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View Full Version : We were Grand Marshals!!



Magical JenK
01-14-2008, 12:52 PM
Ok, for those that were in the chat on Friday, here are the Grand Marshal photos from our 2005 trip.

We were picked as we were leaving Crystal Palace for our last day breakfast. We were headed towards Pirates when a CM approached us & said he liked my shirt (Mickey ringer you see in the photos). I thanked him & said that I just got it at MGM. He started small talk with us...where are you from? How long are you at Disney for? What are you doing today? When we told him it was our last day & we were planning on hitting all the parks to do our favorites one last time he asked if we were planning on being at MK for the 2pm parade....because he was looking for a fun couple to be the Grand Marshals & was wondering if we'd like to do it!

Well in my head I'm screaming YES! YES! YES! But I had sinking feeling that DH would say, "thanks but no" & then we'd regret that for ever...what "could have been"...So I just watched DH & he looked at me & then the CM & said, "oh for sure we could do that!" I was sooooo thrilled!! After we got all the details on where to meet & what time, we gave him our names & the city & state where we are from. Later, when I told DH I thought he would say no he said, "well I knew it would make your trip & I just want to see you happy!" Awwww...

Needless to say, as soon as we started walking towards Pirates (again) we both IMMEDAIATELY got on our phones & started calling people. DH kept telling people "it's an opportunity of a lifetime, we couldn't pass that up!" He's so right! After all the research & planning I had done for our trip I had never once heard anything about being a GM! It was so magical & so special & something we'd always remember!!

When we went to the meeting spot, we were brought "backstage" (AKA the start of the parade) & given ears w/our names on them & a certificate stating the date we were the GMs! It's cute. I noticed there was another family there & I thought, ah man we're no one special! Boy was I wrong! We got to ride in the VERY first car of the parade by ourselves! The family rode in another car behind us! (The car we rode in was actually one of Walt's! Pretty neat!!)

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42fd4c5907500000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42fd547d06f00000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42fd4aa112a00000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42fd5a7d08f00000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb

Magical JenK
01-14-2008, 12:55 PM
Once we got all situated in the car, it was time for the parade & off we went. It was pretty surreal & I did take photos along the way & eventually took set my camera on my lap & took videos of what we saw! Those are pretty funny. (I'll try to post links to those if you'd like.) We're waving to people & they're looking at us like...should we know who they are?? :0) One woman actually shouted to us, "how did you get picked?" I said, "we were lucky!!"

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42fd5c051d800000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42feb6b516c00000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb

Magic, of course, played a big role in it! We were at the right place at the right time! The CM who chose us said that we were the 3rd couple he approached that morning. I asked him why us & he said that he looks for a couple that would be fun & when he said something as simple as "I like your shirt" & I came back w/thanks I just got it at MGM, rather than thanks & keep walking...he said, that he knew that we were the type of couple that would like to be in the parade. He said many people just say thanks & keep walking or don't "open" themselves up for other conversation w/the CM & I did. (So word to those reading...talk to the CMs!!)

What's even more funny to me, is that while we were in Crystal Palace having breakfast w/Pooh & Friends, I saw this CM outside just kinda walking around where he met us & I thought to myself...that would be a fun job! Being a CM at Magic Kingdom! I bet he likes his job! And then BOOM! We're GMs! Ha!! Funny how things work out!!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42feb3f513800000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb4211e2a515400000025100EbuHDhq1Zsb

Magical JenK
01-14-2008, 12:58 PM
We had the best time! It really was so special & magical to us! Something we'll always remember! When it was over you couldn't smack that smile off my face all day! And don't think I took those ears off either! Nope! I took them off when I went to bed & that was it! DH asked if I was going to wear them on the plane home...I should have...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42febc8d0ff00000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42feab9112600000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42febc2d0f500000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42febb6d08100000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb

Anyway, sorry this is so long, but I just wanted to share! Hope you enjoy the photos (oh & yes, these are the photos that prompted me to go to WW as soon as I got home!! I may be 25 lbs heavier in these photos, but I still love them!!)


Jen

Magical JenK
01-14-2008, 12:59 PM
Sorry, one last photohttp://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df32b3127cceb42fd58dd0a500000026100EbuHDhq1Zsb
That was our Christmas card photo that year!! :0)

disney_girl
01-14-2008, 01:00 PM
Great pics and what a Magical experience!!

Hedy
01-14-2008, 01:03 PM
Wow! What an experience!

askomsky
01-14-2008, 01:03 PM
AWESOME!!!!!! that really looks great!!! I would have smiled all day too!

PS I just love your new Avaitar/tag!!! You deserve it!

wilsonfamily4
01-14-2008, 01:11 PM
Love that little report. kept hoping it wasn't over and then would see another post. What a magical moment!!!! And it is nice that they took a lot of pictures of you guys for you!

fourfoxesinpa
01-14-2008, 01:36 PM
Sorry I missed chat but what a great experience!

In my best impersonation of Napoleon Dynamite....

"Lucky!"

m 'n c
01-14-2008, 01:37 PM
Oh what a fun story. I'm glad DH was smart enough to know the correct answer as well.

BTW you look just fine in those pictures but I completely understand wanting to drop a few. :)

bbangel
01-14-2008, 01:40 PM
Man, I really want to do this! I wonder if they ever pick just a single person?

ItsmeSunnyV
01-14-2008, 02:11 PM
That's very cool Jen!! You two look so darn happy, it's cute!!:love:

linanglab
01-14-2008, 02:25 PM
I am so glad you took time to post! VERY cool! I am also glad that Dh went along with it. I agree, once in a lifetime chance! You all look so happy!

bartleby1
01-14-2008, 02:37 PM
Wow! That is sooooo awesome! What a great experience!

I'm amazed at how empty the park was! What time of year was it? I've been probably 15 times, but always in the summer months and I've never seen it so empty. That in itself must be amazing!

One of these days I'll have to find a picture of my SIL. You remind me so much of her. I swear she could be your twin.

icartjetta
01-14-2008, 03:27 PM
O.K. Jen you and Angela are the cutest people I have ever seen with your Minnie/Mickey ears on. too cute.

Kycha
01-14-2008, 03:40 PM
Where is everybody? The park looks empty.:sunshine2:

Wow! What a fantastic memory! I have only heard of families being picked as grand marshals. It is nice to see they pick couples as well(gives me hope for DH and me). Love the pictures!

bs4free
01-14-2008, 04:28 PM
WOOT Jen, That was so neat, I am so happy that DH did not say no thanks and keep walking and that you were GM's :woohoo: That looks so great! And see its fun to talk to the cast members you never know whats going to happen next at disney!

Magical JenK
01-14-2008, 04:46 PM
Thanks for wading through my posts everyone! Glad you enjoyed the photos! It really was so great & fun & even more fun to share w/all of you some 2.5 years later!!

We were chosen on Thursday, September 15th...we love going that time of year because the parks are not busy at all!

And Traci-I think it's the pig tails that make the ears look extra cute on!! I love my pig tails in Disney, but especially more w/ears!!

Mom2aPrincess
01-14-2008, 05:54 PM
Awesome story and pics!! That would be such a great experience. Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed looking through everything.

Blessing and Miracle
01-14-2008, 07:24 PM
Beautiful pictures, Jen! I agree, the two of you look extremely happy! My children were chosen to march in the parade this past July. They loved it, too! Thanks for sharing! You're inspiring me to get up and scrap those pictures. I would love nothing more.:love: Do you scrap?

faithhope
01-14-2008, 08:42 PM
Thanks for sharing the story and the pictures.

Pooh's Pal
01-15-2008, 10:53 PM
WOW....that must of been Awesome!!

nice looking couple you both are too!! :)

ligrumpygirl
01-15-2008, 11:09 PM
Too cute! A dream come true for sure!!

Wendi63
01-16-2008, 01:02 PM
Congratulations on your moment in the spotlight. That is certainly one of those "once in a lifetime" events that few of us will ever experience. So glad that you took lots of great pictures to share.