Marching at Disney--May 24th

[OklaDISNEYMom]

Our band recently recieved our letter of acceptance to march at a Pre-Parade at Disney on May 24th 2005. I am so excited!!!!!
I would love to hear from anyone with great tips for traveling with a band. We are staying off site and will have our own tranportation. We have approximatly 80 band members.

This trip will be a trip of a lifetime for some of its members and we want it to be as special as I know Disney can be.

:thewave: :thewave:

 

[GDUL]

Our band recently recieved our letter of acceptance to march at a Pre-Parade at Disney on May 24th 2005. I am so excited!!!!!
I would love to hear from anyone with great tips for traveling with a band. We are staying off site and will have our own tranportation. We have approximatly 80 band members.

This trip will be a trip of a lifetime for some of its members and we want it to be as special as I know Disney can be.

:thewave: :thewave:

We went down to WDW with The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band the end of December 2000 / beginning of January 2001. The band had 220+ students in it so it was quite an undertaking! We had a lot of parent involvement, scheduled some group activities (Mickey's Backyard BBQ, etc) and allowed them some free time to see the parks themselves (everyone had to check in periodically with parents at a predetermined place). All-in-all, no problems with any of the kids and it was a great experience (except for the bus trip from and back to Michigan!!!!).

Gary

 

[HunnyPots]

As a band mom, I have no advise for you but I wanted to say congratulations and I AM SO JEALOUS! Our band gets to go to exciting places like Oklahoma City. (No offense intended for any Okies out there )
If you don't mind my asking, how did your band get accepted? What did they have to do? Our band director won't even look into something like that but I've always wondered how other schools get to go. We loved seeing all the bands when we were there this past June. I'm sure your kids will have a great trip!

 

[OklaDISNEYMom]

HunnPots, I live in Oklahoma and it wouldn't be an exciting band trip!!!

Our director submitted videos of our marching and performing and credits. I really don't know much more than that. If you like I could find out and PM you with more details. There will be lots of perts, we will get to see back stage areas and I think everyone traveling with the band recieves t-shirts.

We will be visiting all 4 parks and we have a day planned to go to Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center. We also will vist the Dixie Stampede one evening.

I would love to hear from anyone else who might be there that day or anyone with travel or park tips that have worked for thier bands.

Our excitment is almost overwhelming!!!!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Which band will you be going with neighbor??

 

[momsgoofy]

Congratulations! My DS's band is trying to get to march at WDW in 2006. We are a very small band...80 members combined 7th - 12th grade and this was DS's first year. He loves marching! Just last night he said he wished they had something to do now with marching. Our director is still a bit green and we don't have a great parental involvement which does make things a bit harder. My home town band is one of the regional top bands...they marched in WDW last sumer...and DS aspires for our band to be like them...he still has friends that march with the hometown band. He amazes me at 12, he sees the need for parents to be involved to make a successful band booster club so the kids can focus on their music. Our current officers have graduating band kids and he keeps telling me that I need to become an officer to get them going. Oh, the praise of a 12 year old. Keep us informed on the progress...are you using any specific tour group to get there or any hints you could share with us that might help get our band to WDW in 2006?

Thanks and congratulations again! It really is an honor to march at WDW!

Laura ºoº

 

[Belles.mom]

OklaDISNEYmom,
No advice but just wanted to say I will be there on that date! So me, hubby and baby girl will cheer you on...
Sarah
May 22-26, 2005

 

[OklaDISNEYMom]

Sarah---We are from Perry, Oklahoma (The Maroons) I will be exciting to know a fellow Dis'ser will be there to cheer us on.

Momsgoofy---A good Band Booster Club is the key to it all. If you have the time it is well worth your effort. I have 2 boys that have been involved in sports as well as band. I have always focused on the Sports booster clubs knowing that the band boosters were well taken care of. I have been involved in booster clubs for 7 years now and I can say they are always worth every bit of time and effort that you can spare.

I will post after we have gone and pass on anything that would be helpful.

Will anyone else be there???

 

[Traveliz]

Here is my biggest tip....our band went a couple of years ago and also marched in the Citrus Bowl parade. While at the parade another band parent from a different band gave me this tip.

The photographers that photograph you when you go into the park also take numerous photos of the band as they are marching down Main Street. Just go to Exhibition Hall later that day and ask to see them. You won't have a ticket with a number on it but give tell them you want to see the pre parade band photos. We got some great ones in addition to the ones we took.

Also we made it a priority to get to Main Street way early to get a curb seat for the band. There can be up to three bands before the parade and they step off in ten minute increments so the first band might step off a full half hour before the parade. We marched in the afternoon parade so the band marches down Main Street (same as the parade). We sat about half way down Main Street so we could get some of the Castle in with the band pics.

We told the people who eventually ended up sitting behind us that we would be standing when the band came down and that we would be leaving after they passed and they could take our seats. We had seen the parade numerous times so didn't feel the need to watch the parade.

After the band passed by we zipped through the stores and came out near the barbershop so we could also see the band as they came around the hub and take some more photos there.

Also be sure to know where your child will march in the band so you can be on the correct side of the street to see them.

They do make some adjustments -- for example at home the Colorguard (of which my daughter is a member) marches about 4 across. I believe at Disney they had them march two across to allow for clearance.

Liz

 

[OklaDISNEYMom]

bump

Thanks to everyone who had tips!!!!!!!!!

 

[musicmom3]

Our band stepped off before Spectromagic in 2003 (gives me goosebumps, still, to remember it) and will be marching this February at an afternoon parade. I did not stay with the musicians last time, so have no tips, but I feel the utmost gratitude for the adults who give of their time and energy to allow dream trips like this to take place. Here's a big thanks to all chaperones everywhere!

 

[mgmickey]

I am from Oklahoma and that will be our last day at Disney. Where and when will your band be marching so I can come to cheer them on?

Melanie

 

[kccmommy]

I'm sorry we'll miss you! We'll be getting in late the night of the 24th and 1st day at MK the 25th. We're from Tulsa and I marched in the opening in 1986 when OU went to the Orange Bowl. It would have been great to see a band from Oklahoma.
Go Sooners!!!!