My husband and I just got back from our week-long honeymoon in WDW. We enthusiastically wore our bride and groom mickey ears (tophat and veil) and received a LOT of attention and perks. I am writing to share how we got into the parades (yes, 2 of them on 2 different days) and what we observed about others who get picked for parades.
Here's how it happened for us:
On our first full day there, we went to MK an hour before it opened to have breakfast at Cinderella's castle (8 am). We had on our bride/groom ears (all week, by the way) and when we finished breakfast at 8:35, we left the castle and walked up Main St. to secure a locker for the day at the front of the park (since we were diving in the Living Seas at EPCOT later that evening). We strolled up Main St. and had happy grins on our face, hand-in-hand. Then, very casually, an older cast member approached us...he was inconspicuously perched outside of the Emporium shops and had a stack of maps in his hand. He asked us how we were, if we were having fun, and how we were enjoying the park (he was sizing us up the whole time, come to find out). He casually inquired if we were going to be at MK all day, but we mentioned we were headed to EPCOT later that day to go diving (he was trying to find out if we were going to be around for the parade, is what he was poking at). We had no idea he was up to anything but warmly responded and smiled and were actually about to walk away when he asked what time we were leaving. We said around 4:30 and then he asked if we would like to be the grand marshals in the 3 pm Main St. parade that day! We said yes, of course and it was simply incredible!! He said it was like a 1 in a million chance and that we were very lucky...he chose us because of our bridal ears -- since they like to have someone celebrating something in the lead car. Also, after he picked us to be the lead car, he said he had to scope out one family to be in the car behind us...later that day, we met a very nice family he chose from Minnesota. The parade was really cool for all of us.
That's part 1. here's part 2:
2 days later, we went to MGM for the day. We had some transportation trouble getting there from the Contemporary so we actually got there a 1/2 hour AFTER the park had opened. When we got there, we wanted to bee-line it over to Rockin' Roller Coaster (since my husband had never been on it). As we were 1/2 way down Vine St. (so, 3/4 of the way there), a cast member came running up behind us, and tapped us on the shoulder. She said she actually chased us from the park entrance to ask us if we wanted to be in the parade that day!! We were shocked and chuckled at each other...not believing our luck! She said they try to pick a "celebration" couple to lead their parade (that's all though, no 2nd car like in MK's parade). She was a lot more quick that the MK cast member...and got right to the point. THAT parade was awesome too!
So, here are my tips and observations for getting picked to be in a parade:
1) You gotta have flair. Deck out in Disney! We had our ears on, and our bridal pins on. Also, when we were at MGM, I had on a cute, subtle-mickey t-shirt.
2) You never know who's watching...project that smile you feel inside on the outside and be cozy with your husband/family!
3) When you get to a park in the morning, take your time at the entrance and up the main walkway. For extra points, try stopping by Guest Services (with your husband or whole family) at the front of the park, since the "guy that makes the call" is usually there, giving a head's up to his guy on the street looking for you.
4) You have to look 'All-American'. Sorry, grundge-heads, body-piercings, showing tatoos, skimpy outfits, ****s hanging out, etc. PROBABLY won't get you into a parade. Think of the "Disney Look" the cast members go for (neat, classic, timeless, friendly looks) and try to replicate that. The first day, I had on a red t-Shirt with little cap sleeves and a pair of floral capri pants. My husband had on a button-down linen shirt and shorts with boat shoes.
5) For the family that gets chosen in the MK parade, I've observed the chosen family to be a mom, dad, girl, and boy. The kids are between ages 8-12, it seems. Also, the family that was chosen didn't have mickey ears, but when it was parade time, the cast member had ears for the 4 of them to wear. They were gifts for them and he even got their names on them. (a little gift to us was a free keys-to-the-kingdom tour, a $50+ per person value!)
6) I don't mean to be mean, but it doesn't look like obese people will be chosen simply because the cars they use are antiques, and have limited space in the back, and can't be off-balance too much.
7) Lastly, it's really just luck & being in the right place at the right time. But if you are around in the opening hour of the park, have a fun, classic Disney look, and are a bride & groom or family of 4 (with boy and girl kids), your chances just increased.
Here are some pictures from both parades. (Actually, the cast members took our camera at both parades and took lots of pics of us actually IN the parades, but those are still being developed.) You don't have to login, just choose "View Photos"
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=8ku4ymz.7wwbilyn&x=0&y=-d2hiar
Have fun! And let the magic work!!
Here's how it happened for us:
On our first full day there, we went to MK an hour before it opened to have breakfast at Cinderella's castle (8 am). We had on our bride/groom ears (all week, by the way) and when we finished breakfast at 8:35, we left the castle and walked up Main St. to secure a locker for the day at the front of the park (since we were diving in the Living Seas at EPCOT later that evening). We strolled up Main St. and had happy grins on our face, hand-in-hand. Then, very casually, an older cast member approached us...he was inconspicuously perched outside of the Emporium shops and had a stack of maps in his hand. He asked us how we were, if we were having fun, and how we were enjoying the park (he was sizing us up the whole time, come to find out). He casually inquired if we were going to be at MK all day, but we mentioned we were headed to EPCOT later that day to go diving (he was trying to find out if we were going to be around for the parade, is what he was poking at). We had no idea he was up to anything but warmly responded and smiled and were actually about to walk away when he asked what time we were leaving. We said around 4:30 and then he asked if we would like to be the grand marshals in the 3 pm Main St. parade that day! We said yes, of course and it was simply incredible!! He said it was like a 1 in a million chance and that we were very lucky...he chose us because of our bridal ears -- since they like to have someone celebrating something in the lead car. Also, after he picked us to be the lead car, he said he had to scope out one family to be in the car behind us...later that day, we met a very nice family he chose from Minnesota. The parade was really cool for all of us.
That's part 1. here's part 2:
2 days later, we went to MGM for the day. We had some transportation trouble getting there from the Contemporary so we actually got there a 1/2 hour AFTER the park had opened. When we got there, we wanted to bee-line it over to Rockin' Roller Coaster (since my husband had never been on it). As we were 1/2 way down Vine St. (so, 3/4 of the way there), a cast member came running up behind us, and tapped us on the shoulder. She said she actually chased us from the park entrance to ask us if we wanted to be in the parade that day!! We were shocked and chuckled at each other...not believing our luck! She said they try to pick a "celebration" couple to lead their parade (that's all though, no 2nd car like in MK's parade). She was a lot more quick that the MK cast member...and got right to the point. THAT parade was awesome too!
So, here are my tips and observations for getting picked to be in a parade:
1) You gotta have flair. Deck out in Disney! We had our ears on, and our bridal pins on. Also, when we were at MGM, I had on a cute, subtle-mickey t-shirt.
2) You never know who's watching...project that smile you feel inside on the outside and be cozy with your husband/family!
3) When you get to a park in the morning, take your time at the entrance and up the main walkway. For extra points, try stopping by Guest Services (with your husband or whole family) at the front of the park, since the "guy that makes the call" is usually there, giving a head's up to his guy on the street looking for you.
4) You have to look 'All-American'. Sorry, grundge-heads, body-piercings, showing tatoos, skimpy outfits, ****s hanging out, etc. PROBABLY won't get you into a parade. Think of the "Disney Look" the cast members go for (neat, classic, timeless, friendly looks) and try to replicate that. The first day, I had on a red t-Shirt with little cap sleeves and a pair of floral capri pants. My husband had on a button-down linen shirt and shorts with boat shoes.
5) For the family that gets chosen in the MK parade, I've observed the chosen family to be a mom, dad, girl, and boy. The kids are between ages 8-12, it seems. Also, the family that was chosen didn't have mickey ears, but when it was parade time, the cast member had ears for the 4 of them to wear. They were gifts for them and he even got their names on them. (a little gift to us was a free keys-to-the-kingdom tour, a $50+ per person value!)
6) I don't mean to be mean, but it doesn't look like obese people will be chosen simply because the cars they use are antiques, and have limited space in the back, and can't be off-balance too much.
7) Lastly, it's really just luck & being in the right place at the right time. But if you are around in the opening hour of the park, have a fun, classic Disney look, and are a bride & groom or family of 4 (with boy and girl kids), your chances just increased.
Here are some pictures from both parades. (Actually, the cast members took our camera at both parades and took lots of pics of us actually IN the parades, but those are still being developed.) You don't have to login, just choose "View Photos"
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=8ku4ymz.7wwbilyn&x=0&y=-d2hiar
Have fun! And let the magic work!!
How lucky! Check out this story on the allears site:
