The Athens High School marching band has played for a variety of crowds over the years, but today at 3 p.m., they’ll be playing for Mickey Mouse as the band marches in a parade at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

The trip to Orlando is the culmination of numerous fundraisers over the last several months and the eating of much chicken stew and citrus fruits, according to Karen Phillips, a band parent and treasurer of the band booster club.

“(The students) have really enjoyed themselves,” said Phillips, mother to Peyton Phillips, a senior majorette. “It’s a really great way for them to end their senior year.”

The students checked their bags on Sunday and boarded charter buses on Monday en route to warm, sunny Florida. However, the cold weather that hit North Alabama over the weekend seemingly followed the group.

“The only drawback is that it’s been really cold, which is no characteristic for Florida weather,” said Steve Williams, band director. “(The students) have done a good job with it; they’ve had their coats and gloves on.”

Phillips said the cost of ferrying about 105 students to Orlando was about $100,000, many of which earned money through fundraisers. Some donations were also collected for students who would not have been able to participate otherwise.

Even though there are about 120 students in the band, the trip was not mandatory, and some students already had holiday plans with their families that kept them from attending, Williams said.

The trip to Orlando began with an application to Walt Disney World, accompanied by an audition tape and pictures of the band. After making it through the screening process, the band received its invitation to perform in the “Once Upon a Christmas Parade” in March. The band even worked up a new song just for the parade, George Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band.”

“It’s not a contest, but more of a fun trip for the band. In the past, we’ve done the bowl (games) and competitions and we had a really successful fall this year,” Williams said. “The performance isn’t high pressure, but there will be a lot of people watching and seen by people from all over the world. It’s neat that they’ll get that exposure.”

Phillips said many of the students on the trip have never been to Disney World before, and that the kids had enjoyed their time at the Magic Kingdom. By Wednesday, the students had visited Epcot Center and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Accompanying the students are 30 chaperones and about 60 families.

Phillips praised the Athens music program, which begins as early as sixth grade. Not only is her daughter a band member, but her son, Stewart, was also in the band before he graduated.

“(The students) all had to earn their way here and put in hours and hours of practice,” she said. “It really is a wonderful opportunity. … We’re extremely blessed to have such a great band program.”