Magic Music/School band performances

[Belle1962]

Has anyone had any experiences with their child's/other school bands performing at Disney?

Background: My niece's band is playing in the MK next April(2005). In a moment of weakness I agreed to go along and chaperone the chaperone (her mom ) ANYWAY the more I hear about this trip the more I think they are being ripped off. They are not planning through Disney as far as I can tell. This is some woman "who's always done it". They're putting them in a low budget offsite hotel, 5 to a room, providing bus transportation, meal vouchers and 3 day park hoppers. I think the cost is HIIIGGGGHHHH!!!! Can't recall exactly what it was but remember being shockedespecially at 5 to a room.

Anyway--I asked what about family members (like her DAD and brother) who want to go and cheer the band on? Can they purchase the hopper tickets from the group? The answer was NO--they had to buy the entire package from "this travel agent". That is not making any sense to me.......

I know when we go for cheer that families can purchase the tickets from "the group" and not have to buy into the hotel, meal vouchers, bus, etc.

I'm thinking of calling Disney and asking questions but wanted to see what everyone else's experiences were.

Don't want to open a can of worms at the school, esp. since this woman "has always done it" and I'm a 1 or 2 yearer at the most.

 

[ricktib]

I've done 2 of these H.S. Band trips, in '88 and '90. Your neice is going to have the time of her life!

This is what I'd do, if I'm understanding the situation correctly:

1. Buy your own tickets - I've found that some of the best prices are directly from Disney, advance purchase either online or 407-W-DISNEY.
2. Book a hotel through Hotwire or Priceline.

I'd wager that this would be less expensive than their 'package.'

 

[DoeWDW]

My kids (10th grader & 11th grader) are going with their band over New Years (Dec. '04 - Jan '05). They, too, are staying offsite, 5 to a room. They are expected to "share" a bed with another band member to keep the costs down. I believe the hotel is a Residence Inn by Marriott close to Sea World. They're getting meal vouchers for 1 counter service meal in the parks each day.

I'm getting the same kind of info that you are - either you're with the group on everything or you're on your own. DH and I decided not to go along.

They plan to be at the MK for New Year's Eve day by 9 AM. They are expected to stay in the park all day and "meet at the castle" to watch the fireworks at midnight.

I've offered to help with the planning but they're also letting some travel agent handle everything. They apparently do not want any help.

Thankfully my kids know the parks very well. We've talked about where to find some quiet downtime when they get tired, etc, but I feel bad for the poor kids who know nothing of Disney and will be left to fend for themselves in the insane crowds over New Years.

I really am hoping it turns out better than I'm imagining. By the way, our kids are paying $600 for 6 days, including bus transportation from PA which entails driving through the night. I would gladly have paid more for something that was better planned and onsite accomodations but I know not everyone can afford it.

 

[Belle1962]

I believe it is a Rodeway Inn the kids are staying at. Nowhere near the quality of a Marriott (LOL)

These kids are middle school.

I'm giving a tutorial one evening at some point before the trip with tips sheets, etc.

I have an AP so I'm not worried about me and I think we are staying at CP thru HotelKingdom (her mom, dad, brother and me). I just think that the family members "should" be able to get the 3 day park hoppers--if not through the band then we'll get them all from Alamo. (assuming we rent from them).

 

[stacilee]

THE BAD PART: (see below for good part)

Our oldest son did this with his HS Marching Band 4 years ago. The school had "someone who always took care of those things" take care of the arrangements. My husband and I offered to help them score a better deal- knew that we could, that they were "being taken" but NO.......

Sometimes you just can't fight it. They are still alot of people that are skeptical about "codes" and stuff. Jeez, look at all they people that STILL refuse to use the fastpass system because they think there is a "catch" to it!

The kids stayed offsite at a crappy hotel. Literally.

They drove through the night on the busses, and went right to "Practice" in the morning on NO SLEEP. The chapperones were exhausted before they even arrived in Orlando.

Then the kids got a few hours in the magic kingdom on their own. At this point they had all been up for more than 24 hours straight.

They ate dinner and then went to their hotel to check in where they were apparently having some sort of DESPERATE PLUMBING PROBLEM. No they could not "change hotels".

When keys were given out to the chapperones, most of the rooms had backed up toilets. I am talking raw sewage. The smell was unbelievable. None of the rooms on the second or third floors had windows that would open.

One of the dad's chapperoning was a plumber, bless his heart, and he spent the next six hours talking to the manager, a maintenance man and different plumbing companies on the phone trying to coordinate getting somebody out there to take care of the problem. He spent most of the evening with a cell phone to his ear and a plunger in his hand.

We went but stayed ONSITE with the rest of the family and were not allowed to take our child with us until the third day.

THE GOOD PART:

The kids still managed to have a great time believe it or not. I guess it will be one of "those band stories" that becomes famous over the years. Many of the kids on the trip had NEVER been to WDW and in reality it may have been the only opportunity they'd EVER have to see the Happiest Place on Earth first hand.

They did a fantastic job the day they "Marched right down the middle of Main Street USA" - you would never have know they were all running on pure adrenalin - hadn't slept in days -and as a parent, I can only say WOW. I was so proud of him that day.

I STILL cry when any school band performs at WDW. I KNOW what sacrifices their parents have made to make that opportunity a reality for them. I appreciate all the time and effort it takes to be in a good marching band both from the student and the parent.

I am proud of them and they aren't even my kids! I have even been known to go and hug other proud crying mothers that I don't even know, because I DO know EXACTLY how they feel.

 

[KarenC]

My son went with his band between Christmas and New Years last year. He had a great time, fell in love, and is still dating his new sweetie 8 months later!

Our tour operator would allow parents to buy hoppers only at the discount rate. The benefit there is that they had 3-day hoppers which aren't available to the general public. Maybe it would help if the trip coordinator pointed out to the tour operator that they were being non-competitive with other tour operators in terms of allowing parents to buy tickets.

Our band director diliberately chooses to stay offsite. The wonderful Disney transportation system makes it easy for our little darlings to sneak back to their rooms, a chaperone's nightmare (see my first paragraph above, kids tend to pair off on these trips). They stayed at the Rosen Center, which I understand was quite nice.

Our kids' trip was $950. It included bus transportation from Chicago and throughout their trip, 5 nights lodging (3 in Orlando, 2 in Jacksonville), 3 day park hoppers, all meals, a ticket to the Gator Bowl and a new years eve party. My son had the opportunity to earn money towards the trip.

 

[skuttle]

We went with DH's band in March 2003 and will be going (hopefully) again in Feb 2005. I don't know the costs since DH is the percussion instructor, we went for free.

We did stay offsite at a courtyard marriot...I think 4 kids to a room. Breakfast at the hotel each morning. Had meal vouchers for counter service each day. Were on their own for one meal. One night they did a big dinner at Planet Hollywood (all prepaid). Had three-day hoppers. The band marched n the Share a Dream Come True parade. They drove to WDW so the buses took them to and from the parks. They spent one day at IOA.

For the next trip, the kids voted to only do 2 days at WDW and do 2 days at IOA/US. DH and I were upset at first, but at least this will force us to leave WDW and chekc out IOA/US, which we've been wanting to do.