Foul Weather, Flight Delays Put Brakes On Students' Disney Performance Dreams

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Bad storms across the country led to two days of canceled flights, extensive delays, snarled plans, and frustrated travelers. But there were perhaps no would-be passengers more heartbroken than a group of Hampton Bays students who saw their dreams of performing at Disney World dashed by the travel snafus.

According to Lars Clemensen, superintendent of Hampton Bays Public Schools, the Hampton Bays High School marching band and symphonic chorus were scheduled to perform this weekend as part of the Disney Performing Arts Program.

"Due to the flight cancellation and the number of kids still in New York, we had to cancel both performances," he said.

But even though they were unable to see their dream come true, Clemensen said he could not be prouder of the students.

"To perform at Disney, you have to be adjudicated by their selection committee through an application and video submission. Our kids, as well as Mrs. Jennifer Halsey and Ms. Debra Liso, worked so hard — and the earned recognition of even being invited is noteworthy," he said.

The kids practiced long hours, even spending time at Suffolk County Community College's field house, in anticipation of their performance.

What made the canceled trip even more heartbreaking was that the weekend was a rescheduled trip; the first attempt to head to fly to Florida was foiled by a blizzard in February.

"In order to reschedule we had to break into two planes leaving around the same time. Yesterday, the airline's fleet was in disarray due to successive days of bad storms in the country. Therefore, equipment and crews were unavailable on a large scale," Clemensen said.

Clemensen credited the airline, which "worked genuinely and tirelessly to help get the second plane to Disney. They put us at a hotel near the airport so the kids could rest safely, but this morning, the situation was no better and our group had to turn back. The first plane did end up going," he said.

While the second half of the group never left LaGuardia Airport, Clemensen said the students shone under the less-than-stellar circumstances.

"The other kids, the ones with me — such grace under pressure," he said. "They saw a lot of examples of angry and frustrated stranded travelers. Yet, for nearly 18 hours, they played cards, helped keep each other's spirits up, and stayed calm and positive. There's an education in all experiences. I couldn't be prouder of their character."

As for Clemensen, on Friday, he was finally back home and "headed to bed, after a night at LaGuardia."

Patch photo: Students practicing for a performance they never got to give. Courtesy of Lars Clemensen.