Disney World ~ 2011
                An Experience of a Lifetime!!
    On Sunday, June 26th, 2011, members of the Concert Choir along with our Coordinators, accompanist, chaperones and various family members, boarded an Optimum Ride chartered bus bound for Disney World!  After a 34-hour (sometimes sweltering, often entertaining) ride, we arrived at the Disney All Star Music Resort.

    Our first full day at Disney World was spent at the Magic Kingdom, experiencing all that Disney has to offer in the way of entertainment, rides, parades and fireworks.  Some of the girls even staged their own flash mobs, with "Carol of the Bells" in the Christmas Shop and several renditions of "Shiru" outdoors for enthusiastic listeners.  Even the occasional downpour could not dampen our spirits.  We rode the shuttle back to our hotel after the fireworks, serenading the other passengers along the way!

      The next day, we enjoyed a half-day shopping experience at the Premium Outlet mall, and a few did a quick reconnaissance of our performance location in Downtown Disney!

     And did we mention that it was hot?  85% humidity and 40-plus temperatures!  Most nights you would find at least some of us in the hotel pool at midnight!

June 28 - Magic Kingdom

Cinderella's Castle

No matter how old they are, the girls still wanted to see the princesses!!

Most days ended with a swim in the pool

♫  On Thursday, June 30th, the Choir took part in "Disney Sings", a Disney Performing Arts Workshop held in the "Performance Hall" theater at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.  This was one of the highlights of the trip, and the girls learned many things from the Disney professionals.

♫  Friday, July 1, 2011 was the Special Performance, what we had come all this way to do!   The Choir was one of the featured performers on the Outdoor Stage in Downtown Disney.  What a great way to celebrate Canada Day, performing songs about our country to a very appreciative audience!

      Following the performance on Friday, we headed to Epcot, proudly wearing Canada Day t-shirts and patriotic tattoos, which even prompted some visitors to ask "Are y'all really from Canada?"  After dark, we met in front of Canada House, sang "O Canada" with the crowd assembled there, and watched Epcot's amazing fireworks.

     Saturday was "Family Day" and most girls spent the day with families who had come along on the trip.  Quite a few of the groups met at Typhoon Lagoon, trying to beat the heat in the Wave Pool or on the Lazy River.

     On Sunday, July 3rd we spent the day and explored Hollywood Studios.  We rode the Rockin' Roller Coaster, and many braved the Tower of Terror!  Mid-afternoon we headed back to the hotel to get dressed up for our fancy evening.

     We had booked a private dinner on a patio above the Fantasmic show area.  Our group of 72 (families included) dined at outdoor tables, and we were able to watch the Fantasmic show from the patio.  The food was great, the company wonderful, and the show was fantastic!

July 4 - Last Day :(

Independence Day @ Magic Kingdom

      July 4th was our last full day in Disney World - we were heading for home the next morning.  Groups headed off in different directions for the day, some returning to the water parks, others taking in Animal Kingdom, and others doing return visits to parks visited earlier in our trip.

      At the end of the day, we headed back to Magic Kingdom to watch the Fourth of July fireworks - what an amazing spectacle - Disney's usual fantastic fireworks - times two (or maybe three)!!

Thank You!

    We would like to thank all of our supporters - families, friends, sponsors - who helped us raise the necessary funds (almost $60,000!) to make this dream a reality.