Sunday, May 4, 2008
Post from Tolono
Post from Clarksville, TN
Friday, May 2, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday/Wednesday
Here's a few pictures of the day's events:
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Final Itinerary
Following is our finalized itinerary.
KANKAKEE HIGH SCHOOL BAND
WALT DISNEY WORLD / DISNEY "MAGIC MUSIC DAYS"
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
APRIL 29 – MAY 4, 2008
- FINAL ITINERARY -
Tuesday – April 29
3:15 pm Deluxe Peoria Charter motorcoaches arrive at Kankakee Junior High for loading.
Baggage checks conducted. Board your assigned bus, please.
4:00 pm Depart from school, traveling through the night to Orlando, Florida.
TBA Independent dinner and rest stops, driver exchange and fuel stop en route.
** Distance between Kankakee, IL and Walt Disney World is approximately 1,140 miles – estimated driving time is 17 ½ hours PLUS meal and rest stops, Time Zone change and traffic conditions. (approx. travel time = 22-23 hours).
Wednesday – April 30
Morning Independent breakfast and lunch stops; rest stops en route.
2:00 pm (Eastern Time) Approximate arrival in Orlando area – meet Vanguard Tours representative.
Afternoon Time to explore DOWNTOWN DISNEY for some last minute souvenir shopping.
Only Disney could turn shopping into such a magical adventure. Stores and Shops include such as Team Mickey, The Art of Disney, Lego Store, Mickey Mart, Pooh Corner and the "World of Disney", the largest Disney character shop in the world.
Savor a sit-down dinner or grab a quick bite at themed and specialized eateries offering regional, ethnic and elegant fare. Restaurants include: Bongo’s Cuban Café, Earl of Sandwich (sandwiches & salads), McDonald’s, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Café, Wolfgang Puck Express, and more.
Meeting place to be determined. Listen for directions.
6:00 pm Transfer to your hotel for check in –
(Pre-registration handled by Vanguard Escort; key packets distributed.)
Rosen Centre Hotel
9840 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
407-996-9840
11:00 pm Curfew. Overnight at hotel (Private Security Guard on duty).
Thursday – May 1
Concert Band performance day. Take your Band uniforms with you this morning. We will be able to change before the performance.
7:00 am Full Breakfast buffet at hotel (included). Directors’ announcements.
8:15 am Depart hotel for Disney World.
9:00 am Enter Disney’s ANIMAL KINGDOM Park - * Park Hrs: 9am-6pm *
Disney Passport multi-day Ticket used for admission
2:45 pm Meet motorcoaches for transfer to Disney’s MARKETPLACE
Meeting place to be announced.
A Disney Magic Music Days Guest Talent Coordinator (GTC) will meet the group for a brief orientation. Changing and warm-up rooms are available to prepare for your performance.
Warm-up / tuning for performance. Listen for directions.
4:00 pm CONCERT PERFORMANCE at the DOCK STAGE at Disney’s Marketplace.
After performance, change out of uniforms and re-load the buses. (Instruments should be made ready for the next day.)
5:00 pm After performance, transfer to MAGIC KINGDOM Park - * Park Hrs: 9am-10pm *
Disney Passport multi-day Ticket used for admission.
10:00 pm "WISHES" fireworks show over Cinderella’s Castle.
10:00 pm Park Closes – meet coaches for return to your hotel.
Meeting place to be announced.
11:00 pm Curfew. Overnight at the hotel (Private Security Guard on duty).
Friday – May 2
Concert Band performance/clinic day 2. This is the day to wear your KHS Band polo shirts with long blue jeans and tennis shoes all day, please.
7:30 am Full Breakfast buffet at hotel (included). Directors’ announcements.
9:00 am Enter the Disney’s EPCOT for the day – * Park Hrs: 9am-9pm *
Disney Passport multi-day Ticket used for admission.
12:30 pm Meet at motorcoaches for transfer to a Disney Entertains Rehearsal Building.
1:30 –
4:30pm Participate in "YOU’RE INSTRUMENTAL" WORKSHOP with Disney Staff.
After workshop, reload buses with instruments and music.
5:00 pm Return to EPCOT for the evening.
9:00 pm "IllumiNations" – a nighttime fireworks and laser show over the World Showcase Lagoon.
9:30 pm Park Closes – meet coaches for return to your hotel.
11:00 pm Curfew. Overnight at the hotel (Private Security Guard on duty).
Saturday – May 3
7:30 am Full Breakfast buffet at hotel (included). Directors’ announcements.
8:30 am Check out of hotel, load motorcoaches and depart hotel. Room checks done by chaperones/Directors. Turn-in all room keys, together, to them at this time.
9:00 am Enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios (MGM) for the day – * Park Hrs: 9am-9pm *
Disney Passport multi-day Ticket used for admission.
2:00 pm Mandatory check-in with chaperones/Directors. Location to be announced.
8:30 pm "FANTASMIC!" – nighttime spectacular live action fireworks show, near the Tower of Terror.
9:00 pm Park Closes; meet coaches and depart for home (driver change and fuel stop en route).
Sunday – May 4
Day of Travel (independent lunch and rest stops).
6 – 7 pm CST Approximate arrival back at King School with great memories of Florida!
Welcome Home!!
*Important Note: All times are approximate and listed in local time. Disney Operating Hours and Attraction Times are subject to change without notice. Florida is in the Eastern Time Zone – one hour AHEAD of Chicago. Don’t forget to change your watch!
* Itinerary subject to change based on Disney schedules
Customized Itinerary Prepared By:
VANGUARD TOUR SERVICE, INC.
(708) 895-0060
(800) 383-0061
Student Guidelines and Information
K.H.S. Band
Spring 2008 Band Tour
Florida Trip
April 29 – May 4
1. Student Expectations
We are ambassadors of Kankakee High School and the city of Kankakee. Students are expected to conduct themselves accordingly. The following guidelines have been established to ensure a safe and enjoyable educational experience for all students. All rules and consequences outlined in the Kankakee High School Student Handbook will be in effect throughout the Band tour.
- The use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, fireworks or other illegal substances will not be tolerated. Baggage will be checked upon arrival. Students found in violation will be sent back home to Kankakee by whatever means necessary (train, bus, parent) at the expense of the parent/family. No refunds will be issued in such case.
- Visitation – No visiting members of the opposite sex in their hotel rooms.
Visiting can be done in the pool area, lobby or other public areas. Of the same sex, there are to be no more than 8 people in one room at a time and the hotel room door for those rooms must be open while visiting. Students should only associate with Kankakee Band students and remember to stay in groups of three (3) or more. Students caught wandering in smaller groups will be absorbed by a chaperone for the rest of the day.
- Itinerary (attached) – Be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. We don’t have the time to wait for anyone who is late.
- Uniforms – Know what needs to be worn at all times. Full uniform will not be compromised; you must have everything down to the last accessory. Polos must be tucked in and jeans should be clean and properly fit. See packing list, below.
- Curfew – Students are to report to their rooms by 11:00 PM each evening. That is when curfew is set. This means that you are to be in your room and quiet for the night. Chaperones will visit each room and account for each student at this time.
- Head Counts – Throughout the course of the trip, chaperones will conduct head counts. These will occur at breakfast, during the day while sightseeing, at the theme park(s) and before bedtime. Chaperones must physically see each student so they can be accounted for.
- Chaperones – Students are expected to follow any instructions given by all chaperones and Directors while on tour. Students will be assigned to a certain chaperone (see attached room list) to check in with and to be responsible to throughout the tour. Insubordination will not be tolerated and will result in consequences upon return.
- Have fun and learn!
2. General Information
Hotel Services:
All long distance phone services will be cut-off to each room. Students will be able to call home using calling cards and their own cell phones. (Note – Hotels may attach a fee to any calls made using outside operators. There are numerous pay phones in the hotel that will help avoid this charge. Parents may also contact students in the rooms by phone.)
All pay-per-view movie services will be cut-off to each room.
No charging from rooms will be permitted for any hotel video games.
Luggage and Personal Belongings:
Due to the limited amount of space aboard the busses and the amount of percussion equipment we must take, each student will be allowed the following:
1 suitcase (medium size)
1 carry-on bag (small size)
instrument case(s)
garment bag for uniform
Packing list:
Concert Band Uniform in Garment Bag
Jacket, pants, collared white dress shirt (buttons all the way to the neckline), bowtie, cummerbund, black socks, black shoes, ALL clean and ironed
Informal Uniform
Polo, BLUE jeans, gym shoes
Warm-weather clothes for visiting amusement parks
Comfortable clothes for a 22-hour bus ride
Toiletries (hotel has hair dryers in each room already)
Swimsuits for evening at the hotel
“Boom boxes” or large radios/players will not be permitted on this trip.
Kankakee High School/District 111, Vanguard Tour Service, the hotel, the bus company or any other party associated with our tour will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.
Miscellaneous:
Throughout the course of this tour, students will have many different check-in times. Since we are on a tight itinerary, it is imperative that students are early for these times. Wear a watch to allow for prompt check-ins.
Students are required to partake of breakfasts throughout the tour. This will be a daily time when announcements will be made to the entire group.
Baggage checks may be made prior to loading the busses. (Female luggage would be checked by female chaperones and male luggage would be checked by male chaperones. Parents are invited to be present.)
We will be establishing a blog site for parent information and updates while we are on tour. This would be a good tool for notifying you of our Sunday afternoon return time so that you would be at King at a decent time. Blog address: khsband.blogspot.com
Bring enough money for lunches at the parks. Lunches can be expensive! Do not leave money in hotel rooms. Popular alternatives to cash are travelers’ checks or the VisaBuxx prepaid debit card. See www.visabuxx.com for more details.
Busses are coach-style, equipped with DVD players. Bring DVDs (PG-13 or lamer!) to your bus chaperones on Tuesday pre-labeled with your name. Chaperones will select what is viewed on each bus. Busses also have lavatories, which are to be used in extreme emergencies ONLY.
There will be seating charts in place for each bus. Students should be in those seats at least until attendance is taken.
Instruments should be clean and in proper working order before the trip. This includes having all reeds, mouthpieces, swabs, ligatures, valve oil, and cork grease in cases before you leave!
Music folders will be transported in a crate to avoid losing it. Please be sure you have ALL music in YOUR folder before it is collected next Tuesday.
3. Requirements
All students will be required to submit a permission slip and a medical release form before tour departure. These are due tonight.
Students must have made final payments toward the tour balance before departure. Check with a director or chaperone to make sure all payments are complete by the end of tonight’s meeting as well.