Magic Kingdom "Family of the Day"

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Is there any sure way to become the Family of the Day at the Magic Kingdom - i.e. the one who opens the park. We are going in late-August for a 50th Birthday celebration as a family, and really want to make the trip special. Is there any way to 'book' becoming family of the day so to speak? Would phoning Disney help?

 

[CAS239]

No way to be the family other than showing up early, look happy, and be really lucky.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Be very very early and chat happily to cast members. Everyone wear Disney Tshirts and mouse ears and you up the odds.

 

[lchuck]

Any suggestions on how early? How early do the ferries run from TTC? Sorry to jump on the thread, I'm interested in this as well and didn't want to start duplicate threads. Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

Any suggestions on how early? How early do the ferries run from TTC? Sorry to jump on the thread, I'm interested in this as well and didn't want to start duplicate threads. Thanks!

Slightly earlier than anyone else?

We tried this once on a very cold day in December. It was in the 30's and we got there 80 minutes before park opening. The only other family crazy enough to be out there was already being taken through the turnstiles to be family of the day.

 

[StefWalsh]

Recently, my friend's friend went with her husband and little girl and they were chosen as Family of the Day! This was about a month or so ago I believe? I know they were there before park opening but I don't know how far in advance, and they were noticed because they somehow got a selfie stick past bag check (they didn't know they are banned, and this was there first ever time visiting WDW). I really don't know how they managed it, but in any event an employee saw them with it and went to confiscate it. I guess they took it in stride and ended up having a pleasant conversation with the person, and that person grabbed a manager and came back to tell them they were the Family of the Day! The photos are pretty awesome. I'd post them here but I don't think its appropriate for me to post photos of someone else's child on a forum they aren't a part of haha.

I guess the key to success is to get noticed any way you can!

 

[WDmommyof4]

I was chosen with my boys many years ago. We ended up there early because we had a reservation for breakfast at O'hana, but realized we likely would not make it and would miss MK opening. It was our last day, so the boys decided that we should cancel breakfast and just wait for the park to open. We were just playing around and killing time when someone came up to us and asked us to follow them.

 

[Sevey13]

I think there are other ways you might look at to make this an 'extra special' trip. Simply hoping for pixie dust will probably lead to a let down. There are a number of other free things that are more guaranteed, and an endless supply of things you can pay for to also pixie up your trip.

 

[Elandon]

We are going in August and my DS 7 wants to go super early because he thinks it might help us maybe be "family of the day". It's going to be me, my mom, and my son. I think they usually pick a mom, dad, and kids set for this and I don't want to encourage him too much if we are going to be "out of the running". Anyone know if that's true? Or do they sometimes pick a grandma, mom, kid family? We will be at CR so it would be possible for us to walk over super early.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

We are going in August and my DS 7 wants to go super early because he thinks it might help us maybe be "family of the day". It's going to be me, my mom, and my son. I think they usually pick a mom, dad, and kids set for this and I don't want to encourage him too much if we are going to be "out of the running". Anyone know if that's true? Or do they sometimes pick a grandma, mom, kid family? We will be at CR so it would be possible for us to walk over super early.

I've seen grandparents with kids, two moms, single dad, etc. The only thing they had in common was that they all had kids.

 

[tobikaye]

I actually was there once when it was just a couple, probably in their late 20's to early 30's. They may have been on a honeymoon or something though.

 

[matthewhavens]

I was chosen with my boys many years ago. We ended up there early because we had a reservation for breakfast at O'hana, but realized we likely would not make it and would miss MK opening. It was our last day, so the boys decided that we should cancel breakfast and just wait for the park to open. We were just playing around and killing time when someone came up to us and asked us to follow them.

What does being family of the day entail? Is it just for the pre-opening show? Are there other perks? Don't you actually miss RD because you are on the train when they release the crowds?

Sorry, lots of questions, never met a real live family of the day before.

 

[Notso]

We were chosen in 2011. We got to enter the park about an hour and a half before opening. We road the firetruck around main street, had pictures taken in front of the castle, the girls got special pins and autograph books, and finally we went up to the train station and got to meet several characters before being led out to wave during the opening show. We also got a souvenir photo and certificate. It was a lot of fun!

 

[CMNJ]

What does being family of the day entail? Is it just for the pre-opening show? Are there other perks? Don't you actually miss RD because you are on the train when they release the crowds?

Sorry, lots of questions, never met a real live family of the day before.

I saw the "mayor" giving the family of the day paper fast passes on our trip a few weeks ago-not sure if it was just one per person or multiple but definitely a nice perk.