What would you pay for your child to go to WDW on a school trip?

[Mimi Q]

I don't think $800 is bad at all. My DD's gifted class is going to London for 12 days at a cost of $2245 per child.

 

[momof2inPA]

What about airport transfers? Is that already included in the $800?

 

[Kitty 34]

Thank you everyone for your great replies! If I had a lap top, I would share this thread at the next meeting!!!


To answer a couple of you, our band director really really wants to fly and stay ONsite this time. This will be his 4th trip down to WDW and all the other times have been by a 21 hour bus trip and staying a couple of miles away.

The last trip they made in '01 was $600 so I didn't think a $200 difference was that bad considering we were saving tons of bus driving time, staying one x=tra night and doing a 4-day vs a 3 day pass.

I'm from a small town and most parents around here are used to a $60 day trip to Cedar Point!!!

You have all been very helpful. I've been appreciating the pros and the cons.

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by Kitty 34

To answer a couple of you, our band director really really wants to fly and stay ONsite this time. This will be his 4th trip down to WDW and all the other times have been by a 21 hour bus trip and staying a couple of miles away.

Our band director said he'd NEVER take a long bus trip again. I guess it was less than fun dealing with 170 high school students while they waited several hours for a replacement bus.

 

[krissy3483]

Your price sounds very fair and reasonable. In June of 2001, I went on my hs senior trip to Disney. We flew, and stayed for 3nights/4 days at the all star music. I believe the cost was a little over 600, $630 seems to sound familiar. That included flights from NYC, 3 nights at the hotel, and our 4 day hoppers. We also got to go on a behind the scenes tour at MGM where we were the first people allowed on TOT when the park opened, and we got to make our own mini-movie.

 

[Tess]

Our cost started at $800, but by the time the trip rolled around we had it down to $600 per student. Of course, the $200 was the portion the band boosters kicked in. Kids had the opportunity to off-set their expenses based upon their fundraising contributions, e.g., we sold Little Caesar's pizza kits and for each one the kid received the profit from the kit ($5 as I recall) as a credit toward his/her trip.

We also did the bus--although we now know it would have been equally cost effective to fly--then again, if they are doing the "seminars", you have to have transportation and the bus came in handy for that. The off-site hotel was going to cost us more than the stay at ASMu.

We will probably be returning again in 2005 and I'm hoping to have a bit more advance notice in the planning department. I picked up this planning gig with 3 weeks notice and pulled it together for the kids. Our kids were abandoned by another band and left holding the bag without reservations! Kitty34, since you are from mid-MI, I hope it wasn't your band director that left us hangin'!

Almost forgot. . .we also gave each student $25 p/day for meals.

 

[wdwfam]

I agreee - $800 doesn't sound unreasonable. Our DD's high school band is going to Hawaii next June with a price tag of $1700/per student. That's for 5 nights. Band is expensive. There are a lot of fundraisers. We just sent in magazine orders where the child earned 42% of their total sold. If you have over a year to plan, it really isn't that much per month.

 

[maryssasmom]

my senior trip in high school was actually my first trip to WDW. we went to grad night, one day at epcot, one at mgm and grad nite at mk. so we only had 3 days and it wasn't even full days as we couldn't go to grad night until like 10 0r 12 at night.
we stayed offsite (wilson world in kissimmee which I am unsure if it is even still there) - it included airfare from hartford, ct and I think that was it. and it was $550. and may I remind that was 1990. 14 years ago. so I do not think $800 is a lot. especially being a band trip. if my dd said she needed $800 to go on a regular trip I would think possibly different but the price is not so bad for a school trip.

 

[vickyBaby]

I have no idea what kind of town you live in. If it is a "blue collar" area, this could be a hardship for people, particularly if there is more than one family member in the band.

Yes, $800. does seem like a reasonable amount per child, but maybe these children would never even go on a vacation to WDW. Maybe their summer vacation costs the family a total of $800.

You can't hold a gun to a parents head and force them to pay. There might not be babysitting or job opportunities for these children to earn the money.

Since I don't know all of the details, nor the financial status of families in your geographic area, I am unable to give a fair assessment.

Is this trip a necessity? NO. If parents don't want to pay for a trip to WDW, there are plenty of other band competitions or opportunities out there that can be extremely beneficial to the children. Maybe it's time to start exploring these other options.

 

[Kitty 34]

Originally posted by vickyBaby

You can't hold a gun to a parents head and force them to pay. There might not be babysitting or job opportunities for these children to earn the money.

As all of us in the Disney Planning committee, don't own guns, you're right we don't even plan on getting them to pay that way!!!


Is this trip a necessity? NO. If parents don't want to pay for a trip to WDW, there are plenty of other band competitions or opportunities out there that can be extremely beneficial to the children. Maybe it's time to start exploring these other options.

The trip is not a necessity and not mandatory either. We also give out "hardship" scholarships, at least that's what I've been told. This is my 1st student in HS band.

 

[vickyBaby]

1) You might be taking away someone's rent/mortgage money to pay for this trip.

2) This is not a band competition, nor do I see any representation as such. I see a 4 day hopper pass included so the band members can go play. How is this beneficial to the band? Exposure? You can march in town parades for exposure. You can find a closer venue (Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade comes to mind).

3) Parents already said it was too much money. Do you have that many "hardship" scholarships to offer?

Just food for thought.

If my son was in band, and I was told I would have to come up with $800. for a trip for him, I would have to tell them he would not be able to attend. How embarrassing for me. How embarrassing for my child.

You should check out www.marching.com and look for some other alternatives like band competitions (isn't that what the members work so hard for? To compete!!)

 

[NMAmy]

Kitty--I sent you a PM.

It doesn't seem as though the trip is mandatory. What's wrong with offering the opportunity to those who wish to go? When DD took her trip, they had a whole slew of fundraising activities set up for the kids to earn money toward their trip. Only about 20 kids out of the whole 6th grade went and certainly no one was looked down on who didn't go.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our DD's HS band did this trip 17 years ago, and I believe it cost them about $350 then, but they stayed off site, took buses down from Minnesota (LOOOOONG ride) and did lots of fundraising.

I think $800 is a VERY good price. If that is a before fundraising effort, I think you are doing very well.

 

[crz4mm2]

I think that is a GREAT price! I paid more than that for DD to go to Washington DC in 8th grade (4 years ago) and that price didn't include meals or a 4 day ticket to WDW!!!!

 

[kidzmom3]

In my opinion, $800 is a lot of money. I had to come up with $450 for DS and it was very tough. And I live in a high median salary area. The kids who didn't go, they were teased. We actually had to have a meeting because it got so cruel. "you must be on welfare if you can't come" and such comments. I don't think it's worth it unless a majority of parents agree upfront. In girl scouting when planning a trip, we figure out how much it will be, hold a parent meeting and if 75% of the parents are onboard and willing to sign a contract that they will be held responsible if DD drops out etc...., then we go forward. How many parents really WANT their child to go on this band trip. How many say $800 is too much because they really cannot afford anything. There are people in this world, me included who live in a nice area, have a decent home, wear okay clothes, but live paycheck to paycheck and sometimes even $30 for a movie is too much. just my opinion, take on the subject

 

[Pembo]

My niece has paid more than that to go to WDW. My brother the band director has gone every two years for cheaper than that. They use a bus. He said he would rather bus than fly, less hassle. He has always used a local tour company run by a former band director. Good luck to you.

 

[Kitty 34]

Originally posted by NMAmy
Kitty--I sent you a PM.

It doesn't seem as though the trip is mandatory. What's wrong with offering the opportunity to those who wish to go? When DD took her trip, they had a whole slew of fundraising activities set up for the kids to earn money toward their trip. Only about 20 kids out of the whole 6th grade went and certainly no one was looked down on who didn't go.

Thanks for the PM, Amy....sent you a reply.



Diane, the tentative $800 price is before fundraisers. Our director thinks we can shave $200 off that figure after some major fundraisers. That certainly would be nice!

 

[Madi100]

I went on two band trips in high school. The first was to Chicago. The second to St. Louis. They are some of my best memories I've ever had in my life. I know for the first trip, we only needed $100. That included the transportation, hotel, and some fun activites and some meals. I know $100 isn't much, but my parents wouldn't help pay for one penny. If the trip had cost $5000, they wouldn't have helped with a thing. They didn't believe in field trips. We did fundraisers, and I earned every penny by doing fundraisers. I very distintly remember one trip that I had the money earned in the first day. We sold coupon books. They were great. Parents went around to businesses in town and asked for a coupon donation. Some businesses didn't want to donate a coupon and just gave a donation. The coupon books were $5, and they were great. I'm sure $10 could have been asked for them. When my kids get to the point of needing to have fundraisers, this one will be suggested. I will always support kids. But, I hate spending $10 on a roll of wrapping paper and then them only getting $2 of it. With the coupon books, it is something that people use, and the profit is $100. If you live close enough to a mall, you can help put up holiday decorations.

I had a job in high school. I made about $100 a week. I could have very easily paid $800 for a class trip had I saved the money. Maybe they aren't the most educational where they learn a lot about music, but it allows them to play in WDW, which is an honor, I think. Plus, the fundraising and experience are learning experiences. I hope it goes through for you okay.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I don't think the price is to high. Since the trip is over a year away, the families with have a long time to get the money together. The kids can get part time jobs, shovel snow, cut grass...

If you can't afford it, your child just can't go. The fact that some families can't afford the trip, shouldn't mean that the others can't go.

 

[fanofmickey]

Our high school band went to WDW in spring of 02 for Magic Music Days. I think the price was around $450.00 - this included buses there and back, 3 day hoppers, every meal from the time they left the school, and a dinner at Medieval Times on our first night of arrival. The band stayed off-site.

Our band has several fundraisers every year: (1) cheesecakes; (2) pansies; (3) nuts; (4) fruit. When a student participates in a fundraiser, 60% of our total profit goes into the "student's" account; 40% of the total profit goes into the band general fund.

Last year, our trip was to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans at a cost of $815(?) each. This year the band trip is to New York to participate in the St. Patricks Day parade ($885.00 - they are flying this time).

Last year we started two special fundraisers in which each student can earn 100% of monies raised: a rock-a-thon (gives out of town relatives and friends a chance to participate since they can't purchase the fundraising items), and a car wash (we hold at five or six locations on one single day - each child receives their fair share based on dollars made and hours worked). The band general fund takes no money on these two activities.

We also pay $395 just to be in band to start with, so added to the $800 trips it is quite a bit. I had two kids in the band last year - thank goodness one graduated! (DS 15 is required to pay 1/2 of his trip fees.)