Mid-Buchanan High School cheerleaders Ariel Hurst and Ashton Holmes are headed for the House of Mouse.

Ariel, a sophomore, and Ashton, a freshman, were chosen as All-American cheerleaders and get to perform in the Disney Christmas parade at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

“I’m really excited,” Ariel said.

The girls will leave for Orlando on Dec. 4, returning home Dec. 7. While at the resort, they will perform two numbers in the holiday parade. Taped while the girls are in Orlando, the parade will be televised on ABC (Disney owns the network) on

Christmas Day.

“We do a dance they sent us a video of and a Mary Poppins number,” Ashton said.

Ariel and Ashton have been friends since they were toddlers. This is Ashton’s first year of cheerleading at Mid-Buchanan in Faucett, Mo., but she has been dancing for 14 years. Ariel has been a cheerleader since seventh grade.

In order to qualify for the chance to go to Orlando, the girls attended a cheerleading camp with the Mid-Buchanan squad in Maryville, Mo. While there, cheerleaders were nominated to try out for the All-American honors. They had to perform a cheer and those chosen earned the opportunity to go to Orlando.

When they arrive at Walt Disney World, the girls will join other cheerleaders to rehearse the two numbers for the parade.

“The first thing we have is a four-hour practice that evening,” Ariel said.

After a few more practices, it’ll be showtime.

Cathy Woolridge can be reached at cathyw@npgco.com.