Backstage stories. What's yours???

[JangoFett]

OK, this goes back to the mid to late 80's. My high school band would take part in the Magic Music Days program every year. The buses would be escorted to an area backstage for us to get our uniforms on and lined up to march. If I remember correctly we always marched in through gates next to Frontierland. Anyway, we were constantly watched by CM's while backstage and were told very sternly that if anyone strayed away from the group while backstage we wouldn't be allowed into the park after our performance and could even result in the band not being invited back again. The cool part about it was seeing pieces of floats and rides being repaired or in moth balls.

I know it's not much of a story but I also know there are some great stories out there. What's yours???

[FromWithin]

you can see my story in the sub thread...
Why was the Submarine Voyage closed in the first place?
yea your right it was back through that area and it seemed like you walked forever!(Of course it was 20 yrs ago) and I've been back there since I became a CM and it doesnt seem as big as it did back then!

[DLandFansAZ]

I always wondered how they handled the outside performers being backstage. My only backstage experience was during the final performances of MSEP I saw it one time up near Small World. The crowd was large so they opened a passageway to move the people out when the parade ended. From what I remember the area opened near the theatre and led behind the Casey, Storybook, etc and let out at a gate that seperates Fantasyland and Frontierland. The only thing I really remember is seeing some carts and info signs like the ones by pools to let you know about the chemicals used (diamond shaped/divided in fours with colors.)

Actually I'm glad I didn't see to much backstage. Although I love to know how the place operates, I prefer to imagine its magic instead of paint, nuts and bolts.

[figment1986]

OK, this goes back to the mid to late 80's. My high school band would take part in the Magic Music Days program every year.

WDW magic music days, 2004...

Backstage from next to Pirates through many backroads, and eventually hitting dressing rooms.. they were stricked about cameras and cell phones...

Drummers made enough noise to be heard onstage.. LOL

Interesting seein the parade in the warehouse... and new floats under a cover.. LOL

Frontierland to MS.. vthen back through a back road.. I remember it easily.. and know what to look for now. lol

never ruined the magic.

[eyes_of_mara]

Backstage? What is backstage?

[Rose Red]

same thing - Magic Music days for my school choir. They pulled the buses backstage and the Cm's told us the good old rules. Don't stray from the group yadda yadda yadda. Than for some strange reason all left and they left the bus drivers in charge - who of course didn't care.
Well we were parked behind toon town right by the entrance/exit where the characters leave to go on there break. well of course being teenagers and stupid they kept cornering the poor people in costume trying to get there signiture, even cornering 'donald duck' down an alleyway. He was down there about five minutes before they Cm''s got back and controlled the situation.

[NPCody]

We were stuck in a herd on a VERY busy Main Street directly after the fireworks, and in order to get everybody out, they had to open a big wooden gate and escort a bunch of us out of the park behind Main Street.

It was nothing spectacular. The back of the Main Street buildings were pretty dirty. And I didn't realize that the Jungle Cruise river runs RIGHT behind Main Street, because there were a couple unused Jungle Cruise boats floating there. But besides that, all there really was were employee lockers, lunch tables, and some soda machines.

[eyes_of_mara]

I can honestly say that I never had any want to go backstage as a kid, or even as a passholder. Only once that I had attained CM status did all those "CM only" doors seem so appealing. I would walk by one and think with a smile, "I can go in there!".

[CrazyDreamer]

^ Same thing happened to us this past August after Remember was finished. We had never seen crowds so huge, wall to wall people from the castle to the exit, and were wondering how long it would take us to get out when all of a sudden we heard a cast member advertising a "Super Secret Shortcut" that led from Coke Corner to the front of Main Street going behind the store facades. It was fascinating seeing the park from that angle, probably something that we'll never get to do again. And sure enough, when we got out we had bypassed almost all of the crowd!

[Datameister]

I've done Magic Music Days twice in recent years. Everything is run so methodically and precisely--it's amazing.

Maybe this post will mysteriously disappear if this is information Disney doesn't want available to the public. But here's how MMD usually works, at least for groups performing at Carnation Plaza like ours did.

Buses enter backstage via a special entrance along Ball Road. They drive along Global Way to a parking lot near the firework rigs. The two music studios and a locker room are right there, along with various warehouses that students are strictly forbidden to enter. All this is directly north of Toontown. The entrance to the music studios is about 180 feet behind the back of Toontown. Students dress in the locker rooms and proceed along a path that runs south. It dips below ground to get under the berm and then comes up behind the Fantasyland Theater. Students continue walking for what feels like forever, in backstage areas between Thunder Mountain and the west side of Fantasyland. Finally, the students emerge next to Carnation Plaza.

Sometimes, students enter backstage via the IASW entrance where the parades start. This path wraps around the IASW show building--a very industrial and nondescript warehouse--and into the area behind Toontown.

I want to thank Disney for letting students perform in their parks. The entire backstage experience is so fascinating and well put-together. And don't worry--I followed the rules and didn't take a single backstage photo. Even of the hidden Mickey on the music studio wall.

[pineapplewhipaddict]

I was evacuated from Splash Mountain this summer (right where Brer Rabbit gets stuck in the honey), and when we got backstage, it was mostly trashcans and it smelt pretty awful. But I did see an old show piece from the subs! It was pretty nifty.

[Datameister]

Let's hear some details! Backstage stuff is so cool.

[EagleWings]

I've only been backstage once when Splash Mountain broke down. Wasn't anything interesting back there at all. *shrug*

[FI183]

I cant wait till January 27, 2006, we get to go backstage for MMD toooo, its gonna be soooo cool, especially that its the 50th, they could give us 50th sashes or something like that!!!!!!!!!! I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Emiko]

I want to thank Disney for letting students perform in their parks. The entire backstage experience is so fascinating and well put-together. And don't worry--I followed the rules and didn't take a single backstage photo. Even of the hidden Mickey on the music studio wall.

LOL!!!! Someone else noticed the Hidden Mickey! That was one of my favorite things about Magic Music Days, too.

I've performed at Disneyland three times with my high school marching band. We went back stage through the gate by IASW and changed in the dressing rooms. The last time I did it, we were scheduled to march up the parade route right before one of the regular parades. To get from the music studio area to the starting gate at the bottom of Main Street, we lined up and walked along the road that runs along the east side of Disneyland, between Harbor Blvd. and the park proper. We passed the IASW show building and one of the character costume rooms. Then we marched all the way up the parade route while playing our song. It was the greatest fun.