Tips for a BAND TRIP Requested

[Bronte]

We will be taking our small but GREAT band to Disney in just a few weeks !!!!!!

They will be marching down Main Street USA on Monday March 28th !!!!!

Any tips from those band parents/students that have gone before ???

I am making up folders for each kid with park maps and tips ...
I am pre-buying the photo pass cd and letting the kids know how to utilize it ...

I am also trying to organize the parents so that we can tape the performance as well as get lots of photos ...

Thanks for any and all suggestions !!!!!!!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

My nephew went with his school orchestra last year. One thing they did that I thought was really smart was to make them go around in groups of at least 4 people. That way, it was less likely they would get lost. And if they did, less of a chance of them getting upset.

Even then, 2 girls ended up getting left behind when the rest of their group got tired of waiting for them to finish eating. And then those 2 girls got lost in Epcot. They were found by a chaperone a while later. If you have any Disney World newbies, keep in mind that it can seem huge and overwhelming.

 

[chartle]

I am pre-buying the photo pass cd and letting the kids know how to utilize it ...

Are you planning on collecting everyones PP cards so they cam be all the same CD?

If you are, how have you figured out how you are going handle the edits for everyone.

If you give everyone the username and password so they can edit their own, I can see bad things happening. Like deleting pictures and or putting inappropriate boarders on other peoples pics.

I thought of doing this last year for son's small band (42 kids) and I couldn't come up with a solution that was fair for everyone so I just didn't say anything.

Best overall tip is to tell everyone, kids ,chaperons and family that will be there, that this will not be like a regular family vacation. The kids time will be taken up by th performances so don't expect to tour like you are used to. So maybe no ADR's, or special things we always do first.

So no over planning!!!!

One last thing there should be Photopass photographers taking pics of the band. Make sure the director gets the special Photopass code for them.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Take lots of pictures and enjoy the unique experience!

I went down to WDW twice with my HS marching band and I have very fond memories from both adventures! I wish your kids the best!

 

[bcinohio]

No real advice to add but my DS's marching band will be marching at the MK on March 30th. I just wanted to wish you good luck and say have a great time!!

 

[CLPClarinet]

My advice would be to plan something on how kids can budget their money. I would be telling the parents NOW "This is how much the average soda/snack/counter service meal/T-Shirt/etc costs." Give each student a recommended amount of money to spend each day "Budget for 40 dollars a day for a food and $X for souvenirs everyday".

It's better to have too much money at Disney than too little.

One thing I've seen others on other threads say is "Each person in our family picks one thing they really want to do while at Disney". Advise kids to figure out the 1 ride/experience they'd like to do because their time will be limited and the many people in their groups will all want to do different things. Compromise within each group would be good...so everyone can say they each got to do at least one thing they really wanted to experience at Disney.

 

[chartle]

One thing I've seen others on other threads say is "Each person in our family picks one thing they really want to do while at Disney". Advise kids to figure out the 1 ride/experience they'd like to do because their time will be limited and the many people in their groups will all want to do different things. Compromise within each group would be good...so everyone can say they each got to do at least one thing they really wanted to experience at Disney.

To add to this, once decided don't change your mind. When I was with my son's group I had 10 kids with me, yes a 1/4 of the band. If you decide to ride the HM do it. You can waste a lot of with a group deciding what to do.

 

[surferdave]

I loved it when my high school band did it!

That was 1981 so my tips probably wouldn't be much help.

 

[Band mom!]

Hi!! We've gone with ds18 in 2008 and this year with ds16 in June! We do the group of 4 teens and have 2 "meet with chaperone/band director" during the day - and they have to personally show up! Also, whoever you as a chaperone is in charge of get their cell number and give them yours... (with our kids at least one of them in group of 4 will have a phone). Our group is 150 strong this year!!

 

[Band mom!]

Forgot to add... a great place to have one parent film the band coming down mainstreet is at the Train Depot - top level!! It is awesome! you see them marching toward you on the street with the castle in the back ground AND the anouncer says their name while they are coming up the street! Have a hanky handy.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

They will be marching down Main Street USA on Monday March 28th !!!!!

Wait... Ive been told repeatedly that all bands march in Epcot now. Is that not true?

 

[bcinohio]

I was told from this site that the parades now go up Main street and then into Frontierland. From what people have said it has recently changed.

Our band is supposed to march on Main street on the 30th at 2:30 before the afternoon parade.

 

[erincon23]

My son's band AND choir went down in '09. It sounds like your group is much smaller (they had 120 kids), but kids are kids. Do you have parent chaperones each responsible for a small group? Or is the group small enough that you don't feel you need this? Each kid was given the cell phone number of his/her chaperone and instructed to put it in their phone immediately. The coordinator or chaperone carried a list of every kid's cell phone numbers. They were told that if the chaperone or band director called them, they MUST answer the phone, text back or return the call IMMEDIATELY. Failure (without a good reason -- my phone died, etc) would result in a disciplinary measure (having to walk around with the band director?).

They had to stay with their pre-determined group. They could not leave the park they were supposed to be in for the day.

With the photopass, you may want to decide that YOU are the only one who can put borders or enhancements on the photos (or select one or two other people who do this). Then put like every available border on every photo, so nobody can complain...

It sounds like you're already preparing a good packet of info -- I'd suggest that you make up a sheet on the airline procedure -- what you can and can't bring in carry-ons, what to expect at the airport, etc. Our kids were going with adult chaperones, on two different flights, and it just happened that my DH and I were going down to meet them, and we were on separate flights -- and we each happened to be on one of the flights the band kids were on -- and you wouldn't believe how much misinformation WE heard from the chaperones! My son, who has traveled a bit, but never by himself, asked me tons of questions ahead of time and was very worried about being able to handle the whole procedure, even with adults available. Our coordinator also prepared luggage tags (two colors, one for each of the flights), that the kids had to put on their checked AND carry-on luggage to identify for their group.

How are you handling meals? Is your trip planner (we used a professional travel company, so maybe this is different) providing meal cards? Or are you expecting the kids to pay for meals on their own? If the latter, maybe you want to suggest that parents purchase either Disney gift cards or Visa/Amex prepaid cards that the kids can use instead of cash. Or purchase 1 Disney gift card per day that you'll be there with an appropriate amount of money on each, so if they lose one, they're not out a huge amount. In fact, if you have enough time, you could ask the parents to each give you a set amount of cash and have YOU purchase the cards, write the kids' names on each with a sharpie, adn hand out one card per kid per day. Kids carrying money around scares me -- you don't want any kid going hungry because they lost it. Our group received a card with a preset amount of money on it each day -- it was built into their cost for the trip -- and I'm sure each kid had some extra cash with them, but this helped ensure that nobody lost all their money the first day and then was SOL.

Have a great time! It's such a fun trip.

 

[Band mom!]

Last 2 times we went the band started in Frontierland and ended at the side of the Train Depot. I really hope this has not changed because it is a great vidoe op and pic op, as you can see every kid as they march around the flag pole area in front of Depot. Be sure to let us know when you get back how it was!

 

[chartle]

Last 2 times we went the band started in Frontierland and ended at the side of the Train Depot. I really hope this has not changed because it is a great vidoe op and pic op, as you can see every kid as they march around the flag pole area in front of Depot. Be sure to let us know when you get back how it was!

5 years ago the band went frontierland to main street, one year ago they went main street to frontierland.

The parade direction and route should be in the packet the director received.

 

[Band mom!]

5 years ago the band went frontierland to main street, one year ago they went main street to frontierland.

The parade direction and route should be in the packet the director received.

good to know! Thanks! Will ask next week when things settle down a bit at school. this week our school is hosting the concert regional assessment so director is a bit busy!

 

[ryley26]

Our band marched last spring break 260 members. They started at the train depot and ended in frontierland. I suggest at least a few parent get to where the partners statue is early. This is a great spot the band marching toward you and along side the island. We gave the kids the band directors numbers and the directors had all the chaperones numbers. We had certain chaperones that were on call with the directors in the park. It was a great time and the kids really enjoyed it have a reat time.

 

[disneydentist]

I am pre-buying the photo pass cd and letting the kids know how to utilize it ...

Speak to a Photopass photographer well before the parade, prefereably the day before. We asked nicely and they assigned two photographers to take pictures during the parade.

 

[chartle]

Speak to a Photopass photographer well before the parade, prefereably the day before. We asked nicely and they assigned two photographers to take pictures during the parade.

I don't really thing you need to ask. My sons did the trip twice and they just showed up.

Your Band Coordinator, AKA your suit, should arrange it and give your director the code for all the pics.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Wow - Ya'll will have SO much fun !

I'm sure you've thought of these....

Mark the First Aid Stations on your maps and make the kids understand that these are available and are all over the Parks. Someone will get a blister, splinter, bug bite, etc... bandaids, advil, etc for Free.....

Make sure the kids are aware of the CM's. The tags they wear... etc... and that if something comes up and a chaperone not around... Go directly to a CM... they will help you.

I would require the kids to wear the same color shirt each day. If you have parents in charge of certain groups ... they may not know those kids very well... so it helps when you are looking for that certain flute player in a SEA of people...

I sure wish our Band could have gone to WDW but we are smaller than all your bands mentioned above... I guess we win the "small band" prize.

But we did go to Panama City last April... I "assumed" all Louisiana kids had been to the beach and teared up when I found out I was the adult to "show" them our white sandy beaches for the VERY first time....

I hope you have many moments like that one !

Also - of course the last day... had to buy a pizza for the kids "out of money"... so agree with PP's that steps to avoid this are great because it WILL happen...
Have a magical visit!

Mary

PS: I LOVE the young folks on here mentioning the impact those trips had on them... That makes it all worthwhile....