Dream Weavers

Festival Frontman

Rene Perez keeps Festival Disney on the Right Track
by Dave Simmons

In the three years since Festival Disney made its debut, ensembles from 41 states as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Japan have flocked to the Walt Disney World Resort for musical competition and Theme-Park recreation. Much of the success can be attributed to the hard work of Rene Perez.

Perez is a festival manager with Disney Youth Group Programs, and one might say that he's continuing a mission that began long ago.

"When I was a kid living in Puerto Rico, we would come to visit Walt Disney World every summer," Perez remembers. "Even if we were going somewhere else on vacation, like New York, I told my parents that Disney was on the way back home and that we should stop for a few days. My whole family knew that if we ever moved, we would 'move to Disney.' So in 1987 we packed our bags and moved near Disney to Kissimmee, Florida. Now, 20 years later, I have been working for Walt Disney World for 16 years."

While Festival Disney runs from March through early May, the festival team's tour of duty begins almost a year earlier with the search for judges, followed by the scheduling of school ensembles later in the fall. As March approaches, the excitement builds and the pace quickens.

"There are many responsibilities associated with the festival, and there are those days where I'm not sure how everything will get done," Perez says. "But with the knowledge we have gathered from our previous festival seasons, the experience from our other Disney events and a wonderful team of Disney staff and interns, we always produce a great festival and strive to provide a magical experience for all the students, directors, travel planners and parents."

As a measure of Festival Disney's growing popularity, this past season the festival set a record for largest number of ensembles and participants in a single weekend. The tremendous turnout forced Perez and crew to abandon their normal awards ceremony venue and relocate to the much larger Lights, Motors, Action! Theater at the Disney-MGM Studios.

"I enjoy the fact that students have the opportunity to participate in our festivals and a chance to learn from the experience of traveling as well as the performance feedback they receive during our festivals," Perez says. "The awards ceremony is very gratifying because we get to celebrate the students' accomplishments and present each ensemble with Disney awards they will take home and be proud to show their classmates, teachers and administration. It's a wonderful experience hosting so many excited young musicians."

Visit www.festivaldisney.com for more information.

Rene Perez, Dream Weaver

Role: Festival Manager, Disney Youth Group Programs

Grew up in: San Jaun, Puerto Rico

At Walt Disney World since: 1991

Performed as: Trumpet Player, drum major

Training: Marching/maneuvering and drill instructor, drum major instructor and band booster treasurer