How To Be In The Parades???

[diaman]

Hello everyone!
Just wondering in our past adventures to the world, we've noticed some families got a chance to be in the parade. Our DS just got over a surgury and has always wanted to be in one of them. That would make this coming trip soooo special for him. Are there any tips anyone can offer? Thank you in advance!

 

[tiberius]

We were in an MGM Hercules parade a few years back. I can not give you any tips, since were were just taking a break sitting on the steps outside a building along the route waiting for the parade to start and were randomly picked by a cast member for participation.

 

[The LK 4]

My DS was picked to participate in the parade in March of 1998. It was a chilly day, so DH had gone back to the car to get our jackets. We were just sitting on a bench near the entrance about 45 minutes to an hour before the parade started, and a CM walked up to us and asked DS if he wanted to help out. He was so thrilled! He got to help set the table during "Be Our Guest".

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our little ds got picked a few times. He is cute, but then again I am the mom. He is older now so he could care less I am sure. He would be too embarressed. In aug. he just wanted to observe. We always seem to have luck when you arrive early, at least 45 min. at a slow time, more during a busy time. We usually get picked when we hang out near frontierland at the country bear jamboree. I also noticed there was a mom who literally pushed her daughter into the parade participation even though she was not chosen, rather rude I think. Everyone around just stared at her. Also helps if you start a nice friendly conversation with the cms who arrive early to get things ready.i.e. Our little sammy is so happy to be here. Tell your story. The magic might really shine. Once they even invited us to go up into an airconditioned place by the country bears. I said, no thank you, we really wanted to see the parade up close from right behind the rope. O.K. It was not, really hot but it was magical for us. Good luck.

 

[aladdinsgirl]

DH and I were the Grand Marshalls of the Share A Dream Come Parade last February. Being chosen has to with luck and being at the right place at the right time. We were walking down Main Street on a very rainy and chilly Sunday morning, but thrilled to be in Walt Disney World anyway. As we were walking and laughing and dancing around, a cast member stopped us and started talking with us. After about 5-10 minutes of talking, she asked if we were going to be around the Magic Kingdom all day and if we were interested in being the Grand Marshalls. It was an awesome experience, one we'll both always cherish.

Krista

 

[tjkraz]

MK is a lost cause. One family is chosen to be Grand Marshall, but there's really no way to "arrange" for this to happen. As I understand it, somewhere in the park is a single Cast Member who's job it is to seek out and find that "special" family to serve as GM. The only advice I can offer is that if a CM strikes up a conversation, DON'T blow-off him/her.

I don't believe the MGM parade has any guest participation at all.

On the other hand, as I understand it the AK parade (the only one I have never seen) allows quite a few guests to participate. Maybe someone who has been in that parade will share their story.

 

[kaygela]

Last year, at the Tapestry of Nations parade in Epcot (no longer exists), I was asked to be in the parade, and believe me, I'm no kid! I was sitting on the ground with my family, watching the parade pass, when one of the cast members(giant puppet) put his hand out to me to come dance with him. I wanted to take the camera off from around my neck and give it to my DH. The strap got caught in my earring. I had trouble getting it untangled and the CM just waited. I finally took my earring off and stood up. My kids were ecstatic. My DH took video but didn't think of using the camera to take pictures after all that. Oh well.

 

[Skylarr29]

When I was a child about 10 probably , my mom , my 2 sisters and I were standing on Mainstreet because we had just came into the park and were looking at a map when we were asked . Unfortunatly I was not the disneyaholic I am now and didn't realize the chance we were passing up! We said No! lol . We wanted to go on rides!! Oh well. I guess your best bet is just to be standing around mainstreet a while before the parade. Good luck.

 

[helomedicdj]

we're thinking about this as well. We're going to try 5' tall mickey hats, huge shoes, and custom tee shirts. We're a bit crazy, but hey, we have a goal and love disney, so we can't go wrong either way.