August 31 update - Disney trip information
Seniors Disney refunds have been processed and mailed to families of Seniors who graduated in 2020 and are no longer eligible to particiate in the Disney trip.
We continue to work with our tour operator, Explorer Tours, and Disney Youth Programs administration to solidify the details of our rescheduled trip. At this time, our applications for a parade and workshop slot are confirmed in the Disney system, and we hope to receive a rescheduled slot for a modified performance option once group performances are reinstated at the Disney parks. Disney Youth Programs is still working on new plans for youth performances in the Disney parks. Our hotel and transportation has been rescheduled to the new dates (March 26 - April 2, 2021). Our tour operator continues to research options for our community performance. Many questions remain, as the COVID-19 situation across the country, but especially in Florida, remains fluid. We appreciate your patience as we work through the details of safety, logistics and costs.
Funds paid toward the 2020 trip will remain in each traveler's account for their 2021 trip. Final trip cost may be adjusted from 2020 rates due to Disney and Universal park price changes and the number of 2021 travelers. New this year - students will not be required to participate in all three trimesters of Band to be eligible for the 2021 trip. At this time, all other trip parameters, such as cancellation deadlines and penalties, trip insurance, paperwork requirements, etc, remain the same as for the 2020 trip. We will host a virtual parent meeting this fall to discuss the Spring Break 2021 trip details - watch for updates!
June 9 update - Disney trip information
Our plans to reschedule the 2020 Disney trip remain on hold while the Disney Corporation begins to re-open following the COVID-19 shutdown. Work continues behind the scenes to secure refunds for our graduating seniors. We appreciate your patience while we work through the process; we will keep you updated as soon as more details are available!
2020 Trip information - will be updated for 2021 trip once new information is finalized:
Important Dates for all 2020 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
Disney Trip Required Paperwork - links to forms
All Disney trip travelers, including all students and adult volunteer chaperones, are required to complete and return a paperwork packet before departure. This packet includes:
GLCS Responsibility Contract for Overnight Trips
GLCS Parent Consent for Trip
Medical Forms Review Sheet
* GLCS Trip Medical Form
* GLCS Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form for Self-Administration/Self-Possession
* GLHS Marching Band Over the Counter Medications Permission Form
* GLHS Marching Band Photo/Media Release Form
The four documents marked with a * above are part of the 2019-2020 Marching Band paperwork. We will be using these documents for the Disney trip.
If their student's information has changed since completing the Marching Band packet, parents will need to complete a new form.
It is critical that all information, but especially emergency contact information, current medications and insurance information is accurate. If a student has been prescribed a new prescription medication since originally completing the "Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form for Self-Administration/Self-Possession", a physician's signature on the new form is required.
In the event of an emergency, it is essential that we know how to reach you. If you will also be traveling during our trip, please ensure that we have a phone number where you can be reached.
No traveler will be permitted to participate in the Disney trip without a completed paperwork packet on file. There will be no exceptions or refunds for any traveler who has not submitted the required paperwork prior to the trip.
If your student WILL NOT be traveling to or from Orlando with the band on the buses, please let Mrs. Stark by email know as soon as possible. Because we pay for each seat on the bus, there is no reduction in the package price for any student who elects to travel with their family rather than on the buses.
Reminder about Trip Insurance:
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.
Seniors Disney refunds have been processed and mailed to families of Seniors who graduated in 2020 and are no longer eligible to particiate in the Disney trip.
We continue to work with our tour operator, Explorer Tours, and Disney Youth Programs administration to solidify the details of our rescheduled trip. At this time, our applications for a parade and workshop slot are confirmed in the Disney system, and we hope to receive a rescheduled slot for a modified performance option once group performances are reinstated at the Disney parks. Disney Youth Programs is still working on new plans for youth performances in the Disney parks. Our hotel and transportation has been rescheduled to the new dates (March 26 - April 2, 2021). Our tour operator continues to research options for our community performance. Many questions remain, as the COVID-19 situation across the country, but especially in Florida, remains fluid. We appreciate your patience as we work through the details of safety, logistics and costs.
Funds paid toward the 2020 trip will remain in each traveler's account for their 2021 trip. Final trip cost may be adjusted from 2020 rates due to Disney and Universal park price changes and the number of 2021 travelers. New this year - students will not be required to participate in all three trimesters of Band to be eligible for the 2021 trip. At this time, all other trip parameters, such as cancellation deadlines and penalties, trip insurance, paperwork requirements, etc, remain the same as for the 2020 trip. We will host a virtual parent meeting this fall to discuss the Spring Break 2021 trip details - watch for updates!
June 9 update - Disney trip information
Our plans to reschedule the 2020 Disney trip remain on hold while the Disney Corporation begins to re-open following the COVID-19 shutdown. Work continues behind the scenes to secure refunds for our graduating seniors. We appreciate your patience while we work through the process; we will keep you updated as soon as more details are available!
2020 Trip information - will be updated for 2021 trip once new information is finalized:
Important Dates for all 2020 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
Disney Trip Required Paperwork - links to forms
All Disney trip travelers, including all students and adult volunteer chaperones, are required to complete and return a paperwork packet before departure. This packet includes:
GLCS Responsibility Contract for Overnight Trips
GLCS Parent Consent for Trip
Medical Forms Review Sheet
* GLCS Trip Medical Form
* GLCS Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form for Self-Administration/Self-Possession
* GLHS Marching Band Over the Counter Medications Permission Form
* GLHS Marching Band Photo/Media Release Form
The four documents marked with a * above are part of the 2019-2020 Marching Band paperwork. We will be using these documents for the Disney trip.
If their student's information has changed since completing the Marching Band packet, parents will need to complete a new form.
It is critical that all information, but especially emergency contact information, current medications and insurance information is accurate. If a student has been prescribed a new prescription medication since originally completing the "Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form for Self-Administration/Self-Possession", a physician's signature on the new form is required.
In the event of an emergency, it is essential that we know how to reach you. If you will also be traveling during our trip, please ensure that we have a phone number where you can be reached.
No traveler will be permitted to participate in the Disney trip without a completed paperwork packet on file. There will be no exceptions or refunds for any traveler who has not submitted the required paperwork prior to the trip.
If your student WILL NOT be traveling to or from Orlando with the band on the buses, please let Mrs. Stark by email know as soon as possible. Because we pay for each seat on the bus, there is no reduction in the package price for any student who elects to travel with their family rather than on the buses.
Reminder about Trip Insurance:
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.
New forms required for ALL travelers - due Friday, March 27 by 3:00 PM
New forms required:
- for students if original information has changed since Band Camp
- for all adult volunteers
- due Friday, March 27 by 3:00 PM
Interested in ordering a Fan Shirt to wear during your Disney trip?
This year’s Disney Spring Break trip shirts will be a standard weight, 100% cotton, unisex crew neck t-shirt in bright pink. A Disney trip design will be printed on the front pocket area and on the back in black. Thank you to Mackenzie Eckelbecker for submitting this year’s chosen Disney shirt design: an outline of Cinderella’s Castle with the GL Bands logo in the castle entryway.
All students will receive a Disney trip shirt as part of their Disney trip fee. All student travelers will wear this shirt on both travel days – Friday/Saturday (April 3-4) on the way to Florida and Thursday/Friday (April 9-10) on the way home from Florida. Matching bright pink shirts will ensure that students are easy to spot when we stop for rest stops and meals.
We will order student shirts based on the size submitted on the 2019 Band Camp registration forms. You do not need to place an order for student shirts.
If families would like a Disney trip fan shirt to wear while cheering us along the Magic Kingdom parade route, you may order additional shirts by clicking the button below.
The cost per shirt for sizes Youth Small – Youth Large is $10 and Adult Small – Adult XL is $15.
Please add $2 per shirt for Adult XXL, $4 for XXXL, $6 for XXXXL sizes.
Please return order form with payment (cash or check made out to Gull Lake High School) no later than March 10, 2020. Orders will be distributed on March 30.
All students will receive a Disney trip shirt as part of their Disney trip fee. All student travelers will wear this shirt on both travel days – Friday/Saturday (April 3-4) on the way to Florida and Thursday/Friday (April 9-10) on the way home from Florida. Matching bright pink shirts will ensure that students are easy to spot when we stop for rest stops and meals.
We will order student shirts based on the size submitted on the 2019 Band Camp registration forms. You do not need to place an order for student shirts.
If families would like a Disney trip fan shirt to wear while cheering us along the Magic Kingdom parade route, you may order additional shirts by clicking the button below.
The cost per shirt for sizes Youth Small – Youth Large is $10 and Adult Small – Adult XL is $15.
Please add $2 per shirt for Adult XXL, $4 for XXXL, $6 for XXXXL sizes.
Please return order form with payment (cash or check made out to Gull Lake High School) no later than March 10, 2020. Orders will be distributed on March 30.
Important Dates for all Disney trip travelers:
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
Friday, March 27, 2020 by 3:00 PM - all paperwork due to Mrs. Stark
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 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
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!
Friday, April 3, 2020 by 7:00 AM (call time to be confirmed)
All travelers arrive at GLHS for departure
