The James A. Garfield Marching Pride commenced their spring break early this year, embarking on a 22-hour journey to Orlando, Florida, to showcase their talents at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. They arrived on Friday, March 22.
During their stay, the band visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where rain in the early morning led to reduced attendance. This allowed band members to explore Pandora, embark on an African safari, encountering various animals including endangered white rhinoceroses, giraffes, elephants, hippos, and meerkats. Additionally, they experienced attractions such as the Everest rollercoaster and the prehistoric-themed section while also discovering the challenges faced by bugs.
On Saturday, the band familiarized themselves with Main Street USA before participating in the Magic Kingdom’s 3:00 p.m. parade as part of the reshow entertainment. They were accompanied by two other bands from different parts of the USA, entertaining thousands of park guests. This opportunity was provided by Disney’s music program, allowing high schools nationwide to showcase their talent.
After the parade, the band regrouped with their chaperones to explore various attractions within the park, including Tron Lightcycle Run and The Haunted Mansion.
Aaron Evans stated, "I really enjoyed the whole atmosphere. The rides were awesome and there were so many good restaurants. Marching through Disney was cool because the cast members were so nice and made it easy to understand what we needed to do."
Aby Seiler said, "I really enjoyed the Fantasmic show at Hollywood Studios; there were a lot of cool effects, singing, and dancing characters. I especially loved Moana. It was a very nice way to end my trip."
Elise Edwards expressed, "I loved all the rides that were very immersive; it made me feel like I was really there. Especially the Avatar Way of Water ride. It was a rewarding experience. Yass."
Becca Evans mentioned, "The best part about Disney was definitely the food. Marching through Magic Kingdom actually was really fun and a rewarding experience."
Ollie May shared, "For me, the hotel was my favorite. Being able to chill out and get rest between our packed days was the best part. Also, the hotel pool was a fun way to end the first night."
On Sunday, the band visited Epcot, where they explored both classic and new attractions within the World Showcase. They also benefited from the Flower and Garden Exposition, which offered culinary and educational experiences.
The trip concluded with a visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where students immersed themselves in the worlds of Star Wars, Toy Story, and vintage Hollywood.
The GHS Music Department’s upcoming trip will be for the high school choir, who will perform at Cedar Point on May 24th as part of Cedar Fair’s music in the parks program, providing members of the choir one last opportunity to make memories before the seniors graduate on Saturday, May 25th.