Playing in front of a hometown crowd is cool, but members of the Tamaqua Blue Raider Band describe their experience of marching down Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom as an experience like no other.

“Being able to do this made me feel like I could do anything. Coming from such a small town and being able to march down Main Street was amazing,” said Emily Frey, a clarinet player from the Class of 2021.The Blue Raiders marched with two other bands from Pennsylvania and Disney characters.“Seeing all the people watching us and dancing made me realize that we can do anything we can dream,” Frey added.The band arrived in Florida on Tuesday and began preparations for the 2:30 p.m. parade at Walt Disney World, as excited parents and a contingent of Tamaqua community members watched them show their spirit.Band director Mark Beltz said Tamaqua has been making the trip off and on for more than 30 years.The trip cost almost $300,000 and fundraisers included fruit, pizza, pie and candle sales, just to name a few.It was worth it to Gretchen Pucklavage, Tamaqua Class of 2020, who played clarinet in the parade.“It was amazing seeing the crowd and seeing the young children. They looked amazed. I still remember when I was little seeing all the bands, and looking up to them, but now they are looking at us,” Pucklavage said.Stephen Oravec, a senior, played the quads. Last time he was in Disney, he played the bass drum.“I had a different drum to play, putting more responsibility on me this time. But I was able to take in so much more of the amazing experience,” he said.“The whole thing felt surreal, seeing the thousands of people alongside the street, cheering as we played. Between the roped-off areas, being on Main Street, and marching in front of the castle, the experience was like no other. And I’m grateful I got to do it with such an amazing band,” he added.Jess Koscak, a baritone player and member of the Class of 2021, said she loved the backstage preparations.“I’m just so thankful to have the opportunity to do this,” she said.Band members spent the rest of Thursday enjoying Magic Kingdom. On Wednesday they went to Epcot and today they experienced Hollywood Studios. Saturday, they will go to Animal Kingdom before returning home.