Last month, Student Productions announced the location of their annual off-campus trip which will take place in the wonderful world of Disney. This year, around 200 UT students will have the pleasure to go to Magic Kingdom on Saturday, April 6 for the low price of $35.
What can be more fun than going to Disney with your friends and reliving childhood memories without entirely draining your wallet? Oh that’s right, getting the actual tickets themselves. Tickets were sold from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on March 26, 28 and 29, but ticket sales barely lasted an hour since they only sold 50 tickets a day.
My roommate and I showed up in the Vaughn lobby at 9:00 a.m. and 20 people were already waiting in line, including those who took chairs from nearby tables and decided to wait a little more comfortably. I secured my spot in line when seconds later my stomach grumbled. For once, the food from the cafeteria smelled really good. An oasis of waffles, bacon and eggs filled my nostrils. But I knew the instant I got food I wouldn’t get my ticket because it was only 9:10 and the line was already approaching the elevators.
Again, I reminded my friends that if they didn’t get there fast enough, they would be cut off. “I’m on my way wearing sweatpants and glasses!” my friend Katie Reiter’s text said. We were on a mission. We were getting these tickets no matter what. After what seemed like a hundred text messages and phone calls, my friends and I stood in line together waiting for the Student Production staff members to get there. Other than potentially starting World War III with those that thought they could cut us in the line, we made it through until 10:30 and got our tickets.
April Rubio, a Student Productions staff member for the past two years, was in charge of the ticket sales and said they have been planning for this event since early March.
“Last year, we went to Sea World and we took only 100 or so students and some said it wasn’t enough,” Rubio said. “Therefore, we added more this year. Not to mention, it’s Disney and it seems that there are more people that will be enthusiastic about it.”
However, it’s not always a walk in the park with some students when they aren’t able to get their tickets. “I’ve done it before [selling tickets,” Rubio said. “It’s definitely intense but it’s manageable. People get angry when they don’t get their tickets but I try to calm them down and encourage them to come the next day. It eventually works out.”
For those of you who were able to get tickets, good for you! And for those who weren’t able, remember to stay tuned for the event next year. As Rubio stated, “We want to keep implementing off campus trips because it’s always fun to get out of school and relax for a while.”
Xelmarie Medina can be reached at xelmymedina@gmail.com.