Behind the Veil

Well, it's a big weekend ahead for La Nina. She will be dancing in the Disney Christmas Parade this weekend at Disneyland. But before you get excited, there isn't actually a Christmas parade this weekend. They are filming parts of the parade that will be shown on Christmas morning on ABC.

Not only will she be dancing down Main Street USA dressed as a snowgirl, she'll also have the opportunity to go back stage and practice her dance in the huge back lot area. This is going to be the most interesting part of the show for La Nina. She'll be allowed back into the areas that are off limits to regular park goers. She'll practicing in the same dance studio as many pretty princesses. She'll probably get a pretty good understanding of how to navigate the park from behind the scenes. I know where the drop off location is, and I know where the parade starts. The two places are not even in the same "Lands".

She's also be held accountable to some pretty strict guidelines for her appearance in the park. She's to arrive at pick up and drop off points with hair and make up done, but not in her costume. We're not allowed to carry any sort of a garment bag, yet her costume and performance shoes must be concealed. (The challenges never end for dance mothers.) We drop her off and meet her at designated locations in the park, but we're not allowed to assist her backstage. When she's backstage she's with her teachers and Disney staff.

After the filming is complete on Saturday, she gets a couple of hours off, then she's backstage again getting ready for the big parade that night. Then on Sunday, she's participating in the filming of a promotional video for the new Princess and the Frog movie. (The Dad, the Magster and I will be extras in this one.)

I'm so happy La Nina gets the chance to do something like this. It's such an incredible opportunity for her to do the thing she loves in a place she loves to visit. She's going to have such a great time.

Don't feel sorry for her this weekend either. She's getting a trip to Disneyland and she's getting rid of her chicken sister for several hours every day. That means the Magster gets to go on the rides she wants, when she wants. Matterhorn, Pirates, Haunted House, Splash Mountain, maybe even Space Mountain...all the rides her sister hates. Come to think of it, I think the Magster is more excited about this trip than La Nina.