Disney World Field Trip

[megan17]

Hi!
I'm a teacher in NJ and came across the opportunity to possibly take a group of middle school students on a field trip to Disney World. The trip we are looking at is a 4 day STEM exploration through the College & Career Institutes and American Express Travel. The program includes 3 nights at Pop century along with visits to the Kennedy Space Center and Mote Marine Lab, 2 education sessions at Disney World, visits to Florida Tech and Ringling College of Art and Design, and park tickets for Disney. It looks like a great opportunity! Has anyone else ever participated in a program like this or any of Disney World's youth programs? I would love to hear from anyone who has had experience with this program or can offer any tips on chaperoning a field trip to Disney. Thanks!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

We've done the Disney Youth Education Series as a family-- basically a 3 hour class at EPCOT. My husband took my then-9 year old to do Synergy and Science (or something close to that) , while I took the then 12 and 14 year olds to do "Careers in Marine Biology." As you might expect, they were fabulous.

I did chaperone a trip to WDW a million years ago--mid'80's. And my school does an annual WDW Senior trip with close to 600 kids. (My husband's school does the same with their class of 400.)

Once in the parks, our kids pretty much have carte blanche to do as they please. They have to stay in that particular park, they have to be accessible by cell phone at all times, and they do have to check in once or twice a day, but they don't to the rides as a group. Last year, they were able to make use of Fastpass +-- no small undertaking with a group of that size!! and it added a lot to an already wonderful trip.

The secret to the evenings is to get them back to the hotel so very late that they're too exhausted to do anything else but sleep.

I'm not sure whether you're hiring chaperones to do the halls at night (or whether my school does that or not.) But most teachers I know "tape" the kids into their rooms at night. When it's time for bed and the kids are in their rooms for the night, a piece of masking tape it placed across the door onto the jam. In the morning, the tape is removed by the chaperones. If that tape is broken, the odds are pretty good that you're on a plane home. But should there be some sort of crisis-- say, a fire-- during the night, the tape doesn't prevent the kids from leaving the room.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Ds Did the Disney youth series 2-3 times years ago. Loved every minute of it but we were able to join in a larger group as it was an open type add on enrollment.

Having coordinated large group field trips (elsewhere).. Organization, CLEAR obligations/responsibilities for students/and the Adults both on the trip and at home were distributed, signed by everyone .. so No surprises if anyone/thing got out of hand.
(Need to check on Districts/personal Insurance info for travel.).

Good luck, I'm sure there are other teachers here who can help you! Wonderful experience with the right group of young adults and appropriately numbered, responsible Chaperones.
Aliceacc: great tape idea!!!

 

[ronandannette]

Just curious - how many chaperones does it take for a group of 600 students? What are their responsibilities? The comment about the kids being accessible by phone - how do you keep tabs on that?

 

[Aliceacc]

Honestly, I don't chaperone the Senior Trip--- I'm not going to WDW without my kids.

But heaven help the kid who isn't where he is supposed to be and who doesn't answer his phone when the chaperone calls!!

And I would guess we send down 25-30 chaperones. Each has a particular group of kids-- 5 or 6 rooms of 4 kids each. They take attendance constantly-- before they board busses, really any time the group moves from point A to point B, as well as whenever the group is supposed to meet for instructions.

 

[megan17]

Thanks for the tips everyone!

 

[karensi]

2 PPs mentioned the Disney Youth Education Series. I think we ( my family) might be interested in that. Does anyone know where I might be able to get more info on this?

Thanks

ETA, I just googled this and now I'm wondering if a family can do any/some of these programs or is it just for groups of students?

 

[Aliceacc]

We did it as a family

 

[karensi]

We did it as a family

Thank you so much, I think we would be interested in something like this. Can you tell me where you found the info?

Thank you

 

[Aliceacc]

My computer isn't playing nicely. If the link doesn't work, google Disney YES individual enrollment and be sure to check Disney WORLD.

https://www.disneyyouth.com/our-pro...-enrollment/#categories-individual-enrollment

 

[karensi]

My computer isn't playing nicely. If the link doesn't work, google Disney YES individual enrollment and be sure to check Disney WORLD.

https://www.disneyyouth.com/our-pro...-enrollment/#categories-individual-enrollment

Thank you so much