Advise Needed for Chaperone

[sws62]

Our high school band will be going to WDW the last week of March to perform in a parade at MK. I'm going as a chaperone and need some advice. First, I realize that we're going at one of the busiest times. Plus, our itinerary is based on the regular park hours, not the extended holiday hours. (For example, we'll be arriving at MK at 9:00 am instead of 8:00 am so we won't be there for rope drop.) In addition to FP, do you have any other suggestions on how to make the most of our time?

Our schedule is as follows:
Monday: AK and EPCOT
Tuesday: Kennedy Space Center, DTD with dinner at Planet Hollywood
Wednesday: MK
Thursday: HS

For those who have chaperoned this type of trip before, any suggestions on how to handle the opinions of 4-5 high school girls and try to make everyone reasonably happy would also be welcomed!

Thanks!

 

[stargazertechie]

For those who have chaperoned this type of trip before, any suggestions on how to handle the opinions of 4-5 high school girls and try to make everyone reasonably happy would also be welcomed!

Thanks!

Bless your heart, and God be with you

In all seriousness though, I'd say just let the girls alternate who gets to pick the next attraction. If you know which 4-5 girls you will be responsible for ahead of time, have them look over the attraction lists, and have them each make a "must do" list. You can compare them and see where the most overlap is- and make those a priority.

 

[okeydokey]

When you chaperone High Schoolers, so you actually have to hang with them all the time they are in the park?

 

[mm1971]

When you chaperone High Schoolers, so you actually have to hang with them all the time they are in the park?

This is the first thing that came to mind. Do you have to be with them the whole time? I would think they want to be off on their own and meet up every couple hours just to keep tabs on the activities. My DS is almost 13 and while he loves our time together, I can imagine his thoughts if I tagged along all day with him and his friends. Good luck.

 

[sws62]

Bless your heart, and God be with you

In all seriousness though, I'd say just let the girls alternate who gets to pick the next attraction. If you know which 4-5 girls you will be responsible for ahead of time, have them look over the attraction lists, and have them each make a "must do" list. You can compare them and see where the most overlap is- and make those a priority.

I will know in advance which girls will be in my group. I actually had thought of asking in advance for their "must do" list. That way I can have a game plan when we arrive at each park instead of wasting time with the "what do you want to do first" conversation! I'm not sure I'll get much of a response by asking in advance, but I guess if they don't give me any input they'll have to go along with the rest of the group.

 

[sws62]

When you chaperone High Schoolers, so you actually have to hang with them all the time they are in the park?

For some band trips the chaperones don't have to stay with the kids all the time - just check in with them once in a while. But it's different for Disney. We have to stay with our group the whole time. It could be a long week!

 

[rcraw45425]

Having two high school band kids I cannot imagine trying to nail them down like that. We did US/IOA two years ago and my younger one just came back from Busch Gardens Tampa for New Years. the chaparones had a list of cell phone numbers and agreeded to meet up every two hours or so or have them check in via phone or text if in a line or on a ride. Their main thought is to be with their friends, they don't care if they're stuck riding Jungle Cruise ten times to do so. Plans go straight out the window when they walk through the turnstile. I make sure my kids have the Lines app from Touring plans loaded along with the Disney app. They truly don't want you tagging along

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

Having two high school band kids I cannot imagine trying to nail them down like that. We did US/IOA two years ago and my younger one just came back from Busch Gardens Tampa for New Years. the chaparones had a list of cell phone numbers and agreeded to meet up every two hours or so or have them check in via phone or text if in a line or on a ride. Their main thought is to be with their friends, they don't care if they're stuck riding Jungle Cruise ten times to do so. Plans go straight out the window when they walk through the turnstile. I make sure my kids have the Lines app from Touring plans loaded along with the Disney app. They truly don't want you tagging along

Great advice! The only thing I might add is to have the girls buddy up if they decide to separate from their little group.

 

[rcraw45425]

Great advice! The only thing I might add is to have the girls buddy up if they decide to separate from their little group.

Definitely! Groups of two are good. Just back from a trip right after New Years. Younger daughter was at BG with the band and Outback Bowl, then we picked her up in tampa and spent four nights at WDW. We took a friend so we had three teens. Often one wound up riding alone. Another huge piece of advice is to tell them to DO THE SINGLE RIDER LINES for the big rides with long lines. they did single for TT and only waited like 30 minutes.

 

[Diegosmom]

I have never had to chaperone but I am thinking I would email them (or start a facebook email if you are friends with them) and include a park map with the list of the rides...Tell them you need 1 must do ride for each park and say 2 would love to also do per park. Give them a date (maybe 2 weeks before trip) and say you are making a park plan and if they dont have there requests in then they have to deal with the plan you make.

Is one of these kids your daughter? Do these kids get to pick there group or is it assigned?...If they get to pick and one is your daughter I would suggest to her to pick kids with similar interests not just her friends...like if DD is not into thrill rides dont pick kids who are.

Make sure to grab a fastpass to the biggest ride as soon as you get to the park...If interested in TSM make sure to hit that first...

Anyway to convince the leader to switch arrival based on new hours?

 

[sws62]

Definitely! Groups of two are good. Just back from a trip right after New Years. Younger daughter was at BG with the band and Outback Bowl, then we picked her up in tampa and spent four nights at WDW. We took a friend so we had three teens. Often one wound up riding alone. Another huge piece of advice is to tell them to DO THE SINGLE RIDER LINES for the big rides with long lines. they did single for TT and only waited like 30 minutes.

The single rider lines is a great idea. Thanks.

 

[chartle]

I have done two band trips as a chaperone, the last one I also organized the trip.

First and this is the biggest tip of all. This is not going to be like a regular WDW trip. Your time is not your own so you probably woun't be able to do your normal traditions like going to this park first and eating at this place on arrival.

I would normally say don't make any ADR's. You are probably going to get CS meal vouchers which are good only at CS and is for a entree/combo meal, drink and dessert. You have to use the entire voucher so if you don't want a dessert it lost.

As for touring, the first trip I had my two sons and 4 or 5 of their friends with me all the time all day since they wan't to be with me since I knew the parks and all the info, oh and I must a be "cool dad" . Second trip it was just my youngest, but it was his DGF and her friends and his friends. Our band was 7-12 so we had some 12 year olds with us and one of the mothers asked me to keep him in my group. Not a big deal since his older brother was my son's friend anyway.

So day one I had 10 in my group (close to a quarter of the band, small band) and after that I had 11 when I picked up another kid that "dumped" him from his group. With this many we had a rule, if we were headed to an attraction we went there we didn't change our minds since you waste a lot of time if you do that with a big group. We never had any issue of someone not wanting to ride or any break downs. We had a "No Whining" policy.

If they are not touring with you I'm sure your group leader will let you know whats expected of you. Like if they have to check in with you at certain times.

One thing is you may be expected to hold all the tickets, which if they don't tour with you makes it hard to get FP's.

 

[sws62]

I have never had to chaperone but I am thinking I would email them (or start a facebook email if you are friends with them) and include a park map with the list of the rides...Tell them you need 1 must do ride for each park and say 2 would love to also do per park. Give them a date (maybe 2 weeks before trip) and say you are making a park plan and if they dont have there requests in then they have to deal with the plan you make.

Is one of these kids your daughter? Do these kids get to pick there group or is it assigned?...If they get to pick and one is your daughter I would suggest to her to pick kids with similar interests not just her friends...like if DD is not into thrill rides dont pick kids who are.

Make sure to grab a fastpass to the biggest ride as soon as you get to the park...If interested in TSM make sure to hit that first...

Anyway to convince the leader to switch arrival based on new hours?

One of the kids in my group will be my daughter. The kids are encouraged to pick their groups based on their riding preferences.

I love your idea about giving them maps and a list of rides and asking for their priorities (in order). I'll definitely do that.

I can give the leaders the information about the adjusted park hours. I doubt anything will change. I just hate to not take advance of that first hour when lines are shorter.

 

[chartle]

I can give the leaders the information about the adjusted park hours. I doubt anything will change. I just hate to not take advance of that first hour when lines are shorter.

On our trips we did the parade in the MK and a class at Epcot so our three park days were pretty much decided for us.

As for doing early EMH we could barely get our small group in a park by 9:30 (10 for DHS) so getting a group to a park at 8:00 my be impossible.

 

[sws62]

I have done two band trips as a chaperone, the last one I also organized the trip.

First and this is the biggest tip of all. This is not going to be like a regular WDW trip. Your time is not your own so you probably woun't be able to do your normal traditions like going to this park first and eating at this place on arrival.

I would normally say don't make any ADR's. You are probably going to get CS meal vouchers which are good only at CS and is for a entree/combo meal, drink and dessert. You have to use the entire voucher so if you don't want a dessert it lost.

As for touring, the first trip I had my two sons and 4 or 5 of their friends with me all the time all day since they wan't to be with me since I knew the parks and all the info, oh and I must a be "cool dad" . Second trip it was just my youngest, but it was his DGF and her friends and his friends. Our band was 7-12 so we had some 12 year olds with us and one of the mothers asked me to keep him in my group. Not a big deal since his older brother was my son's friend anyway.

So day one I had 10 in my group (close to a quarter of the band, small band) and after that I had 11 when I picked up another kid that "dumped" him from his group. With this many we had a rule, if we were headed to an attraction we went there we didn't change our minds since you waste a lot of time if you do that with a big group. We never had any issue of someone not wanting to ride or any break downs. We had a "No Whining" policy.

If they are not touring with you I'm sure your group leader will let you know whats expected of you. Like if they have to check in with you at certain times.

One thing is you may be expected to hold all the tickets, which if they don't tour with you makes it hard to get FP's.

I do realize that this trip will be completely different from a family trip. I haven't been to WDW since 2002 so I'm happy just to be going. And seeing the band perform in the parade will be exciting.

The most I'll have in my group is five. I can't imagine trying to keep track of 10! I had thought of establishing a "no whining" policy too. If I do though, I guess that means I can't whine either. Just kidding.

We will have a meeting for the chaperones before the trip with detailed information about what's expected of us.

Yes, we've already been told to hold onto all the tickets. Since we have to stay together, the FP's won't be problem.

 

[Kellykins1218]

We're going to be on a band trip that same week

 

[chartle]

1. I do realize that this trip will be completely different from a family trip. I haven't been to WDW since 2002 so I'm happy just to be going. And seeing the band perform in the parade will be exciting.

2. The most I'll have in my group is five. I can't imagine trying to keep track of 10! I had thought of establishing a "no whining" policy too. If I do though, I guess that means I can't whine either. Just kidding.

1. Realize that they will not be IN the parade but before the parade so if you are not with them backstage make sure you get to your spot early. Both time we did before the 3:00 parade and they had to group up at 12:30 and didn't get back into the park until after 3:30.

2. I only lost one, one of my 12 year olds. We left Spaceship Earth and was half way across the park and realized I lost one. He tried calling but I have never heard my cell phone while in a park. After that I appointed my son Chief Attendance Officer.

Another tip is to look up all the menus and figure out where to eat before hand. Surprisingly we never had a issue where to eat.

 

[erincon23]

We'll be on a band and choir trip the same week! I'm not chaperoning, but will be going down. I know our group doesn't keep as close an eye on our kids -- they're traveling with a minimum of chaperones this time, like one chaperone for 16 kids! Good luck with your group. Have a good time!

 

[mydisneykids]

Good luck and have a wonderful time.
I am surprised about having to stay with the kids at that age. Both of my DDs have gone with the band. Both their freshman years as our band goes every 4 years. They had times to meet up throughout the day. They were taken and shown where first aid was when they came into the park. But after that they are on their own.
I would worry about that in some other places but not Disney. What about the kids that will be 18 at the time of the trip?
Are all the girls on the same page with their likes of thrill rides??

 

[dsneprincess]

I would make a bathroom "rule" for my group, like when we go, everyone goes or doesn't expect to make a special stop. That could be a huge waste of tome with 5 teen girls. Make sure they all have walking shoes & maybe carry bandaids & moleskin for problems. I would also get the priority lists & try to map out routes prior. I would try to get through to the girls that you want to see as much as possible as quickly as possible. Maybe have menus & figure out 2 options in advance, so if A is too busy, you know what B is & that everyone has something they can eat there. Maybe a gift shop rule too, since every ride ends in a shop, you could spend a lot of time in store lines. Most stores have same merchandise, so maybe 1 store at end of day, ESP. If you hit Emporium at MK and/or MouseGear at EPCOT. Have fun; this would be my dream to chaperone!