London New Year’s Day 2015
Trip Information
Parent & Student Meeting
August 25, 2014
Travel Details
Depart Sunday December 28, 2014
Return Sunday January 4, 2015
Times will be afternoon and evening
using multiple airlines including Delta,
British Airways, and United
Valid Passports and Visa’s are
required
Includes 1 Checked Bag up to 50
pounds and Shipping of Instrument
Economy Travel
Also includes transfers to and from
London Airports
Tour, Travel, & Hotel Groups
Due to schedules, students will sign up for tour
groups based on their performance requirements
for the trip.
Tour groups are based on a 2 chaperone per 7-8
student ratio (give or take) based on performance
group sizes. Can be co-ed.
The groups will be:
Chorus (2 to 3 groups)
Orchestra (2 to 3 groups)
Non-Marching Wind Ensemble (1 to 2 groups)
Marching Wind Ensemble (6 to 7 groups)
Marching Band (18 to 20 groups)
Students will need to be in hotel rooms with
people in their tour groups (there will be some
exceptions for odd numbers and Male / Female)
Chaperones & Student Sign-ups (be
understanding)
Packing for Travel
Everyone is allowed 1 personal sized carry-on
and one small roll-aboard carry on, plus 1
checked bag. In some cases, instruments are
one of these carry-on items.
Flutes, Oboes, & Clarinets: can fit your
instruments into your carry-on items, or your
instrument counts as your personal item
Trumpets, Alto Saxes, Violins, & Violas: your
instruments count as your “roll-aboard”
carry-on.
All other instruments will be packed and
shipped prior to travel. This includes sticks
and mallets. Cellos, Bass, and non-marching
percussion will be provided in London.
Packing of instruments will occur on Monday
December 15. Return will occur around
January 12 & 13 (All State Audition Conflict).
Seating on the Plane
To every extent as possible, we will travel by
tour groups. This way the chaperone(s)
responsible for your children on the trip are
not having to switch students.
We will do our best to put family members on
the same planes with their students, but are
limited to seat availability.
We don’t get extra seats, so each seat they
give us must be filled. We can’t negotiate for
different numbers of seats on flights.
Trip Extensions & Land-Only people will have
an affect on groups and seat availability.
Tour groups will sit together first so that
chaperone responsibility is easiest. Families
will sit around as much as possible.
Travel Extensions & Land-Only Packages
Anyone who is booking their own flight is
considered Land-Only.
Trip extensions occurring prior to the travel
dates must be considered Land-Only because
all flight itineraries booked by the LNYDP
must have the same departure day.
Trip extensions occurring after the travel
dates can be booked as full packages. You
will need to send me your desired return date
and the LNYDP will book the return flight and
charge any necessary surcharges based on
increased fares.
The LNYDP folks can also assist with flight
plans if you are wanting to extend after in a
different location.
Land Only Package people are responsible for
transfers to and from airports.
Getting Around London
Travel by Motor Coach only when
indicated in the itinerary.
At all other times, travel is by the
London Subway or “Tube”.
It’s a lot easier than it looks… just
move fast and MIND THE GAP!
Hotel is located within a one block
walk from the Edgware Road Tube
stations for the District, Circle, and
Bakerloo lines.
Always allow 45 minutes travel time
by tube to get anywhere on-time as
delays can occur.
The Tube
The Hotel
Hotel Information
Three Towers. Students & Chaperones will
stay in the East Tower, Family members in the
West Tower, and Staff in the North Tower.
We will have a private room for dining and
meeting.
Rehearsal Rooms for all LNYDP rehearsals are
at this hotel, so no travel is needed.
Dr. Tim Seminar will be at this hotel.
5 other bands will also be at this hotel
including Fleming Island, FL, and Greater
Atlanta Christian.
WiFi Policy
Cadogan Hall
Wind Ensemble & Orchestra (tenative)
performance on Tuesday December 30.
Members will have a scheduled rehearsal
in the hall in the afternoon that day.
Instruments will be left there until
performance time.
There is a warm-up room.
Seating for the performance is somewhat
limited. Choir members and parents of
performers will have first priority. I
imagine we will be able to take around
100 people to the performance.
Performance length for our group will be
20 – 25 minutes, 4 songs. 6 groups
perform that night. This is the second
night of performances and the last night.
Anne Martin will be playing a concerto
written for wind band and oboe.
Westminster Central Hall
Site of the London International Choral
Festival. Six Choirs (including ours) will be
participating.
Members will have scheduled rehearsals
on December 31 and January 1 with a
dress rehearsal in the hall on January 2.
The concert is on the 2nd at 7:30 and is
attended by the Lord Mayors of all of the
districts of London and their invited
guests.
Seating for the performance is limited
because of the Lord Mayors. Parents of
performers and Wind Ensemble members
will have first priority. We will have 80
total tickets.
Performance length is 2 hours.
Performance is with a full orchestra.
It is conducted by Justin Doyle, the
Conductor of the University of
Manchester Chorus, a singer at
Westminster Cathedral, and was
Conductor of the BBC Singers.
The Parade
Starts at the Ritz Hotel located at
Piccadilly & Berkley Square
Turns Right at Piccadilly Circus
Turns Left towards Trafalgar Square
Follows Whitehall to the end
One Right Turn, One Left Turn, & One
Dog-leg. 2.2 Miles mostly downhill
Two stops for performances, and TV
Finale.
9 TV Commentator positions with
cameras
Pre-Parade
Chorus, Orchestra, Parents, Chaperones,
& Non-Marchers will travel by tube to the
designated Grandstand area.
Marchers, Staff, & Select Chaperones
(four) will travel via motor coach with the
band. Select Chaperones must have a
black Stampede golf shirt and black pants.
A group picture will be taken, then travel
to assembly area for warm-up.
Performers will be provided a sack lunch.
Warm-up can be done with jackets and
extra gear.
Before Step-off, chaperones will collect all
extra gear and place it in labeled trashbags which will be transported to the
hotel.
Performers can only march in uniform and
clear poncho (if raining).
Parade Route
Post-Parade
We will be held at the start line for the TV
broadcast performance where we will reform our ranks.
Drumline will cadence us in, we will have
ranks on left and right side with
movement performers in the center with
drumline.
We will perform a 90 second piece with
movement & drill.
If we are not last, we will then run off and
exit. Total time from start line to exit is
two minutes.
If we are last, we will stay in the TV area,
reform ranks again, and cadence the other
finale bands onto the area.
We then perform in the parade finale
conducted by Dr. Gary Locke of Riverside
Community College and the Blue Devils.
Itinerary – Day of Departure
Drop off will be at Atlanta Airport
International Terminal 3:30 hours
before first flight.
We will have a group meeting, 3:00
hours prior to first flight.
All people will go thru check-in and
security together based on flight
schedule by groups.
Those with later departing flights will
be able to relax in the airport.
If taking Marta, remember that you
have to catch a shuttle to the
international terminal that takes 30
minutes.
Itinerary – Day 2 Monday December 29, 2014
Arrive in London and travel by motor coach to hotel
11:00 (subject to flight schedules) – Orientation meeting
receive itinerary books, mp3 players, oyster cards
12:30 – Travel by Tube to 1 of 2 audio tours (Lunch at leisure)
Parade Route Guide (wind ensemble must choose this one)
or
Princes, Palaces, and Power
5:30 – Travel back to hotel
6:30 – Dinner in your hotel
8:15 – Dr. Tim Clinic
9:15 – Clinic Ends
10:30 – In Room and Lights Out
Itinerary – Day 3 Tuesday December 30, 2014
7:00 – Wake-up & Breakfast
9:00 – London Coach Tour with Blue Badge Guide (Photo Stops)
1:00 – Tour Ends, Lunch at leisure, Groups Split
Wind Ensemble Rehearsal at Cadogan Hall
All others, the audio tour not selected yesterday
4:30 – Travel back to hotel
5:30 – Dinner in your hotel
6:30 – Depart for Cadogan Hall by motor coach
7:30 – LNYDP Festival Concert Series Begins
(Those not going can do some London night sight-seeing)
10:00 – Back in Hotel
11:00 – In Room and Lights Out
Itinerary – Day 4 Wednesday December 31, 2014
6:30 – Wake-up & Breakfast
8:15 – Marching Band will collect instruments (all others hang out at hotel)
8:30 – Grand Finale Rehearsal
9:30 – Rehearsal ends and pack-up
9:45 – Depart via coach for Hampton Court
10:30 – Tour Hampton Court, Royal Palace, & Gardens
12:30 – Depart for Windsor, Lunch at leisure upon arrival
3:15 – Choir members depart Windsor
4:00 – London International Choral Festival (LICF) Rehearsal
5:30 – Rest of group departs Windsor
7:00 – LICF Rehearsal ends, travel back to hotel
7:30 – Dinner served in hotel
8:30 – New Year’s Party Begins with other bands in hotel
12:30 –In Room and Lights Out
Itinerary – Day 5 Thursday January 1, 2015
8:30 – Wake-up & Breakfast
10:30 – Anyone not in parade departs by Tube for assigned grandstands
Marching Band Departs via coach for Parade
11:30 – Arrival in Assembly Area, lunch, warm-up (others lunch at leisure)
12:00 – Parade Starts
1:30 – Approx. Step-off Time… TBA
3:15 – Grand Finale begins
3:30 – Choir members travel by coach to LICF rehearsal
Band returns via coach to hotel and packs instruments
4:00 – London International Choral Festival (LICF) Rehearsal
5:00 – All others travel by Tube to Audio Tour 3 (Dinner at leisure…
Vouchers)
Jack the Ripper (only opportunity at night for theater / seniors)
or
London Rocks!
7:00 – LICF Rehearsal ends, (Dinner at leisure… Vouchers), Sight-seeing
9:30 – Travel back to hotel
11:00 –In Room and Lights Out
Itinerary – Day 6 Friday January 2, 2015
7:00 – Wake-up & Breakfast
9:00 – Depart by Tube for Free Day in London. Shop Harrods or Selfridges,
take a trip on the Eye, do other Audio Tours including UK-USA-250, London
Rocks, Harry Potter’s London, or Art-rageous London (Lunch at leisure)
12:30 – Choir Return to Hotel
1:30 – Choir depart by coach for Dress Rehearsal at Westminster Central
Hall
4:00 – Rehearsal ends, Dinner at leisure…Vouchers
5:30 – Choir supporters travel back to hotel via Tube
6:30 – Choir and Supporters depart via coach for Westminster Central Hall
7:30 – LICF Gala Concert begins
10:00 – All return by Coach (concert) or Tube (others) to hotel
11:00 – In Room and Lights Out
Itinerary – Day 7 Saturday January 3, 2015
6:30 – Wake-up & Breakfast
8:30 – Join your Blue Badge Guide via coach for a short trip to the port
9:00 – Board Boat for a Cruise on the River Thames to Greenwich
Tour Royal Observatory, Maritime Museum, and Prime
Meridian
12:30 – Depart Greenwich
1:00 – Arrive at Tower of London, Lunch at leisure
2:00 – Guided Tour of the Tower of London including Crown Jewels
4:30 – Those going to the Theatre & Band Seniors, return to Hotel to change
Others walk to Whitechapel for the Jack the Ripper Audio Tour
Dinner at leisure… (Vouchers), Night Sight-seeing
6:15 – Threare Patrons travel by Tube to Theatre
7:30 – Theatre productions begin
10:00 – All travel back to hotel via Tube
11:00 – In Room and Lights Out
TBA – Band Seniors Return
Itinerary – Day 8 Sunday January 4, 2015
7:00 – Wake-up & Breakfast
Depart for Airport based on Flight Schedule
Lunch and Snack served in-flight
Upon arrival in Atlanta, parents will pick-up their child at the Airport in the
International Terminal. Parents will sign for their child from the chaperone
in charge of their group. Once you have signed, you are free to go.
Spending Money & Cell
Phones
Check with your bank for fees and exchange rates
Most are 3% and $5.00 per transaction
Varies by carrier
Anna
Charles Schwab – NO FEES
Types of Accounts
Phone must be global ready to accept phone calls
TURN DATA OFF!
USE WIFI which is available many places
SKYPE, FACETIME, GOOGLE HANGOUT
Chaperones must have global ready cell phones
Inclusions
Inclusions
Blue Badge Guided tours of:
London
Greenwich, Royal Observatory, and Prime Meridan
Guided tour of Tower of London
Cruise on the River Thames
Entrance to Hampton Court & Windsor
Unlimited Tube travel every day
MP3 player and ear-buds and loaded audio tours
Dr. Tim Clinic
Free Admission to Parade and LNYDP & LICF Concerts
Breakfast every morning (continental with protein)
3 Dinners in hotel
3 Dinners with Vouchers (36 pounds total used
anytime)
Airfare & Hotel with 2 meals on each flight
Hotel Security
New Year’s Party with other bands in hotel
Marching Band Picture and LCIF Picture
Travel Insurance Policy
Code of Conduct
ALL FORSYTH COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
RULES APPLY TO STUDENTS AND CHAPERONS
We are invited guests by the Government of London
Higher Standard… I don’t care what everyone else
does!
Chaperons are the “law” of their group
Family Members… When you are around our group,
you are a member of our group. This includes the
hotel!
Same Day rule for going out, Don’t “Advertise”
Worst Case Scenarios… RESPECT AT ALL TIMES!
Cost
Total Maximum for all persons $3,100
Total cost does depend on exchange / surcharges
NO SURCHARGES YET
September ’13: 1 pound = 1.58 dollars
August 21 ’14: 1 pound = 1.67 dollars
Difference of $270 based on $3,000
(max was 1.71 in June, so it has fallen .04)
So, to help cover the difference the Show is optional
Estimates of maximum cost (before fundraised money)
Full Package $3,060
Land-Only $2,060
Will get final cost on September 26
Schedule for Payments
September 2 - $600
October 27 – Final Payment
As of September 2, all paid in full will total $1,500
Fundraising
Total so far is around $13,000
More is still coming and can be found… PLEASE!
Corporate Sponsorships 20% to credits securing
Trying to schedule a Drive One Event for September and
a couple of spirit nights / eat at nights
Specific Sale Fundraiser Kick-off
$18.00 – $28.00 per item
Deadline for factoring in fundraised money is Sep. 30
Remember you can use credits from booster clubs
Remember you must be in good standing with your
booster club… all fees must be in.
Questions
September 2
Next Payment $600 & Form
October 1
Photo Copy of Passport & Visa
October 27
Final Payment & Instrument Info
Chaperone’s Meeting – September 29
7:00pm