Would you, could you be a chaperone?

[KCMiller]

Hi, everyone,

I'm trying to decide if I want to volunteer to chaperone my children's marching band trip to WDW this Christmas week. The last time they went down, my DH, DS and I stayed off property, did the early morning/making AP thing, and it was great (we couldn't chaperone, since we had 2 in the band but still had the younger DS to take care of. This year, the oldest DS is away at college, and the younger two are in the high school marching band). My big concern is that, since being on the DIS, I know how to maximize my time at WDW - I know to get there at rope drop, I know to make ADR's in advance, all the good tips. But going with the band would mean going by their schedule, which is not efficient, but does get the 125 kids to where they need to go.

So in a nutshell, if you had to go to WDW and totally give up any control over where you went, when you got there, and what you did once you got there, would you do it? Remember, I'd go regardless, to see the kids march.

What would DIS do?


KC

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I would make my own arrangements and tell them "See Ya There". Sorry. I love my DD15 and her friends but there is no way that I would want the responsibility or the headache of dealing with them on a band trip that lasted more than one night. They're great kids but have wayyyy more energy than this 40+ yo body can handle.

 

[minkydog]

I would absolutely chaperone. I go with my DDs choir on all their tours and I realize that moving that many kids will be inefficient, at best. But it's not about me, it's about them. When i chaperone I know that part of my role is to support the leader. Therefore, her decisions rule, whether I like them or not. I never contradict or try to improve upon them. When all the chaperones do this it makes for a smooth trip. All it takes is one maverick chaperone to introduce chaos into a trip.

When you go as a chaperone, part of the fun is interacting with these kids. It's so great to see things from their point of view, and yeah, you won't move as fast, but you'll still have a great experience if you let it happen.

 

[cleo]

I would absolutely volunteer, if for no other reason than to make sure my son isn't doing what so many youngsters do when they're away from Mom and Dad, sometimes for the first time. I would 100% be there, on their schedule, without blinking an eye.

When we do Press Events we're on 'someone else's schedule' and it's great fun, so Yes, I'd definitely give up control. In this instance you're going for your son, not for a family vacation, and you may find by slowing down and being 'less efficient' you'll see a lot of things you wouldn't have seen otherwise. I would highly recommend 'giving up control' to anyone who thinks Commando Disney is the only way to go (ok, 'efficient Disney' if Commando offends). You may be surprised at how much fun it is to tour the parks 'less efficiently'!

 

[KCMiller]

See, I'm starting to think along the same lines. I'm a commando type of WDW goer, and it might be really nice to let go of that for this trip. And my DD and DS want me to chaperone (and my DH as well). If my 19 year old DS wants to come, he'll have to talk his aunt into letting him bunk with her, I guess !

My biggest concern is that it's Christmas week, so the park is going to be molto crowded - but it's going to be great to have a good reason to not stress about going on the rides and such, right?

I'm in!

KC

 

[subtchr]

I have chaperoned two hs marching band trips to orlando -- Christmas '00 and Christmas '04. Yes, they were very different from our regular family WDW trips, and there were frustrations about not being able to do things the most efficient way, but I would do it again in a heartbeat (and probably will, when youngest daughter goes in 2008!). In fact, I felt as if I really contributed to making it the best trip I could for the kids, knowing how to maximize their experience within the unavoidable limitations. I wrote up a "mini-guide" for the kids and staff about dealing with the crowds, using fastpass, best attractions, etc.. I'd be happy to send that to you or answer any other questions you might have about the experience, feel free to pm me!

 

[java]

I would not could not with the mouse
I would not could not at his house

I would not could not with the band
I would not could not with the music stand

I would not could could not at the Pop
I would not could not make them stop
I do not like to chaperone.......even though I play trombone
(ok not really but it works better if I pretend)

 

[domestic goddess]

I am having the same confusion here. My DS and DNiece's band is going to WDW April 2007 for Spring Break. It will be myself, DH, DS11 and DD6 traveling with them as well as my DB and DSIL and their family. The band usually stays off-site but we are considering staying on-site anyway. I have realized that we won't be able to "do WDW" the way we usually do it, but we go enough to do it the next time. My DB and his family don't get that opportunity so they want to get the most out of their trip and I want to help them. Plus I want to let my DS & DNiece have a good time with their friends and still share this experience with them. By staying on-site we can still take advantage of EMH and WDW transportation and we won't be smothering our children.

Plus, being the planner that I am, as most of us on the DIS usually are, I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that the band doesn't make plans very far in advance. I am trying to just be patient and wait for the information when it comes.

If you enjoy chaperoning field trips and working with kids at school, then do it. I would but we will have other children with us. Like the previous posters have said just go with the flow if you chaperone and enjoy.

 

[minkydog]

See, I'm starting to think along the same lines. I'm a commando type of WDW goer, and it might be really nice to let go of that for this trip. And my DD and DS want me to chaperone (and my DH as well). If my 19 year old DS wants to come, he'll have to talk his aunt into letting him bunk with her, I guess !

My biggest concern is that it's Christmas week, so the park is going to be molto crowded - but it's going to be great to have a good reason to not stress about going on the rides and such, right?

I'm in!

KC

Your kids want you to come.A word of parental advice: this may not happen too often in the future. As my kids get older they don't want us to chaperone so much. If you can swing it financially, do it. Your kids will always remember "the time you went to Disney World with the Band".

 

[KCMiller]

I would not could not with the mouse
I would not could not at his house

I would not could not with the band
I would not could not with the music stand

I would not could could not at the Pop
I would not could not make them stop
I do not like to chaperone.......even though I play trombone
(ok not really but it works better if I pretend)

I do so love the marching band
I'll take the bus, it will be grand

I do so love big crowds of kids
I will not grump or blow my lid

We will not will not stay at Pop
We stay offsite, and have to hop

I will now be a chaperone
I will NOT leave my DH home
I'll make him come and 'chap' with me
We'll have a good time, you will see!

I thank the DIS board for their aid
They made me see I'll have it made
My kids don't want us to stay home
and so we'll serve as chaperones
and ride the bus, which will be loud,
and watch them march, and feel so proud!


KC

 

[mmeb144]

Thanks for thinking of the snappy rebuttal of the first poem about NOT chaperoning the kids.

I, too, would go with the marching band over Christmas week at WDW. Imagine the fun of being with all those teens! Seriously!

Marie

 

[KCMiller]

Hey, I think Java is way cool, and creative (especially the part about the trombone !). Chaperoneing isn't for everyone - heck, I don't know if it's for me - but I'm gonna find out! My DH, he chaperones band camp every year, so he should be good. Me . . . . .


KC

 

[ajleone]

My DW and I have chaperoned her students many times in Disney and to be honest it was some of the best times we've had.Now admitedly you don't get to do everything the way you want, but hey you're in Disney so enjoy it .And having the kids with you is just sooo much fun.Also if you're like me just being there is a blast so any chance I have to go I take.

 

[mousemom218]

Do it!
I will be chaperoning an orchestra trip to DL in the spring. As we go to WDW often, I am thrilled to finally get to DL. I've chaperoned orchestra trips to Universal before also. When you chaperone, it's not about riding the rides or getting everything in, it's about doing whatever your group wants to do and experiencing it with them.
But you won't be able to keep me off the Matterhorn!

 

[CindyVK]

Hi KC,
I faced the same dilemma last year when our son's band was invited to play at Disney during President's Day weekend. To be honest, they were great parts of the trip and a couple times I just was exhausted. Would I do it again? Probably.

We chose to bypass the 22 hour busride from Chicago and myself and another chaperone chose to fly down instead. We arrived the night before and stopped at a Costco to have snacks to welcome the kids. We booked the trip separate from the tour company and saved a ton of money. But, this was right before the MYW passes went into affect. I also used the Entertainment Card to book the hotel (off-site). Not all tour companys will LET you book separately, though.

I saw pro's and con's....

Pros
- Seeing my son play at Disney. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hearing your school's name over the loudspeaker was incredible.
- Got into "backstage" Disney, which was awesome! We were re-entering the park just as the parade finished and saw all the empty floats go by. We cheered as each one passed. Our jazz band played at Cosmic Rays so several of us even got into the famous Disney tunnels. Again, something I'll never have the chance to do on another trip, unless I pay for it.
- The fun had with the other chaperones. We had an AWESOME group!! When were weren't with the kids, we ACTED like kids. If they could have seen us, they would have been mortified!
- 70's weather in February! Beats Chicago weather anyday!
- The bond we had with all the kids by the end of the trip. We had such a nice group that never gave us any serious trouble. Some of them had never been to Disney and that was cool to experience it through their eyes.
- The cool Band breakfast with the kids.
- One of my favorite memories....the chaperones all were late meeting the students outside the park one night (told you we had fun!) and the students were sitting on the ground singing Disney songs!
- We were at Disney!!!


Cons
- LLLLooooonnngg Days! Up at 6, bedcheck at midnight. Usually not in bed until 1 or 2 am. Seriously sleep deprived!
- No control over schedule. For people like me, I found it frustrating at times. Crowds were large and really couldn't use any touring plans.
- The day our kids performed twice, we had maybe 3 hours free time. The rest of the time we were getting ready, finding kids, rehearsal, watching them perform. It bothered me that I had spent $50 plus food $$ to be in the park that day. Ouch! That one hurt!
- Little to no "down time." It's not really a relaxing trip.
- Sick kids. It happened several times. We took turns at the First Aid being with our sick students. Again, you've paid to be at DISNEY and you're sitting in First Aid.

It's really a personal decision with a lot of factors. Just know that if you do decide to go, you are totally there to help out. I had to adjust my thinking once the trip started and look at it as any fun I had along the way was a bonus. One family came down to watch their student but not chaperone. Part of me was jealous that they had that freedom, but at the end of the day, I was "Mom" to 9 great kids that trip and that is a memory I won't ever forget. Yea, it will be a different kind of Disney trip but if all goes well, I don't think you'll regret it.

Sorry, this was longer than I intended it to be. I just relived some really fun memories! When it's all said at done, the good memories usually are stronger than the bad!

Hope you have a great time! If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

- Cindy VK

 

[Honeybehr1]

I marched in a parade at MK when I was in high school. I would have loved for my parents to chaperon but they were not able too. I do not remember many parents going. We just had to be at a certain place at a certain time to check in but other than that we were on our own. But we were constantly running into other members in the band - we were from a large high school.

 

[glass slipper girl]

DH and I are both former band members so we'd do it! Afterall, we do Disney "our way" at least once a year so it's not like if we miss something that we haven't seen it before or will never see it again. It would be a chance to experience a different side of Disney. Of course my oldest is only in kindergarten so maybe my opinion will change by the time he's in high school!

Have fun with them!!!!