Class Trip for 25 - Winnipeg to Orlando

[Rookie Teacher]

I'm a grade 9 teacher who is organizing a class trip for 18 kids (14 and 15 year olds) and 7 adults (chaperones plus me). We are flying out from Winnipeg, and we are going for 7 to 8 days. I am wondering if anyone has pointers, advice, or experience to share with me in terms of planning, organizing, booking, staying...anything that has to do with bringing a group to Orlando (Universal and DW) without a travel agent. We were using an agent at first, but her quote was way over budget, so I'm doing the job of a travel agent + full-time teacher now (yes...it's very overwhelming). By the way I'm teaching on an isolated reserve, so the kids that I'm taking are not exactly street smart or well travelled (but then me neither even though I'm orginally from Ottawa). On the other hand, they wouldn't be giving me the "been there, done that" or "boring!" attitude.

After a weekend of online research, I think we are best off with a vacation package deal from expedia.ca that is around $600 per person for flight and hotel. I haven't call them for a group rate; I just use their online tool to book one room for 4 people, and a bunch of $550 - $600 deal came up. We can afford that.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

 

[Miandrea]

I wish you all the best of luck...once piece of advice, make sure your superintendent is aware of the trip or they might cancel it (had that happen before). You will all have a great time! Best of luck!

Andrea

 

[disney funseeker]

Once you arrive in Orlando, what means of transportation will you have during your trip? You don't mention a vehicle as part of the deal.

If you don't stay at a place that has a shuttle, that will add quite a bit to your trip.
What is your budget per person?
The cost really starts to add up with park tickets and 3 meals/day out.
What is the cost of just the flight? I'm thinking that if you can book the flight, maybe Dreams Unlimited can help you with the rest.... maybe book at a value resort.
When are you planning to go?

 

[PrincessNED]

Have you talked directly with westjet and/or Air Canada yet? with a group of 25 you are likely to get better chance of getting everyone on the same flight and likely better pricing . I know westjet now has direct flights to orlando.

Same idea with the hotels - call them direct and you should be able to get group pricing.

See if you can get a copy of the unofficial guide - has all the phone numbers for hotels in the area I believe.

good luck !! Trip of a lifetime for those kids!!

 

[rlovew]

When you go to get tickets for Disney make sure you get there Yes ticket office, there park prices are significantl;y lower especially for EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. Also you might want to check with a travel agency that handles Orlando trips, I would think they should be equivalent to what you would otherwise get by yourself. Definately figure out transportation because getting your own bus can be hard and with that many you would fill most any hotel shuttle I have ever seen. As someone said above you might want to look at a value resort at Disney and then see about moving to something near Universal that has transportation because that alone can cost a bundle.

PM if you don't know about YES from Disney.

 

[grover]

Perhaps this is the same thing as rlovew was talking about..but Disney does special pricing/group things for schools...a teacher who went before with students told me they did special education things at Epcot etc. I would look into group pricing for tickets/rooms before booking on your own..deals to be had!
Which reserve are you heading from?

 

[Rookie Teacher]

Thank you to everyone...every little bit of information helps! Special thanks to rlovew for mentioning YES...I think that is going to save us a bundle! I'm going to call Disney to see if they have value resort rooms available. I need 7 rooms, and we are going either in the Victoria Day weekend or the Memorial Day weekend. The fact that the resort is going to offer shuttles to and from the airport is a big bonus! In terms of flight, I think I'll call either Northwest or United for a group rate to fly from Winnipeg to Orlando. I'll give an update after I get some quotes.

Sorry for the late reply...the past week was report cards and parent-teacher interviews! No parent came in with an axe, so I guess I did ok afterall

 

[PrincessNED]

Good luck with the trip -

We are flying United leaving the friday of the May long - Just one connection in Chicago - leave the peg 7:30am arrive Orlando 2:30 pm


If by chance I see a group as you describe there might be some "pixie dust" from the drink cart for such a wonderful teacher.

 

[jj1403]

If you are able, if you fly out of Minneapolis you'll be able to save a bundle on airfare. I also live in winnipeg and we flew out of Minneapolis in September. We saved $1000. by driving.

Also a good website to everything Disney is www.allearsnet.com.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[MissKIA]

We always fly out of Minneapolis. It is SO much cheaper it's ridiculous. last year we flew to Cancun (5 of us) from Minneapolis and paid $2200 CDN. From Winnipeg it would have been close to $5000! This summer we are flying to LAX from Minneapolis and it is costing us $1700 where it would be $3200 from Wpg. Definitly worth looking into!

 

[tmli]

You may also want to try Westjet out of Winnipeg...they may have a group rate as well.

 

[rigs32]

I think that with the number of kids you have, it makes more sense to stay onsite. Transportation included by staying onsite will make it cheaper in the long run, even if the hotels rooms are a little pricier.

I assume everyone will be on their own to buy meals? You may want to have groceries delivered on the first day for breakfast stuff and snacks. Everyone could place their personal order and end up spending a lot less than food-courting it every morning.

Pop Century would have less temptation for teens to go missing. I went on a dance group trip at 17 and we loved wandering the all stars complex at night, as all three resorts were connected.

 

[milkabum]

Wear something to know who is part of your group like a pin or a shirt. Best wishes and have a fun time!

 

[dhluvsDisney]

Here's another one that fly's out of Minneapolis. Our family of 5 has been doing this for years already, and quite frankly is the only reason we can afford to go once or twice a year. Look on travelocity or on Northwest's site directly. We usually get a great price, and it's a direct flight with no stop overs. If you fly NWA, you stop over in MSP anyway. Air Canada will usually take you through TO or Chicago. I would also try Westjet to see if they have any group bookings.

 

[grover]

we have also flown from msp...lucked out on flights that cost us under 900.00 CAD for 3 people...would have been 2400.00 if we flew from Wpg!

 

[Rookie Teacher]

This is for anyone who may be planning on a youth group trip (10 kids or more) in the near future:

For international visitors, you have to buy an extra YES program at US$22.50 per person, and the first one is still free (i.e. included in the specially-priced park tickets). Even so, the prices are still amazing (e.g. a five day hopper pass is US $135, and there are many other different options in terms of packages) plus two chaperones get in for free. I just want to mention that for anyone who works with youths in schools/community centres/religious groups, etc...maybe a trip to WDW is possible for your kids!

P.S. Northwest gave us the best group rate for flights from Winnipeg to Orlando for last week of May: $450 per person.
The idea of flying from Minneapolis is great! Although I won't be doing that with my students, if I ever go in the future with my family/friends, I'll definitely try that to save $$! Thanks to all the posters for all the great pointers!

 

[jj1403]

Wow you got an amazing deal on your flights! Do you know if anyone is eligible for those group rates?? We're heading to Orlando in January and the $800+ in airfare is kind of scary!!

 

[Northstar]

Now start rounding up everybody's travel documents. Make sure they've all got birth certificates or passports! I wouldn't leave it up to them... have a mandatory meeting at least 3 weeks before and have them show you their documents.

 

[Rookie Teacher]

I believe for a party of 20 or more, it may be eligible for group rates. I checked for the regular fares on their website, and it's about $600 for the dates we wanted.

Great tip on the ID part! Espcially where we are (on an isolated reserve) it's not like they can just go to a government office one afternoon and apply for IDs. They would have to fly out to a city!

 

[PrincessNED]

So glad you could find a good deal - The kids will never forget your commitment to them

We are in WDW the 19th to 29th - not sure of exactly what days you are there but remember the US Memorial Day weekend starts the 27th( real busy I hear). You might want to heed the same shirt/ hat etc idea.

Have a great trip and If I see you there the drink offer stands!!