It’s September, and I hope you seniors especially are right in the middle of all that fast-paced planning that comes with getting out of high school and moving on with your future. Hopefully, between planning the announcements, organizing the parties, signing yearbooks, and paying for it all – you’re getting the details lined out for the trip. You probably should have thought of it before now, but it is NOT too late to plan student beach trips and other popular student travel perfect for celebrating gradation.

Student travel can seem overwhelming at first. But here are a couple of things that will put you ahead of the game and maybe help you convince the powers that be to just plan the awesome trip already!

Numbers

When getting organized for student travel, think numbers, especially if you’re traveling my motor coach. These buses typically hold a maximum of 55 passengers. If you’ve got 58 people signed up for the trip, it’s time to do some recruiting. If you’re going to have to rent that second coach anyway, it will be much more cost effective for everyone if you get more people to fill it. More people in the seats equals more people footing the bill. The more people you have footing the bill, the less any one person has to pay.

Chaperones

Along those lines, keep this in mind: With most tours, one chaperone travels free per ten students. So figure those parents and teachers in with your final count. Also, consider them in your recruiting process.

Bottom line: Numbers matter. It’s just one of the many reasons you need to plan ahead!

Because have I got an idea for you.

Now, if you think it’s too soon to make graduation plans, just wait. I promise there are at least ten people waiting in the wings to make you think about this – the guidance counselor, college applications coordinators, class sponsor, and event planner. If they haven’t gotten to you yet, they are two shakes from sitting you down, asking for money, and forcing you to make some plans about that all important ceremony and the future that follows it.

We have something for you to consider, though, that looks a little more like all out leisure. Hopefully you’re considering a senior class trip anyway, and Disney Grad Nite is the perfect event for your trip.

Disney Grad Nite is an exciting event in which you and your friends are celebrated and given a place to celebrate. The park stays open late, so you can enjoy all your favorite rides long after other guests have left. There’s food, a DJ, and live music just for you. Disney Grad Nite is a theme park and a party all in one. It’s the perfect bash for you and your friends. They offer Grad Nite at both Orlando’s Disney World and California’s Disneyland. We’ll help you choose the right dates for either one. And they are guaranteed to give your school the best graduation party yet!

Yes, we’re throwing in yet another Six Flags.  This franchise holds a teeny tiny CORNER ON THE MARKET when it comes to theme parks.  There are plenty of other parks out there.  But trust us, no matter where you are in the country, if you see the famous flags – you’re definitely in for some thrills.

SF Great Adventure is located in Jackson Township, New Jersey.  So it’s a great addition to those mid-Atlantic trips like New York City graduation trips or Philadelphia educational tours.

It’s got almost as many roller coasters as its California counterpart and holds a few records of its own.  For instance, Kingda Ka.  This steel coaster is the tallest in the world as well as the fastest AND the one with the tallest drop.  El Toro comes in second in its category, but that’s hardly a count against you when you’re the second tallest, second fastest wooden coaster in the world.  An alternative name for it could be Nine Times the Air Time based on how many dips in the ride give you the feeling of weightlessness.  Bizarro is one the newest rides here (opening May of 09) based on the comic book character to whom everything is backwards, aka, bizarre.  The head rest includes audio.  There’s fog.  There’s fire, and there’s a cool zone.  All the senses get to experience this ride.  And if affecting several senses at once is part of the thrill for you, then you’ll love the ride themed after the latest Batman installment, The Dark Knight, which takes place in something akin to the bat cave before anyone turns on the lights, encouraging you to rethink your answer to the question, “Are you afraid of the dark?”

Six Flags Great Adventure is just one more way Six Flags is making the world a scream-ier place, one great coaster at a time.  Don’t forget!  These parks have all kinds of moderate thrills, food, entertainment, and family-type rides as well.  So don’t stay away just because you’ve fully embraced the fact that the answer to the last question is an emphatic yes or if roller coasters seem like the marriage of all your worst fears at once.  There’s plenty more for you to do there.  Still, we’re not highlighting it this week for the corn dogs.  Thus the looping coaster in the photo and the focus on maximum thrill.  Come back tomorrow for more!

(photo by OliverN5 on Flickr)