures from our morning!:

We also have both of these experiences recorded on our camcorder. I wish I could upload them, but I have an old camera and I don't know of any way to get them on my computer.

Getting to open a park is a truly magical experience! I feel so lucky to have been picked twice. Now we just have to conquer AK and then have some kids so we can open MK!

 

[mnrose]

Me and my boyfriend were picked to be Family of the Day at DHS in September 2007 and at Epcot in May 2010. Both times we were the first people to be at the turnstiles, however that didn't matter as much at Epcot. Both times we were really excited and happy + we were wearing Disney shirts.

At DHS, we got picked at the turnstiles after talking to a jolly, older CM. This was during the Year of a Millions Dreams, and I don't think they pick people to do this every day anymore. It hasn't happened each time we've been since then, anyways. The CM that picked us recorded everything on our camcorder while we were in the show! We got to ride in the pretty white car (which, I'm not sure if I really believe it or not, but we were told it was one of Walt's cars!) down Sunset Boulevard down to the Tower of Terror. We got to ride by ourselves on the first ride of the day, were given a free souvenir photo, and were given Family of the Day pins. The CM let us pick up our photo, as well as our Year of a Million Dreams certificate, at Guest Services later that day. He also included a very nice, hand-written note that wished us a happy vacation This is us behind the rope at DHS:

At Epcot, we got to the rope in front of the fountain and were asked if we were excited about our day, etc. After a few more questions ("Is it just the two of you?" being asked multiple times, so I had a good idea about what was about to happen) the CM asked us if we'd like to help Mickey and his pals open the park! Duh. So she let us behind the rope and we went to stand by the fountain. We had people explaining what was going on and then Mickey and everyone came out and took a bunch of pictures with us! (Photopass as well as our own camera.) Once the little show was over, we got into the Test Track car and rode to Test Track. We got to ride twice by ourselves and were given a free photo at the end. We were then asked if we'd like to ride Mission: Space. Duh (again). So the CM that had been with us all along walked us to M:S and took us to the "control center" behind the glass of the queue. We got to push all the fake buttons we wanted and were told to sign the guest book that Family of the Day members sign! We were then taken to the front of the line. Once the ride was over, we were given two vouchers that were basically paper Fastpasses that were good for up to four people for any ride at any time that day. (I kept one as a souvenir ) We were also offered VIP seating for Illuminations that night but we had to be somewhere else I hated not getting to do that, because Illuminations is my absolute favorite fireworks show. Here's some pictures from our morning!:

We also have both of these experiences recorded on our camcorder. I wish I could upload them, but I have an old camera and I don't know of any way to get them on my computer.

Getting to open a park is a truly magical experience! I feel so lucky to have been picked twice. Now we just have to conquer AK and then have some kids so we can open MK!

Your experience as FOD at Epcot mirrors ours...something we've been fortunate enough to experience 3 different times. There is a bit of an art to getting chosen...not just luck. It's where you stand at RD, how much enthusiasm you show, and generally being happy to be there. Totally fun experience all three times. We did TT, Mission Space and got FP (between 2 and 4 of the yellow passes, depending on the whim of the cast member I think). One time, we also got 3 sets of Test Track specific fast passes. We did do the "VIP seating" to Illuminations one night. We were right in front of Italy, and it was not "seating", but rather "standing." It was a good vantage point, but nothing you couldn't have gotten by simply staking out a good position anywhere around World Showcase.

 

[poohfriend77]

We were "The Seas Family of the Day" at EPCOT in February. We did get there early and were right up by the rope when approached by 2 CMs. Honestly, I think they were sorry they picked us. Neither DD would say a word (combination of being shy and tired), and I thought DD8 was going to burst into tears when they told us we were going to ride the Nemo ride first, as we had decided to do Soarin' first. I'm sure the CMs were wondering what they got themselves into with this dud family.

DH and I quickly started talking about how neat and special it was, and how we were the ONLY family who got picked that day! Finally the girls agreed it was pretty cool, and then they gave us the special FPs and told us we'd have special seating for illuminations (which we didn't use, as we had 8 a.m. BBB appts the next morning... we decided early bedtimes were more important!) It was neat walking into the Seas when it was empty, but DDs quickly asked, "NOW can we go to Soarin?"

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

My experience also mirrors v_gan's - we got to open DHS and Epcot - Epcot in Feb and DHS in Sept a few years back- it was awesome and I wish I could do it again (tried but have failed). @ Epcot we were the first ones there (literally, we got there super early) but I don't think that guaranteed anything since we got chosen once we reached the rope by the fountain. It was myself, my bff, her daughter and my husband (who was really mad at me for making him get up so early! lol!). @ DHS it was me and my BFF. Both times we had awesome CM - @ DHS we had Jeff and he even rode ToT with us! Now my ultimate goal is to open MK - any suggestions anyone?

 

[mom2rtk]

Now my ultimate goal is to open MK - any suggestions anyone?

Read through my trip report from December linked below. We tried really hard in December in spite of the record cold weather. We were there at 7:40 for a 9 AM opening in 20 something degree weather..... and there was already a family chosen and just entering.

Beware though.... I got slammed for even wanting to be chosen to open the MK since we had previously opened DHS on another trip.