Welcome to planDisney, Cassandra!
Oh, wow. Your school trip to
Walt Disney World will be an absolute adventure!
As a high school teacher who has chaperoned over a dozen multiple-day trips to Walt Disney World (from all the way in Pennsylvania--with several hundred kids in tow), I can help coach you through all of the details.
First, contact
Disney Imagination Campus and ask them about
Disney Student Group Tickets. Because your group is originating within Florida, you'll find a great
price for Walt Disney World student tickets listed at that link under Pricing. Be sure to check out
Frequently Asked Questions for Student Trips to WDW, too. So much helpful information there!
As a mom of two, I know your 5th graders are going to absolutely love your visit to
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park! Don't miss
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail where they might just catch a glimpse of
Bakari, the new silverback gorilla who was just added as the leader of the family troop.
Conservation Station,
Maharajah Jungle Trek, and, of course,
Kilimanjaro Safaris are favorites I'm sure your students--and adults--won't want to miss!
When we visit with students, ensuring everyone eats is crucial, so I get your thoughts on meal tickets. I recommend you use the
Connect With Us option so a Disney representative can offer suggestions on ways to ensure that kids, chaperones, teachers and administrators alike are well fed. For my group, we work Disney Dining Cards into the cost of the trip--essentially Disney Gift Cards that can only be used for food and beverages. Works beautifully!
For you, each chaperone can be in charge of dining funds, so consider a spreadsheet with student's names and labeled columns beside them: attendance as the trip begins and once you board the buses back home; anything distributed (theme park tickets and dining funds to chaperones, etc.) That helps teachers/administrator disperse as needed, knowing every adult has what they need for their kids. At moments of transition, it's helpful to have everything written down--no memory required.
We actually print and bind a book (using school equipment) with the above information, broken down by chaperone group. When possible, kids' school photos are included so that all adults can identify a child in the group, even if they are not in their own chaperone party or on their bus. Adult contact information, an itinerary, departure and return times, satellite map views of park entry and exit, where to find your buses when heading home--all of that can be added to your book with copies made and distributed to each adult. We'll station teachers at key points on the route back to our buses, so that bird's-eye view helps everyone know where to look for help in returning. Works beautifully!
Cassandra, as you plan your exciting school trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth, be sure to send additional questions my way. I am happy to help!
Andrea H