The Blue Devils are headed to Disney World!
2020 Trip information - will be updated for 2021 trip once new information is finalized:
We have received our Workshop and Parade assignments!
The final details are falling into place!
The "You're Instrumental" student workshop will be Sunday, April 5 at Epcot.
We will spend the day at Epcot; instrumental students and staff will participate in the Workshop from 6:00 - 8:30 PM. Color Guard students that do not play an instrument will have the evening off to enjoy the park under the supervision of chaperones. Family members are not permitted to watch or attend the workshop.
The Parade will be Monday, April 6 at the Magic Kingdom.
We will be marching through the Magic Kingdom on Monday, April 6 in the 2:30 "Disney Festival of Fantasy" Pre-Parade (leading off the character parade).
The parade begins in Frontierland and ends at Town Square.
We will spend the morning rehearsing at the hotel on their practice field. Students will wear secondary uniforms and eat lunch at the hotel prior to departure for the Magic Kingdom. We will arrive backstage at the Magic Kingdom to change into uniforms and line up by 1:00. There may be two - four other bands participating in the same parade. Families are not permitted backstage in the service areas.
ALL STUDENTS and STAFF will participate in the Festival of Fantasy Parade. Families are not allowed to march with the band, but are encouraged to cheer us on and photograph the band along the parade route.
Click on the buttons below to see the parade route and the latest version of our itinerary (02.24.20). Please note that our itinerary is subject to change at any time. We will make every effort to keep you updated!
Where can we eat using meal vouchers? Click the buttons below!
A note about meal vouchers from our Tour Operator:
"Meal vouchers are not worth a set dollar value at the restaurants, but rather, good for one entrée, side, and drink. This is stated on the voucher. We will announce that students are to present the voucher before ordering to be sure they are ordering included items. For example, in Universal at Leaky Cauldron a sample of meals would be Fish and Chips, Specialty Chicken Sandwich with fries, Bangers & Mash (Sausage and mashed potatoes). At Hard Rock Café, some samples would be Burger, Cheeseburger, Veggie Burger, Chicken Tenders, Cheesy Mac, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Caesar Salad. The sandwiches include fries. At Louie’s Italian they can get things such as Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti, garlic breadstick and side salad, Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, breadstick and side salad, or jumbo pizza slice with breadstick and side salad. The walk up places are mostly sandwich/salad type offerings."
For full details of the Student/Chaperone package and both Fan Packages, click the buttons below or scroll down to the bottom of the page.
If your student WILL NOT be traveling to or from Orlando with the band on the buses, please let Mrs. Stark know by email as soon as possible.
Trip insurance is not included in the cost of the trip, but is a recommended optional purchase from a third party vendor. Policies vary by company and may cover cancellation due to illness, luggage loss, or other items as detailed in their individual policies. We strongly recommend that families research their trip insurance options, costs, the deadlines to purchase, and the items covered by the individual policy chosen. Neither Gull Lake Community Schools nor Explorer Tours sell trip insurance or endorses any specific insurance company; it is the responsibility of each traveler to decide if they wish to purchase trip insurance through the company of their choosing. Each company that provides trip insurance for purchase has their own specific rules, policies and coverage limitations, and it is up to the individual traveler(s) to understand the coverage that they have selected.
Explorer Tours offers a link to InsureMyTrip.com on their website as a convenient way to start researching available policies. Please click on the "Payment Schedule and Costs Per Person" button on the Trip Costs and Payments drop down page above for information about cancellation deadlines and penalties and trip insurance.
Important Dates for all Disney trip travelers:
CANCELLED Friday, March 20, 2020 at 7:00 PM - mandatory meeting for all travelers and parents
Paperwork may be turned in at the meeting or to the Band Office; all paperwork is due Friday, March 27 at 3:00
CANCELLED Friday, March 27, 2020 by 3:00 PM - all paperwork due to Mrs. Stark
CANCELLED Thursday, April 2, 2020, 5:00 - 6:00 PM - mandatory luggage drop for all travelers
CANCELLED Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM - mandatory meeting for all travelers and parents.
Final details and paperwork check before departure on Friday morning!
CANCELLED Friday, April 3, 2020 by 7:00 AM (call time to be confirmed)
All travelers arrive at GLHS for departure
We have received our Workshop and Parade assignments!
The final details are falling into place!
The "You're Instrumental" student workshop will be Sunday, April 5 at Epcot.
We will spend the day at Epcot; instrumental students and staff will participate in the Workshop from 6:00 - 8:30 PM. Color Guard students that do not play an instrument will have the evening off to enjoy the park under the supervision of chaperones. Family members are not permitted to watch or attend the workshop.
The Parade will be Monday, April 6 at the Magic Kingdom.
We will be marching through the Magic Kingdom on Monday, April 6 in the 2:30 "Disney Festival of Fantasy" Pre-Parade (leading off the character parade).
The parade begins in Frontierland and ends at Town Square.
We will spend the morning rehearsing at the hotel on their practice field. Students will wear secondary uniforms and eat lunch at the hotel prior to departure for the Magic Kingdom. We will arrive backstage at the Magic Kingdom to change into uniforms and line up by 1:00. There may be two - four other bands participating in the same parade. Families are not permitted backstage in the service areas.
ALL STUDENTS and STAFF will participate in the Festival of Fantasy Parade. Families are not allowed to march with the band, but are encouraged to cheer us on and photograph the band along the parade route.
Click on the buttons below to see the parade route and the latest version of our itinerary (02.24.20). Please note that our itinerary is subject to change at any time. We will make every effort to keep you updated!
Where can we eat using meal vouchers? Click the buttons below!
A note about meal vouchers from our Tour Operator:
"Meal vouchers are not worth a set dollar value at the restaurants, but rather, good for one entrée, side, and drink. This is stated on the voucher. We will announce that students are to present the voucher before ordering to be sure they are ordering included items. For example, in Universal at Leaky Cauldron a sample of meals would be Fish and Chips, Specialty Chicken Sandwich with fries, Bangers & Mash (Sausage and mashed potatoes). At Hard Rock Café, some samples would be Burger, Cheeseburger, Veggie Burger, Chicken Tenders, Cheesy Mac, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Caesar Salad. The sandwiches include fries. At Louie’s Italian they can get things such as Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti, garlic breadstick and side salad, Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, breadstick and side salad, or jumbo pizza slice with breadstick and side salad. The walk up places are mostly sandwich/salad type offerings."
For full details of the Student/Chaperone package and both Fan Packages, click the buttons below or scroll down to the bottom of the page.
If your student WILL NOT be traveling to or from Orlando with the band on the buses, please let Mrs. Stark know by email as soon as possible.
Trip insurance is not included in the cost of the trip, but is a recommended optional purchase from a third party vendor. Policies vary by company and may cover cancellation due to illness, luggage loss, or other items as detailed in their individual policies. We strongly recommend that families research their trip insurance options, costs, the deadlines to purchase, and the items covered by the individual policy chosen. Neither Gull Lake Community Schools nor Explorer Tours sell trip insurance or endorses any specific insurance company; it is the responsibility of each traveler to decide if they wish to purchase trip insurance through the company of their choosing. Each company that provides trip insurance for purchase has their own specific rules, policies and coverage limitations, and it is up to the individual traveler(s) to understand the coverage that they have selected.
Explorer Tours offers a link to InsureMyTrip.com on their website as a convenient way to start researching available policies. Please click on the "Payment Schedule and Costs Per Person" button on the Trip Costs and Payments drop down page above for information about cancellation deadlines and penalties and trip insurance.
Important Dates for all Disney trip travelers:
CANCELLED Friday, March 20, 2020 at 7:00 PM - mandatory meeting for all travelers and parents
Paperwork may be turned in at the meeting or to the Band Office; all paperwork is due Friday, March 27 at 3:00
CANCELLED Friday, March 27, 2020 by 3:00 PM - all paperwork due to Mrs. Stark
CANCELLED Thursday, April 2, 2020, 5:00 - 6:00 PM - mandatory luggage drop for all travelers
- Officer Kelm and a Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department K-9 drug dog will be searching all luggage, including carry-on bags
- Chaperones will be checking that all students have their personal uniform items for the parade and community concert packed in their luggage:
- black marching shoes
- black socks
- gloves
- secondary uniform performance shirt
- secondary uniform performance shorts
- khaki shorts and light blue GL Disney trip shirt for the community concert
- Color Guard items will be announced
- Once searched, all luggage, including carry-on bags, will be locked in the Choir Room until Friday morning
- Carry-on bags will be returned to travelers Friday morning when we load the buses
- Luggage loaded in the storage compartment beneath the buses will not be accessible until we check-in to hotel late Saturday afternoon
CANCELLED Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM - mandatory meeting for all travelers and parents.
Final details and paperwork check before departure on Friday morning!
CANCELLED Friday, April 3, 2020 by 7:00 AM (call time to be confirmed)
All travelers arrive at GLHS for departure
Links to discover Disney World:
Links to discover Universal Studios:
Links to discover Orlando and surrounding areas:
The deadline to commit to the trip is January 1, 2020. Full payment is due January 15, 2020.
All students, chaperones, and Fan Package participants must be registered by January 1, 2020. Please email Mrs. Stark if you have not registered yet or if you are unsure if your student or family is registered.
Mrs. Stark may be reached at: cstark@gulllakecs.org
Three packages are available: a Student/Chaperone package; Fan Package #1; and Fan Package #2.
All students and chaperones will register for the Student/Chaperone package. This package includes all transportation to and from Florida and during the trip by dedicated Cardinal Buses motor coaches; lodging at the Springhill by Marriott at Flamingo Crossings hotel; meals as indicated on the itinerary; admission to all four Disney theme parks, one Disney water park, both Universal Studios theme parks and a performance by Blue Man Group; participation in a Disney Parade, student music workshop and a community concert performance; instrument and uniform transport; and a t-shirt which will be worn during travel.
Cost per person for students on the Student/Chaperone package is $1500. This total is based upon the final number of participants and a student room occupancy rate of five/room. Credits earned from volunteering in the fall concession stand and the Peel-It Card fundraiser were calculated by the GLBPA Treasurer in late December. The final total due on January 15, 2020 reflects the final number of participants and any credits earned. Please see the Payment Schedule and Costs per Person page for complete cost and payment details. All families have been emailed an individual statement of account. Please contact Mrs. Stark immediately if you did not receive an account statement. The Student/Chaperone package is not customizable; there will be not refunds for any portion of the package that is unused.
Cost per person for chaperones on the Student/Chaperone package varies according to the room occupancy rate requested. Chaperones, please check your email for more details.
Fan Package #1 includes the same features as the Student/Chaperone package with the exception of transportation. Fan Package #1 participants must arrange for their own transportation to and from Florida and while on the trip. Fans will not participate in the Parade, the student music workshop or the community concert performance, although all are welcome as Parade and concert spectators!
Cost per person for Fan Package #1 varies according to the number of room occupants. Please see the Payment Schedule and Costs per Person page for complete cost and payment details. Fan Package #1 is not customizable; there will be no refunds for any portion of the package that is unused.
Fan Package #2 includes admission tickets for all four Disney theme parks, one Disney water park, both Universal Studios theme parks and a performance by Blue Man Group. No transportation, meals or lodging is provided with Fan Package #2. The cost per person for Fan Package #2 is $550. Please see the Payment Schedule and Costs per Person page for complete cost and payment details. Fan Package #2 is not customizable; there will be no refunds for any portion of the package that is unused.
Full details of all three packages can be found by clicking the button above. Please note that the packages are not customizable; there will be no refunds for any portion of a package that is unused.
A copy of the April 18 Informational Meeting handout is above. Any information distributed since the April 18 meeting supersedes the information provided at the initial meeting.
All students, chaperones, and Fan Package participants must be registered by January 1, 2020. Please email Mrs. Stark if you have not registered yet or if you are unsure if your student or family is registered.
Mrs. Stark may be reached at: cstark@gulllakecs.org
Three packages are available: a Student/Chaperone package; Fan Package #1; and Fan Package #2.
All students and chaperones will register for the Student/Chaperone package. This package includes all transportation to and from Florida and during the trip by dedicated Cardinal Buses motor coaches; lodging at the Springhill by Marriott at Flamingo Crossings hotel; meals as indicated on the itinerary; admission to all four Disney theme parks, one Disney water park, both Universal Studios theme parks and a performance by Blue Man Group; participation in a Disney Parade, student music workshop and a community concert performance; instrument and uniform transport; and a t-shirt which will be worn during travel.
Cost per person for students on the Student/Chaperone package is $1500. This total is based upon the final number of participants and a student room occupancy rate of five/room. Credits earned from volunteering in the fall concession stand and the Peel-It Card fundraiser were calculated by the GLBPA Treasurer in late December. The final total due on January 15, 2020 reflects the final number of participants and any credits earned. Please see the Payment Schedule and Costs per Person page for complete cost and payment details. All families have been emailed an individual statement of account. Please contact Mrs. Stark immediately if you did not receive an account statement. The Student/Chaperone package is not customizable; there will be not refunds for any portion of the package that is unused.
Cost per person for chaperones on the Student/Chaperone package varies according to the room occupancy rate requested. Chaperones, please check your email for more details.
Fan Package #1 includes the same features as the Student/Chaperone package with the exception of transportation. Fan Package #1 participants must arrange for their own transportation to and from Florida and while on the trip. Fans will not participate in the Parade, the student music workshop or the community concert performance, although all are welcome as Parade and concert spectators!
Cost per person for Fan Package #1 varies according to the number of room occupants. Please see the Payment Schedule and Costs per Person page for complete cost and payment details. Fan Package #1 is not customizable; there will be no refunds for any portion of the package that is unused.
Fan Package #2 includes admission tickets for all four Disney theme parks, one Disney water park, both Universal Studios theme parks and a performance by Blue Man Group. No transportation, meals or lodging is provided with Fan Package #2. The cost per person for Fan Package #2 is $550. Please see the Payment Schedule and Costs per Person page for complete cost and payment details. Fan Package #2 is not customizable; there will be no refunds for any portion of the package that is unused.
Full details of all three packages can be found by clicking the button above. Please note that the packages are not customizable; there will be no refunds for any portion of a package that is unused.
A copy of the April 18 Informational Meeting handout is above. Any information distributed since the April 18 meeting supersedes the information provided at the initial meeting.
