I wanna be in a parade!

[adisneyfan2]

Well not me exactly, but we are taking my soon-to-be six-year old to WDW for his birthday, & thought it would be too awesome for words if we could figure out how MK picks the family to be Grand Marshall at their parade. Anybody have any experience with this? Or heard ideas on how to increase our chances??

I've heard it helps to be (one of?) the first families at the gate, & more often than not they pick a family all dressed the same. (I never paid attention before to know if there's any truth to that.) Any other rumors?

Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

The grand marshalls that I have seen weren't dressed alike. It is a random thing. Just look happy to be there. CM's are wandering around.

 

[splashfamily]

Will you be there on your son's b-day? If so, stop by City Hall and tell them it's his b-day. He'll receive a birthday pin. CM's are on the lookout for kids with pins. On my DS b-day we were viewing the parade and a character came by and put him on the float. We needed to keep up with him. It was only for a little stretch though. But memories were made.
Good luck and Happy Birthday.

 

[adisneyfan2]

Thanks! We heard we could pick up the birthday pin the night before, so we could try to be at the gates early with him wearing it. Not getting into the parade isn't going to spoil our trip, because it'll be great anyway -- but like you said, it sure would add to the memories!

 

[Michelemouse]

Just to let you know...it's not always one of the first families into the park that gets picked. We were chosen on Mother's Day this year. We had come into the park for Early Entry and spent some time in Tomorrowland. At regular park opening time my DH decided to get his hair cut. He rushed off to the Barber Shop while the kids and I took our time getting there, browsing in shops, etc. When we got to the Barber Shop the line was very long and DH would have been waiting for a while so we decided to skip it. We stopped into City Hall to ask a question and got talking with the DM that was helping us. We needed to know what time our PS for lunch in EPCOT was so she looked it up for us. Then she asked the kids if they would mind missing lunch if she could offer them something better. They said okay and she said it was her turn to pick the GMs and would we like to do it. Would we? we said!

It was easily 10:00 by the time we were chosen and it was only because we stopped into City Hall and got the right CM. The other couple who was GMs with us weren't chosen until after noon and they were down in the hub in front of the castle when they were asked.

It really is a totally random thing that you can't prepare for (I just don't want you to be disappointed) but I"m sending good thoughs your way.

 

[adisneyfan2]

Thanks for all the info! We won't get our hopes up, but you never know when some pixie dust might fly our way....
Thanks again!

 

[tazdeb]

How about the next best thing? When we went to the magic Kingdom last year for Cindy's breakfast, we were some of the first people standing at the turn styles. I had read on these boards to ask if our kids could "open" the park. They take them in make a big speech proclaiming that they have the "magic", then they say some magic words, and presto the gates open. They then got a certificate of what they had done. Then we all got to ride in the firetruck down mainstreet alone with my daughters ringing the bell all the way to the castle. Too Cool and a great photo op and memory. All because I read these boards.......TAZ

 

[StitchGirl88]

i am 14 and wheni was 6 or 7 can't remember i got to be in a peraid but i was to scared to do it and i turned it down and i regret it ever since!!

 

[adisneyfan2]

That's a great idea Tazdeb! Thanks for the idea. We got PS's for Cindys @ 805 on a 9am day, so it's a possibility! It's not on DSs birthday, but he would be thrilled no matter what day it is. Thanks again! I'll let you know if it works....

 

[Minnie1156]

From what I have been told the first family at the park is usually picked to open Magic Kingdom and be the Grand Marshell of the parade. I was there on one early opening and the family must have gotten there real early because I was there 40 min early and they had already been picked. My best hint would be to go early and try to be first.

"What will be will be"

 

[Puffy2]

I talked to a man that picks the GM at MGM sometimes, he said they look for HAPPY families that are getting along (no fighting, no tears, no bitc%*%@, etc...). He looks for an older kid (11-12) and a younger one (7) - kids that won't freak out when they see the crowds (it is intimidating) - at MGM they can only take 4 people because they have to fit in this TINY car (very small space to sit). He said he spies a possible family and then follows them for a while to see if they get along before asking them - sometimes they say no and it can take most of the morning to find a new family.

At MK , I saw "suits" call over a little girl and her family to talk w/them - the girl was dressed up like Minnie. I think they also look for cute.

Don't waste a lot of time on this - it is random and only one group out of thousands gets selected. Just go and have fun. (have you thought of a family tour in the MK - the scavanger hunt sounds special and your son might like that attention)

 

[jdads2]

From our February 2002 trip :

Got up late today, about 8:00am and headed to AK. We really wanted to catch Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade since we didn’t see it our first trip. Jack bought some pins for the kids…limited edition pins…what have these pin collectors done to us!! Bus to AK was quick this morning, Hooray!!

First things first. It looked cloudy so we packed our poncho’s and sweatshirts but put it in a locker at the entrance. Since we heard that they are canceling The Lion King show at AK we walked over to see the show. On the way we met up with a couple of higher ranking CM’s. I notice that they seem to hold onto their pins longer than most of the other CM’s. Both had walkie-talkies and some nice pins…I got another to go with my set, that makes 5 of 7. We talked for about 10 minutes about why we were there (to see the parade for the first time), when we were there last, where we were staying and why we liked the Poly more, why we were getting caught up in pin trading, blah, blah, blah. Then Manny, one of the CM’s asked us if we wanted to be in the parade…

NOT JOKING!!!!

So I, of course, act like a deer in the headlights and say ….”uh yeah that uh would be uh great”. He repeated where we were to be and what we were supposed to do 3 times and made us repeat it even though most of the directions were on the card he gave us. I felt like a little kid. What a great feeling!!! We were almost too excited to do anything else. We had about 5 hrs to wait….I didn’t think I would make !!

I would suggest being personable without being over zelous. We were genuinely excited about being at the park and at WDW in general.

Good luck!!