Marching Band Experience?

[DznyChick]

OK, so next spring our high school's marching band is going to the Magic Kingdom to perform in a parade. I was hoping that some people have some memories or experiences of this? Please share!

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to also ask: Since we're going to be placed in the parade route, are there any chances at being backstage? Thanks!

 

[magicalmemories]

My daughter performed in the spectromagic parade in 2005. It was wonderful. She had the best time. One of her best memories is being backstage and the gates opening up to Main Street to march. A feeling she will never forget. One of her other greatest memories is seeing all of the character heads on a shelf. She said she doesn't look at Mickey the same way now! They really enjoyed the workshops also. It was neat to see the video of the band performing the music to Tarzan with the video clip playing behind them. We went down of course, and what a feeling to watch the kids marching with their friend through the Magic Kingdom at night with the castle behind them. WOW!
ENJOY!!

 

[donder]

When I was a sophomore in high school I went with my marching band to perform in the Spectromagic parade. We did get to spend a little time back stage. As I recall we met by Pirates of the Carribean and went out of a gate to the left of the entrance. They were really persistant that we didn't take any pictures backstage. Interestingly (since it's another current thread) one of my biggest memories of that trip was the pink cake castle.

My senior year I performed with my high school's show choir (I was a trombone player in the band) on the stage close to Space Mountain. A lot of my memories of those two trips have kind of blended together.

One distinct memory that I have from marching is some guy along the parade route yelled that we weren't playing enough (this was during a drum cadence). Apparently that scarred me, since is still the biggest thing that sticks out from the parade itself.

Tomorrow morning I'm leaving for Florida again (I'm from Indiana). This Friday my former high school's show choir is again performing at Disney (this time on the stage across from the American Adventure in EPCOT) and my brother is now their band director. Any excuse to go to Disney! I'm really thankful that Disney has Magic Music Days. I certainly have great memories!

 

[bellanotte]

I went on my high school band trip last year. It was absolutely amazing! We got to wait backstage and while we were waiting we tried to have a drum war with another school (our drum line is awesome) but their director wouldn't let them. Aladdin came and talked to the band while we were lining up. Then we marched right down Main Street USA with the castle behind us. The picture made the front page of the local news paper. It's all kind of a blur but I remember being hot (it was quite sunny that day) and jumping up and down a lot while we were waiting backstage. They do instruct you not to take pictures backstage. You could see the backs of buildings and there were floats lining up. After finishing the parade route, we walked along a backstage road to get back to the changing rooms. I remember a bunch of kids jumped when we started hearing weird jungle noises, but we were just passing the Jungle Cruise. It was an amazing experience and lately we've all been talking about how we wish we were back this year. We just passed the one year anniversary last week. *sigh*

 

[mainstreet1997]

When I was in high school 1997 (hence my user name) we headed to Disney on our bi-annual Spring Break trip. We knew one of the parades was the mardi-gras parade at Universal, the other we knew was a Disney parade. A few months before we left somone in the band asked our director which parade we were marching in. He goes "Spectro..." My jaw hit the ground I was so excited!

Fast forward to a few months later. We marched in Spectromagic -- I was almost in tears it was like a dream come true. I have memories of marching down mainstreet and hearing the beginning strains of the Spectromagic waaay behind us. I also have memories of nearly tripping over the bridge into Liberty Square. Disney was awesome, we got to do a clinic with Disney music pros and dub our own soundtrack for a Whole New World.


The Universal parade was quite awesome as well -- we heard there were 2 MILLION people watching us. Unfortunately for us our drums and hats didnt make it....they wound up somewhere in Alabama. They made it back for Spectromagic.


Two years later we did the Mardi Gras parade again and the Mulan parade at MGM.

 

[radiohost]

It was 1999

Our high school band marched down the street of the then MGM STUDIOS.

One of the greatest trips to WDW I have ever been on.

Fun. Exciting. Different.

What was the best was seeing all of my friends and there familys faces light up because they had never been to disney world.

So you be the official tour guide!

Take pictures and have fun

Radiohost

 

[mainstreet1997]

Oh! I remember that walkway! The other "magical place" for me is "the Donkey gate" at Italy. Thats the gate we were supposed to meet at and entered through to go to our clinic.

We got the whole spheel too about no pictures backstage and they told us about the yellow line about how once you crossed it you were "onstage"

I went on my high school band trip last year. It was absolutely amazing! We got to wait backstage and while we were waiting we tried to have a drum war with another school (our drum line is awesome) but their director wouldn't let them. Aladdin came and talked to the band while we were lining up. Then we marched right down Main Street USA with the castle behind us. The picture made the front page of the local news paper. It's all kind of a blur but I remember being hot (it was quite sunny that day) and jumping up and down a lot while we were waiting backstage. They do instruct you not to take pictures backstage. You could see the backs of buildings and there were floats lining up. After finishing the parade route, we walked along a backstage road to get back to the changing rooms. I remember a bunch of kids jumped when we started hearing weird jungle noises, but we were just passing the Jungle Cruise. It was an amazing experience and lately we've all been talking about how we wish we were back this year. We just passed the one year anniversary last week. *sigh*

 

[radiohost]

OK, so next spring our high school's marching band is going to the Magic Kingdom to perform in a parade. I was hoping that some people have some memories or experiences of this? Please share!

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to also ask: Since we're going to be placed in the parade route, are there any chances at being backstage? Thanks!

Yes, backstage around fronteirland/adventureland

 

[krankenstein]

I marched at then MGM back in 2002. I don't think I will ever forget it. We won the grand championship for the marching comp. part of Musicfest which made it that much better.

All I can say is that everything about it is awesome. You probably will never go back with that big of a group of friends so enjoy it and make a lot of memories. Don't forget to take a lot of pictures to remind you of all the fun you'll have too.

Oh btw, don't let anyone stand up on Splash Mountain like my friend did.

 

[hokielutz]

Hey there.... congrats on going to perform in the parade!!!:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

You will have a lot of fun.

I'm a multi parade veteran of Main-street from Virginia. (being the son of a high school band director has its advantages) I've marched with my high school twice and with the Marching Virginians of Virginia Tech once.

First off...to answer your last question, yes you will be backstage... behind Splash Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. My parade experiences always started us from Splash Mountain and exited at the front of Main Street. You'll be amazed how quickly you will get from the end of the parade route on Main Street to the backside of Splash Mountain. You'll see all the parade floats for the evening that are stationed back there... and will probably see characters without their heads.

We also got a clinic with the chief director of music for Disney world. We got a taste of what goes on in a recording studio when we also dubbed a the Whole New World sound track for Aladdin.

One memory that really sticks out for me during the parade was after we rounded the circle from the castle onto the top of Main Street. We were into our marching drum cadence when our drum major at the front gave the high sign to start the next song... well only two in our drum started the roll-off... and then it got eerily quiet... The percussion section got confused, fouled up, and stopped keeping the beat. This lasted what seemed like hours... when everyone watching knows the band screwed up and we were sweating bullets... Fortunately... one of them got us back on cadence and continued performing down Main Street. That was quite embarrassing!! Imagine... a marching band.. marching in a parade with no drum cadence??

Anyways... that was a mini-disaster and I'm sure your's will be better. Of course you can't take pictures backstage... but there isn't a whole lot that is interesting with what you will see. The best way to see all of the backstage is to take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. The Backstage Magic Tour is great as well.

 

[hokielutz]

We got the whole spheel too about no pictures backstage and they told us about the yellow line about how once you crossed it you were "onstage"

Ah yes... the magic yellow line. Once you cross it you are a performing cast member and you have to stay in performance until you cross another line about 100 ft from the gate you exit the parade route.

 

[amccrazgrl]

I remember my I think it was Jr. Year being in the Magic Kingdom parade. It was one of the quickest parade routes I been in. The wait for the parade seem like the longest one ever too.
I remember seeing characters without there heads and all. We also got dressed in a small room or area and it was really hot that day.

 

[Fievel]

I marched in WDW as part of my high school band in.....um....I think it was 1993. I'll echo the fact that you get to see a large amount of backstage from behind main street to behind splash mountain, pirates, etc.

BTW, I hope you're prepared to walk, that backstage walk seems to take forever to get to your staging area. When we were there, it was shortly after Easter, so we saw all the spectro floats backstage and many of the Easter Parade floats waiting to go into storage. We weren't supposed to take pictures, but a lot of people did from the bus (What can I say, we were in high school).

But nothing compares to the feeling of standing at the gate on main street and watching those two doors open and seeing the flood of people. I had never marched in front of that many people before, and the only parade experience that rates with it is marching in the Tournament of Roses parade in college.

I've also been fortunate to march at Disneyland twice, and to me there is nothing like marching down main street in either park. There is something special about it that nothing can match. I think having people that are enjoying being in their favorite place and seeing the smiles on people's faces is something you can't get anywhere else.

 

[tcwickings]

My DD marched last March. She said it was great.We vactioned 8 times before at Disney but that was the best.I have to say it brought a tear to my eye .Seeing her come down Main street was a great feeling.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Hey!Former Band member here!


The parade at MK is very exciting!I marched last year and it was one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had-It in fact started my "new" and more detailed obsession with Disney!It's simply amazing to be part of the magic and be a detail of someone else's vacation.It's also really cool to be backstage and see SM from the back and watch all the CM's put on their costumes and the like

Have FUN!!

 

[DznyChick]

All your memories make me more excited! Thanks for sharing...keep the memories coming! :wave: