I need your help and advice...My daughter's high school choir is traveling to Disneyland for a music festival Memorial Day weekend. Of course, I'm going too! My problem is how to enjoy myself, and also help keep track of 50 teenagers??? I think each adult will have 6-8 bodies to "watch". But it's still a large group going.

Has anyone else gone with a group of teens? How did you make it fun for everyone, and keep track of who is where?

Designated check in times and points, Tape for securing their hotel room doors...no it won't keep the doors from opening but it'll tell you who violated leaving the room after curfew. Cell phones are nice and the buddy system works. When my niece went over winterbreak they had groups of 3 and 3 groups to a chaparone, they had to check in with the chaparone every 2 hours with a 30 minute window...meaning they could check in at 1:45 minutes up to 2:15 minutes, if they missed the window they had to STAY with the chaparone for the next two hour window...only one group missed a check in..

I agree with Mamma Silva, back in my own teenage years I was in a youth group, before cell phones and the designated check in times worked, with the penalty of course. This also worked with both of My older kids' classes, at Marine World for 8th grade grad trips. Buddy system, caught without a buddy get to stay with the chaperone....... 2 is good but 3 is better, any prob.... 1 can get help, one can stay with friend.

My husband and I saw an elementary school 4th or 5th grade, last year at DL, they were doing the buddy system but there was also a chaperone, permanately fixed at city hall for them if needed. I think they traded shifts.

Cell phones are an easy way to check in. I also like the idea that if they don't, they get to stay with me! I think the parents will work together in pairs to keep track of the kids.

The tape is another great idea, but does it really keep them in the room?

The tape is another great idea, but does it really keep them in the room?No, BUT, they cannot retape from the outside and it tells you who violated rules.

I just checked with my niece and she said the kids that had ground floor rooms they taped the doors AND the windows ( they were at a open motel not hotel with inside halls) with tape. Any room that had their 'seal' broken lost priveleges for the day and had to stay with the main chaparone. She said ONE room broke their tape and tried to say it wasn't their fault, didn't matter those kids lost their priveleges for the day...they self policed for the most part.

The reason I asked was last year there was a problem with girls sneaking out of the rooms to meet boys, and if it happens again NO more trips! The choir teacher wants the group to be able to travel, but safely, of course.

From what I hear the hotel has outdoor walkways and us parents might have to patrol during the night. I'm not thrilled about spending a busy day with the Memorial Day crowds, having a group check in every 2 hours, AND being a night security watch! There must be a easier way!! I hope the tape works. Or I will be very tired and grumpy.

Write a contract....spell the rules and the proceedures out in detail and discuss it with the choir before the trip, have each child AND their parent sign off that they've read the rules and really enforce it that they are in fact each others keepers cuz ONE kid can cause 3 or more to lose all their priveleges for the day and ruin any future trips for everyone. Explain that there will be 'no second chances' they want to be respected as young adults, they have to step up to the challenge of being responsible young adults.

Make all the kids aware that ANY room breaks the rules, ALL in the room are punished. Also, give all the kids YOUR room number and explain how to call your room if someone in their room violates. It does work.

I don't know if this will help, but I was a 4-H camp director and it helped my groups a lot to have ALL the rules spelled out ahead of time!
They were read OUT loud to everyone including adults. My rule was break my rules and MOM and DAD get THE phone call to come drive 5hrs to pick you up!
Guy or girl meet=phone call/any banned substances=phone call as did fighting etc. AND they all knew I would DO IT!
Not bad for a 16yr old! NO one broke the rules that year! YEA.(fear works good)
the year before people(kids/adults too) got busted drinking and our camp was in danger of not being any more.
So I took over and promised nothing would happen and everyone knew I MEANT IT.

The tape on door works really well! Had to do this for a DC trip! Way effective!

don't know if any of that helped at all . But RULE reading by everyone helps, because no one can say they were not told!

Thanks for all of the great advice!!

I will pass this info on to the choir director.

I take high school groups 1-2 times per year.

I have a printed list of my expectations for their behavior in the park. It also has the check in times/locations and chaperones' cell phone numbers. If you'd like me to send it to you, PM your email address to me.

The kids have to study my expectations and pass a quick oral quiz before they receive their park ticket.

I have index cards prenumbered with group numbers. The groups write their names and cell phone numbers on the card, and I take a digital picture of each group. The large group number on the card in the picture would make it easy for me to find the right card if I ever need to find information. The picture would be easy to show to security if I ever lose a student. I've never needed to use either, but it's nice to have.

During the day I require that everyone either has a cell phone or is with someone who does. I do not allow the kids to check in via cell phone. They could be miles away and I'd never know it.

We have two check in times during the day, 2:00 and 6:00. I selected the times to have the least impact on show viewing. The check in locations are the flag pole at DL and the sunshine fountain in DCA.

I don't assign chaperones to groups of kids. We post chaperones at each location and then the chaperones check with each other via cell phones to be sure we got everyone. This saves everyone from parkhopping just for a check-in. All chaperones have a copy of the complete roster. Kids are often 20 minutes early to check-in.

At the end of the night we meet at the N in the CALIFORNIA sign in front of DCA.

For my trips we spend the nights on the bus. I have chaperoned at motels before and the tape is a good idea. Be aware, though, that pizza delivery drivers will gladly retape the doors for kids.

I know that some chaperones have hired a security guard to sit in the motel hallway all night. It's an inexpensive way to keep the kids in and get your sleep. If you decide to go this route, a local school can likely recommend one of their security personnel for the job.

I hope you have a great trip!

I know that some chaperones have hired a security guard to sit in the motel hallway all night. It's an inexpensive way to keep the kids in and get your sleep. If you decide to go this route, a local school can likely recommend one of their security personnel for the job.

I hope you have a great trip!

You have nailed it. We deal with groups of 400 to 500 at a time in our liveaboard program. We have guards all night long. We have parents watch kids, and guards watch them both. It works. Any idea how easy it for a kid to find a hiding place on an Aircraft Carrier.

Keep up the good work.

I need your help and advice...My daughter's high school choir is traveling to Disneyland for a music festival Memorial Day weekend. Of course, I'm going too! My problem is how to enjoy myself, and also help keep track of 50 teenagers??? I think each adult will have 6-8 bodies to "watch". But it's still a large group going.

Has anyone else gone with a group of teens? How did you make it fun for everyone, and keep track of who is where?



Valium! :fez:

With the two hour check in policy, you could add the rule that if they see another chaperone, they can check in with that chaperone, and that adult can call your cell and confirm yout kids are ok. Basically a buddy system between the adults.

I've done scoutting trips with boys. #1 deterent was the threat that an angry parent was going to have to drive several hours and pick them up if the kid misbehaved.

If you are using the tape thing, someone still should wake up every few hours and check. It won't do you any good to know someone left their room at midnight when you wake up at 8 and they are still gone.

If you are staying multiple nights, confiscate room keys and inform the front desk only chaperones can get duplicates. That way no sneaking back between check ins.

When my kids performed at DL with their marching band (130+) it was just a day trip but we had chaperones check in at the First Aid Stations every 4 hours to make sure we didn't have any issues. The kids had to be under the bridge to Toontown at a designated time and then at the bus by a certain time. They were told the chaperones were walking the park and if they saw any of our kids misbehaving they would face consequences back at school. The chaperones made it a point to say Hi to our kids thru out the day so they knew we saw them. We had one kid in 6 years act up and he was sent home immediately (parents were called to come pick him up).

When the kids traveled to Hawaii and Washington DC they did the tape and were told they would be sent home early if they misbehaved.

My rule was break my rules and MOM and DAD get THE phone call to come drive 5hrs to pick you up!

I have found this to be very effective in the past. Not only do the kids wish to avoid missing the remainder of the trip, but imagine what HELL it must be on that long ride back home!

Can't comment on the door taping, because my experience was with only teenage boys, so it wasn't an issue. Just make sure that they cannot access any "adult" movies on the TV!

We did the 2 hour cell phone check-in. We didn't really worry so much about them leaving the park (again, young teens). We grouped the kids into three's, and each chaperone had two groups. As chaperones, several of us hung out, so there was always immediate assistance in wrangling a wayward group. And the thought of hanging out with a bunch of parents was truly unbearable to the kids, so I only recall one violation (a kid whose parent was a chaperone!). We managed to have a good time, because there was always another parent to "cover" you if you went on a ride. Another chaperone would "babysit" your cell phone.

Anyway, it must sound daunting, but most kids really do want to cooperate and have a good time. I'm sure the choir director could easily pinpoint those who might require a little bit of extra watching!

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Thanks for all of your great ideas!! I passed them on to the choir director, and he will let all of the adults know "the plan" at our next parent meeting.

We are flying from Portland,Oregon, so if anyone needs to go home the parent pays for the plane ticket. I hope that helps keep everyone on their best behavior:)

My friend has never been to DCA, so I'm treating her at Rita's Baja Blenders one afternoon;)

I have chaperoned at motels before and the tape is a good idea. Be aware, though, that pizza delivery drivers will gladly retape the doors for kids.

I just had an idea. What if you used painter's tape, and tore it halfway before sealing it on both sides? That way it would be visibly broken in the morning, and couldn't be re-taped in any way.

That's another good idea! I was thinking multiple pieces of tape, like one on top-side-bottom. Then it would be no doubt if it was broke.

My DH and I chaperoned the graduating senior class on a trip to Disneyland for 6 years. The hotel that ended up working best for us was Embassy Suites. They have their own security guard on duty that really helped us keep an eye on the kids. Because the kids couldn’t be in any room but their own we had a “hospitality” room where the kids could come get sandwiches, snacks, and drinks or just hang out with each other. There was always a chaperone in that room also. We didn’t make them check in with us in the theme park, but we did have at least one chaperone at a designated meeting place at all times.

~Karin

Okay All...I'm going with about 45 Teenagers next week for a Choir Festival.

You have given me tips on where to meet, inside and outside of the Parks. How to "tape" the motel room doors, to keep them in at night. Is there any other helpful tips to make this a smooth trip???:rolleyes: We have our last Parent Meeting tomorrow/Thurs. It looks like we will have 1 adult to every 5-6 kids. The Choir Director has been asking if my "Disney Friends" have anything else to add.;)

I'm sure you'll have a great trip!!! If you want me to send you the expectations sheet we give them at the gate (and quiz them on before handing over tickets) PM your email address to me. I'd copy/paste it here but it's a full sheet of text.