By Julie Slama | [email protected]

Every year since Corner Canyon High opened, student government leaders have created a Disney Day on campus—except for last year since it was scheduled during the soft closure of schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The day of Mickey ears, Dole Whip and fun rides returned this year, although with some health and safety guidelines in place. All students who attended the free event wore masks, had to have a parent-signed permission slip and a time slot on the reservation system was established to ensure social distancing.

“It is just so fun,” said Emma Searle, a student body officer who oversaw the Soarin’ Over CC Adventure. “It was one of the best things we’ve done this year and the first day, it felt like normal.”

Disney Day was held on April 1, the day before spring break, and one of the last traditional events of the school year.

“Everyone knows and loves Disney and is familiar with the rides, so if felt like our own spring break,” she said especially since Disneyland wasn’t open to non-California residents at that time. 

In the school’s student government room, Searle ran the Soarin’ Over CC Adventure. Black tarps were draped all around the room and students sat on chairs as a projector showed footage of the campus, much of it taken with a drone that flew over the stadium, baseball field, tennis courts and other parts of the school. A fan blew to make it feel similar to the Soarin’ Over California at Disney’s California Adventure.

“It was a hit; everyone loved it,” she said, adding that student leaders wore polo shirts and khakis to copy the look of Disney employees.

In a nearby hallway, the leaders recreated Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride, where students were able to use astro blasters which lit up when correctly aimed at targets. 

“We had neon lights, music, the logo on the wall, targets and rolling chairs that we pushed the students through the ride,” she said. “At the end of it, they got a (made-up) score. Everyone was comparing and having fun.”

Their last ride was in honor of student leaders in 2020, who had planned a Star Wars ride.

“They had everything planned for Disney Day, but it was canceled, so we took their idea of a Star Wars attraction,” Searle said, adding that previous years the school has had Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise themed rides.

The Commons was split into four sections using black tarps hanging from volleyball nets. Throughout the ride, students boarded carts which then the football players pushed them through it. 

In one section, they had a representation of Oga’s Cantina with tables and glass jars and the school jazz band even played the same song as in the theme park. Another section had a jungle room, complete with trees and vines. A third section was at the snow planet, Planet Hoth. The section was completely snow-covered and hosted a duel between a Yeti versus Charlie the Charger mascot. The final section featured students dressed as Jedis at their spaceship.

“The whole adventure took under three minutes, but the Commons was completely transformed. It was just amazing,” she said. 

Churros, Dole Whip and popcorn were free to those who came to Disney Day.

“The entire time experience was about 30 minutes, and a lot of teachers brought their entire class to come experience it,” Searle said. “The principal brought his niece and nephew, and the preschoolers came with their Mickey ears and got to go on all the rides. It was so much fun to see them; it was fun for everyone.”