Hi all! So it looks I am going to be taking a part-time accompanist position for a local high school, and they are going to UOR in April. Anyone have any experience with chaperoning musical groups to UOR? Just curious how it typically goes and where the groups typically stay. Coincidentally this trip ends just as my bounce back trip to Disney starts - perfect timing! 
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Yep. Our school band went two years ago and it went great. We stayed at Cabana Bay. Groups typically stay there, Endless Summer, and probably the sister hotels on the south campus.
Weāll be going in early 2027 again.
Iāve got lots of info if you need anything.
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Thanks! I will find out more when I go into school this week, and Iām sure Iāll have questions for you during the school year about this! 
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We will be staying at Universal for three nights. 2 day park to park to park tickets (supposedly including epic in that) will be provided. Any idea how much park time there realistically will be, though? Arrival is late afternoon/evening with no parks that night. The next morning the kids will have a masterclass with the rest of the day free. The second morning they will sing in the competition with the awards ceremony that night. The next morning is get up to travel back home. So looks like two partial days? This trip transitions into my solo trip already planned at Disney, but Iām contemplating adding my own day or two at Universal.
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Thatās not much time, especially with Epic. Our last trip we did 3 nights, but had 4 day tickets. Park first evening, morning performance second day then free, whole third day free besides a group dinner, then a morning or so for parks the fourth day. This was ideal, meant to be that way because we only go once every four years. I can see a shorter trip if a school goes more frequent.
Definitely prioritize parks and attractions. I would go to Epic for the day, after the masterclass. USF/IOA the second day. Some kids probably have visited USF/IOA before, but probably not EU. Because of that, and that itās brand new I would definitely lean to Epic for the longer day.
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I was surprised to hear Epic is included. Not sure yet how many kids I will personally be responsible for during park time or how the director is going to organize that, but the plan of Epic on the first day and then the other two parks on the second day makes sense.
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Donāt be afraid to give suggestions to the director. They are usually glad for a parent willing enough and cares about the planning part to get involved.
I got our director/group to get up extra early, skip the free breakfast at the hotel and rope drop IOA last trip.
Next time Iām suggesting a group night ride right before close on Hagridās on arrival day. 
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Thanks! Please keep and all suggestions and recommendations coming! The director hasnāt been to Universal since she was in high school which would have been at least 12 years ago.
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Will do.
Yes, there are 2 day tickets available including Epic. I see groups are blocked out 3/30-4/5.
Iād ask for the detailed itinerary, if you donāt have it. That would help you make recommendations.
Has trip registration ended?
I was able to help with trip flyers, registration forms, attraction priority lists, etc.
The park tickets & gift cards for dining were mailed ahead of time so we were able to get organized with the lanyards and touring groups before the trip.
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We are going the weekend post Easter, so we will also be dealing with residual Easter break crowds. On arrival night, the director had made reservations for everyone to attend a medieval dinner-theater style event followed by the two full days for choir activities and parks. Everyone is really going to have to pick and choose just a few priorities in each park, I think. There just isnāt going to be much time to do a whole lot at all especially with the possible crowds still.
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@eightyeightkeys
If it were me, I would focus my park time on Epic and mayyyybbbbe US/ IoA if that is of interest. But if many of the kids have been to the park before, I might even opt for a second go at Epic.
With the layout of Epic it looks easier to manage the group.
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Update on the choir tripā¦ the group of kids going isnāt large enough to provide more than one ticket package for a chaperone which will understandably go to the choir director. With fundraising and such, the director is planning to cover some of my expenses, but with the number of parents also going as chaperones (paying themselves), my only responsibilities will be to accompany the choir at the masterclass and then, of course, at the performance. So, there are a few ways to go about this. I could officially be part of the group package and stay with them at Cabana Bay for 3 nights with a 3 day/3 park ticket including Epic, or I could make my own reservations and stay wherever I want and just meet up with them for the required activities. Surprisingly, Terra Luna is the cheapest resort that week, and I could stay there 4 nights instead of their 3 and renew my annual pass for just $100 more total than the 3 night/3 day package with the choir. That would cut me out of Epic, though, but I spent two days there this past August. Decisions, decisionsā¦that need to be made rather quicklyā¦
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Are you from Florida?
Nice! You sure have flexibility now.
Great to hear that they are now doing 3 days!
Funny that youāre with a choir group. Currently, our schoolās choir director is obsessing about ājoining the bandā for our next trip. The problem is that the choir isnāt set up like the band, there is not a parent fundraising group. And choir directors here never really did fundraising before. They typically go to NYC for a musical day trip.
Our band has a band parent organization (specifically for the marching band), a separate entity actually. We do big fundraisers regularly and have a lot of parent volunteers. Our last trip, all chaperones got half off their trip costs. I think we had 6.
Saying this to say it might get interesting because the choir director currently has no one to help plan or organize the trip for her students.
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I believe there are 21 kids signed up to go on the trip and, no, we are not from Florida. Hmm.. where did you find the info about the chaperone tickets? If the choir is getting two complimentary chaperone tickets, Iām very curious who will be getting the second, but the director did tell me they were only eligible for one chaperone ticket. And, this choir I play for sounds similar to the choir at your school. No big parent support group like with the band, and I think she only has two fundraisers planned.
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From this page, Universal Orlando ādownload 2026 ratesā
Actually there are more details on the 2025 order form:
Itās possible that a travel agency changed the number of free tickets. They can set their own rules.
Universal does allow self-planning and cutting out the travel agent.
I found out the choir is participating in a different program. Here is a link.
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The masterclass and performance venue is at a college about 20 minutes away from Universal. The choir and chaperones are taking a bus from Cabana Bay to the venue. Which, if I stay at a separate resort, I would either have to drive myself or get to Cabana Bay to catch the bus with the group. 
It would be a lot easier if everything was just right there at Universal.
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Oh I see!
It is neat to perform at the CityWalk stage, oh well. Even though we marched through USF, we also caught a band performing at the stage one evening.
Yes, I was hoping we were performing at Universal instead of off-site, but I know the kids will have a blast regardless. It just makes my decisions a little tougher to weigh out. I will have a car there since Iām doing a solo Disney trip immediately after the choir trip, so Iām waffling between staying at Cabana Bay or staying at Terra Luna on my own for an extra night prior to everyone else getting there and renewing my pass (which they still donāt include EPICā¦I wonder when they will? ). I know Terra Luna is farthest away from the original parks, but it is significantly cheaper per night.
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