Opening at Magic Kingdom

[Mflynn]

We are leaving for Disney in a week and I heard something about each morning in the Magic Kingdom that at opening the characters arrive on the train. Can anyone give me details about what happens at the opening of Magic Kingdom. Thanks.

[marklodi]

If nothing has changed since November of last year, it goes a little something like this:

1. Disney staffers pick a family out of the crowds waiting at the turnstiles to enter the park. This family will be "opening the park." They are allowed to enter the area between the turnstiles and the floral Mickey below the train station.

2. A few minutes before opening, the family is moved into position on a riser located right in front of that floral Mickey. They are given a certificate announcing they are the "official family of the day" or something like that (sorry, our certificate is at home and I'm not right now.) They are also given a "magic wand" which has a star and tassels at the end, and is full of small hard candies, as well as a cone-shaped paper cup full of "pixie dust" (ie foil confetti).

3. At the designated time, the Disney Announcer comes on the speakers and music begins to play.

4. The train pulls into the train station with several characters on board waving and dancing to the music.

5. The family's name and hometown is announced, and they yell out "We now declare the Magic Kingdom open", throwing the pixie dust into the air.

6. The turnstiles are opened up and everybody pours into the park.

7. I believe the characters make their way down the steps of the train station into the Main Street square. But it was hard for us to tell if it was the same characters or not.

Please forgive me if the details are a little off, whether due to fault memory on my part or changes on Disney's part. But that's the gist of it.

Also note that if it's a Early Entry day, there will already be many people in the park by this time. Early Entry does not change the "official opening time" and the event still happens the same way for those people who cannot enter early.

Have a great time!

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I think I saw some of that going on last November. Plays havoc with the Steam Trains tour.

[keggyandbobert]

It is just a little bit different now.
A family is chosen and actually is either up on the train station waiting for the train to arrive or is brought in on the train with the characters. They all do a little song and dance. Scoop Sanderson, main street reporter did the speaking both times we have seen it. I have liked it.
As for the guests - they let you into the area past the turnstiles and they have ropes up before the train station tunnels - so you aren't standing in lines outside the turnstiles before park opening.

I hope this helps,
Kelly