Christine and her band-mates had a great time at Festival Disney (UPDATED with video and photos)

The four-day trip of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School music department to Disney World was a big success, and Christine returned on Sunday night exhausted but happy.

Christine on flute (center)

Close to 300 members of the high school's various bands and choruses made the trip to Florida to take part in "Festival Disney," which included competitions in various categories, and won numerous awards. The competitions took place Saturday in the Disney Hollywood Studios park.

Christine sang in the Concert Choir and played flute in the Symphonic Band during the competition. She also played with the SPFHS marching band in the parade down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom on Thursday afternoon.



After flying down Wednesday night, the Spiffy crowd spent Thursday at the Magic Kingdom. Christine and her friends enjoyed rides like the Pirates of the Caribbean and Buzz Lightyear before and after the parade.

Christine and Matt at the Magic Kingdom, with friend Peter at left.

Friday was a free day in Epcot Center, where they roamed through the various nation-themed areas, went on some rides and did some shopping. And a LOT of walking.
That day wound up with the spectacular "IllumiNations" fireworks and laser show.

Christine and friends posing with Pluto

Christine and her group managed to squeeze in some rides between performances at the Hollywood Studios park on Saturday, including the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which she said was very scary, and the Rock-n-Roller Coaster.

On Sunday they visited Disney Animal Kingdom, where they took the Kilimanjaro Safari ride and roamed through other wildlife exhibits before boarding the buses to the airport for the flight home. Weather-related delays at Newark kept their flight grounded in Orlando for about an hour and a half, but other than that delay the trip went smoothly.

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