Our High School Band to perform at MK 4/23

[Disney Mama]

New to this! Excuse my ignorance. Just wondering if anyone out there will be at MK on 4/23. Our high school band will be opening the 3 PM parade! If you there, stop by & cheer us on!

 

[OhMari]

Hi Disney mama, welcome to the boards.

My son and the h.s. band marched at the MK Easter week 2003. Be prepared, it made me cry, I barely saw the parade. Then the sunscreen ran in my eyes and made my eyes burn. Anyway, I hope you get the group picture in front of the castle. They made our band come to the MK at 6:00 a.m.

Are you chaperoning? Where is your h.s. band staying?

 

[Disney Mama]

Thanks OhMari! Yes I'll be chaperoning...152 students! Want to video, but afraid I'll be crying to much! We were advised not to stay on Disney property by the travel agent. Too much easy acess to leave the parks & return to the hotel by the students. Any suggestions or hints from your past experience?

 

[ChrisNif]

Congrats,

My first trip i can remember anyway was Senior Trip 2000...

I'm going to be there and i'll be sure if im in MK that day to see the 3pm parade and think of you guys...

Have a fun and safe trip....

Chris

Just read your post mama, wanted to add a bit...
My HS senior class goes every year to disney world...they stay at a value resort (this year POP first time ever). I was a student faculty advisor and helped orgainize the trip... Disney was almost $100 a person cheaper (group of 500) for a 5 night trip then staying offsite and getting hotel transport to the parks and all that... yes we had 2 different issues one of which you mentioned with students returning to the hotel the second of which was students thinking they could pass off and get into pleasure island.

Problems solved, Kids were given 4 day hoppers, and last day we did blizzard beach. Kids had to turn in hotel key to receive park passes and a meal voucher. Kids had to check in with chaparones (at each park) to receive their second meal voucher. Roll Call at hotel at 8pm. 2 Pizzas and 12 sodas per room (4 ppl) each night. No smoking in rooms. No co-ed in rooms unless doors and curtains open. No leaving room after 11pm except to smoke (within about 5 feet of your door at securitys option), disney provided 3 security ppl to watch over doors.

It was still a wonderful trip...

Chris

 

[shatzjsl]

I wish I could be there to see it! I'll cheer from Dallas!

 

[Disney Mama]

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement! That's a great idea about not passing out meal coupons until you have the room keys! Wished we would have had that idea before we chose an off site hotel! I love staying on property! Any fun ideas to do as a group?

 

[OhMari]

A group that large to do something-fantasmic. We stayed off site and we had 3 busses. The bus drivers were from Florida, so they knew the back way into the parks.
We marched in St. Augustine on Easter Day, 2nd day we did MGM and left at 5, I couldn't believe it. No Fantasmic. We went to a dinner theater, food was horrible, but the kids liked the "Guy's & Doll's type play.
3rd-day was Magic Kingdom from 9-midnight. We were suppose to leave at 10, but 3 boys took off and it took over 2 hours to find them. They were in an arcade. We got to see the second spectro parade, which the kids liked, cause they marched in the first spectro parade at 9.
4th Day we went to Cocoa Beach. It was ok, with a catered picnic on the beach.
5th day was Epcot from 11-10:00. It was sort of gross, cause all day in the park and a 24 bus ride home.
I wish we would of stayed on-site. Our band goes every 4 years. My opinion, did more fund-raising, or I don't mind paying more out of pocket.
I think that age of kids would of enjoyed Universal more- both parks.

We stayed at Ramada-Maingate East. It was ok, we stayed way in the back, where we entered our rooms from the outside, 2 levels. The courtyard had 3 pools. We had a few kids walk down the road like at 9:00 and they were back by 9:30. They needed their cigarettes. That is why I rather have been on site. At night, we had to take a turns staying up. I had to do the very last night from 1:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. No one ever left their rooms once they had to be in them. We really didn't have any problems with anyone.
I used to have under my post, "NO band bus for me"-I'm not chaperoning this time, but I am starting to think twice about it, you get to do and see a lot more when you are with the band. Maybe I'll put my name in, if they need chaperones.

 

[elsa2304]

Hi! I've marched in two parades at WDW. It is always a blast (even though the check us over before hand for piercings, etc). Good luck and have fun!

 

[Disney Mama]

We'll be at the Buena Vista Suites, never been there. Anyone have any thoughts? We'll be flying down, thank God! Then at Epcot, Universal, Typhoon Lagoon, Medevial times, Workshops at Disney, MGM, MK, Disney Quest & then HOME!!! There's a lot packed in there! Love Fantasmic, probably the best show at Disney.