Field Trip to Disney

[Tink9295]

My DD15's Chorus and Band Groups are going to Disney for Magic Music Days. Sounds like fun right? Maybe I can chaperone?

Well after attending the meeting I was dumbfounded. I am wondering how they can charge so much money for a 5day/4night stay?

The details:

Leave 2/9 from Providence in Orlando via Southwest Airlines.
Stay 4 night nights ath the Radisson Worldgate (Not even on-site)
One 4-day magic music hopper pass (if accepted)
Four breakfasts at the hotel
Four lunch coupons at select Disney restaurants
One Disney sings workshop
Transportation
Security at the hotel
Taxes and fees

The cost? $1,100.00

This does not include any dinner costs. So tack on another $150+. It also does not include any insurance. That's another $45.00


How can any high school student afford this trip? Even with 2 fundraisers, there's no way my DD can raise the funds, not to mention students that parents can't afford it. I feel it is irresponsible to organize a trip like this without sufficent fundraising and the time to do so.

Now my DD tells me her friends can't afford to go and thinks she doesn't want to go if her friends can't and that the trip is too expensive. I applaud the fact that she recognizes that it is an expensive field trip and she adds that we can do Disney much cheaper.

Anyone else have the same problem with Disney fieldtrips?

 

[DisneyKT]

Wow, that seems to be alot of money. I have no words of wisdom, my daughters trip is a few years off yet. Good Luck.

 

[carebee21]

Have you looked at flight prices on 02/09 from Providence via southwest??? I just checked and . Maybe that's why??

Secondly, is everything completely set in stone? Maybe you can talk to them and give advise to whomever is planning the trip about staying in a value resort and using Disney's free transportation, if it works the same with large groups?

 

[Juliee8]

Yikes! I think you should definately talk to the person in charge and maybe offer up some suggestions to make this trip more affordable for the kids.

 

[PHXscuba]

I know here locally with our band the transportation costs are what add up quickly. Buses are really expensive!

I'd find out what all of the "fees" are, itemized. I read another thread about a travel agent "charging" for Magical Express. I realize that doesn't apply in your case, but I know I appreciate when our band breaks where all of our $$$ money is going.

I think the food and transportation costs would be the costs you would probably save a lot on if you were going as just your family.

And I think giving you only 4-plus months to fundraise is WAY too short.

PHXscuba

 

[powellrj]

My DS went with his show choir 2 years ago and took a bus from Indiana and it was over $800 for 3 nights and 4 days with no dinners also so with the extra day and the flight it seems about right.

 

[Tink9295]

Have you looked at flight prices on 02/09 from Providence via southwest??? I just checked and . Maybe that's why??

Secondly, is everything completely set in stone? Maybe you can talk to them and give advise to whomever is planning the trip about staying in a value resort and using Disney's free transportation, if it works the same with large groups?

I did notice that they were high on Wed, they weren't a week ago when they presented the trip. I also notice it is much cheaper out of Hartford. $79 or $84 each way. Not that much further than Prov.

I suggested doing something like that but they use a travel agency to plan their trip. So needless to say they weren't open to suggestions......

Also asked about meeting them there. The 2 of us could travel for about the same price, staying at a value. They looked confused.

They said something about doing a land only package, but have yet to provide me with any prices.

 

[pklein09]

DD is a freshman this year, and the chorus goes to WDW every 4 years. She is VERY excited! The cost: $1050 for 5 days, 4 nights, staying at All Stars, meals, 4 day passes, singing workshop, Illuminations dessert, security at the hotel, and a few other misc. items. They're going from April 7-11. I'm not sure if they're going out of Philly or Newark, but Philly is cheaper. I had to have my $300 deposit in by this Friday.

 

[msmayor]

Bear in mind that airfare cannot be purchased until they KNOW who is committed to going...they can't 'scoop' up these lower fares now in the hopes that they'll fill all the seats. In addition, if there are 100 kids going, you won't find 100 seats on one flight for $79.

There are additional insurance costs when a school takes a trip like this.

With band instruments involved, baggage fees are going to mount with most airlines. ME may not be an option in order to keep track of all the equipment.

 

[mjkacmom]

Our HS choirs decided on San Francisco this year - 5 days, $1,350. They're probably using an agency, who gets a cut. I'm sure there is a fee to participate.

 

[pamjb]

My niece's cheerleading squad may go to Nationals this year in Disney. The price without airfare is $455.00 for 4 nights at the All-Stars with 4 per room. I couldn't imagine 4 high school cheerleader sharing 1 bathroom, but whatever. The price for 2 per room is $583.00. That includes 4 nights at the All-stars, UCA night at the Magic Kingdom, 3 days admission to WWoS, 2 counter service meal vouchers, all taxes and tips.
I priced the same trip out and came up $231 less than the package thru UCA.
It is very possible that the travel agent is charging a surcharge as I know that there are some that do.

 

[mhsjax]

I guess compared to what I have to pay for my DS to go to Washington DC that isn't a bad price.

We have to pay close to $1000.00 and they don't even fly. I think they stay about 4 nights. And it includes only 2 meals a day.

Yep either way it is expensive. My DS goes to Washington DC right after the first of the year. Why does everything come about during the holidays?

 

[shelwoj]

Our band is going in April and buses, fuel for the semi (instrument transportation), 4 to a room, off site, 2 nights three days park hopper tickets and $15 a day for food, is costing $650. There are a few other "perks" in there but I can't remember what. It may go down a little or up a little depending on how many kids actually put the deposit down (due tomorrow).

We decided to go ahead and plan a trip at the same time. We weren't going to until we heard the jazz band will perform while there also and our son, a senior, has two solos. Absolutely don't want to miss that.

Our oldest, 22, is going with us so it'll probably be our last family vacation for a long while. He's paying for his portion and I'm pinching pennies til ole Abe cries to pay for the rest. I'm hoping some really good fundraising opportunities come up to pay for the band part.

 

[daisyduck123]

My DD16 would not be going. That price is wayyyy to high for a four night trip.

We are DVC members, have APs, and DD would much rather spend that $1100.00 on souvenirs when we take her and her friend to BCV for 7 nights next June as their graduation gifts!!

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

My daughter's HS band went for spring break last year...they took buses from our Chicago suburb... I can't remember the exact cost but it was somewhere around $900 and that was 5 hotel nights (off site), 6 day park hopper with water parks, music program, 2 meals a day included. We had lots of fundraisers but we actually didn't participate much in those...we paid in installments...grandma helped out too... it was a fabulous trip she will never forget!!!

 

[richmond282]

1) When you take 100+ kids on a trip, you can't always get the good deals available to smaller groups (i.e. a family of 4) because you need 40-50 hotel rooms, and buses or an entire airplane, and...

2) School systems often have guidlines that must be followed in terms of field trips. Some systems require you to use travel agencies or get bids or both. I don't know what your school system requirements are. This also allows the money to be routed through the travel agency rather than the school account.

3) Choir and band directors don't have time to book everything individually much less keep up with all of it. That's why they like to use travel agencies and tour guides. And, yes, there probably is some sort of mark up for that service.

4) Have you ever booked buses (which you will need for transportation around Orlando even if you're flying down)? Our bus cost is usually at least HALF of the cost of the trip.

Having said all of that, I still think $1100 is a lot of money for the trip you guys are being offered. We took about 60 students 2 years ago and it cost about $650/ student, no meals included, for a 3 day stay. We also did not fly.

 

[mjkacmom]

My DD16 would not be going. That price is wayyyy to high for a four night trip.

We are DVC members, have APs, and DD would much rather spend that $1100.00 on souvenirs when we take her and her friend to BCV for 7 nights next June as their graduation gifts!!

My dd14 would much rather take a school trip with friends than spend over $1000 on "stuff!" Actually, she's at an age where she would rather do a school sponsored trip with friends than one with her family.

 

[CowboyCO]

My DD15's Chorus and Band Groups are going to Disney for Magic Music Days. Sounds like fun right? Maybe I can chaperone?

Well after attending the meeting I was dumbfounded. I am wondering how they can charge so much money for a 5day/4night stay?

The details:

Leave 2/9 from Providence in Orlando via Southwest Airlines.
Stay 4 night nights ath the Radisson Worldgate (Not even on-site)
One 4-day magic music hopper pass (if accepted)
Four breakfasts at the hotel
Four lunch coupons at select Disney restaurants
One Disney sings workshop
Transportation
Security at the hotel
Taxes and fees

The cost? $1,100.00

This does not include any dinner costs. So tack on another $150+. It also does not include any insurance. That's another $45.00


How can any high school student afford this trip? Even with 2 fundraisers, there's no way my DD can raise the funds, not to mention students that parents can't afford it. I feel it is irresponsible to organize a trip like this without sufficent fundraising and the time to do so.

Now my DD tells me her friends can't afford to go and thinks she doesn't want to go if her friends can't and that the trip is too expensive. I applaud the fact that she recognizes that it is an expensive field trip and she adds that we can do Disney much cheaper.

Anyone else have the same problem with Disney fieldtrips?

Seems about right to me. They are not using disney transportation. it includes two meals and lodging and airfare and park passes. It's not a smoking deal, but when you have to book airfare for a large group, it's hard to get cheapo rates like we can when we are shopping the web daily to get the lowest possible rate. If it were me, I'd be trying to stay on-site, but that's just me, as a seasoned pro...

 

[bunny]

My friend's daughter is in the HS marching band. They were offering a similar trip at a similar price. She asked the director why they weren't staying on site. We figured you could stay on site and have the dining plan for much less than what they were charging for off site. The director told her they can't stay on site, because the kids could not be adequately chaperoned. They would be able to go back to the rooms alone, so they couldn't do that.

 

[scrapquitler]

I did notice that they were high on Wed, they weren't a week ago when they presented the trip. I also notice it is much cheaper out of Hartford. $79 or $84 each way. Not that much further than Prov.

I suggested doing something like that but they use a travel agency to plan their trip. So needless to say they weren't open to suggestions......

Also asked about meeting them there. The 2 of us could travel for about the same price, staying at a value. They looked confused.

They said something about doing a land only package, but have yet to provide me with any prices.

Well if they used Hartford, then they would have to rent busses 2X to transport kids from RI to Hartford. And I bet that they are renting busses for the duration of the trip while you are in Florida...and renting charter busses is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$