"performing at Disney" what does that mean?

[descovy]

Is it a special honor to perform at Disney? I really don't know as I am not a die hard Disney know-it-all.

My neighbors have had some hard financial times lately which they have shared with us and were so so excited when dd, a hs freshman was going with the band to "perform" at Disney over spring break. Not my business how they financed it, but from what I know it must not have been easy. It was talked like an honor to be invited...

This week we are in Orlando visiting Bonnet Creek. We are using a relative's time share points for free and did not have a theme-park vacation in the budget so have done other things to keep us busy. Just happy to have a road trip adventure and be out of town.

Today we walked around Downtown Disney. While there, we saw a performance of a competitive dance troupe. They weren't bad, but weren't that great either. My 12 yo has taken 5 yrs of dance (pleasure, not competition) and declared that it was just a bunch of pop-and-lock and basically her intermediate dance class could do as good if not better. As we were leaving for the day, a church youth choir was on stage. Again, not bad, but nothing I wouldn't hear at my own church.

It has me wondering... What is the story with "being invited to perform at Disney"? I hope this isn't coming across as disrespectful. I am sure that every parent of the dancer/choir singer was super-proud of their kid today.

I do have to admit, I left Downtown Disney with a cynical perspective. I was wondering if this was just a ploy for for members of clubs, churches, bands, etc... to fundraise and seek donations for what is an otherwise trip "for fun" and the performance is just a formality to keep it legit?

Am I way off base? As I say I really don't know... Just curious.

 

[kidzmom3]

you don't think its "disrespectful" to question the motives and actions or your neighbors who were clearly excited for their child?

 

[Dancind]

I would imagine it's like the dance days they have at DL, pretty sure they are at WDW too. My DDs dance group bought special passes that included a couple of workshops. They learned a routine to do in a parade, that all the dance groups did together. Each group that went submitted a tape of their routines, and someone at Disney selected 1, 2, or 3 routines from each group for stage performances. The stage was back over in the Aladdin show area, and our studio had 3 routines picked to perform. As far as I could tell, the audience was mostly parents.

It may be that they pick bands to perform in parades, seems like there is usually a marching band before the MK parades, but that means 2 bands a day?

It's another way to get groups to come in and fill hotels. It's pretty exciting and fun though!

 

[BlovesC]

I can only hope, for your daughter's sake, that when she gets an opportunity she's excited about, there isn't some bitter neighbor waiting to tell her she's really nothing special.

 

[Finding Gigi]

If WDW works like DL then the band has to submit an audition tape. The tape my husband submitted for his band had the band marching and playing their competitive march. Sadly they didn't pass the audition this marching season which was odd since they have been going for the last 8 years. Maybe next year they will be invited back. From 7th grade thru Senior year we ( my husband and I) played at Disneyland. One year we played in front of the castle and some Japanese tourists participated with the drummers. It was a big deal since we got to go backstage and see all kinds of cool stuff.

 

[luvmy3]

I can only hope, for your daughter's sake, that when she gets an opportunity she's excited about, there isn't some bitter neighbor waiting to tell her she's really nothing special.

Oh please the OP didn't say anything to the dd or anything to the parents about it.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Is it a special honor to perform at Disney? I really don't know as I am not a die hard Disney know-it-all.

My neighbors have had some hard financial times lately which they have shared with us and were so so excited when dd, a hs freshman was going with the band to "perform" at Disney over spring break. Not my business how they financed it, but from what I know it must not have been easy. It was talked like an honor to be invited...

This week we are in Orlando visiting Bonnet Creek. We are using a relative's time share points for free and did not have a theme-park vacation in the budget so have done other things to keep us busy. Just happy to have a road trip adventure and be out of town.

Today we walked around Downtown Disney. While there, we saw a performance of a competitive dance troupe. They weren't bad, but weren't that great either. My 12 yo has taken 5 yrs of dance (pleasure, not competition) and declared that it was just a bunch of pop-and-lock and basically her intermediate dance class could do as good if not better. As we were leaving for the day, a church youth choir was on stage. Again, not bad, but nothing I wouldn't hear at my own church.

It has me wondering... What is the story with "being invited to perform at Disney"? I hope this isn't coming across as disrespectful. I am sure that every parent of the dancer/choir singer was super-proud of their kid today.

I do have to admit, I left Downtown Disney with a cynical perspective. I was wondering if this was just a ploy for for members of clubs, churches, bands, etc... to fundraise and seek donations for what is an otherwise trip "for fun" and the performance is just a formality to keep it legit?

Am I way off base? As I say I really don't know... Just curious.

Pretty much.

 

[Auggietina]

My dd's dance team performed at Disney last year. They were not asked to perform, they sent in an audition tape and application and were accepted to perform. In order to perform at Downtown Disney, they had to take Disney's dance workshop. The team had to fill 25 minutes at the stage at Downtown Disney. No more, no less. Their slot was 8 pm on a Friday night, so they had a lot of spectators stopping to see them.

It was a once in a lifetime experience to have performed at Disney, but it was something their team decided to to do as a team as a fun activity.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Is it a special honor to perform at Disney? I really don't know as I am not a die hard Disney know-it-all.

My neighbors have had some hard financial times lately which they have shared with us and were so so excited when dd, a hs freshman was going with the band to "perform" at Disney over spring break. Not my business how they financed it, but from what I know it must not have been easy. It was talked like an honor to be invited...

This week we are in Orlando visiting Bonnet Creek. We are using a relative's time share points for free and did not have a theme-park vacation in the budget so have done other things to keep us busy. Just happy to have a road trip adventure and be out of town.

Today we walked around Downtown Disney. While there, we saw a performance of a competitive dance troupe. They weren't bad, but weren't that great either. My 12 yo has taken 5 yrs of dance (pleasure, not competition) and declared that it was just a bunch of pop-and-lock and basically her intermediate dance class could do as good if not better. As we were leaving for the day, a church youth choir was on stage. Again, not bad, but nothing I wouldn't hear at my own church.

It has me wondering... What is the story with "being invited to perform at Disney"? I hope this isn't coming across as disrespectful. I am sure that every parent of the dancer/choir singer was super-proud of their kid today.

I do have to admit, I left Downtown Disney with a cynical perspective. I was wondering if this was just a ploy for for members of clubs, churches, bands, etc... to fundraise and seek donations for what is an otherwise trip "for fun" and the performance is just a formality to keep it legit?

Am I way off base? As I say I really don't know... Just curious.

It's not like Disney has a agent going around the world seeking young talent to perform there. These groups apply to WDW and if they are good enough then they are invited to perform there.

My sister lives in Florida and her kids have performed there many times, with their dance studio and with their schools. My one niece was in the Candlelight Processional one year which was really nice and of course it was the perfect excuse to celebrate Christmas at the World.

Whatever you think, it is exciting for the kids involved.

 

[okeydokey]

We have seen many of these performances over the years. Some are good, not not so good. I don't think you have to be really that good to get invited. Its a plus for Disney because they get to sell more park tickets and hotel rooms.

It's a plus for the kids because they get to go on a fun field trip. For the parents that have to pay for these trips or for the friends and family they beg the funds from, not so fun.

If my kid's band was invited, I would probably pay to chaperone them and go and enjoy myself, but I wouldn't look at it as a Once in a Lifetime Honor.

 

[disykat]

IMO it's not that it's an "honor," it's that it's an "opportunity!" I would be REALLY excited if my kid's band was playing at WDW or their choir was singing at Carnegie Hall, etc. However, I'd realize it's something a lot of other groups have done as well and that it's a matter of your group having the basic ability to pass the audition and the funds to make it happen.

What a great opportunity for those kids!

 

[Auggietina]

We have seen many of these performances over the years. Some are good, not not so good. I don't think you have to be really that good to get invited. .

We asked Disney, if they ever say no to a group. And the answer was pretty clear, if the group can afford to come down, they will perform

 

[topolino]

The fact that the Pop Warner teams cause problems and wreak havoc year after year and yet are still invited to come back despite warnings to the contrary proves that Disney is only concerned with getting heads in the beds.

 

[descovy]

Please, I was trying to come across as respectfully and tactfully as possible, because I know this is the interwebs where everything can be taken as snark even when it really isn't. You don't know me, so you might think I'm a bitter hag, but really I am not (or at least try not to be)

I was happy for my neighbor. I never mentioned or acted otherwise. I am happy for the performers I saw today. As noted in my OP I am sure their friends and families are super proud of them, and yes, I bet the kids too are super excited.

As one who does not attend Disney regularly, I was unclear how a team/band gets "chosen" to perform. While "good" they seem on par with any choir, dance recital, etc... I have seen by kids around town, at festivals, etc... Both performances I saw today were from out of state which involves a lot of time and expense to make happen.

In mentioning my neighbor, what I saw today made me wonder if they somehow got one-pulled-over as they aren't the type to blow money like that right now when they have more pressing matters. How/why they chose to is strictly not my business, but I can see pulling strings for a once-in-a-lifetime "honor" more than just going on a fun trip to fill hotel rooms.

It seems the neighbor dd had fun. It seems that many of you families who have been invited to perform have had fun. Much happiness to you all.

 

[greengeen]

We asked Disney, if they ever say no to a group. And the answer was pretty clear, if the group can afford to come down, they will perform

Uh, no. Audition tapes are required, and they do turn people down. I don't know about DTD, but to perform in one of the parks is an honor and a privilege. Is the OP off base, yeah, probably.

 

[topolino]

Oh please the OP didn't say anything to the dd or anything to the parents about it.

I agree, the OP came on here, an anonymous message board, to talk about it and was still very respectful. The PP overreacted with their talk of someone telling the OP's daughter she sucks (paraphrasing).

 

[aprilgail2]

Uh, no. Audition tapes are required, and they do turn people down. I don't know about DTD, but to perform in one of the parks is an honor and a privilege. Is the OP off base, yeah, probably.

LOL---they do make them send an "audition"tape but seriously...our high school band has gone and performed IN THE PARKS every year for the last 14-15 years!! They have never gotten turned down and they really are not that good- in fact the chorus goes too at the same time. Every single year they do it-I know some like to think its a special invite thing but really if the school/kids can pay for it Disney will let them perform.

 

[Auggietina]

Uh, no. Audition tapes are required, and they do turn people down. I don't know about DTD, but to perform in one of the parks is an honor and a privilege. Is the OP off base, yeah, probably.

I know audition tapes are required. We had to send one in, all the kids that would be performing had to be on the tape. If you were not on the tape, you could not perform. Been through the process. We were told by Disney, they rarely turn performers down. When we orginially started the the process, we were suppose to dance in one of the parks, but they had changed their policy and all the performers were being done at DTD.

 

[Allison]

It is a way to get groups to Disney. Our band goes every 4 years. Fun but not something that is exclusive.

 

[akhenaten]

It is a way to get groups to Disney. Our band goes every 4 years. Fun but not something that is exclusive.

I would say purpose is fun for the groups and revenue for Disney....