Hi Joanna!
Thanks for stopping by with your question!
One of my favorite things to do when visiting Walt Disney World Resort is to watch the 3:00 parade at Magic Kingdom Park. Currently, the afternoon parade is the
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. From the first moment I saw this parade, I was in love! The costumes are gorgeous, and the floats are AMAZING. My favorite is the fire-breathing, steampunk-inspired Maleficent dragon - it's so cool!
Each day, Walt Disney World Cast Members choose park guests to be the Grand Marshals of the Magic Kingdom afternoon parade. While there's no way to "sign up" for this honor, I've read online trip reports from folks who have had it magically happen to them!
From the trip reports I've read, Cast Members randomly approached the guests in the park, struck up a conversation, and asked if they would like to be the Grand Marshals of the parade. (How could anyone say no?) The guests are then given instructions regarding when and where to meet up before the parade. They're asked to provide their names/hometown information (to be announced over the sound system throughout the parade route!), and then they're free to enjoy their day until parade time.
Perhaps they choose families that are celebrating an occasion? Maybe they scout out families that just genuinely seem to be having a great time in the park? There's no secret formula to get chosen as the Grand Marshals of the parade, but I've certainly got my fingers crossed that someday it might happen to us!
To find trip reports of park guests who have had this amazing experience, you can search the internet for "wdw family of the day". It's so cool to read about families getting chosen for this honor!
Have a magical day! - Diane W.