Tell me what its REALLY going to be like

[gracigirl]

Will be chaperoning a bunch of kids in late May at WDW and was wondering what tips/suggestions anyone has who has done it previously...I've been there before-just not as a chaperone

 

[Hootch]

the crowds will start to build but will be manageable. (Unless you are going over Memorial Day weekend which will be fairly busy.) Fastpasses will be helpful. People can get unhappy if someone pulls out 50 tickets for fastpasses. I would recommend if you do them in groups to have multiple people. The weather will be warm.

I cannot give you any advice on chaperoning. I have trouble with just two kids.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

What kind of group? (a school, a sports team, what?) Age range of kids? How many kids? How many other chaperones? Are you the one in charge or just assisting?

We need more information to be able to give good answers.

 

[DisneyFan907]

I went to Disneyland as an 8th grader with my band class. We had to get into groups of 5 or so and stay with our chaperone the whole time. It is the only time I have been to Disneyland and I didn't have any fun! The people I went with had gone before so my group wasn't allowing any time for me to really experience it. We didn't have time to go on many rides because of the amount of time we were there, and so I think we rode on 2 or 3. Definitely talk to your group before you get in WDW and make sure you are all on the same page about what to see and where to spend your time, once you get in depending on their age, the kids will want to see and do everything so try to stick to a plan. Get fast passes if possible! Lastly make sure you are utilizing the time wisely because it is possibly some of the kids first and only trip depending on where you live!

 

[gracigirl]

Thanks for the replies! It will be with a High school group; between 70-90 kids; about 1 chaperone for every 5 kids....and thankfully I'm NOT in charge!
They will be able to go off in small groups and just check in every few hours.

 

[Guyton dis lover]

If some of the kids get away from the group set up a meeting point and a time to meet. This will help keep control. Good Luck.

 

[chartle]

The biggest tip I always give is this will not be like a regular trip since your time is not your own. So that usually means no ADRs or TS. Also you may not hit RP ever since it takes time to get kids moving.

But that also means you may get time all to yourself, lucky you.

 

[Kristibo42]

Thats not too bad 5 kids. When we go on family trips we have more then that. Do they have to stay with you or can they wander? Our rule with teens under 18 they have to stay in the same park and check in with us every so often.

 

[chartle]

I forgot to add to my PP I have done 2 WDW band trips with 7-12 graders. Both trips the kids did not have to check in but for two days there was the parade and a class so it wasn't a ton of time alone.

Out of the group of 50 or so I had 10 with me because I was the dad so my sons and their friends were with me at all times.

 

[momto3pirates]

My oldest did this last year with his hs band. They had a fantastic time. My dh went as a chaperone. Most of the adults stayed together and rode rides, ate while the kids played on their own. They had a set checkin time each day. My family has been so many times before that they both acted as tour guides for the kids or adults that had never been. The kids had food vouchers for one meal per day. The rest was up to them. They also did IOA one day. Have a great trip.

 

[gracigirl]

Thanks for your replies...I feel a lot better about it

 

[msp2mco]

A friend of mine has chaperoned a few trips. They broke into groups of 5 kids per chaperone and stayed together with the small group the entire time. Her comment was that her group was the only one that did a ton of stuff because the other chaperones or groups didn't know how to get fast passes and have a plan. I would hope that, in general, the entire group will get some information on how to use time efficiently, if they want to do so.

Have fun!!