Spring Trip with Marching Band

[kakn7294]

I just wanted share news about our upcoming trip in the spring when DH and I are chaperoning our daughters' high school music department trip to WDW. It's going to be such a different experience for us!

First, we're traveling by charter bus - not so unusual from driving which we've done in the past but that was 4 - 7 people in a car/van rather than 50ish people, the majority of them teenagers, on a bus. It should be fun! (Actually, I love these kids so it really should be fun - mostly.)

Second, we're staying off-site. I haven't done that since I was a kid in the 70's. DD17 will room with her friends, DD12 (who is not yet in the band) will room with my parents who are also traveling with the co-ordinating parent trip but they'll be in a different hotel. DH and I will likely have our own room - something that hasn't happened at WDW since our honeymoon.

Third, we have a schedule of performances and workshops to keep - I'm really looking forward to the afternoon parade in MK!!! We also have a couple of music workshops, chorus is performing at DTD, and we have a group meal at Planet Hollywood - we've never been there. Unfortunately, due to school schedules, we have to travel during the busy Easter week - we arrive at WDW on the Thursday after Easter. I have a feeling that crowds will be pretty bad.

Fourth, (minor complaint) we're having a pool party at the hotel on our MK day so we'll miss the nighttime parade and Wishes. If we're traveling 1000 miles, I'd rather stay in the parks than have a pool party!

Fifth, (major complaint) we are a small organization so we're only taking 2 chaperones from each ensemble and the executive board members get first opportunity based on rank - as band parent presidents, DH and I have been chosen. However, one mom has whined and complained so much that she now is also chaperoning for band. This highly irritates me because we have a waiting list of people who have asked to chaperone, several from our executive board. Not only that, but she has not chaperoned one other event EVER - no football games, no parades, no band competitions, no parties, nor is she on the list to do so. I can't wait to make her work her butt off on this trip. Guess who will be the one crawling under the bus to load and unload uniforms and instruments? NOT ME!!! The excuse that allows her to go is that her son is diabetic which is a bunch of ****. All of the other parents trust that we'll take care of their kids, especially since I'm a nurse. Her son is not the only one with health issues either - we have another boy who is also diabetic, one student with a bee sting allergy, several with severe food allergies, one with random fainting spells, and one with severe asthma who uses a home nebulizer. None of their parents are chaperoning. I feel like this - if you are that worried about your child going because of a health issue, DON'T LET HIM GO! Maybe that's not fair to the student, but that's on his parents. By the way, these parents had the opportunity to go along on the parent trip and it's been made clear that the parent bus will be following the student bus and schedule.

All in all, I'm really looking forward to this trip and can't wait to march down Main Street on April 5th.

[DonaldDuckUSA]

I was in my high school marching band and I LOVED these kinds of trips. We never went to DIsney (something I protested about often), but we went to Six Flags and Universal. It was a blast.

Your last paragraph made me laugh. It reminded me of all of our chaperon drama.

You're probably going to be exuasted. I met a mom on the way to MK from HS who was chaperoning a middle school trip. It seemed like her son was involved with a math organization. THey had all these great workshops with imagineers. They stayed off site, had different events throughout the day and could play in between. Since they were OS, they couldn't really go back to their room. She sounded SO exausted, but it sounded like she was having a lot of fun and her son and his friends were really great.

I think you and DH will be tired, but it's going to be a great experience. Have fun and good luck with all the band kids.

[kakn7294]

I know it will be tiring but we'll be fine. We've chaperoned 2 other trips - one multi-day music department trip and one single-day band only trip (I was the one climbing under the bus on this one by the way - it's hot under there!). What stinks is that we'll be traveling overnight and I don't sleep on the bus. I find myself staying awake watching everyone else sleep and the driver drive. Oh well, sleep is over-rated anyway...

[faline]

Sounds like it will be busy, but fun!!

[SBETigg]

This should be a fun but challenging trip. The rewards will outweigh the hard work (and that one chaperone), though, and you'll always remember and talk about it. Best wishes to the band!

[Dopey's Girl]

Wow! That sounds like a trip to remember! Have fun!

[January-2007]

Hope all goes well!