Help me come up with a touring plan for a lady who is dreading her trip!

[missypie]

At church today, a lady mentioned how she would be gone next week becuase she HAD to chaperone a band trip to WDW. She said the worst part would be next Satruday, when a bus would drop them all off at the MK at 9:30 am, and not come back to pick them up until 9:30 pm.

How ironic! Here I am, planning this trip for years, counting the days, wondering how we will fit everything in in 9 days, and she is dreading having to spend 12 hours in the MK.

Help me come up with a touring plan that will make her a convert. She doesn't have to stay with the kids. They aren't being dropped off until 9:30, so I bet they won't actually enter until close to 10 am. I assume she won't want to do major thrill rides.

I was thinking of sending her to Splash Mountain first, followed by BTMRR, then maybe Pirates and HM? At some point maybe having her FP Mickey's Philharmagic? Maybe a meal upstairs at Columbia Harbour House?

Anybody want to help?

 

[mepperson]

Does she realize that Saturday is Grad Night and MK closes early? That is THIS Saturday, April 30. I think MK will close at 7:00 pm, so that would be 2.5 hours those band kids would be running around without the bus. If they have park hopper tickets they could all ride the monorail over to Epcot and get picked up there. Unless they've made some special arrangements to stay in the park...

Mary

 

[missypie]

Interesting...I'll have to ask her. Wouldn't that be wild if someone had planned this whole band trip without knowing the hours?!

 

[FreshTressa]

Hmm, splash mountain seems a bit over the top for a first ride. I would send her to pirates first, if it is her first time.

 

[missypie]

I don't know if she's been to WDW or not...she's just a self-professed Disney park hater. Of course, showing up on a crowded day, not at park opening, with no PS and no plan whatsoever (except to have a bad time) will just confirm her hatred of the place.

 

[slimplaw]

Suggest she ride the monorail to GF for afternoon tea. She'll need a PS. This would take up about 2 hours of her time. I've been a chaperone on band trips before and do the rides and attractions I want and enjoy sitting and taking in all the atmosphere. Hate to tell her, but WDW will want the chaperones to call every hour to make sure no one is at first aid. It can be a different person calling each time. We would break it up among us and take turns calling. More than likely, her director has taken this trip before and knows what is required.

 

[PKK/MJK]

Don't forget the Share a Dream Come True parade in the afternoon--also the new Cinderellabration show. It's a Small World just re-opened recently from a complete refurbishment--definitely a calm ride. LOL!! If she's there after dark, hopefully it will be night with Spectromagic and Wishes. If she wants to relax and get away from things, she can go into Expo Hall--way in the back and watch the movies for a while. There's also a lovely place to sit by the rose garden near the castle--it's down by water--and a lot of people pass it by. For a change of pace, she could walk over to the Contemporary and shop in all their stores.

 

[Schmeck]

Umm, what kind of chaperone doesn't stay with the kids? If this lady hates WDW, and isn't going to be actually watching any of the kids she's supposed to be chaperoning, why is she going?

How old are these band members? Do the parents know that the kids are going to be set loose in the park without chaperones? Hopefully they'll be well behaved on their own, no line cutting, etc.

 

[marthachick]

DH & I went back in January 1990 w/ 160 high school seniors. Yep, that's 4 bus loads. We had a blast! I really think we had more fun than the kids.

 

[keishashadow]

Do you mean like the Cheerleaders this past February? Actually, they were just fine in the parks, but were running wild through the AS Movies in the evening and early morning hours. I agree, she shouldn't be worried about riding or touring, merely chaperoning.

Why would anyone volunteer to chaperone a group of children having that attitude. In my neck of the woods parents are very competitive to participate in this type of outing.

 

[Traveliz]

Our high school band chaperones did not walk/ride/sit with the kids either - they were all high school age and yes the parents knew the arrangement.

There was a designated spot in each park where two chaperones would sit for a couple of hours at a time (taking turns throughout the day) where students could come to them if there was a problem.

Kids had to be in groups of at least three.

I think that is fairly typical that groups come to the park and don't tour together.

Liz

 

[missypie]

It's a high school group. The lady has a pretty negative personality. She said that no one else is willing to take her place as a chaperone; that she has tried everything to get out of it. On one hand, you hate to think of someone with that attitude going on the trip; on the other hand, at least she is going, as opposed to the scores of other parents who aren't.

 

[mepperson]

I live in North Texas, too. I'll chaperone those boogers! Do they pay the chaperone's way?

Just kidding - I'll be there Saturday already! But, not at MK, since it closes early and all those darn band kids will be there.

BTW - that night there is no Spectromagic or Wishes Fireworks, because of the grad night activities.

Mary

 

[missypie]

I'm so confused now...I asssumed that the band was performing in the MK...but I've checked Steve Soare's webiste and it doesn't list them. I emailed her for more details.

 

[mepperson]

Hi missypie. Have you gotten any more info from the lady at your church? I'd like to know how everything turns out for her!

Mary

 

[missypie]

Hi missypie. Have you gotten any more info from the lady at your church? I'd like to know how everything turns out for her!

Mary

Not yet. She's an ER nurse and works long shifts, so I don't expect to hear from her until maybe late tonight. Thanks for checking in.