Day 906: Best Day of My Life

It's been a year and I still don't think I believe that I marched down Main Street U.S.A.

June 25 will always be an important day for me, probably right up there with other important days of the year like my birthday or Christmas, because on June 25, 2014, I fulfilled my dream of marching in the Magic Kingdom, and even now, a year later, it still hits home. I can honestly say that not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about that parade. I think about it all the time. Whenever I'm feeling a bit let down about how much work it takes to upkeep a daily blog or weekly YouTube videos. I thought of it every second of the way through editing the band trip video for our trip to Walt Disney World. I think of it when I'm happy and when I'm sad and when the powers that work against me almost succeed, but June 25 is an important day, and I still can't thank the powers that be enough for making this possible.

I went back and read my blog post that corresponds with that day a year ago, which you can read HERE, and it's in that post that I talk about how, by some strange twist of fate, it was my dream that came true. I'm not sure if I've ever really talked about this in depth, but this seems like a great time for it.

Wishes.

I faintly remember the show previous to Wishes, and as a kid in awe of Illuminations, I really didn't think much of it. But when we learned we were going to audition for Disney Performing Arts, I would stand almost nightly by my window and listen to Wishes. Or if I was driving home from school late one night, maybe after a football or basketball game, I would turn on the soundtrack and sing along, wishing with all my heart that maybe, just maybe, it would be my dream that comes true.

People in our world are negative. I've said it time and time again. So many don't believe in wishes. We're raised to believe that the only thing that gets us anywhere is hard work. And I'm not saying that's not true. I worked incredibly hard in my years with the High School Band, and I continue to work hard on a daily basis. But hard work means nothing without a dream behind it to help push us forward.

There's a moment near the end of Wishes, right after the Blue Fairy appears, where she says "Remember, we must always believe in our wishes. For they are the magic in the world. Now, let's all put our hearts together and make a wish come true." When I stood in the Magic Kingdom that night, only hours after the parade, others were merely concerned about the fireworks. I know there were some simply happy from the thrill rides and experiences with their friends. Even my fellow drum major, as I went around asking everyone their favorite part of the day, commented that her favorite part was leading the band in the parade.

But I never actually answered my own question, and for those of you in the SHS Band, go check out the video. Of everyone in the band, I never give an answer, because to be honest I don't think I could do it without tears appearing again, much like they are now. But I'll tell you now. My favorite part of the day was the moment when everyone DID put their hearts together and made a wish come true.

For those of you out there wishing tonight, keep wishing. My heart's in it for you now.

Have a magical day!

Day 681: Two Years Ago

To be 100% honest, I almost didn't blog on time today, although I've spent the last five and a half hours or so working on my blog. See, I joined one of my friends in the library this evening and since we were sitting at the giant computer table in the basement, I figured that I would use it to write a blog post: this blog post as a matter of fact. Only, I noticed a bit of an issue when I started...the title for the latest day was 681, but the blog post count itself only showed 680. It meant that somewhere along the line there was still an issue, and I can't believe I didn't notice it over the past couple of weeks. 

So for the past five and a half hours I spent my life recording every single blog post in a giant spreadsheet that includes all the dates they're posted, Day numbers and titles. It. Took. Forever. Honestly though, it was probably a good idea. I found a couple of other errors, and now, and I swear this is the last time I'll say this, the blog appears to be all correct. The funny part? I found errors as far back as month 1, as in January of 2013. Yep, fixed those and am all up to date. 

In other words, at the beginning of this adventure I actually had an idea of what this blog post was going to be about, but at this point my brain is just kind of mush. I'm still sort of debating stopping this writing at the moment and picking it back up tomorrow because I don't even really know what I'm writing about. I have no clue how Disney has fit into my day, other than the fact that I've spent the last five hours looking back at all the old blog posts. 

I suppose, therefore, I'll talk about that. A long while ago, my friend asked me if it was weird looking back at the old posts. I mean, we're talking posts from over a year ago, and it is. I looked at just about every single post in the last year and a half. I didn't read them all, but I looked through them all, saw pictures of them all and added them all into the new master file I have. A part of it feels like "That was sooooo long ago," but the other part is like "That was THAT long ago?" It makes for an add combination. 

And since we're being sentimental today, I suppose I'll also mention that two years ago today (so a while before this blog even existed) was one of the most important days in my life. As far as I can tell from Timehop, two years ago today was the exact first day we decided to audition for Disney Performing Arts. We had a band council meeting and the entire thing was discussed and we set our minds to it. Now it's all over and done with (other than that band trip video which causes me pain and suffering constantly because it's just taking forever and I feel bad about that fact), and it's just a weird thing to look back at. In case you were wondering, I know this because of a Facebook Status I posted that day:

"Even though I've put so much of myself into this...I haven't asked for much in return...and if I have, it's for the opportunity to learn. now I've been blessed with even the possibility of not only a learning experience, but also for my greatest dream to come true...and I hope there is an understanding that this time, if I'm let down it will completely crush me. I've kept my hopes down for three years...and I thought that this would never come true...but due to the conditions...it's now a possibility...but if it falls through, it wouldn't be like before, it would be ripped from my hands. But I know I have a job to do...and no matter what I still have to do that job...and I will do everything I can to make my dream possibly for everyone else, even if I can't participate in it myself."

This status is incredibly important for me, since there was so much drama surrounding the band trip, with words put not only in my mouth, but the mouths of those around me. The situation, as you know, was not good in any shape or form. But throughout the whole thing, I constantly related back to this thought, and it's nice to know that the whole time, I was indeed telling the truth. This point has stuck with me since the first day the Disney trip came up in conversation, and it held true until long after the trip itself was finished. 

Right now though? I really need to go back to my dorm room and sleep. I need to sleep...so darn much. 

Have a magical day!

Day 585: Tour Guide in Training

Contrary to what you might think, I actually don't spend every single day in the Music Lobby at SNC. But I do spend a heck of a lot of time here, especially since my internet at home will work great one minute and then completely crash the next. It's a struggle. And it's real.

But today is one of the days that I am taking up residence in the music lobby here, and it's funny, because I get to see a lot of different people in my hours spent in this chair. I mean, I'm working on my laptop pretty much all the time, so I can't always stop and talk, especially since the majority of the people I see I don't even know, but once and a while I'll set the laptop aside and chat. 

And again, today is one of those days. 

I'm not a tour guide here. I probably should be because it would be great for me and I am pretty darn good at answering questions. But there's so much to memorize. Either way, I'll probably end up with that job sooner or later, and today only strengthens that idea in my mind. 

So I'm just sitting here, clicking away at my computer like I generally do, when a man and his daughter appear at the other end of the lobby (I'm on the far end, so you kind of have to go around the corner to even see me). People actually do this all the time. I mean, tours go through, and people ask about the music program, which is all in this building, and if you're going to be a music major you'll probably want to see the music building. But these people weren't on a tour, and stopped to ask me questions. 

This has never happened before. 

But I absolutely loved talking to you guys (if you ever actually read this...know that you totally inspired me to be a tour guide here on campus, and I really hope you decide to come to school here! We're a spectacular bunch of people). I mean, I am a music major after all, and surprisingly I have an actual grip on what classes you have to take and when, even if I'm a performance major and not an education major. 

What does this all have to do with Disney you ask? Well it turns out that I would also LOVE to be a tour guide in the parks. I know so much already and memorizing information about Disney and then sharing the magic with other people sounds pretty darn amazing. I guess we'll see where that goes though. Maybe someday, depending on how long I work in the parks versus going off to pursue that career with Disney Performing Arts. That's what's going to make the difference here, I can tell that already. 

But hey, if anyone ever has questions about Disney or anything else just let me know. I'm always more than happy to answer them! 

Have a magical day!

Day 548: Disney Performing Arts

If you've read all my blog posts about my Disney trip with the Seymour High School Band, I'm sure you're getting tired of them right about now.This final post about it will make 11 posts on the topic all in a row, but you'll get why I'm talking about this in just a minute.

You see, for the last how many years (alright, more like year and a half), I've said that I want to work for Walt Disney Imagineering. I've answered countless questions about what that is and what they do and how I would do that and how in the world music and English work into that career path. It's a long winded discussion every single time. But since then I've had to do some...we'll call it soul searching.

This blog is actually one of the main reasons that I came across the idea and dream of working for Disney. For years, and if you've been reading for a long time you've probably heard this before, I always said that I never wanted to work for Disney. I want to keep the magic for me at Walt Disney World and pursue a career elsewhere. But life likes to make twists and turns on us, and sometimes our happy ending isn't always what we expect it to be.

Speaking of which, Once Upon A Time did change this a little bit too. It's because of the show that I realized that I would be more than happy to work ANYWHERE in the Disney company, not just in Imagineering. If for some reason my writing someday is good enough to land me a job writing for a show like Once, I'm certainly not going to complain. And Adam and Eddy certainly inspire me to continue pursuing and working on my own writing.

That's still not the point though. When Nick gave the speech at the end of our parade, something in my clicked. I previously talked about how I was the little girl on the side of Main Street that watched the Marching Bands go by, and that's what inspired me to go into music. All of this did, and it's been a long journey. But as I go through the music program here at SNC I've realized how much I'd miss music if I didn't go into a career there either, and it occurred to me that I would love to work with Disney Performing Arts. Essentially, I would love to be Nick, and work with the groups themselves, leading them down Main Street. Because I've lived every other step of that journey, and I know what it takes to get there.

So now my path has changed, once again. I am looking forward to working with music, and I certainly am excited for this coming school year when I can get a practice room back and play my alto whenever I really feel like it, right alongside my friends who are doing the same thing. And then, someday, maybe I'll take that final step with Disney Performing Arts and become a part of the team, so I can help inspire even more people just like me. Because that's what we all really want to do with life, isn't it? We want to inspire and be inspired.

Plus, a career that involves Disney AND Music sounds pretty great to me.

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on August 8).

Day 543: The Final Trip

In the five years I've been involved with the Seymour Community High School Band, I've been to a lot of places, and I've had the chance to share my passion for music with a lot of really amazing people.

Four years ago I traveled with 15 fellow Seymour Students and a pile of Pulaski kids to Colorado and South Dakota. That was my first band trip. In fact, it was the first band trip for the SHS Band in years, and the first on the scale of everyone in the group was able to go. Most didn't, and I almost opted out of the trip as well, but I'm certainly glad I decided to go. That trip helped inspire my real love of travel, and I do hope to go back someday, maybe on a cross country trip that starts at Disney World and ends at Disneyland? Yeah, something like that.

Then we went to Chicago, which, as much of a pointless trip it was, taught us a lot of things about how we had to go about planning a trip itself. It led to another spectacular trip the following summer to Boston and New York, two places I most certainly want to go back to some day. I'll never forget going to the Disney Store or dancing on the top of a boat in New York Harbor next to the Statue of Liberty in the pouring rain. And as long as that four mile parade in Boston was, it's one of my absolute favorite moments in my entire life.

Last year we went to Mackinaw Island, which told me a lot about how I want to travel and where I want to travel. I wasn't impressed with the island at all, but going with my friends made it worth it, and there are certainly plenty of crazy memories from those couple of days, Ohio Guy included. But all through that last trip, there was this constant sense of dread in the fact that it could be my last. It wasn't, obviously, as I just spent the last how long blogging about the band trip to Walt Disney World. But the idea is still the same. There's that sense of dread, knowing that soon enough, it will be all over. And that's something that stuck with the Disney trip too.

One of my college professors joked last week about how I'm too young to write a memoir (and he is too!), but I feel like I could. The SHS Band Trip to Walt Disney World was certainly one of the most difficult experiences I've ever had, from the first day our director brought it up until the last day I will work on the band trip video. It's been a long process unlike any other, and it's taught me a hell of a lot about people, and life and work and dreaming and commitment and hundreds of other things. A good portion of me thinks and wants, honestly, to write forever about it, about every last detail that I can remember before I forget about it, because sometimes even a daily blog isn't enough to keep it all straight.

But as difficult as it all was, this trip was also one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. As I mentioned in a former post, it's not everyday your dream you've had for 18 years can come true. Life just doesn't work that way. I'm so glad it did work though, and I'm very excited about the fact that Megan and Ashley both loved my home so much that they're joining us on our NEXT trip! What a way to make a Disney Geek happy, right!?!

This trip started for me a long, long time ago, and the ending is quite bittersweet. That's for sure. It's not done, as of right now, since I'm still working on the video, and the memories will certainly last a lifetime, and the drama that surrounds the experience continues to be difficult, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Because as Walt Disney once said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them," and I can attest to the fact that this is very much the truth.

There are a couple of other blog posts that will be right after these that still have to do with the trip, since we did SO MUCH in those six days that it's sort of difficult to write about absolutely all of it in just a few posts, but these are my final thoughts on the trip, I suppose, or at least as they stand now.



- Dreams are hard to achieve, no matter what they are, but never give up on them.
- People show their true colors when you least expect them to.
- Be thankful for what you have.
- Make the most of your time. There's so little of it in the first place. Don't waste it.
- Keep Calm and Be Understanding, but stick up for what you believe.
- Accept help when it is offered, especially when it's an offer on something you know nothing about.
- Take lots of pictures. And video. Document your moments, because they're gone faster than they came.
- Do what is right, even if it's not what you want.
- Take risks. Try new things. Be adventurous.
- Never lose hope. It's more important than anything else in the world.

Have a magical day.

(Note: This blog post was written on August 1).

Day 541: A Dream Come True

The ability to have a dream actually come true is, sadly, often far from reality. Things like fairy tales may tell of happy endings, but those don't always happen either. What's important though is that we keep hope, and we never stop chasing after those dreams, despite the fact that they seem as far away as the moon (and often further).

But every once and a while, a dream does come true. I like to think that maybe some weird, mysterious force of the universe decided that after all the hard work I had put in that maybe my dream should come true. I probably don't deserve it. I mean, there are tons of people out there much more worthy of something like their lifelong dream becoming a reality, and I'm sure there are people with better dreams out there too, like curing cancer or world peace. But fate chose me, and I couldn't be more thankful.

It's kind of difficult trying to figure out how to word this blog post because just how do you take 18 years of your life and stick it into a few words? How do you describe something that you spent your whole life dreaming of and make it understandable how much it means to you when you actually get to a point where you can do it? It's really, truly difficult. So I'll start with a story, since I'm writing this long after even the actual event happened.

I'm currently in the process of just beginning the actual editing of the band trip video, and that means going through a lot of files on my computer to find everything I need. Yesterday it just so happened that I stumbled across a video I made almost a year ago, back on the night we found out we were accepted to Disney Performing Arts for a workshop and marching experience in one of the Walt Disney World theme parks. I don't really remember much about that night, other than I cried a lot. And there are most certainly some pictures out there that I hope hide for eternity because I look absolutely awful in them. Granted, you can imagine my emotional state when they were taken.

Anyways, in this video, I talk a bit about how proud I am of the band for achieving something like this before I launch into a story about my own life, and how spectacular this is simply for me. It's funny though, because what I said in that video is almost exactly what our cast member, Nick, said backstage after our parade.

When I was a little girl, visiting Walt Disney World with my family, I spent a good amount of time listening to the music in the parks too. The music of the Millennium Celebration at Epcot will forever be my inspiration for my own music, but there's more to it than that. When we would be at the Magic Kingdom, I would watch the parades go by, often times with marching bands, and I said to myself "I want to do that." I wanted to march down Main Street U.S.A. with a band, and as many of you well know, just about the only way to do that is through Disney Performing Arts. So when I entered my senior year, not expecting to be able to return on another trip of the size and scale that Disney would be, my dreams were pretty much dead. I had tried for years to get our director to go, and then something clicked. And we were accepted.

And on June 25, 2014, I got to march down Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom, just like I always dreamed of. And better yet? I had the incredible honor of standing as a second drum major, leading the band past thousands of people. This is one of those times when I'm kind of just speechless. I don't know what else to say.

I do know that, somehow, I managed to keep myself from crying through the parade, a smile on my face the whole way through, although I honestly don't remember ever even hearing the band play a note. I was so off in my own little world for those ten minutes that I just don't remember anything else.

But afterwards, once we were all out of uniform and standing around waiting for Nick to take us back into the park, he gave us this speech, and God it changed my life.

I wish I had that speech on video, I really do, although it was difficult to think about doing something like that when I was crying like no other. And while I don't really remember everything he said in that speech, I do remember one portion. He told us that, as inspiring as the parade had been for us, we have to remember that we, as honorary Disney cast members, were inspiring other people too. There could have been a little kid out on the parade route that watched us march by and suddenly thought to themselves "I want to do that. I want to play the flute, or the trumpet or be the drum major," and he pointed directly at me, standing clear in front of him balling my eyes out. But he's right. As much as I know there are people in the group angry that he pointed at me instead of the other drum major, I don't care. I WAS THAT KID. That was me, once upon a time, and if anyone has a problem with that parade, or me being in it or being drum major, I challenge them to find someone that parade meant more to than it did for me. I bet they wouldn't be able to find anyone.

In the end, the whole thing is still sort of a blur, and a good part of me still doesn't believe it happened. I have this feeling that I'll return in January and just stand at the end of Main Street and cry, but at least my friends will be there with me. Magic Kingdom will never be the same for me, because for just a few minutes, I was an honorary Disney cast member, and I hope to god that my journey, with all its trials and tribulations, inspired someone just like me to go out and reach for that goal too. Some little boy or girl that watched ME march by, deciding that they wanted to look ridiculous walking in front of a band waving their arms around in the middle of the ridiculous Florida summer sun and heat. Because there's nothing I've experienced in my life that's as rewarding as that parade was for me.

So thank you to everyone involved, especially the powers that be in Disney Performing Arts, and our spectacular cast member, Nick. I wish I could have thanked you before we left. And to the members of the SHS Band that helped me achieve my dream, especially the 2013-14 drum major, Gail, for letting me share her big parade. And to our director, Mr. Alban. Thanks for letting me come along, thanks for inspiring me, thanks for everything.

Now, having heard my story, I want to encourage each and every one of you to go after your own dream, whether it seems possible or not, because as difficult as it may sound, it could still happen. All you have to do is have a little faith, a little trust and maybe a little bit of pixie dust.

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on August 1).

Day 540: Backstage Music

My High School Band may have gotten accepted to march in the Magic Kingdom, but that doesn't mean that's all we went to Florida for. Nope! We were also accepted to do a workshop with Disney Performing Arts, and it was certainly a wild adventure.

For those of you that don't know, there's a Performing Arts center backstage in Epcot, right between Italy and the American Adventure. I'd actually seen it before, since I've been backstage in that area, but I completely forgot (or didn't realize) that the DPA Center was there. It's a neat looking little place, and the inside area is beautiful as well. When you do a workshop there, your band goes into one of the recording studios and sight reads through music, recording as you go until you record a song or two from a movie, which is then paired with the film footage for your own custom recording of the music from that movie. It's honestly a wonderful experience.

For our workshop, I actually ended up playing Clarinet. You're probably all like, "but Lizzie, you don't play clarinet?" and you're right! I don't! Or at least I'm not very good at it. About a month before the trip I was discussing with my band director what I might end up playing. The problem? Four oboe players were going on the trip, and the alto row is so full that one of them actually already had left to go help out in percussion. Which mean that there wasn't really room to fit me in.

So we stuck me in the clarinet row instead, and within a month I picked up the instrument enough that, surprisingly, I could play most of the music we read at the workshop. It probably wasn't quite as rewarding for me then if I had been playing my alto, or even my oboe, but the experience was still great, and I was super proud of the fact that I could handle playing a first clarinet part with Megan. Also, a special shout out to Ashley, who taught me how to play that darn thing.

Within the two hours we spent there, we played through some great music, including the theme from Beauty and the Beast and music from Aladdin, which was the film that they backed the music to. Aladdin is honestly my least favorite Disney movie, but it was still fun. However, by the far the BEST song we played had to be Trashin' The Camp from Tarzan. Our band director was enlisted to do animal noises on the recording and I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life.

Plus, we got to meet this wonderful cast member, Allen! (I hope I spelled that right. I'm not exactly sure). He was great! Hilarious, and most certainly a spectacular trumpet player (among other instruments). Plus we got these special pins for the workshop and it just makes me super happy. Actually, I should figure out where I put mine. I think I remember where it is...unless I already put it in my pin case. Gosh I need to sort out where I put all my Disney stuff from this trip.

But for sure, the workshop was GREAT! And we got to go into backstage Epcot, and there's nothing I enjoy more than going backstage past Test Track and the little Spaceship Earth thing. It probably has a name, and I should probably learn what it is...but I think I'll have to save that one for when I finally work there some day.

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on August 1). 

Day 250: Work Hard, Play Hard

So, it has officially been over 12 hours since my band director told us that we're going to Disney World, and I'm starting to wonder if it's bad that I'm still crying. I just can't believe that this is actually happening. I am so proud of the band for helping me make this dream come true. It certainly wouldn't be happening without each and every one of them.

But as I was laying in bed this morning and listening to the confirmation recording for what is probably the 20th time, something occurred to me. Once and a while, when I'm having a bad day or am just missing Disney, I'll go and watch videos of families surprising their kids with a trip to Disney. I've talked about it before, and about how I can't wait to have that experience with my kids. I've always thought, for many years, that I would never have the opportunity to have a surprise like that. I go to Disney all the time, so my family announcing it is more of a "finally you picked a date for us to leave." But standing at that game last night, I feel like a video camera could have been there filming us for one of those commercials. I had no idea that was coming, and it was the happiest moment of my life. Obviously it is if I'm still like crying.

I have no clue how my band director came up with that brilliant way of telling us, but I am so glad that's how he decided to do it. There could not be a more magical and meaningful way for us to find out that we got accepted to march at Walt Disney World. Not a better way to tell me that my dream is actually coming true, the one that I, in all respects, thought would never ever happen. So I just want to thank him for that!

And you know what's even funnier? A few weeks ago I opened a fortune cookie, and you know what the fortune was? "Your fondest dream will come true within the next year." Looks like those things don't lie after all. That or you really can wish upon a star and your dream will come true. Whatever it was that made this possible, what made all the hard work we put in pay off, I want to thank that.

All I know is that I really hope someone has footage or pictures of that moment (I know someone does!). And that all the hard work that I put in, that WE put in, is finally paying off. As our director (and the recording from Disney) say, Work Hard, Play Hard. And now we get to do both at Walt Disney World.

Honestly though, I really do feel like we could be in this commercial, only instead it would be for Disney Performing Arts. I never ever thought I would get to have an experience like that, but I'm so glad that I did.  

For #Frumpstagram today the prompt was "Palm Trees," and if I'm being completely honest, I don't have a lot of pictures of palm trees. Probably because there really aren't a ton of them, but I did eventually manage to find a picture of one! It did take some looking though! 

And here's today's Disney History: 1994: Disney theme parks welcome their 1 billionth guest - Mary Smith from Illinois! After walking through the main gate of Walt Disney World, she is awarded a lifetime pass for her and her family and a cross-country flight to Disneyland. 

Have a magical day!

Day 249: A Special Announcement

If you would, please watch this video before you read the rest of this post. 

And so, you, now, have heard the same thing that I, along with my High School Band heard at tonight's football game. I'm not kidding. I was there helping with stuff and was on the field taking pictures and helping carry the drum major ladder (because someone did it for me, so now I'm doing it for the wonderful drum major we have this year! Love you Gail!). So I was there and our band director was doing something with his phone and some wires but I had no idea. I got the ladder and was walking off the field with the band and he was blowing a whistle and I was so so so confused. But we kept going and then he started playing the above recording over the entire system on the field. And then we stopped and my mom was telling us all to stop so I yelled to the band to stop and then I heard the announcement continue and I just started crying and hugging people. 

In all honestly, I have no idea what to say. I was crying for probably a good half hour, and I called my best friend to tell her and I kept hugging people and I was just freaking out. Like standing on that field, that was the moment when my dream came true. Overall I'm pretty sure I just was standing there in shock, and there's probably a ton of pictures of me just absolutely crying with people all around me. That moment was the proudest moment of my life. 

We made it Seymour. We, the SEYMOUR HIGH SCHOOL BAND, made it into WALT DISNEY WORLD. You guys make me so proud to be a member and have been a member of this group, and I am so excited for this trip. I am excited to finally get to march at Walt Disney World and I'm excited for those of you going there for the first time and I'm excited for everything. 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank You. I cannot say it enough. Without each and every single one of you this would not be happening. My dream would not be coming true right now. I wouldn't be going to Walt Disney World. 

And that leaves me just one thing to say...

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!

Here's today's #Frumpstagram post, based on the idea "Makin' Memories." So, as excited as I am about the whole Disney thing, and about all the memories I'm sure we'll make on that trip, I chose a picture from my last trip of me and my brother playing the drums in Harambe at Animal Kingdom. My brother and I always make such great memories at Disney World! Like Space Mountain! Great times!

And here's today's Disney History: 1972: Tony Award-winning actress and singer Anika Noni Rose is born in Bloomfield, Connecticut. She supplied the voice of Tiana for Disney's animated 2009 feature The Princess and the Frog. Known for her stage work, she played the role of Amneris in 2000 for Disney's musical Aida. Rose was named a Disney Legend in 2011. 

ALSO, and here's another important announcement! Everyday Disney finally has a Facebook page! I just finished working on it last night! I'll be posting the blog posts daily there as well as other pictures and videos of Disney and so on and so forth. =) You can find it here! 

Have a magical day!

Day 126: Disney Overload

I think it's pretty obvious that we all love Disney, but some times we have a day where we just get a bit too much. Well, not too much, because there's never enough Disney, but I was focusing so much on it today that my head started to hurt and by the time I finish this post I'll be more than ready for bed.

I had a discussion with my band director once again about our trip, and that's probably what made my head hurt. I generally can go on for hours about Disney history or the layout of the parks or what attraction is which and who it would be good for, but thinking about reasons as to why we should stay on property, add an extra day to the trip and watch where we're dining...it gets to be pretty serious conversation! And I'm no where near finished!

But I do have to say that part of our conversation was about how this trip, no matter what, is going to do nothing but make me mad. And he's right, and I know that. I will be the opposites. I will be the student who has the best trip, since I have spent me entire life dreaming of marching down Main Street with my band. But I will also be the student with the worst trip, since everything will be so structured and I am so much more experience with Disney than anyone else on the trip (and as much as my brother hates to admit it, not even he comes close).

Still, I can assure that I want to help with this trip, and I feel that it is my responsibility to help, because I want this trip to be the best it can be for everyone else. I was asked which of the four parks I would go to if we could only do three, and while I am certainly more of an Animal Kingdom person, I have decided that Hollywood Studios would be a better option for the group. Will it make me happy? No, but will it make the trip better for everyone else? Yes. It isn't my band directors job to make me happy, and I'd rather be unhappy than have everyone else unhappy. This is their trip, and I am going to make my dream of marching down main street come true, not to spend more time at Disney (although that's a plus).

And so, I've put on my Cast Member in Training Thinking Cap, and I've been working to make this as magical as it could possibly be for everyone going. Not for me, not for my family, but for the group as a whole. Yes, I have an influenced opinion, but I also know more than enough about Disney to promote whatever it is the band decides on, and I will be just as excited for this trip whether or not we stay on property (we need to...just saying), or if we go to Kennedy Space Center, or if we skip out on Animal Kingdom.

Because when it comes down to it, all that really matters to me is that parade (and riding Spaceship Earth), and seeing people close to me experience something that I've had the wonderful opportunity to experience for my entire life. And as a person looking to make experiences like that for the rest of her life, there's going to be nothing more worthwhile.

Tomorrow's blog post will be less hard core thinking...hopefully!

Here's today's Disney History: 2011: Originally reopened as a limited engagement run last year, the Captain EO attraction at Tokyo Disneyland will now remain a permanent attraction.

Have a magical day!

Day 125: Disney Devil's Advocate

Really this had more to do with yesterday than it does with today, but still...it's something that I just had to write about. Of course, I'm also writing about this instead of the second day of the Star Wars celebration weekend...but we have the entire month of May to celebrate Star Wars!

Anyways, yesterday was State Solo & Ensemble, and I'm still ignoring the fact that it ever happened...but what's important is what happened on our way home. My mom and brother convinced me to go out for sushi for dinner, a treat for us since, while we have learned how to make sushi for ourselves at home, the only other time we get it is when we go to this one restaurant or Disney (but that's all for another blog post that will come with time).

While eating sushi, we picked up on a rousing game of Disney Devil's Advocate, since I am to have a Disney lesson conversation with my band director sometime this week...and mom decided it would be a good idea to quiz me with various questions. Here are just a few that I remember and my short answers:

1.) What if I don't like thrill rides? 

(Note: This is the easiest question ever).

My answer would begin with a short story...As some of you already know, I have extreme motion sickness problems, but I am still able to enjoy Disney to the fullest (aside from the fact that I use motion sickness medicine to ride some of my favorite thrilling attractions). At the Magic Kingdom, you have some of the best opportunities to meet characters, and there are many dark rides, which are slow moving story-themed rides, such as Peter Pan, Ariel's Undersea Adventure and the Haunted Mansion. At Epcot, you can head into the Living Seas with Nemo and his Friends, or you can take a trip through time on Spaceship Earth, all before exploring everything World Showcase has to offer. At Disney's Hollywood Studios, you can dive right into the world of the movies on the Great Movie Ride, or take a tour of how the movies are made on the Backlot Tour! And finally, Disney's Animal Kingdom offers plenty for the less adventurous type, where you can see animals you love and adore, as well as a spectacular musical version of Finding Nemo!

2.) Disney doesn't have thrill rides! 

(Note: This is still the easiest question...just the opposite answer...and one many teenagers will ask).

While it seems like Disney is, on top, meeting characters like the Princesses, going on slow rides and acting like a kid, there's still plenty to do for the thrill seeker! What most don't know is that Disney is home to some of the most thrilling rides in the world! At both Epcot and The Magic Kingdom, you have triple thrills, with Soarin', Test Track and Mission SPACE at Epcot and the Three mountains, Splash, Space and Big Thunder, at Magic Kingdom. Head to The Studios for a 13 story drop into the twilight zone and go on a rockin' dark coaster with Aerosmith right after, all before blasting into the stars with Star Tours! And at Animal Kingdom, get ready for one of the biggest mountain's around, Everest, with a 90-foot drop and a backwards section that sends you straight into a face-off with a Yeti! But the fun doesn't end there! At each of Disney's Waterparks there are also unique thrills. At Blizzard Beach head down Summit Plummit, one of the tallest, fastest, free-fall waterslides in the world, and at Typhoon Lagoon take a ride on the unique Water coaster, Crushin' Gusher!

3.) What if I don't like rides at all? 

Don't worry, there's still a lot to do!!! At Magic Kingdom, check out Enchanted Tales with Belle, a unique storytime where you can become part of the Beauty and the Beast! In Tomorrowland you will find the Carousel of Progress, the longest running stage show of all time that's filled with Disney history, and if you're feeling up to it, the Tomorrowland People Mover gives you a great view of everything Tomorrowland has to offer! On the other side of the park, the Country Bears and causing a ruckus, and there's plenty of other stages shows and parades to participate in! At Epcot, discover Innoventions and World Showcase. In Innoventions, take a trip through some of the newest technology the world has to offer, head through a "Green House" and see how new inventions can make our daily lives greener, and in World Showcase, discover 11 completely unique countries and cultures, with plenty of food, shows, shops and showcases! The Hollywood Studios offers one of the best stage shows, Indiana Jones, where you can see, live, how action films such as the Epic Indiana Jones series, are made, and if you're into cars, check out Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show! which brings all the thrills of high-action car stunts right before your eyes! Finally, at Disney's Animal Kingdom, explore two unique trails filled with animals, see the live-action show, The Lion King, based on the award winning Broadway Musical, or take a train to Conversation Station to see the behind the scenes of how Animal Kingdom and Disney work to help conservation efforts around the globe!

4.) Are we going to be eating expensive hamburgers the entire time? 

(Note: This was really two questions combined, but oh well).

Here, once again, I'd start with a story, or question, rather...Who has all been to Six Flags? How much does a bottle of water cost? (The answer: $4.50, at least). Well, water at Disney, the EXACT SAME WATER, is only $2.50 at Disney, still pricy, but not even in the same ballpark as that of Six Flags...and the best part, you can bring in your own water bottles and snacks if you want, just as long as you carry them with you and you don't bring them in a hard-case cooler! And don't worry about eating hamburgers all the time either! Disney offers a wide selection of unique food! In the Magic Kingdom, for a counter service, I recommend Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland. If you want a Hamburger, they have that...if not, there's also sandwiches and salads and chicken of almost every kind, and some meals are big enough to split with a friend! Or if French is more your cusine, go check out "Be Our Guest" for lunch, the newest restaurant addition to Walt Disney World, serving amazing food that you won't find anywhere else! At Epcot, you can literally eat around the world with 11 countries (Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, America, Italy, Germany, China, Norway and Mexico!), or eat some fresh grown produce in the land! Disney's Hollywood Studios doesn't offer quite as much as far as unique food goes, but it always offers a great experience to try some Disney favorites such as the Turkey Leg, the Churro, Mickey Ice Cream, and, if you have a friend and a sweet tooth, go to Starring Rolls for the BEST CUPCAKE EVER MADE (The butterfinger cupcake), or grab a Carrot Cake Cookie from Writer's Stop! Animal Kingdom offers something for everyone, from pizza to asian at Yak & Yeti!

5.) What's Downtown Disney, and why do I want to go there? 

Downtown Disney is not just any shopping area, it's THE shopping area, and it's filled with everything you could possibly image. If shopping is your game, there are more than 40 stores, including the World of Disney Store, where you can find the perfect Disney themed gift for any friend or family member, or if you're like me, something to add to your collection! If Disney isn't your thing, there's the Lego store as well, filled with basically every lego you could imagine, and if chocolate is more your thing, there's a Ghiraradelli there too, as well as Wolfgang Puck! If you're not one to spend a ton of money while there, gather some friends and go to the newest addition to Downtown Disney,  Splitsville, a multi-level bowling alley serving everything from pizza and burgers to sushi! And if movies are more your style, go to the AMC theater, which also offers a dine-in option so you can eat with your film! Downtown Disney has something for everyone, and there are unique memories just waiting to be made!

6.) Why Disney? Why not Universal or SeaWorld? 

Coming from a person who does have motion sickness, and who has a brother who is up for just about anything, I can say from experience that Disney is one of the most unique places in the world because of it's options for everyone. My brother and I can always find things to do together, even though he likes thrill rides more than I do! Plus, I've been to Disney 23 times and still haven't seen everything! It's constantly changing, and the themeing is something you're not going to see anywhere else. I've marched in a lot of parades in my day, but nothing compares to marching down Main Street USA surrounded by an international crowd, or seeing the castle for the first time (or for me, Spaceship Earth). There are experiences for everyone just waiting to be found, and everyone can find something that is sure to be a favorite for the rest of their lives. Disney isn't just for kids, it's for everyone, and while there, and you may not even know it, you're learning too, all while having fun! Universal and Sea World are great places, but Disney is something you aren't going to experience anywhere else. Not at Wisconsin Dells, not at Six Flags, and not even at Universal. The experiences you have at Walt Disney World will last for a lifetime, and someday you will remember just how magical the trip was, and think, "I'm glad we went to Walt Disney World."

Here's today's Disney History: 2005: In a historic first, all 10 of the Disney theme parks around the world collectively kick off the festivities for the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" to mark the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland. In Anaheim, the opening ceremony for Disney's 50th Anniversary takes place in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. In Florida, Epcot's new Soarin' officially opens, as does the Disney-MGM Studios' Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.

Have a magical day!

Day 119: Concessions

Today has been an interesting day to say the least. It was brought to my attention early this morning that I had concessions this evening, which meant that I had to be awake after school to run it for the middle school track meet. It really wasn't all that bad, I guess. I made Hot Dogs 95% of the time, but what was really interesting, and the reason I'm discussing this right now, is the discussion I had with my band director.

Now don't get me wrong, I adore my Band Director. He's pretty awesome and has always done nothing but the best for us (even if we don't think so at the time). But there is one truth...he knows nothing about Disney. It's always a little bit of a shocker when people really know so little about something that has been the large majority of my life. I personally don't understand or see how a person doesn't know what Soarin' is, where it is, and whether or not we should spend an entire day in Epcot. I've been there 23 times, so it's just a little odd when I have to answer such basic questions when I could give a full history lesson on the planning of Epcot.

So we got talking about the band trip and so on and so forth, and I'm answering these questions, and then I ask him where we're staying (it's not final by any means but it was a suggestion) and he said the Hilton. You should all be proud because I restrained my shock fairly well. As a Disney loving person, it's almost like...well...murder...to stay at a hotel that isn't a Disney one. So I just went along with it and later told my parents.

My only reaction?

I am an idiot.

I completely let it fly by that we would want to stay at a Disney resort because of Extra Magic Hours. If we stay at the Hilton, we won't be having that extra time, and with our super short trip and spending one of our days not at Disney, we're going to need all the extra park time we can find. I felt so silly for letting it just completely escape my mind.

Anyway, so now I'm going back to talk to him today about this (minus the concessions this time), and about a few other things. Obviously I know enough about Disney to kind of be a help here, so I might as well help before I leave for college and won't be around every day (although I hope he realizes by the end of the year that he can email me any time with questions and trip updates. This would be a "hint hint" but I'm pretty sure he doesn't read this).

Here's today's Disney History: 2000: Actor Michael J. Fox pays a visit to Walt Disney World to add his hand prints to the Disney-MGM Studios collection.

Have a magical day!

Day 3: Tough Decisions

I'm not sure if I mentioned this or not, but my High School Band is working on the audition process for Disney. As President and Drum Major, it's very much my concern...even though for the year in-between now and the trip, I won't be around, since I'm a senior.

My band is in a very unique situation, and I'm not going to explain it all...but I do want to talk about my inspiration for being a leader. As a sophomore I was thrown into a leadership position I didn't necessarily want, much less was ready for. I was lead alto of Jazz Band, due to circumstances out of my control. But I love Jazz, and I love music, so I worked toward being a better leader for Jazz. That year I was also treasurer for our band council...and by the end of the year, I had officially decided to run as Vice President the following year, despite the fact that I would be running against a fellow band member and friend, who also happened to be a senior. I ended up winning Vice President, as well as the election for Band Council Representative...of which I then declined and handed off to a friend of mine who had also been running. It was the right thing to do. Then this year, no one ran against me. I was President, and again without much debate, I was Drum Major. It all happened so quickly. How I decided I was ready, I have no idea.

But there are three people, none of which are alive (well, or real) that inspire me and the way I lead a group, in this case...Band. First and foremost is Walt Disney...for obvious reasons. I understand the trials and tribulations that Walt went through to start his company, but he never gave up on anything he really wanted to do. He would let ideas sit in his head until he was clear on what he wanted. Once he said that, or in any case really, he then spent time modifying the idea and making it perfect, and when the idea was built, it was the same way. In band, it's that idea exactly that gets me through a lot of things. Back as a sophomore, last year as a junior and now as a senior, I work at things until I have them perfect, and when I approach our band council and director with an idea, I've already thought about different problems or scenarios that could arise from the plan. I am confident in what I want, and while I'll listen to other parts, I'm pretty stubborn too...which I guess, is another part of Walt Disney. I've seen the Disney quality, and I do everything in my power to make my ideas, projects, personal musicianship and leadership to bring the same quality to that.

My second inspiration comes from one of Walt's childhood heroes...in fact, Walt's Childhood hero...period. I base a lot of what I say on Abraham Lincoln, a man whom I find, is a great writer. His speeches led a country through the most difficult situation possible, and I am stuck in many difficult situations with Band. He had one goal...I have one goal, but if it accomplishes something else along the way, all the better. He wanted to keep his national together, and while I want to keep my band together, I want to decrease negativity within our group, which in the end will, hopefully, bring our band closer together. Plus, it never hurts to have a brilliant speech every once and a while.

Finally, and this one is pretty weird and may seem geeky, Princess Leia Organa, yes from Star Wars, inspires me to be a good leader. If you look at her storyline, it's quite impressive. She has everything taken from her at a very young age...her home, family and overall, life. She, of course, throws herself into her cause, only to ignore those who love her that are around her. When she finally lets Han in, he is taken from her too...but she rescues him. It's what she wants. Now we have very little knowledge of what happened in between those movies...and if there's a book, I'm sorry, but I have no intention of reading it (Courtship of Princess Leia ruined everything for me). But anyway, we don't know, but I like to think that she is one to fight for what she believes in...whether that be the Alliance or for Han. But there's one other aspect that I really take from Leia. I've always felt that she would want to be one with the people, not one above the people, and that's exactly how I want to be with band. I spend much of my time focusing on maintaining relationships within the band...helping out members if they need it, talking with people, making jokes, trying to make it fun. Now, of course, I can't get along with everyone, but it does make me a little disappointed in myself when I hear about how people are afraid to talk to me. It's happened at least three or four times in the last two months...and I feel awful that I'm not doing enough to maintain those relationships. But I won't just walk away with my head down, I'll, as Walt always said, "keep moving forward."

The difficult thing is, now at least, that I don't know where "forward" is. We have so many options, and what I feel is best for our group is quickly slipping through my fingers...not to say that I know what is best, but I have put a lot of thought into it, and I don't think I'll be able to just sit around and watch the group I've worked so hard for fail. I can't do that. The question is, if I can't do that, how do I start what I think is right?

Have a magical day!