Tess
DIS Veteran - 1997
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 5,606
UPDATE 3/19/03: Everyone has been so supportive and wished us well--I thought I'd give you an update of sorts. I've been on the phone A WHOLE LOT today and haven't even had a chance to check on AP rates for our June trip--hope those didn't pop up while I've been otherwise occupied!
Anyway--WDW has room available for our group at ASMu for our revised dates (our actual spring break time). We have been able to contract with a company for a bus large enough to haul our band AND instruments to WDW. All of the above is falling in nicely with our budget too!
Unfortunately, our band director submitted our application to perform the related documents YESTERDAY instead of last week as we had thought. Further, she didn't directly submit them to WDW but instead mailed them overnight to the possible TA she thought of hiring (before she put her faith and trust in my husband and I--hope it's not misplaced). So, the TA is just today mailing that stuff to WDW. We can't be considered for the clinic OR performance until WDW MMDE (Magic Music Days Entertainment) receives AND approves our application and performance. Our prior performance stuff was to have been submitted a year ago by the OTHER director who put us in this predicament and we have since found out he didn't even do it!
WDW MMDE encouraged me to get this stuff to them overnight today and was hopeful that because of some cancellations they would at least be able to get us into a clinic--possibly a performance. Time is not on our side since we are a mere 13 days from our proposed arrival date. Until we receive a confirmation about clinic/performance acceptance we can't purchase our tickets because there is an additional fee associated with the MMD hoppers--the clinic is an additional charge of around $20 per child. Still, we have a rough idea of what it will cost and we can use that for planning purposes.
We have managed to make this gig come in less than the cost provided us by the TA because I booked the room for the bus driver (knocked off around $500), the bus we found is less costly than the TA option, we're staying on property and won't need the bus/driver to take us to and from parks each day, and we opted out of the Medieval Dinner--more time for the kids in the park.
We also found out that our son and my husband need not purchase the hoppers with the rest of the group since they have PAP. Further that despite what the TA told my husband, my son can and will be permitted to attend the clinic and perform without purchasing those hoppers. We will simply pay a $20 fee to WDW to cover the cost of the clinic (t-shirt/pin included) and--fingers crossed--performance!
On the major downside--the war could put the kabosh on all of our last ditch efforts. Our board had originally said we would go regardless (this trip was already cancelled because of 9/11/01 and this is our rescheduled trip)--BUT, apparently there's been some sort of a fuss raised by members of the school board and a meeting will be going ahead on this matter tomorrow. The superintendent listened to our thoughts about it (we say go for it--life doesn't stop at home because of the war. . .we didn't stop for WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, etc., etc., . . .), yet we realize that we are only two parents in this group and understand the good of the many philosophy. . .
So. . .that's where we're at folks--thanks for the happy thoughts--we're trying to remain optimistic that we'll get the official okie dokie tomorrow a.m. (or more to the point that our prior permission won't be rescinded). At least it looks like we've got a viable plan in the works--we may not get to perform or go to the clinic--but there's a World of Music at WDW to take in and things to be learned from that too! Besides, the kids will just flat out have a good time and some may never get the opportunity again!
Thanks again--I'll post tomorrow (unless we're good to go and I'm manning the phones pulling it together)
and let you know what happens!
Tess
I won't go into the gory details, but the highlights are that our band was to be in WDW on during part of its spring break into the following week. We were to be going with another band whose director had "allegedly" arranged EVERYTHING. My husband (a chaperone) and another parent (both familiar with WDW) have been questioning the "arrangements" for the past 9 months and have received minimal information--actually nothing more than a 4 line itinerary.
Last night my husband attends a band meeting wherein everyone is advised the other band is not going and cancelled all the reservations WITHOUT TELLING US! Our band director found out this weekend. Our band kids were supposed to be taking this trip last year, but the board denied permission post-9/11. This year was to be the postponed trip.
So as of today (with about 15 days left until our originally planned dates) we have NO transportation, NO hotel, NO passes, NO reservation for Magic Music Days marching, and NO reservation for the MMD clinic at WDW!!!! We are pretty ticked about this whole thing because we kept telling our Director that the other band director was yanking us big time! She thought the sun rose and set upon this guy and "he has been doing this for 20 years [arranging Disney trips]" so he had MUCH more experience than us.
Our band, because it was going with the other, was going to miss 3 days of school because the spring breaks were different and, of course, we had to go on the other band's schedule. The guy wouldn't book at Disney--too expensive and he could get a better deal (he/wife are part-time TAs)!
Well, we did some checking way back when {when we surmised we were being led down a path} and found it was less expensive to stay on property with UPH than the "deal" he had arranged! My husband is on the phone as I type trying to put together a package (bus transportation, hotel, passes, MMD clinic res, etc.) that will fall within the budget previously planned. So far, the bus is less expensive!
Send some Pixie Dust our way that we can fulfill this dream for the kids! I just hate it when adults let the kids down and I'm sending some evil glares to the directory who "has been doing this for 20 years". There's no way our kids are going to get to march at WDW as originally planned--the guy NEVER sent the required videotape, audition application, etc. and now we've not made the 2 month prior deadline--GRRRRRR! Hopefully they will get to do the clinic and have a terrific spring break trip that they've all worked hard to accomplish!
Think those happy thoughts for our kids! We should know if we can pull this off soon!
Anyway--WDW has room available for our group at ASMu for our revised dates (our actual spring break time). We have been able to contract with a company for a bus large enough to haul our band AND instruments to WDW. All of the above is falling in nicely with our budget too!
Unfortunately, our band director submitted our application to perform the related documents YESTERDAY instead of last week as we had thought. Further, she didn't directly submit them to WDW but instead mailed them overnight to the possible TA she thought of hiring (before she put her faith and trust in my husband and I--hope it's not misplaced). So, the TA is just today mailing that stuff to WDW. We can't be considered for the clinic OR performance until WDW MMDE (Magic Music Days Entertainment) receives AND approves our application and performance. Our prior performance stuff was to have been submitted a year ago by the OTHER director who put us in this predicament and we have since found out he didn't even do it!
WDW MMDE encouraged me to get this stuff to them overnight today and was hopeful that because of some cancellations they would at least be able to get us into a clinic--possibly a performance. Time is not on our side since we are a mere 13 days from our proposed arrival date. Until we receive a confirmation about clinic/performance acceptance we can't purchase our tickets because there is an additional fee associated with the MMD hoppers--the clinic is an additional charge of around $20 per child. Still, we have a rough idea of what it will cost and we can use that for planning purposes.
We have managed to make this gig come in less than the cost provided us by the TA because I booked the room for the bus driver (knocked off around $500), the bus we found is less costly than the TA option, we're staying on property and won't need the bus/driver to take us to and from parks each day, and we opted out of the Medieval Dinner--more time for the kids in the park.
We also found out that our son and my husband need not purchase the hoppers with the rest of the group since they have PAP. Further that despite what the TA told my husband, my son can and will be permitted to attend the clinic and perform without purchasing those hoppers. We will simply pay a $20 fee to WDW to cover the cost of the clinic (t-shirt/pin included) and--fingers crossed--performance!
On the major downside--the war could put the kabosh on all of our last ditch efforts. Our board had originally said we would go regardless (this trip was already cancelled because of 9/11/01 and this is our rescheduled trip)--BUT, apparently there's been some sort of a fuss raised by members of the school board and a meeting will be going ahead on this matter tomorrow. The superintendent listened to our thoughts about it (we say go for it--life doesn't stop at home because of the war. . .we didn't stop for WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, etc., etc., . . .), yet we realize that we are only two parents in this group and understand the good of the many philosophy. . .
So. . .that's where we're at folks--thanks for the happy thoughts--we're trying to remain optimistic that we'll get the official okie dokie tomorrow a.m. (or more to the point that our prior permission won't be rescinded). At least it looks like we've got a viable plan in the works--we may not get to perform or go to the clinic--but there's a World of Music at WDW to take in and things to be learned from that too! Besides, the kids will just flat out have a good time and some may never get the opportunity again!
Thanks again--I'll post tomorrow (unless we're good to go and I'm manning the phones pulling it together)
and let you know what happens!Tess
I won't go into the gory details, but the highlights are that our band was to be in WDW on during part of its spring break into the following week. We were to be going with another band whose director had "allegedly" arranged EVERYTHING. My husband (a chaperone) and another parent (both familiar with WDW) have been questioning the "arrangements" for the past 9 months and have received minimal information--actually nothing more than a 4 line itinerary.
Last night my husband attends a band meeting wherein everyone is advised the other band is not going and cancelled all the reservations WITHOUT TELLING US! Our band director found out this weekend. Our band kids were supposed to be taking this trip last year, but the board denied permission post-9/11. This year was to be the postponed trip.
So as of today (with about 15 days left until our originally planned dates) we have NO transportation, NO hotel, NO passes, NO reservation for Magic Music Days marching, and NO reservation for the MMD clinic at WDW!!!! We are pretty ticked about this whole thing because we kept telling our Director that the other band director was yanking us big time! She thought the sun rose and set upon this guy and "he has been doing this for 20 years [arranging Disney trips]" so he had MUCH more experience than us.
Our band, because it was going with the other, was going to miss 3 days of school because the spring breaks were different and, of course, we had to go on the other band's schedule. The guy wouldn't book at Disney--too expensive and he could get a better deal (he/wife are part-time TAs)!
Well, we did some checking way back when {when we surmised we were being led down a path} and found it was less expensive to stay on property with UPH than the "deal" he had arranged! My husband is on the phone as I type trying to put together a package (bus transportation, hotel, passes, MMD clinic res, etc.) that will fall within the budget previously planned. So far, the bus is less expensive!
Send some Pixie Dust our way that we can fulfill this dream for the kids! I just hate it when adults let the kids down and I'm sending some evil glares to the directory who "has been doing this for 20 years". There's no way our kids are going to get to march at WDW as originally planned--the guy NEVER sent the required videotape, audition application, etc. and now we've not made the 2 month prior deadline--GRRRRRR! Hopefully they will get to do the clinic and have a terrific spring break trip that they've all worked hard to accomplish!
Think those happy thoughts for our kids! We should know if we can pull this off soon!
