Hampton High School Marching Band to perform at Walt Disney World

After being delayed due to covid restrictions, the Hampton High School Marching Band will be making the trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., to perform at the Magic Kingdom on March 18.

The last two trips planned for the band to Disney World were canceled due to the pandemic, so this will be the band’s first overnight performance-based trip since they performed in New York City at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March of 2019.

“We applied for this performance 12 months ago – within the first few hours that the application submission window opened at Disney,” said band director Chad Himmler.

They waited nine months to get a response and on Jan. 3 got the news that they had a scheduled performance at the Magic Kingdom, which is the venue they were hoping to get.

“It is very exciting to be building towards this trip! The students have waited a very long time for this opportunity,” Himmler said.

Students have been fundraising for the trip by selling hoagies, pies, gift cards and more to help offset the cost of $1,500 per band member. Himmler said that even the current freshmen sold hoagies last year when they were in eighth grade so they could enter this year with a solid fundraising balance.

“After not being able to travel for three years, the opportunity (to) go on another band trip and spend time with friends in Disney is so exciting,” said senior Adam Larson.

Himmler said that the seniors are the only current students who have had the chance to travel with the band, so this will be a new experience for most of the band members.

“Our trip to New York during my freshman year has been one of my favorite memories in high school,” said senior Riley Howard. “I am very excited to have an even better experience in Disney.”

The band will be performing at 2:35 p.m. March 18 on the iconic Main Street U.S.A during the parade held by Magic Kingdom. A decision regarding a live stream has not been made yet, according to Himmler.