Trip to Orlando December 2017

Dates: December 28 through January 2

Updated 12-24

Registration Information

Information for Parents

  • Trip meeting with Travel Consultant and Directors on 12/18 at 6pm in Main Campus Theater
  • New REMIND text number will be used for this trip only. ALL THOSE TRAVELLING with the band must sign up for these communications. Text @1712-4-70 to 81010.
  • Tour booklets can be picked up at Tuesday’s rehearsal. After that, they will be available the day of departure.
  • See below for information shared at meeting.

Additional Information shared at meeting 12/18

  • All those travelling MUST sign up for new Orlando only REMIND texts. Text @1712-4-70 to 81010..
  • When students depart from west on bus, they must carry on ALL items they would need until the following day at 9pm when they check into the hotel. See tour book for more details.
  • All students and travelers will depart busses when they need to fuel. Busses plan to stop appx. every three hours. Restrooms on bus.
  • When student receives their ticket to Universal and to Disney – have them TAKE A PICTURE OF THE BACK OF IT in case they lose it.
  • Download Disney App.
  • NO wifi on busses.
  • Families travelling separately – get into Magic Kingdom well before 9am on 12/31 as park has been known to close to additional guest when park is at capacity.
  • Parade to start on main street and head towards Frontierland.

Spiritwear for Orlando

  • Jacket and shirts are ready! Pick yours up AFTER the trip meeting Monday night at West.
  • If you were unable to pick up your items, email Michelle at spirit@lakotawestbands.org to arrange a time.

Costs

  • Final payment was due 12/7
  • Cost summary available within your account. Once logged in go to Access Trip\ Financial Information\ Trip Costs.

Bus and Room Assignments

  • Room assignments are done.
  • Bus assignments are listed in tour book.

Packing Guidelines

  • Weather Forecast
  • General guidelines included in tour book. Nothing additional will be sent out.
  • Suggestions at meeting were sunscreen, good walking shoes, way to secure phone, ticket at all times.
  • Red bag with ALL items for one performance.

Itinerary

  • Trip Itinerary. This is version in tour book that will be distributed at meeting on 12/18.
  • Appx departure time is 11am on 12/28
  • Appx return time is 3:30pm on 1/2
  • Parade time is 12/31/17 at 11:30am in Magic Kingdom
  • All travelers should set up a Disney account to enable them to set up FastPasses. See email from MTC
  • Disney page for hours, parades and firework shows
  • Hollywood Studios closes at 8pm on 1/1/18

Medication Procedure

Meals and Food Allergies

  • All meals are included
  • If a student has a food allergy or dietary restrictions, you may document this in your online account.
  • An email was sent 12/4 asking for this information as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What time are the Marching Firebirds performing?
    • December 31st, 11:30 am in the Magic Kingdom
  • What is the last day to cancel?
    • 10/29/17
  • When are final payments due?
    • 12/7/17
  • What is the cost if we don’t ride the bus?
    • The discount would be $249 off the final/full trip price. You would purchase the entire trip package minus the charter bus.  You would need to contact Ashley in the Finance Department at  ashley.harting@musictravel.com so that she can apply that discount to the final payment.   Also, you would be responsible for your own transportation to/from Orlando, as well as in Orlando once you arrive, including parking/tolls. It would also be your responsibility to arrive at each location at the scheduled time, in order to participate in prepaid meals, and to receive park tickets, meal money/meal vouchers.
  • Is there a package without the bus and the hotel?
    • No
  • Will we be getting wristbands for Disney?  Also, will we be able to reserve fastpasses on our admission passes as the trip gets closer?
    • We’ll be staying offsite, and the wristbands are used for groups who stay onsite at one of the Disney resorts. Our group will have a laminated multi-day pass.  Re: FastPass reservations, you will absolutely be able to do that.  We out-of-state folks can reserve them 30 days ahead of time. MTC will provide you with your 12-digit ticket number so that you can reserve them online. Our Operations Dept. will also send you a video link that walks you through the process.
  • Where are the students staying?
    • Rosen Centre; 9840 International Drive; Orlando 407.996.9840
  • Do our Universal Studios tickets include the Express Pass?
    • The group will be at Islands of Adventure on Friday, December 29 and Universal Studios on Saturday, December 30. Their park tickets allow access to both parks, but do not include Universal Express Passes.  Express Passes are available at the park or online for an additional fee.  Keep in mind that because this is a school trip, the directors may want students to stay in their chaperone groups. If that is the case and an individual student purchases the Universal Express Pass, that may not allow the group to stay together.

  • I’m not travelling on the official Music Travel Consultants Tour.  How do I check in to the hotel and receive park tickets?
    • Regarding hotel check-in, that must be done through our tour director at the hotel when the group checks in at 9:30pm on the evening of Friday the 29th. Regarding park tickets, if we receive them in time for the group’s departure meeting (a week prior to the trip, date TBA), we would be able to pass them out to the group at the school that night. Typically, we don’t receive them in time for the meeting, so you would need to rendezvous with the group on the morning of the 29th, before they enter the park.  We’ll be eating breakfast at Hub Kissimmee from 7am-around 8:30am; that would be the best place for you to meet up with the group.  We are doing Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure that first day.
  • I’m not traveling on the official Music Travel Consultants Tour.  How do I make sure I can see the Marching Firebirds parade through the Magic Kingdom on December 31?
    •  Advance planning is important. In the past few years, the Magic Kingdom has reached maximum capacity in the 9am hour, closed its gates, and directed people to its other parks. Here’s what you can do to avoid being turned away:
      • Go to disneyworld.disney.go.com/disneyworld/dining
      • Make a dining reservation for a restaurant in the Magic Kingdom for the morning of December 31. Why? Even if the Magic Kingdom closes its gates due to reaching capacity, you’ll be allowed inside if you have a park ticket and a dining reservation close to the time you’re trying to enter the park. If you can’t find a dining reservation now, keep trying! Reservations will open up as other parkgoers change their plans.
      • If you’re staying at a non-Disney hotel, buy your ticket before December 31 and arrive at the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) no later than 7am on the December 31. The TTC is where you park your car. From the TTC, you will catch the monorail, a Disney boat, and/or a Disney bus to the Magic Kingdom. Once you’re at the Magic Kingdom, you will have to pass through a security checkpoint and then through the ticket gates. For you, the park opens at 8am. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, take Disney transportation with the aim to arrive at the Magic Kingdom gates by 6:45am for park opening show at the gates at 7am.