Tips for a BAND TRIP Requested

[tiki23]

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!!

Oh darn! We will just miss them - we arrive on the 30th. I love watching the student groups at Disney! If you're still at Disney on 4/3, our choir is performing at Epcot by Innoventions.

 

[tiki23]

One other important task that our chaperones are going to take on is checking student rooms for bedbugs! Not something anyone wants to think about but much better than having students come home with unwanted guests! Not nearly as cool of a stowaway as a hitchiking ghost.

 

[Bronte]

Wow ... I do not think I have ever seen a band where the color guard wore the same uniform as the marchers (our guard girls would scream if they had to wear our bibs/jackets/hats/gauntlets/shoes etc ....)
I will ask the director to double check the contract ... We have a new director (old one quite mid December) and I think he sometimes feels threatened if we ask too many questions, he has taken a much larger marching band down six times in his life but he was an assistant director for that band.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Color Guard and one of the walkers, our band director is in a full black suit.

I sent you the picture via PM, let me know if you get it.

 

[Bronte]

so in you photo I see at least two outfits ... so not everyone had to wear the samething correct?

 

[domestic goddess]

My oldest DS's band went in 2007 and they had a great time. They marched right before the afternoon parade. There were 2 PP photographers assigned to the band and they took a ton of great pics of the entire band and every row. They also had a DVD that we could order of the performance.

This year my next DS's band is going and they are marching right before the MSEP on April 2nd. I have talked to OnStage (use to be Magic Music Days) and PhotoPass and they are no longer having photographers assigned to the bands and are not taking pics. They are no longer doing the DVD either because of copyright issues with the music. I checked with Disney Fine Portraiture since they are now doing all of the photo sessions and they have a package that can be done in the parks (for $350). They will only do posed portraits. I was planning to find a PP photographer and try to get them to take pictures for me. It is still going to be a great trip! Our band numbers about 110 and we have about 150 family and friends going down to support them. Can't wait!!

Hope all groups going there to perform have a great time!!

 

[Bronte]

I did call and confirm that there is no way to get a DVD of the performance but I really thought that there would be at least a photo pass person to take photos of the performance but you are saying no
So does that mean that all the parades and special events are like that now (no photo pass people taking shots of kids say in the Star Wars Parade or fighting Darth to become a jeti ???)
I know in the past during special things like that photo pass people would give parents a code which they needed to upload to see the photos and order prints.
How dissappointing ... I am not sure if getting the photo CD will be that great if the band can not get photos taken of them.

 

[domestic goddess]

We were going to get the photo CD this time as well, but then I found out about them not taking pics anymore. I'm going to call again this week to check to see if they have changed anything but there were no plans to make any changes when I called before. I was told by PhotoPass that OnStage would have to request them to take the pics.

I am hopeful that I can get a PP photographer to take some pics for me. They are usually very eager to help. I'll post and let everyone know if I find out anything different when I call.

Have a great trip!

 

[DIS-OH]

Your color guard members can wear their usual costumes...they do not have to be in band uniforms.

As long as the Directors are dressed appropriately, they do not have to be dressed alike. Our Director usually wears a tux, the male assistants wear suits, and the other female assistant and I wear formal (but not matching!) outfits. On different trips, I've worn a formal pants suit, a dress suit, and a nice slacks, a jacket and a frilly blouse. (We always do the evening parade at MK.)

I think the PP problem might have been the assistant in capri's...

My first trip with the band was in 1990. I can tell you that the rules have certainly been relaxed since then! For example, we used to have the "walk" the parade route in the morning with our Disney rep. I remember thinking, "How can we get lost...we just follow the route where the ropes and people are!"

 

[chartle]

The color guard can have their own uniform uniforms. It's the kids holding the banner that will be the Issue. Maybe they can wear the same as the director. But they will have to match someone.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

so in you photo I see at least two outfits ... so not everyone had to wear the samething correct?

All uniforms are pre-approved via your video and information you send to Disney. So if in the paper work you said that he color guard would be in t-shirts then it would be okay, but if you sent a video with information that is different, you may need to adjust.

Yes, we have a band, and a dance troupe, therefore 2 different outfits. Please trust me, I am not trying to be mean, I am just hoping someone didn't read the fine print.

 

[Bronte]

OMGoodness I do not think anyone in a band program could be mean ...
I just want to make sure our young director gets this all right because I know how our kids can be (drama drama drama ... sometimes the smallest little thing can set the whole band into a major melt down.)
I personally do not want to see the girls holding the banner in just t-shirts so I am going to respectfully request that they be fitted for the uniform (we have plenty ... we use to be a band of just under 100 only four years ago.)

 

[chartle]

OMGoodnessI personally do not want to see the girls holding the banner in just t-shirts so I am going to respectfully request that they be fitted for the uniform (we have plenty ... we use to be a band of just under 100 only four years ago.)

Thats what I was going to suggest, fit them in extra uniforms.

Disney has strict guidelines, you can be in t-shirts and jeans but everyone has to be in the same t-shirts and jeans.

 

[chartle]

OMGoodness I do not think anyone in a band program could be mean ...
I just want to make sure our young director gets this all right because I know how our kids can be (drama drama drama ... sometimes the smallest little thing can set the whole band into a major melt down.)

For our last band trip I wanted to make T-shirts for all the chaperons.

 

[Bronte]

I really like that t-shirt ... I can totally understand !!!!
(We are also really big into the theater ... I say to my youngest DD that I want to be a Band Mom and a DRAMA MAMA !!!!)

I am currently working on some t-shirts for the band ...
One trip one that is rather generic (name of the band, date, kids names)
Then one for the kids while they are at Epcot ("Marching Around the World" on the front and on the back a list of the countries so that they can get each nation to sign their shirt.)

Thanks Again for all the tips !!!!!!!!

 

[chartle]

I currently working on some t-shirts for the band ...
One trip one that is rather generic (name of the band, date, kids names)
Then one for the kids while they are at Epcot ("Marching Around the World" on the front and on the back a list of the countries so that they can get each nation to sign their shirt.)

Just to add more to your issues. I'm pretty sure characters will not sign anything that some one is wearing.

I guess maybe you can get the CM's that do the passports to sign the shirts.

 

[brownie_17]

My advice goes to the band members. Think about what you will wear under your uniform. I went with my high school in 99 and loved it but I really remember how hot those uniforms were.

If you are from an area that is still cold in March, remember Flordia isn't. I'm from Ohio and no one in the band thought of it being like 80 degrees down there. During the parade, we were down to the bare essentials if you know what I mean

 

[Bronte]

I was not thinking about the characters at all just getting something in all the different languages ... Then that would be educational too.
Does anyone think that would be tacky ????
They would be signing only the back of the shirt.

 

[chartle]

I was not thinking about the characters at all just getting something in all the different languages ... Then that would be educational too.
Does anyone think that would be tacky ????
They would be signing only the back of the shirt.

Not tacky just possibly logistically impossible. Are you going to pass out Sharpies too? Are any parents going to get all upset because they ink on their backs?

Remember one of my tips. "No over planing" You may be getting close. Also can you get all these shirts done in 10 days?

We did the Its instrumental class backstage at Epcot. By the time we got out it was lunch time and there was barely enough time to do Future World and this was on a dead day. I'm sure most of your kids like ours are going to run to Test Track and Soaring.

I just don't want all your work go to waste.

 

[shelwoj]

My oldest DS's band went in 2007 and they had a great time. They marched right before the afternoon parade. There were 2 PP photographers assigned to the band and they took a ton of great pics of the entire band and every row. They also had a DVD that we could order of the performance.

This year my next DS's band is going and they are marching right before the MSEP on April 2nd. I have talked to OnStage (use to be Magic Music Days) and PhotoPass and they are no longer having photographers assigned to the bands and are not taking pics. They are no longer doing the DVD either because of copyright issues with the music. I checked with Disney Fine Portraiture since they are now doing all of the photo sessions and they have a package that can be done in the parks (for $350). They will only do posed portraits. I was planning to find a PP photographer and try to get them to take pictures for me. It is still going to be a great trip! Our band numbers about 110 and we have about 150 family and friends going down to support them. Can't wait!!

Hope all groups going there to perform have a great time!!

Just found out today that our kids are marching before the MSEP on April 2nd also! Please let me know what you figure out for pictures. Our band is 114 for the trip (some couldn't make it) and I don't know how many parents.

So looking forward to this!