From March 4th to March 8th, the Wantagh High School Fine and Performing Arts Department took a trip to Orlando, Florida, to visit the Universal Studios and Walt Disney World theme parks. On March 4th, the students and staff chaperones flew to Orlando International Airport and made their way to the hotel, which was on Universal property. Students spent the first night at the Universal Endless Summer Resort- Dockside Inn and Suites by the pool, in the gameroom, in the Universal themed-store in the lobby, or getting food with friends in the giant Pier 8 Market. March 5th, the first day of visiting parks, was spent at Universal Epic Universe, which is home to five themed worlds: Celestial Park, Dark Universe, How To Train Your Dragon- Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic. That morning, the dance and theater students went to an audition workshop. They learned new choreography and were cast into roles based on their “auditions” that they gave.  

Day two of parks was spent at Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and the CityWalk. The trip attendees were greeted by the infamous Universal Globe and art, dance, and theater students were able to start their day earlier than most people visiting the park. The group was allowed to enter the park at 8:00 am, instead of 9:00 am, when the park opens to the public. The students were allowed to move between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure freely throughout the day, allowing for even more attractions they could go on and see. Many students at Islands of Adventure were seen running to Jurassic Park to be the first on the famous VelociCoaster, or to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Hogsmeade, to see the beautiful Hogwarts Castle and ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. The lines for VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s are typically around three hours, but thanks to the early entry, many Wantagh students were able to avoid the longer wait and get to go on even more rides, shop in more stores, and spend more time with their friends in the park. Other popular features at Islands of Adventure are, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Skull Island, The Lost Continent, and Suess Landing. The Universal Studios park features 8 themed areas: Minion Land on Illumination Ave, DreamWorks Land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Diagon Alley/London, Springfield, World Expo, New York, San Francisco, and Hollywood. 

While the theater, dance, and art students were at the park, the band, orchestra, and chorus ensembles were at the Universal Sound Stage workshop, where they were recorded performing songs from Universal Studios movies, and a few students even got to do voice overs of scenes from those movies. After, they joined the other students at the parks for the rest of the day, and students were able to get dinner and shop at CityWalk at night, before departing back to the hotel. 

Day three was full of excitement, as the art, chorus, theater, and dance students spent the morning at Disney’s Epcot, and the band and orchestra kids were at Disney Springs, performing songs from Disney movies on stage at the amphitheater. After the two ensembles performed, everyone switched, with the band and orchestra going to Epcot, and the chorus going to Disney Springs to perform, with the rest of the students going to watch. However, an issue with the bus that was supposed to go from Epcot to Disney Springs meant that the art department teacher chaperones had to do what they do best: get creative. They were able to figure out a different way to get to Disney Springs, this one including a shuttle to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, followed by students and staff taking a short boat ride across a lake and getting to Disney Springs just in time to watch the chorus perform. Although everyone’s day at Epcot was cut short, they made the best of it. Epcot is best known for its iconic “Epcot Ball”, which is really the site of the Spaceship Earth ride. The park is also home to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, The Seas with Nemo & Friends aquarium, and the World Showcase, with 11 nation pavilions representing Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Just before the park closed, there was a beautiful firework show in the middle of the World Showcase, displaying different cultures and lifestyles from around the world.

Trip day 5 (day 4 of parks), was the last day in Orlando, with some spending it at Disney’s Magic Kingdom park, and others at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. At Magic Kingdom, the art students went to a workshop where they learned all about theme park design and got to work together to build their own parks. Magic Kingdom is the biggest park at Walt Disney World, best known for its Main Street, U.S.A. which leads right up to Cinderella Castle. The park also includes Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Liberty Square, all with their own rides and attractions. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is another famous park at Walt Disney World, and is home to Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Grand Avenue, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Animation Courtyard, and Sunset Boulevard, which is home to the famous Tower of Terror drop-tower ride. 

After a long night of travel back to Wantagh, the trip was over. The trip was full of fun rides, new experiences, and memories that the students and staff will never forget. This trip was truly one for the record books.