The Poplar Bluff High School SHO-ME Band entertained the masses yesterday at the Walt Disney World (WDW) Resort's Magic Kingdom through Disney's Performing Arts Performance Program.
Nearly 90 students donning maroon and white followed Disney's traditional parade route from the rear of the Magic Kingdom, around Cinderella's Castle, and down Main Street U.S.A. Yesterday's park attendance was estimated at 76,000 people, said band director Stephen Winters.
"It was awesome," Winters said. "The kids really did a great job and had a lot of fun."
For the last 16 years, Winters has taken the high school's marching band to WDW on a four-year rotation. He said the current trip is potentially the last due to rising travel costs, and claimed he is "getting a little old for this."
Students fundraised for more than a year to pay their way, pushing items including Rada Cutlery and T-shirts, while additional costs were supplemented by the band's booster club, Winters said.
Senior Drew Pfeffer, who is a drum major for the marching band, said this is his eighth trip to WDW. He said he grew up visiting the park with his family and to march through the Magic Kingdom was "truly magical.
"It was really exciting, as well as an interesting experience," Pfeffer said. "Going around and entertaining the people and getting to see behind the scenes at Disney definitely ended my marching band experience on a high note."
PBHS Assistant Principal Sheldon Tyler is chaperoning the trip for the third time and streamed the performance live on Facebook.
He said he thinks one primary benefit for the students is exposure to various cultures not found in Poplar Bluff.
"You can stand in one spot and hear multiple languages being spoken in unison," Tyler said. "At Disney World, you truly get to see the world. It is appropriately named."
Tyler said the students are also able to bond with those they may not typically bond with, creating new friendships along the way.
Another senior, flutist Ariel Judd, said the week-long trip is one she will cherish, adding that marching through the park "was tiring.
"I was out of practice," Judd said. "I went to (WDW) when I was six, but I don't remember any of it. I'm having so much fun and the fireworks are magical and the experience is one of a kind."
Pfeffer's mother, Amy, flew to Orlando Wednesday morning to watch her son and his friends during their "big moment." She said WDW is a special place to her, and watching him perform less than two months from graduation stirred many emotions.
"To see (Drew) lead the band down the same streets I pushed him in his stroller when he was little was a lot more emotional than I expected," she said. "I am so thankful he was given this opportunity and I'm proud."
Parent and chaperone Barbara Spence traveled to WDW on the bus with the band. She said her freshman daughter was "ecstatic," about the performance. Spence said her favorite part has been spending time with the kids.
Winters said the WDW trip is an opportunity to show the students a different area of the country, as many of them, he said, wouldn't usually be able to take such a vacation.
Winters also said allowing the band to perform in front of a large crowd gives the students a unique experience for later musical endeavors.
Aside from visiting the Magic Kingdom park, the kids explored Disney's Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios, earlier in the week, Pfeffer said. The band is set return to Poplar Bluff on Saturday. Today, they are spending time at Cocoa Beach.