[Willbegone]

Does anyone know how WDW picks the Grand Marshalls for the parades?? We are going back in 2005 for DD's 5th birthday and I would LOVE for us the Grand Marshalls, she would get a huge kick out of that.
Thanks,
Melinda:D

[JOANN]

Willbegone, You have read my mind, you know I was wondering the same thing. We go so often, and the only thing I've ever done , was to be an extra at Indiana Jones . Don't get me wrong, it was great, but to be Grand Marshal. that would be wonderful. We will be there in May. MY DH and I plus our 3 (adult) daughters. My husband and I will be celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary. I think that if we were ever chosen, I would be sooooooo excited, but it just has not happened , yet. Maybe some day!!!!! :dazed JOANN:) :)

[goofygal1975]

I was also wondering the same thing. We will be there in June celebrating my son's 8th birthday, and that would be so awsome! Hopefully someone can help us out as to the trick of getting picked!!:D

[Willbegone]

Hey, Pssst... Don't tell Disney.... but I would pay a small fee to be Grand Marshall!! :whistle: :bandit

[goofygal1975]

I wonder what happens after you have been the Grand Marshall? Do they drop you off at the end and save you a good place to watch the rest of the parade go by?:hmmm

[JOANN]

Hi Melinda, Please don't give Disney any more ideas, because your's might just work. Especially if it means more "money" for DW .
Hope we can get an answer, because our trip will be coming up real soon!!! :whistle: JOANN

[DisneyTeacher]

I read somewhere (perhaps in one of the hundred or so trip reports I read on Brian Bennett's site) that one woman wrote a letter to Disney and was selected based on what she wrote. A CM called her resort room (they didn't know until they got to WDW) and told them when and where to be.

I would also love to do this. What an experience that would be. I thought being selected for the 25th anniversary parade was a big deal, I this this would top all!!

[goofygal1975]

:hmmm I wonder what address we could write to? Any Ideas? I know it's a long shot, but it's worth a try!!

[JOANN]

Better yet, is there an e-mail address. :D JOANN

[MickeyMac]

It's an incredible long-shot. My cousin is the Make-a-Wish Co-ordinator for Maine and she told me they've stopped doing special Grand Marshall requests to all but the most extreme cases.

I do know three families who have become GM's. All have worn co-ordinating t-shirts/sweatshirts, and been rather 'outgoing', and one person in each party has been celebrating something, and wearing the gear to show it (birthday button, cake hat, neon shirt). One family was just entering MK, another family was up by the Country Bear Jamboree, and another family was by the Animal Country Safari (in the AK parade)

Didn't stop me from making my own written request though as my husband turned 40 in January, but it didn't work. I do encourage you to try, though. You never know when a letter will fall into the right hands! :D

[goofygal1975]

So how do we contact them? Anyone? It wouldn't hurt to try, as long as we don't tell the kids about it, no big dissapointments should happen!

For me, this trip is extra special. we've just finally had a break from all the drama from my son's medical condition. Where it isn't bad now, and he can be controlled by taking medications for the rest of his life, it was a very scary year for him, w/many tests in which he had to be put under to complete the tests. He's been so stressed from all the dr's appts and hosptial visits, he actually has panic attacks. Of course we have that all under control now (not many panic attacks, and the meds are working). So celebrating his birthday and our first relaxing vacation would be cool to do that. But let me tell you, I think he'd be just as excited if he was able to finally ride the trolly w/the horse pulling it on Main Street!!:D ;) Everytime we go, there is *some* reason why we dont get a chance to ride on that. So that is a priority for us this time around...haha!!:D

[MickeyMac]

Ooops, I'm sorry, I forgot to look it up. It's:

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10,040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

You may want to call (407)824-4321 and try to get the name of someone in marketing or management to put the letter to the attention to, otherwise it gets handled by standard employees.

Good luck and let us know!

[JOANN]

MickeyMac, I will sure give it a try. I have nothing to loose, but that 37 cent postage stamp. Although, with the luck our family has had lately, I wouldn't bet on it. But , that will not stop me from at least trying....:nervous Good luck to all!!! JOANN

[DisneyTeacher]

Goofygal, I understand what you went through with your son. We had a few very rough years with our son, too. His 5th birthday is extra special as well. Our DS had to have surgery every other week for the first 11 months of his little life, he had so many I lost count about half way through. He now has to have more surgery next summer on his chest for a malformation that affects his heart and lungs. Now we are going to go big for a week at WDW to celebrate even if we can't be grand marshalls.

[goofygal1975]

Originally posted by DisneyTeacher
Goofygal, I understand what you went through with your son. We had a few very rough years with our son, too. His 5th birthday is extra special as well. Our DS had to have surgery every other week for the first 11 months of his little life, he had so many I lost count about half way through. He now has to have more surgery next summer on his chest for a malformation that affects his heart and lungs. Now we are going to go big for a week at WDW to celebrate even if we can't be grand marshalls.

I feel for you and your son!! I know how hard it is!! That is why this trip is so special, and we are both *so* looking forward to it! Disney is certainly the right place to get away from it all! Regardless of being grand marshalls or not, we are going to have the trip of a life time!!!! :D I hope you have a wonderful trip also!!!