Hi Ella,
Good luck to your group as they compete at Walt Disney World! I'll keep my fingers crossed that they do well.
I just returned from a week-long school trip to Walt Disney World with a group of graduating high school seniors. We had an amazing time and I learned quite a bit about planning and executing a journey of this type. Here are my suggestions to you:
1. Give the kids an itinerary every day with meeting times and locations. Encourage them to understand that getting around the Walt Disney World Resort property is easy but it can be time-consuming so they should plan accordingly. (Stay at a Disney resort so that transportation from hotel to park, etc. is free!)
2. Make advanced dining reservations by calling (407) WDW-DINE. This is especially helpful when traveling with a large group as many of Walt Disney World's wonderful restaurants cannot accommodate large groups on short notice.
3. Schedule a morning or afternoon for your group to enjoy the lovely shopping and dining options at Downtown Disney. This is something everyone in your group will likely enjoy.
4. If you have a free morning, sign your group up for a
Disney Youth Education Series program. They offer great, curriculum-based programs in a variety of areas ranging from physics to show business. If you participate in one of these programs, you can get reduced price theme park admission tickets for your group.
5. Get the cell phone number of everyone in your group and make sure they have yours.
Please let me know, Ella, if there are any other bits of advice I might provide. As a high school teacher, I am always delighted to help fellow educators plan magical experiences.
Jill