Participating in Parades

[new_yawka]

I did a quick search and did not find the info...if it is here, please point me in the right direction.

How does one get his/her family and or children to be a participant (sitting on a float, marching, etc.) in any of the parades in the major parks. I would prefer Jammin Jungle Parade or Stars and Motor Cars, but any parade in MK would be great too. Thank you for any thought or suggestions you may have.

Louis

 

[NCombs]

Honestly, I would think it's luck-being in the right place at the right time. However, I don't know where or when that is. Good luck.

 

[RubySlippers]

For us it was the right place at the right time.. My dh and I just got done explaining to our then 4 year old that there are "LOTS of children who want to be in the parade but only a few get picked so PLEASE try not get upset if you do not get picked" And he was looking at us with the sad puppy dog eyes WHEN...... Wendy from Peter Pan and the Lost boys came over and invited him to play red light, green light with them in the parade... It was a magical moment

Ruby

 

[kilee]

What Rubyslippers is referring to actually no longer happens. Since the unfortunate accident backstage last year they no longer pull guests/or childrens into the parade during stops.

They do however still have the family parade marshalls and those are just luck of the draw being picked. No way to guarantee being chosen and asking won't get you anywhere.

 

[goodferry]

Yikes! What unfortunate accident?

 

[MrsToad]

On one of our first trips alone (DS is over 18 and doesn't much travel with us anymore), DH and I were selected to be Grand Marshalls in the MK parade. Talk about guilt as that never happened when DS was with us! Anyway, it was first thing after park opening and DH had just bought a new Tigger baseball cap and he couldn't figure out how to adjust the strap as it was a new design. There we were, standing on Main Street, him trying on the hat and then handing it back to me over and over again to get it just right. We must have looked pretty silly because a CM approached who was having a good chuckle. She talked Disney trivia with us and then invited us to join the parade. It was wonderful!

 

[iwish81792]

Yeah, what accident? Everything just goes right over my head!!

 

[disfanRN]

right time, right place for us too! Main Street seems to be the place, we were standing across from the Pal Mickey store and chatting with a CM,and then he asked us-truly magical!!!
during specto and almost all parades, some characters come up to kids on the side and gives them a thrill-just tell your kids to wave and smile-someone is sure to shake their hand and make them feel special.
good luck!

 

[Skylarr29]

I believe a cm got run over by a float.. I believe he was in a costume and the float backed over him.. He was killed from what I heard .. I think this what they are refering to as a horrible accident.

 

[kpm76]

It's random I think. DH and I were the Grand Marshals in the Stars & Motor Cars parade while on our honeymoon. It was truly magical We were inquiring at Guest Relations about the Fantasmic Dinner Package when the CM asked us if we were planning to be in the park about 3:30pm. We said yes and she asked if we'd be the GM.....it was awesome!!!

 

[GoN2WDW]

I'm pretty sure the character was Pluto that got run over.

 

[new_yawka]

First, thank you all for the replies. I am not surprised by any of them. In fact, it is what I had suspected.

Well, since I have been to WDW 45+ times, and have yet to be randomly selected, my chances of getting into a parade must be going up. Hey if its a 1 in a 1000 chance, all I have to do is show up at the parks 955 more times! I AM willing to TRY!! (It was actually just a curiousity, which I was discussing with my DF...we love the parades and it would just add a new twist to already magical experiences).

Thanks again!

Anyone else with further thoughts?

 

[lacy1101]

We (me, DH, DS-10, DD-7) were fortunate to be picked for the Jammin' Jungle Parade in AK on our last trip in 2002. We were sitting in Tusker House (I think) having just finished our lunch and looking over my homemade tour book. Two cast members approached us and asked to look at my book and then asked if we were going to the parade. We actually had not planned on it, but then they asked us if we would like to be in the parade! It was our first day of park touring and it was so much fun. Talk about magical!

 

[daisy_77]

I used to be a CM for the Disney Store here in Boise and some a lady I worked with said that when she went with her family they were asked to be in parade. She said they asked her because they knew she was a Boise CM by her CM ID that we get when we are hired by Disney. She said her kids had a blast being in the parade! Lucky.