Tips for a BAND TRIP Requested

[bcinohio]

For any bands who are marching in the next few weeks, we march there on March 30th, did you find out what directions the bands will march? I asked the question on here a little while back and was told they have changed it recently and they march from the firestation on Main street up to the castle and then into Frontierland.

We have a trip meeting tonight after our band concert and I'm hoping they know.

Good luck to everyone!!

 

[Pembo]

I was told that before MSEP always marches Main St to Frontierland...

Anyone know if it is true that PP doesn't take pics of the band marching???

 

[DIS-OH]

For any bands who are marching in the next few weeks, we march there on March 30th, did you find out what directions the bands will march? I asked the question on here a little while back and was told they have changed it recently and they march from the firestation on Main street up to the castle and then into Frontierland.

We have a trip meeting tonight after our band concert and I'm hoping they know.

Good luck to everyone!!

I was in the Magic Kindgom on Feb. 25th. The MSEP (evening) went Firehouse to Frontierland, moving towards the castle on Main Street and exiting between Splash Mtn and Thunder Mtn.

Just be advised...Disney can--and does--make changes on the spur of a moment.

Our performance time was moved up by 15 minutes one year due to an incoming thunderstorm.

 

[babydovesx2]

I remember going to MK in high school. We marched at MK and at Sea World. One thing I remember the parents doing was taking shifts sitting in front of the Castle that way if any students needed an adult for any reason they had a place they could go to easily find one. We had some kids that needed to take medication at certain times and the parents that were sitting at the Castle held onto those medications so they would not get lost or stolen from the students. It worked out very well. Have a great time.

 

[Bronte]

Thanks again for all the tips !!!!!

If there is anyone out there that just came home with their band and can confirm if photo pass is or is not taking photos that would help out those going soon ... Thanks !!!!!

 

[TLinden16]

I helped my sister when she was planning the school trip in March of 2008 for the chorus and orchestra from my town. We had about 85 kids in our group, plus about 15 chaperones. I didn't chaperone the trip, but I did travel down to see the kids perform (seeing my nephew sing "Hey Jude" in Epcot is one of my best Disney memories).

Here are a few things I can think of that were helpful for my sister and her group:

1. Make sure you take down the ticket numbers for everyone's tickets. Kids are kids, and there will be lost tickets. My sister had two or three lost tickets each of the three days these kids were in the park.

2. The kids in our group were told that they could not wander around alone in the parks. They had to be with at least one other student at all times. We also had two or three check-in times at the parks. Everyone (including the chaperones) were required to check in at a centrally located spot in the parks.

3. When getting on and off the bus remind the kids to check to make sure they have their cell phones and wallets. We had several kids have these items fall out of their pockets, and had to track down the motor coach to retrieve the items.

4. My sister were able to arrange to have a group photo taken in front of the castle. They set up stands in a grassy area near the rose garden, and we got a great shot in front of the castle. We did not have to pay for the photographer to come, but we did have to agree to buy a copy of the picture for everyone in the group. It might be worth looking into, and it only took about 15 minutes.

 

[Bronte]

Do you remember or can you ask your sister who she talked to about setting up that photo ????
Thanks ...

 

[chartle]

4. My sister were able to arrange to have a group photo taken in front of the castle. They set up stands in a grassy area near the rose garden, and we got a great shot in front of the castle. We did not have to pay for the photographer to come, but we did have to agree to buy a copy of the picture for everyone in the group. It might be worth looking into, and it only took about 15 minutes.

How much did that cost? So you had to buy one per student which was 85.

So at maybe $15 per it came to $1275.

 

[TLinden16]

My sister was offered this opportunity by the trip coordinator she was working with at Disney, so my guess is that you have to ask whoever your contact is at Disney if they still do it.

My sister doesn't remember exactly how much the cost the pictures were, but she thinks it was in the $10-12 range. They built it into the cost of their trip. The pictures were mailed to them about a week or two after the trip.

 

[TLinden16]

Oh, and one other suggestion, after the trip, I made a slideshow of the pictures that I was able to gather for all of the kids. It was about an eight minute slide show that included pictures of the kids performing, exploring the parks, and even some at their resort. I set it to Disney music. I used this program:

http://www.photodex.com/products/proshow/gold

We actually had a viewing of the slide show at the school, and many parents came to see it. It was a nice momento of the trip, and a great way to bring the trip home to the parents who weren't there.

 

[chartle]

Thanks again for all the tips !!!!!

If there is anyone out there that just came home with their band and can confirm if photo pass is or is not taking photos that would help out those going soon ... Thanks !!!!!

One other thing I just thought of that can have an impact on the kids touring plans.

On some of these trips all tickets are collected by the chaperons once the kids are in the parks. I guess they think they will get lost or if they are Park Hoppers that the kids will go to another park.

Where this really messes things up is no Fast Pass.

You should ask before hand and they should let everyone know if thats the case.

We never did it on our trips and didn't have any problems.

 

[bcinohio]

Had our band meeting last night for our trip coming up. Our band is marching at 2:30 on Wed March 30th before the afternoon parade. We were told they will be coming up Main Street from the train station and going toward Frontierland where they will exit.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this but when my son did it last year, the chaperones got the tickets from the kids after they entered the parks so no tickets would get lost.

The chaperones also gathered FP's for their groups and at pre-arranged meeting times would hand them out.

And all the kids wore the same color shirt (ours were known as the Highlighter kids) throughout the parks because of their bright yellow shirts. They were gathered up at room check each night and the chaperones washed them and returned them to the kids when they woke the kids up in the morning.

Our kids played at DTD. I wish they were able to play in MK. That would have been really cool.

All the parents took video and pictures and one person gathered them all up and merged it all together into a DVD and made copies for everyone.

It worked pretty well.

 

[KCMiller]

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.

They cannot sign anything that's being worn, even only on the back. Sorry!

KC

 

[Bronte]

Darn ... The shirt order is going in today !!!!!

The group I saw that had these type of shirts last year at Epcot did have check marks on the back for each country and looked like they were signed with a marker (I think it was "hello" in each of the languages.) My daughter had talked with one of the band members and she said they made it into a game ... anyone who could get all the check markers for each country got bragging rights on the way home and a small prize. Perhaps they had to wear something else while they got the signatures/check marks and then changed ???
Has any other group done something like this before ???
The kids are going to Animal Kingdom first and will be bringing their shirts for Epcot with them so I suppose it would be no big deal to just carry them around instead of wear them ...

 

[domestic goddess]

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!

I am so excited to know that another band from our general area will be marching the same night! I will let you know what I find out about the photos. I am calling today!

 

[Bronte]

Thanks !!!!!!
That would be great ...
Our band is staying for the fireworks so I will be sure to cheer as your band goes by ... you guys are doing the night one right ???

 

[domestic goddess]

We are doing the MSEP parade on April 2nd.

I just talked to OnStage programs (use to be Magic Music Days) and she told me that they don't have any photography set up but we can stop into the PhotoPass location, Town Hall in MK, and ask about it that day. I am going to go there on April 2nd and request that they have someone, or two, to take pics of the bands that night and have them give the cards to the directors. Hopefully, that will work!

Have a great trip and we will be cheering for all of the bands that day!

 

[Pembo]

We are doing the MSEP parade on April 2nd.

I just talked to OnStage programs (use to be Magic Music Days) and she told me that they don't have any photography set up but we can stop into the PhotoPass location, Town Hall in MK, and ask about it that day. I am going to go there on April 2nd and request that they have someone, or two, to take pics of the bands that night and have them give the cards to the directors. Hopefully, that will work!

Have a great trip and we will be cheering for all of the bands that day!

So as a parent I could go to Town Hall and ask for PP photos of the band that night??? Our band marches at MSEP on March 28th. I would love the pics on photopass.

 

[domestic goddess]

I think you need to go in first thing in the day and request that they be taken, I don't think that they will just take them. We will see on April 2nd if it will work. If anyone is there before then and requests it, let us know how it works!

Thanks and I hope all groups that are performing over the spring breaks have a wonderful expereince!