Taking 40 students during Spring Break any suggestions....

[djm99]

I am a Teacher Senior Sponsor. Myself (along with 8 other co-workers) are taking 40 students to WDW during Spring Break. This is a new trip to our school and I really want to make this fun, educational and magical. I am looking for any good advice in making that happen. If your kid was taking this trip, what would you want to see while they are there? This is what I have so far.

Rountrip Deluxe Motor Coach from STL to Orl
4 nights in Comfort Suites Maingate
Daily Breakfast at hotel
Dinner Meal Voucher (lunch on their own)
1 meal at Golden Corral
4 day disney hoppers
2 Disney YES programs

All for $500. Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[Hannathy]

Is the meal at golden corral on the way back? If it isn't have all the parents put $10. in a sealed envelope to be kept by you until they get on the bus for the ride back to cover food. My sister has taken her band many many times and they found this is the best way to make sure the kids could get food on the way back because many times the spent themselves out of money and had a hungry 18 hr bus ridehome!

 

[ilovejack02]

Is the meal at golden corral on the way back? If it isn't have all the parents put $10. in a sealed envelope to be kept by you until they get on the bus for the ride back to cover food. My sister has taken her band many many times and they found this is the best way to make sure the kids could get food on the way back because many times the spent themselves out of money and had a hungry 18 hr bus ridehome!

OH NOOO ok is that mean that i was laughing when i read this?

 

[Mic]

If you are only staying for 4 nights, I would cancel one of the YES programs. They take several hours each, usually in the morning, so by the time your group can ride anything in the park, the lines are long. And that should also cut your cost by @$22.50 each. The kids that have never been before will want to do EVERYTHING, so I suggest you decide beforehand what is top priority in each park. Also, have a detailed itinerary, and post it in every room(otherwise, everyone will be asking "where are we going?" all the time). It is very hard to keep up with a group of 40 in a crowded park, especially during Spring Break. I suggest you assign each adult a certain number of kids each, and travel in smaller groups through the park. I have always underestimated the time it takes to get from point A to point B with a group, so give yourselves plenty of time to make it to the restaurants/rides/meeting place, etc. The more planning you do before you leave home, the less you will have to worry about in Florida. Good luck,and take lots of pictures!

 

[djm99]

Is the meal at golden corral on the way back? If it isn't have all the parents put $10. in a sealed envelope to be kept by you until they get on the bus for the ride back to cover food. My sister has taken her band many many times and they found this is the best way to make sure the kids could get food on the way back because many times the spent themselves out of money and had a hungry 18 hr bus ridehome!

Its already included in the price - its only $7 (which includes taxes, tip, and a drink!!! Yes this meal is the ride home. Great Deal for Lunch!!!

 

[djm99]

If you are only staying for 4 nights, I would cancel one of the YES programs. They take several hours each, usually in the morning, so by the time your group can ride anything in the park, the lines are long. And that should also cut your cost by @$22.50 each. The kids that have never been before will want to do EVERYTHING, so I suggest you decide beforehand what is top priority in each park. Also, have a detailed itinerary, and post it in every room(otherwise, everyone will be asking "where are we going?" all the time). It is very hard to keep up with a group of 40 in a crowded park, especially during Spring Break. I suggest you assign each adult a certain number of kids each, and travel in smaller groups through the park. I have always underestimated the time it takes to get from point A to point B with a group, so give yourselves plenty of time to make it to the restaurants/rides/meeting place, etc. The more planning you do before you leave home, the less you will have to worry about in Florida. Good luck,and take lots of pictures!

I agree totally and thank for the reinsurances because I planned on doing the 1 chaperone per 4 kids. Also, I'm glad you mentioned the itinerary thing too. I thought I was being too controlling. I will make a note of that. Also, I wanted to cancel one of the YES programs but I will run it by the chaperones. The programs start so early too. One of the programs starts at 6:45am. I thought we'd go to Epcot the day we went to the YES Program (which closes at 9pm). Also, which park do you suggest the day we arrive in Orlando. I was thinking MK only because we will likely arrive around 11am. Our rooms are likely NOT ALL to be ready – we have 16 rooms on the same floor. I was thinking EPCOT or MK (only because it closes at 11 pm that evening). I had to create a tentative schedule for the Board of Ed to view. I had the toughest time.

 

[crusoe2]

djm99, this is probably a no-brainer for you but be sure that if your group consists of both male and female students that hotel room assignments are done so that there are no connecting doors between a room of boys and a room of girls. My parents chaperoned band trips for my younger brother & sister and were amazed to discover on one trip that the people who did hotel room assignments had not thought of this. By the time my parents caught the mistake, most of the kids had been given room keys and taken off. They had to round everyone back up and re-do the room assignments on the spot - not something you want to deal with after a long roadtrip. When is your spring break, by the way? We're planning to go during ours also.

 

[djm99]

djm99, this is probably a no-brainer for you but be sure that if your group consists of both male and female students that hotel room assignments are done so that there are no connecting doors between a room of boys and a room of girls. My parents chaperoned band trips for my younger brother & sister and were amazed to discover on one trip that the people who did hotel room assignments had not thought of this. By the time my parents caught the mistake, most of the kids had been given room keys and taken off. They had to round everyone back up and re-do the room assignments on the spot - not something you want to deal with after a long roadtrip. When is your spring break, by the way? We're planning to go during ours also.

Thanks - I actually had not thought of that. I just cut and paste that on my "to do" list regarding room assignments.

 

[newtowdw1]

Hi! We're taking 10 seniors and our 2 kids in March for 4 days. We're also doing 2 YES programs. I can't justify taking seniors out of school for that time and only doing one program. Tough if they can't ride everything. They're the ones who suggested 2, and 2 is good for me. We're trying to keep the price really low, as we're all pretty poor here. A great Diser gave us a great rate on her vacation home. We were considering Tropical Palms Family Fun RV resort. They rent cabins, and we'd have a boy cabin and a girl cabin. Deb's Bonita is better!

 

[newtowdw1]

double post sorry

 

[LgTmDisFan]

I am a Teacher Senior Sponsor. Myself (along with 8 other co-workers) are taking 40 students to WDW during Spring Break. This is a new trip to our school and I really want to make this fun, educational and magical. I am looking for any good advice in making that happen. If your kid was taking this trip, what would you want to see while they are there? This is what I have so far.

Rountrip Deluxe Motor Coach from STL to Orl
4 nights in Comfort Suites Maingate
Daily Breakfast at hotel
Dinner Meal Voucher (lunch on their own)
1 meal at Golden Corral
4 day disney hoppers
2 Disney YES programs

All for $500. Any suggestions would be appreciated

First of all good luck

Second of all here are some fun free or cheep thing to do.

Free or Cheap

Have you also called grand gatherings an checked out the illumination and dinner from around the world for possible one of your meals

also are kids sharing rooms?

If they are you might want to get cloth shoe rack that goes on the back of the bathroom door and assign a set to each person for shampoo,condition, ect. for each person. In our area you can get these at the dollar store, also good to have is bug wipes and dollar store poncho as they are so expensive in the park.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

just a thought if you were planning on cancelling anything and were looking for something else fun to do:

i did sky venture (a sky diving simulator) a few months ago with my two college roommates and one's younger sister, we LOVED it!!! lots of fun, and i'm sure you could get a group rate. just a thought of something that would be appropriate for kids that age

 

[badblackpug]

Have you thought of group lobotomies?

No, just kidding, really! We did WDW for our senior trip and it was a blast!

 

[newtowdw1]

How did you get the $7 Golden Corral meal? Is this normal lunch price, or a special deal?

My kids are excited about CiCi's, a pizza buffet, where for about $5 each can eat all the pizza, pasta, salad and dessert PLUS a drink!

Are you taking your adorable daughter too? I know my own kids would lynch me if I took 10 seniors (many their babysitters), DH, and NOT them!

 

[djm99]

How did you get the $7 Golden Corral meal? Is this normal lunch price, or a special deal?

My kids are excited about CiCi's, a pizza buffet, where for about $5 each can eat all the pizza, pasta, salad and dessert PLUS a drink!

Are you taking your adorable daughter too? I know my own kids would lynch me if I took 10 seniors (many their babysitters), DH, and NOT them!

I called the manager to get a quote for 40 students and that's the deal for large lunch groups. Dinner was like $9 - I think. Initially we were going to CiCi's only because it was really cheap ($6) for groups which also included a drink, taxes, tip, etc., but I had such a horrible meal at Cici's this summer. OMG, it was like eating my big brothers old gym socks. I went on a mission to find a cheaper buffet and my DH remembered Golden Corral was near the rental home we used last August. Yes, my daughter is going too. There is NO WAY I could visit WDW and not take her. I'd have to peal her off the ceiling. My DH is also a teacher so he will be a chaperone too.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Hmm...all I can say is GOOD LUCK. I was once a senior on a trip to WDW. But back then it was only MK, and River Country. Let's see, I got no sleep on the bus, and very little in the rooms. I got really really really sunburned in RC, and had the time of my life. For a trip that lasted about 5 days, 2 of which were traveling, I think I had a total of 20 hours sleep! I got off the bus at school, walked the block to my house, passed out for about 10 hours, woke up, ate, and crashed for another 12 hours.

Oh, I also fell in love on that trip. I met him in MK, and brought him home with me. We are still together to this day. Much to my DH's dismay, I am slightly obssesed with him. But what can I say, who wouldn't fall in love with Winnie the Pooh!!

 

[djm99]

Oh, I also fell in love on that trip. I met him in MK, and brought him home with me. We are still together to this day. Much to my DH's dismay, I am slightly obssesed with him. But what can I say, who wouldn't fall in love with Winnie the Pooh!!

AAAHHHHHH!!!!