Hi,

I'm going to Disneyland on Friday.

It is an 8th grade band trip. It should be fun but tiring.

I was supposed to go last year, but dislocated my knee cap.

We leave at 6am Friday AM, arrive in LA area about 6ish. Get up Saturday, play, go to Disney. Get back on the bus at midnight and drive home. Arrive home at 7am Sunday AM.

I just got back from the chaparone meeting. I thought that it was sad/interesting that food was an issue. That a few of the girls will needed to be encouraged to eat - as they will have issues with wanting to be thin or eating in front of people.

Then some kids are all excited and eat too much or too fast and end up getting sick (traveling on buses and rides at Disneyland, etc.)

Anyway, I'll be REALLY busy on Thurs and I'll see everybody on Sunday.

I;m tired just reading your post. Glad it was a success and that you are home safely.

Sounds like you came through an exhausting weekend really well Denise!

Good for you!

I'm back.

It is one grueling trip.

Took us 11 hours to get there (for people in CA who care about such things.) Two bathroom breaks, one lunch break. We met up with another school (as the Jr. High teacher’s wife also teaches Jr. High Band/choir). 5 buses, 170 people - moving together en mass.

Slept 4.5 hours Friday night. Kids went to bed at 10-10:30pm, but adults had to stay up sorting tee shirts, etc. until midnight… I had a semi-crazy roommate who read after we went to bed and then got up an hour before we needed to.

The kids were EXCEPTIONALLY well behaved and played/sang well Sat AM.

A good time was had by all at Disneyland. We got there about 12:30pm and it seems that the first thing everybody did was eat. Each person had $15 meal coupon, but we had to all cooperate because you don’t get change from your coupon. Say you buy a bottle of water… you pay with a coupon… your water costs $15. The kids were grouped up and did a very good job of cooperating and combining meals and having both lunch and dinner. I only talked to a couple of kids who had funnel cakes for dinner. Pizza, burgers and turkey legs seemed to be the usual thing. Jamie said he ate zero desserts, but did have 3 burgers and a soda.

There was one mom who I got along with really well. We decided we wanted to get out of the sun and did Space Mountain (which the hour line is inside), saw the 3-D “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” and then spent an hour in the afternoon walking around looking for an iced coffee (as we were way tired). We spent the first 4 hours at Disney together and then we split up as we had “bench duty” (an adult sitting in one place in case the kids needed something) at different times.

Went on Indiana Jones with about 20 kids and then basically hung by myself and did a bunch of rides solo. We had some odd ball moms on the group (Nelson asked, “Are they at home saying the same thing about you?”). One woman read sci-fi the ENTIRE time and didn’t talk during meals, as she was reading. Other moms were ONLY interested in sitting and talking and not going on any rides.

The kids were very funny. 3 groups seemed to merge into a mega-group. That was the group who I went on Indiana Jones with. After Indiana Jones, I left them. I went on the Jungle Cruise, used the bathroom, ate dinner (a veggie kabob) and an hour later, this group was in the exact same place, still trying to come to consensus and decide what to do next.

Some groups were really tired and would show up for “check in” and basically sit around for an hour.

Jamie was in a group with a mission. They would check in and then motor off with a plan. They had a kid in a wheel chair in their group and this often worked to their advantage, as the line for splash mountain or thunder mountain (can't remember all the ride names) was 2+ hours, but was only 20 mins for them.

I only slept a couple hours on the bus on the trip back. (Midnight to 8am). Spent 45 mins cleaning up throw up on the bus. Slept another 6 after we got home and I feel remarkably “normal” right this second.

I was really happy with my eating. I shouldn’t have eaten the dessert at Medieval Times as it was gross, but I ate the whole thing anyway. But that was my only “bad” choice and I made a bunch of really good choices… and I have no idea how many steps I got in… but it was a LOT!

quote:

The JR High band teacher has been doing the Disney trip for 9 years now and last night I heard stories of kids gone stupid in ways that I never even imagined

If I had time to write today, I would tell a (now) rather hilarious story about 3 very bright, very responsible teenagers (the instigator was my private student for pete's sake!) who scared the *&%$ out of me on a trip. I'll leave it with this teaser...all I kept thinking was "Only I could come to Elko, NV and LOSE a kid!!!!".

I really, really think the younger kids are easier. Their brains are still working but I never took my kids that age anywhere. You're a brave soul.

Peg

quote:

Originally posted by p7eggyc:
Good luck Denise! Hopefully all the kids will pack their brains along with all their other stuff. This was definitely one of my least favorite things about teaching. Everytime we went our best kids seemed to leave their brains at home.

Next week, MY class goes to Great America (little kids - 4th, 5th and 6th). I can't decide if it is easier with 9 year olds or 14 year olds.

The JR High band teacher has been doing the Disney trip for 9 years now and last night I heard stories of kids gone stupid in ways that I never even imagined.

I was up last night, because I've done the Great America trip 2 years now and things have gone very well... so now, I'm wondering when my luck will run out. I can't decide if I'm disaster-izing or being realistic. (Maybe a little of both.)

Denise, have fun! We went to DL a couple of weeks ago as a family. It was soooo much fun, but PACKED! The Saturday that we were there they closed the park at 10 am to anymore people coming in (that was only 2 hours after they opened!). We had a great time, and you can find fruits and veggies all over the park for snacks......

Good luck Denise! Hopefully all the kids will pack their brains along with all their other stuff. This was definitely one of my least favorite things about teaching. Everytime we went our best kids seemed to leave their brains at home.

You are kind to help out. Parents are a blessing on these things.

Peg

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
12 hours to get there?!

We get to school at 6am... but load busses, etc. and I think we pull out at 7-7:30am... BUT we hit LA traffic at the height of rush hour on a Friday night. I think it is 2-3 hours to crawl through Southern California.

Plus we stop to eat 2 potty breaks, lunch and dinner. The herding of 100 teens on and off of 3 busses takes 15 mins. at each stop. The band director said that sometimes they have time to check into the hotel before dinner, and sometimes they don't.

Thanks for all of the good wishes for all of these 14 year old girls (and boys? he didn't mention boys, but I know that they are not immune).

::: packing up some hugs, laughs and extra patience for Denise :::

Have a great trip, Denise. You are the woman!

Oh boy!! LOL!!!

I've never been to Disneyland but I have visited Disney World twice. I loved it!!! We are planning to take DS sometime within the next 2 years, I think he is old enough to really enjoy it and "appreciate" the magic.

Take care Denise!! Have a wonderful time and a safe trip!!

Denise,
Have a great time-wow 12 hrs on a bus with a bunch of 8th graders?! Sending you my best wishes, you must be a very pt woman!
Jill

Sending those with food issues and fears my best, loving energy.

12 hours to get there?!

Good luck with the trip Denise. You are a much better woman than I am - that would not be the way I'd want to be spending my mother's day weekend!

Yep, 6th grade issues with food is very sad. Sounds like you are going to be tired on Sunday!! Be safe, be patient and have fun !!