Advise Needed for Chaperone

[ajasmom]

I would recommend making a photo copy of the groups tickets. If someone loses their ticket disney can replace the lost ticket if you can provide a photo copy. I was at guest relations upgrading a ticket and a very upset family lost all of their passes and didnt have copies. or at least take a photo of everyones tickets and have them stored on a couple of cell phones so you can get replacements if needed.

 

[Bob NC]

We have to stay with our group the whole time.

If nobody else does, why don't you suggest that this is a ridiculous plan for high schoolers.

 

[rcraw45425]

If nobody else does, why don't you suggest that this is a ridiculous plan for high schoolers.

I have to agree, and I'm a pretty strict mom. By the time kids get to these ages they want to hang with their friends, not be herded around like preschoolers (quote from my teenaged bandies and their friends). They will say they're fine to be polite but be mortified in silence.

 

[chartle]

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??

I just wanted add to what I posted above. Our kids did not have to stay with the chaperons. We just made sure that they stayed in groups and that certain kids were in groups with kids that could take care of them. I'm also sure that every kid has a cell phone right? We didn't do checks on the kids since for Epcot they are only in the park for 8 hours and on the MK day they have to check in for the parade anyway. We also wore matching shirts.

For their next trip which is next month (I can't go my kids graduated out , why couldn't they flunk a few grades ) they set up a twitter account so if they have to contact everyone they can quickly. Also I think it would be neat to see what other people where doing.

The group of kids I had wanted to be in my group. We only put it out there that if any parent was uncomfortable with their kid touring with other kids that they could be in my group. I just told them that their kid had to keep up because we were going commando (you know what I mean) . I'm sure I was quite a sight when I got on the bus for the first park day with my vintage AK hat, pin lanyard and clip on sunglasses.

On a three day trip, we lose about 7 hours of park time due to the parade and the classes that they do. Also it was a slow time so the MK closed at 9, 8 the first trip. We just don't have time to smell the roses.

OP do think there is a reason why they have to stay with you?

Off the top of my head I'm thinking:

• this is the first trip your band has done to WDW or anywhere and the organizers have never been and think its like the local Six Flags.
• they have always done it this way
• something happened x number of years ago on a trip and this is how it has to be

Just wondering like the others

 

[gtpoohbear]

I'm also surprised that high school students would have to stay with a chaperone. I used to teach 8th grade, and we would take all 400 to 6 Flags (which has a much less safe, secure feel than Disney), they were only required to check-in at lunch, otherwise they were on their own. I went on band trips to Disney in high school, and we were simply dropped at the gate, handed a ticket, and told when to be back.

But, if you must stay together, I would definitely have a plan. With a large group, and especially one that may not be familiar with WDW, you may spend a lot of time standing around trying to figure out what to do otherwise. I would plan a route around the park, and have each person identify 2-3 rides they want to do, and be sure to hit those as you go by. Otherwise, you may be trekking back and forth across the park all day, if you just let them take turns picking.

 

[spodie]

I am a band director who organizes a trip down to Disney for 200 8th grade music students each year. We do let our students walk around the park without a chaperone (we have predetermined check-ins every 2-3 hours); however, with the different policies of your students' teachers, administrations, school districts, or state, I COMPLETELY understand why you would be walking around with your group.

Here is what I have learned over the past few years of taking my students:

- The biggest piece of advice I have for you is to be flexible! If you try to plan for the group too much, they are going to start hating you. I 100% agree with the people who have said to have a "must-do" list, where each person writes down their top one or two choices for each park. I really like how the students are encouraged to choose their groups based off of riding preferences. We preach this to our students each year, and it solves so many problems right off the bat.

- Since you will be with a group of girls, they're probably going to want to shop! Take breaks to visit the shops, so no one gets too tired in the Florida heat. This will make them less tired throughout the trip.

- THIS ONE IS HUGE: Every once in awhile, stop by a place that has a soda fountain for everyone to grab a cup of ice water. It's free, and odds are they will only be drinking sodas with their meals, making for very little water intake. I have also found that kids don't want to spend $3.00 on a bottle of water, and will just skip drinking water. No water + high temperatures + moving around a lot = sick kids. We REALLY preached this before our trip last year, and did not have one kid get sick!

- Also, there are inevitably one or two times where you are going to have to be the heavy. By that, I mean that there are going to be arguments on what to do next, and you are the one that is going to have to make the decision. Yes, there will be that one or two girls who are going to be mad at you, but kids are resilient - once you get to where you are going, whoever is unhappy will start having a good time. If you leave it up to your group to solve issues, they'll end up staring at each other for around 30 minutes before someone caves.

Overall, you're going to have a GREAT time! I am fortunate enough to make it down to Disney several times a year, and the trip I take with the band every year is hands-down my favorite!!

Have fun! You're going to remember this trip forever!!

 

[ryley26]

I have Chaperoned two band trips and will be doing a thrid in 2014. We don't have to stay with the kids are band is 270 members so it would be like a tour group you see in the summer. We enter the park and the kids are told the time they need to be on the bus at the end of the day. We have a chaperone on call with the nurse station every hour to divide it up. If you are breaking up into groups and staying with the students just have them alternate what they want to see. Its a great experience for the kids and the chaperones if you want PM me with any questions I have learned alot since are first trip with the band.