Who do I make my checks out to?
Checks should be made out to: Big Red Truck Tours
How many students normally go on the trip?
In the past, around 100 students have participated in the trip.
What is the ratio of students to chaperones?
According to the Board of Education Policy, out-of-state trips are required to have 1 adult for every 10 students. There have been times when our ratio has been 1 adult for every 8 students.
How many days of school will my child miss?
They will definitely miss the entire school day on Thursday, April 8, and Friday, April 9. For the amount of time missed on Wednesday, April 7, there are several factors. 1) What time is our flight? and 2) What airport are we flying out of? In the last two trips, the students have been in school for a portion of the day on that Wednesday. We try to leave as close to the end of the school day as possible. We will not know how much of the school day we will be here for until we acquire airfare. Students are responsible for all missed work and should make arrangements with their teachers in advance.
Do the students stay at a hotel on or off Disney property?
Historically, we stay in a hotel on Disney property. Our group typically stays at one of the value-level resorts, such as Disney's All-Star Sports, Music, or Disney's Pop Century Resort. While there are numerous hotels in Orlando, staying on Disney property gives us access to Disney Transportation to and from the parks, and Disney does a wonderful job accommodating our requests.
How many students are there per room?
Disney allows only 4 occupants per room. Students are allowed to select their "buddy" and make a suggestion on the other two occupants for the room. We generally honor those requests, although we reserve the right to place students in another room if needed.
How are prescription medications dealt with on the trip?
All medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, require doctor's orders for each medication. (Form 13A). Please see the Medications Page for more information. We do travel with a registered nurse who is with us for the entire trip. Please click here to download the PDF of the Medication Form. Each medication will require a separate Doctor's Order.
Will my child get to choose their chaperone?
No, students will not be able to choose their chaperone. We assign chaperones by room. Chaperones who have a student on the trip will be assigned their child's room. We do allow the students to make suggestions on who they want in their group. We try to accommodate those requests as often as possible, but we do try to balance out the groups.
What are the usual modes of transportation that are used to transport the group?
When we leave Sheehan, we typically leave on coach charter buses to travel to whichever airport we will be flying out of. We have flown out of Bradley, Providence, JFK, LaGuardia & Islip. We have flown on Southwest, Delta and JetBlue to the Orlando International Airport. Once we arrive, the group boards Disney's Magical Express to be transported to our resort hotel. We use two different types of buses while we are in Florida. For transportation to and from the parks, we use dedicated charter buses and Disney Transportation. We use Charter Buses to go to our performance warm-up areas and the performances.
Can I purchase Travel Insurance in case my student becomes ill and can not attend the trip?
Yes, through the travel agency that we work with, you can purchase travel insurance. Information regarding travel insurance will be available upon request. Travel Insurance
How many bags are students allowed to bring?
Students are allowed to bring one suitcase (under 50 lbs.) and one carry-one item. The music department supplies string backpacks embroidered with our department logo for each student on the trip to use in the parks. Students will also need garment bags for their performance apparel that will be transported on the truck. Marching Band members will use their band uniforms and the garment bags made specifically for the uniforms. Instrumentalists will also pack their instruments onto the equipment truck. Instruments are not allowed in the hotel rooms. Video-gaming systems are not allowed. We are not responsible for any electronic device in a students possession. They travel with them at their own risk.
Does my child need ID to fly?
Yes, all students will need a Connecticut issued ID or passport in order to travel with the group. Because they are not travelling with their parents, they are required to have ID. This makes going through TSA a hassle-free experience. Students who have not received their Learner's Permit, can get a Non-drivers ID from the DMV. Valid ID is a Driver's License, Learner's Permit, Non-Driver ID, or a passport that looks like the student. Since the teenage years are a time of great change, sometimes students no longer look like their Passport picture that they received when they were 10. School ID's are not valid. Please visit the CT DMV website for more information.
Can my child join the group in Florida?
No. According to Board of Education policy, students must travel with the group in order to participate in the trip.
Since we will be there, can we take our child off site to spend time with our family?
You can certainly visit the same park and spend time with your child inside that park. However, according to Board of Education policy, they can not leave our group activity. The only way that is possible is if you remove your child from the remainder of the trip. If this occurs, the student will no longer be able to participate in any group performances or activities; stay at our resort hotel or travel with our group on dedicated transportation, as they will then be in their families custody. No refunds will be granted in this situation.
How does everyone communicate during the trip?
All students who are traveling with the Sheehan Music Department will be required to join the Disney 2023 Google Classroom. All students will also need to turn notifications on for Google Classroom and download Google Hangouts and log in with their Wallingford Schools ID. All announcements and daily itinerary will be posted there. The music directors also check their school email frequently and encourage you to contact us if there is an issue. We are also using ClassTag for parents. We are hoping to post photos and other information during the trip.
Since the students are staying overnight at the resort, what security measures are in place for their safety?
Disney Resorts does an amazing job separating our students by floor (boys on one/girls on the other) and creatively placing chaperones within our block of rooms. We also hire dedicated security guards to patrol our hallways and make sure anyone who doesn't belong there moves along and that those who are part of our group, remain where they are. Our security guards are on duty from curfew till breakfast time the next morning. All Disney Resorts also have security for the resort. Every evening, chaperones make sure all students are in their correct rooms at curfew time.
Do the students stay in their chaperone groups in the parks?
Students stay in their chaperone groups while we are traveling to and from the parks. We do allow students to choose which rides they wish to go on. All students are required to stay with a group of students and ALL are required to check in with their chaperone frequently throughout the day. The chaperones designate specific times for check-in throughout the day. Before we leave the park, chaperones take attendance for their group.
How many meals are included in the trip?
Breakfast and dinner for the days that we are in Disney are included. Lunch is on their own. Meals while we are traveling are also on their own. All of the airports that we could potentially fly out of have extensive food choices available for travelers.
Has a student ever gone missing on the trip?
No, we have never had a student go missing. We have high expectations for our students' behavior and expect them to abide by the rules and expectations that we have set forth. We are constantly taking attendance.
How much time do the students get in the parks?
First and foremost, this is an educational performance trip. Our main concern is performance times. Our performances will take about 3-4 hours out of our performance day or days. Our itinerary is then built around the performances. We basically go to a park or parks everyday. All students are expected to attend all performances by either performing or being an audience member to support their peers.