What would you do? Rant!

[NinaBella]

Accommodations
Food Vouchers
Practice Space
Transportation
Coaches Accommodations
Stage Time
Theme Park Admission

It all adds up. Your daughter is young; however, most of our trips for competitions I could book a family vacation cheaper. As our gym owners and coaches say, we are not going for "fun" it's business. Business comes first.

Even when people have annual passes or free hotel points, etc. They still have to pay and stay the same place as the rest of the team.

 

[SEA333]

Not Disney, but we just had to swallow a big pill and shell out $1200 for DS13 to go to Washington DC for three nights/4 days for his 8th grade class trip.

To compare, we just went to DW in November for 4 nights/5 days, stayed at POR (free dining) with three day park tickets, limo to the airport, flight there and back, and car rental for a grand total of just about $3000 OUT THE DOOR for EVERYTHING (including incidentals and souveniers) for all FIVE of us.

Ugh. Sigh. It literally made me sick to hit "confirm" when paying the $1200 for ONE kid to spend three nights somewhere, especially because I know I could probably have all five of go for that much money (my uncle works at the Pentagon and we can drive there and have a free home to stay in). However, we know that it is important for DS to go on this trip with his class, so we are sucking it up. In your case, however, since your DD is still so young and you think she will have another opportunity, I would wait until she is a little older. I was 7 the first time I went to DW, and I barely remember any of it.

 

[dvczerfs]

ohhh the old dancing at Disney!!

dd did it twice in her 15 years of dance. when she did it, they danced in the magic kingdom.

I almost had a heart attack when I got the price. I have known the ta my entire life. my sister and her grew up together. I asked to "go it alone" because we are dvc members and we all had aps. why should I pay for dd park ticket.

the answer I got was it is a "group". groups are not part of Disney destination travel and are completely different. we had three tiers to choice from and that was what resort you wanted to stay at. she gave price per person, per day at one of three resorts and that was it.

it included Disney transportation ( they all had to get on a bus together, no meeting at the park) plus there was a "entry fee" from Disney. back in 2009 which was the last time she danced there, the fee was $350.

the only reason I know that is because the ta allowed me just to buy the "performers package" the fee, and let me go on my own. but I was not to tell anyone.

she also told me with a group that size, 110 girls dancing and there families, they have to keep everything and everyone all together that it would be a night mare trying to do everyone separate.

good luck!!!

I forgot to mention, we didn't have a choice but we knew what we were in for going in. I could retire on the money I spent on dance, dance costumes, comp fees, hotels and travel. iam so glad I will never buy another pair of pointe shoes the rest of my life!!!!!! lol

 

[mousehockey37]

Hi guys:
About 6 mo ago, my DD's ballet school told us of the possibility of the girls dancing in WDW this year. We've been dreaming about it since then.
Yesterday we finally received the information and I'm very upset. They are setting up a package with a TA that we are mandated to use if we want our DDs to dance. It costs DOUBLE of what it would if we bought it from Disney.
It includes 4 nights at a moderate and 3 day park hopper, but the girls will be so busy rehearsing, getting ready and actually dancing 1 day (for 20 minutes in DTD) that they will barely go to the parks.
I told DD that most likely we won't go. That it would be better if we go as a family next year. We could stay longer and spend more time at the parks. She is 8yo and really sad

If they are barely going to be in the parks, it's not really worth it. I've done the Disney Magic Music Days with my high school band, it was fun. I was also in high school where we went for more than 3 park days.

As a former band director, I would get fliers for things like this all the time. Six Flags, Disney, etc... They would come from all different tour agencies, with all different price tags.

If you are feeling pressured somewhat into the trip, then it's definitely not a good idea to go. The biggest thing with trips like this is, throw a "Once in a lifetime" at a group and slap a "good looking" price on it, show all the things you "could do" (***if you stayed a week or so and could do EVERYTHING***) and get as many people to go as possible from a group.

 

[MandiC]

My daughter will be 8 next month and is competitive dance so I understand it...but I don't know I'd do the dance at Disney thing until she's older. She understands finances, I don't have to get into it too much but I know if I explained to her that we could go a different time, with more time in the parks for less money instead, she would be all about it.
If she can do it in the future, it might help to talk to her about it that way too.
I'm kind of surprised they have you at a moderate. When we were in Disney there was a dance competition going on and they were all staying at values.

 

[HopperFan]

It's not them. It's Disney policy. We have gone for sports a few times and Disney requires you to stay on property. I think you have some flexibility with not buying park tickets (I think 2 days was what we had to buy and the admission to ESPNZone), but not much. We actually had a place off site booked for $400 (3 families). Had to cancel it and pay 3 times that each per family to stay at CBR. I know it stinks and is expensive, but from experience is a lot of fun for the participants. I am glad we did it even though it was expensive. DS got a nice medal that hangs prominently in his room. It's not really about time at the parks or best value. It's about the kids being together. Not saying you should go, just maybe look at it from a different perspective than cost.

Good luck with the final decision.

It is not Disney policy for sports teams to stay on property. I did the accounting for two teams for 6 years and my son is a coach on a team that goes every year (he is there right now). Disney offers packages in select Disney resorts. The rooms are discounted, the tickets are discounted. One year we chose to not stay in the suggested hotel but requested POP. At the time they were not allowing groups. They finally let us stay as long as we stayed at rack rate. It is your group's decision where they are going to stay.

My son's team does not stay on property. Even though they compete at WWOS they stay offsite and yet still get discounted tickets through the sports competition. This year they even offered them extras on their tickets. My DSis's kids compete there every year in tournaments. They have never stayed on property. Their team coordinates a discounted room offsite. Very often these trips are income producers for the team/group taking them down and at the very least the participants will pay extra to pay for the entire cost of the coaches/teachers etc who go with them - their transportation, rooms, tickets, usually generous food budgets and discretionary funds. I know, I've paid for them via our budgets.

 

[Chabby]

Thank you so much guys, you have given me a lot of information and I feel much better.

I also knew what I was getting into when I signed DD up for dance lessons. My niece is a professional dancer now and I witnessed all that took to get her there. She started dancing when she was 4 years old.

My brother could also retire on what he spent in tuition, costumes, shoes and travel!!! The girl danced all over the world. At least it paid off, it's not a hobbie for her, it's her career and she is making a nice living out of it.

We'll see. We will most likely don't go this year, but eventually hopefully will, and the information you have given me is more important to me than you can imagine. I hate feeling ripped off, now I understand it's the standard and it's just a matter of having the money to pay

 

[Tjaleks]

Not Disney, but we just had to swallow a big pill and shell out $1200 for DS13 to go to Washington DC for three nights/4 days for his 8th grade class trip.

To compare, we just went to DW in November for 4 nights/5 days, stayed at POR (free dining) with three day park tickets, limo to the airport, flight there and back, and car rental for a grand total of just about $3000 OUT THE DOOR for EVERYTHING (including incidentals and souveniers) for all FIVE of us.

Ugh. Sigh. It literally made me sick to hit "confirm" when paying the $1200 for ONE kid to spend three nights somewhere, especially because I know I could probably have all five of go for that much money (my uncle works at the Pentagon and we can drive there and have a free home to stay in). However, we know that it is important for DS to go on this trip with his class, so we are sucking it up. In your case, however, since your DD is still so young and you think she will have another opportunity, I would wait until she is a little older. I was 7 the first time I went to DW, and I barely remember any of it.

WOW. My youngest also went to DC for 8th grade and I don't remember the price but it was no where near that. He is actually going again this year with band 4/30-5/4 (he is a junior now) and our total price is $535. This includes bus, tours, hotel, and most of his food... Band Boosters did apply 2k towards the trip, but with as many kids that are going it only offset my price by around $50.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

I second the advice to ask for a break down of the costs from the school.

But here is something else to consider before shipping her off to something like that. Backstage areas at Disney world reveal the "Man behind the curtain" in a way. While it sounds cool to be able to see that stuff also know that it can ruin the magic in a way that just talking about behind the scenes stuff can't. Are you ready for your daughter to see her favorite fur character with their "hat" off? How about her favorite princess on a smoke break?

Came across both scenarios on my band trip in high school. It has since ruined my ability to have fun with character interaction and it is only now that I have a daughter of my own that I can interact with them again.

 

[dvczerfs]

I second the advice to ask for a break down of the costs from the school.

But here is something else to consider before shipping her off to something like that. Backstage areas at Disney world reveal the "Man behind the curtain" in a way. While it sounds cool to be able to see that stuff also know that it can ruin the magic in a way that just talking about behind the scenes stuff can't. Are you ready for your daughter to see her favorite fur character with their "hat" off? How about her favorite princess on a smoke break?

Came across both scenarios on my band trip in high school. It has since ruined my ability to have fun with character interaction and it is only now that I have a daughter of my own that I can interact with them again.

that's a good point. dd was eight when she first danced in the mk. its all changed now but back then they brought them in on a bus behind main street on the bakery side. they walked behind over to the stage in tomorrow land. the stage is no longer there but they have since then built another stage where the old one sat. they use it for the dance parties.
what is funny, 11 years later that spot is where she reported to work every day.

the back stage areas are completely different then on stage. areas that guest where never intended to see.

 

[Chabby]

But here is something else to consider before shipping her off to something like that. Backstage areas at Disney world reveal the "Man behind the curtain" in a way. While it sounds cool to be able to see that stuff also know that it can ruin the magic in a way that just talking about behind the scenes stuff can't. Are you ready for your daughter to see her favorite fur character with their "hat" off? How about her favorite princess on a smoke break?

Came across both scenarios on my band trip in high school. It has since ruined my ability to have fun with character interaction and it is only now that I have a daughter of my own that I can interact with them again.

That is awful!!! I wouldn't want to see my favorite princess on a smoke break either

They will be dancing at DTD, I don't think they'll go backstage in the parks, although the details of the tour includes "backstage transportation".

BTW, we won't be "shipping the girls" anywhere. Part of the deal is that one adult has to go with every underage girl (at package price).

I should also mention, in case you guys haven't notice in my avatar info, that I'm not in the US. I'm in Panama, and it is normal here for TA to overcharge. I learned that a few years ago and I started buying directly from the providers since then.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the reason why this is so expensive is because of:
1- Disney's rules
2- The TA making her profit
3- The school making their profit
4- We all paying for teachers' and chaperones' expenses

#4 is the one I disagree with the most because why take chaperones (supposedly Disney's requirement) when every child is with their mother!

But then again, my choices are to do it following their rules or not do it at all.

For now I think the answer is not yet. Maybe when she is older, or to a competition and not a show. She also competes, and has an international competition in August, for which she is training, but it will be held in Panama. It is still pricey but at least I don't have to worry about traveling anywhere.