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The
parade
itself
was a
truly
amazing
event -
for the
band
members
themselves,
the
leaders
and the
parents
who
accompanied
us on
the
trip. We
arrived
at
Disney
early
and went
back-stage
to
off-load
our kit
and
instruments
in the
changing
rooms.
The
front-row
of the
band and
drum
majors
then
walked
the
route
with our
Disney
coordinator,
Carole.
Everything
had to
be
time-perfect.
We had
to start
playing
at
exactly
the
moment
the
announcement
about
the
parade
finished;
we had
to play
two
pieces
marking-time
at exact
spots on
the
route,
and we
had to
ensure
we kept
ahead of
the main
Disney
parade.
Having
spent
the
morning
in the
theme
park,
the band
met at
3pm to
begin
our
preparations
for the
parade
that
would
start at
4.30pm.
Again we
were led
back-stage,
and the
atmosphere
amongst
the band
was of
nervous
anticipation.
We got
changed,
tuned
our
instruments,
and
played a
couple
of warm
up
tunes.
Then it
was time
to
form-up
- and
the
nerves
really
began to
kick in.
But the
'Disney
magic'
soon
took
over. As
we were
waiting
to march
to the
parade
start-off
point,
Darth
Vadar
came by
to have
a go at
conducting
the band
- SCARY!
Then, as
we were
waiting
behind
the
gates
for the
parade
to
start,
who else
came by
for a
chat ...
none
other
than
Mickey &
Minnie
Mouse,
Donald
Duck
(who
gave our
Alex a
cuddle!),
Princes
Ariel
and the
Chip 'n'
Dales.
WOW!
One
minute
later,
the
announcement
rang
across
Disney: |
