We were Grand Marshals!!

[Magical JenK]

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!!)

[Magical JenK]

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!!"



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!!

[Magical JenK]

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...





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]

Sorry, one last photo
That was our Christmas card photo that year!! :0)

[disney_girl]

Great pics and what a Magical experience!!

[Hedy]

Wow! What an experience!

[askomsky]

AWESOME!!!!!! that really looks great!!! I would have smiled all day too!

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

[wilsonfamily4]

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]

Sorry I missed chat but what a great experience!

In my best impersonation of Napoleon Dynamite....

"Lucky!"

[m 'n c]

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.