Disney Y.E.S. Program

[TI double-GUH ER]

I posted this question elsewhere, but got no response. Can you tell me who runs the classes? Is it just CMs from around the park, college kids or people with some advanced certification in the area?

 

[Aliceacc]

I responded somewhere, not sure whether it was your question.

Last summer my older 2 kids and I took the Making Waves with a Marine Career class at Epcot. The CM who ran the class absolutely knew her stuff-- I think she was in college (maybe grad school??) as a Marine Biologist. It was such a great class!!

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Now I am totally bummed. While my DGS was here over Christmas we checked out the YES programs available in June when we will all be at WDW. He absolutely loathed the two available, so I guess we are skipping the class (and the ticket discounts!)
Oh well, this is his vacation so we will certainly not force him to take the class!

 

[kthshh]

Now I am totally bummed. While my DGS was here over Christmas we checked out the YES programs available in June when we will all be at WDW. He absolutely loathed the two available, so I guess we are skipping the class (and the ticket discounts!)
Oh well, this is his vacation so we will certainly not force him to take the class!

When were the summer classes released? Did I miss that announcement? I was expecting late January or early February. After I read your post I thought I'd better check. And the dates are there. Luckily the classes are still available for the dates my group needs.

 

[melk]

How fast do the summer classes fill up? We had done one last February and booked it only a month and a half ahead. I'm guessing these fill faster.

 

[wgeo]

Last years experience with how fast classes fill up will probably not apply this year. Last year (and previous years) certain classes filled up very quickly, as in within days or weeks of classes being open. But in previous years the monetary savings was pretty significant. Last year for a regular yes class with tickets for 2 adults and 2 kids, our savings was around $600.

This year they changed the pricing structure so much, that it is my guess that the classes will not sell out as quickly as they have in the past. I went to the site and priced out a trip this year and our savings was $110. We're trying for a cruise this year so this doesn't apply to us right now, but for only $110 we'd really have to think about whether we would want to do the class or not. My kids absolutely love the classes, but with the YES tickets being non upgradeable and non refundable there's a lot of risk involved for not much return, in my opinion.

 

[sweetlovin']

Both the Photography class and the Branding your name class were cancelled for the 12-15 age group Jan 14-18 week. We still keep our tickets, but my son was looking forward to these classes. Disney is going to refund the extra classes that we had paid. Hopefully his classes in Sept are not cancelled. He is really looking forward to those as well.

 

[tzolkin]

I posted this question elsewhere, but got no response. Can you tell me who runs the classes? Is it just CMs from around the park, college kids or people with some advanced certification in the area?

I don't remember them specifically saying where they came from, just that they are instructors for Disney's Youth Education Program. They are definitely not just random CMs-- they are teaching a class and are specifically trained for that. More like the CMs trained as tour guides. They also seemed to vary widely in ages, so they're not all young college students. Our instructor was a woman in her late 40s/early 50s.

 

[jana616]

Can someone explain the homeschool days to me, and how they differ from the regular YES Individual Enrollment program? I see people have said the better savings apply to everyone, not just the enrolled student, but what is the price per person? And is it just one day, at one park? Is it still a 3 hour class? Is the age range fairly wide? I have an 8 and 6 yo and would like them to do the same class ideally. We are planning an October trip and could arrive anytime after the 13th, and need to leave by the 25th, would like to stay for 6 nights. I hate to wait until July if that's when they release the HS dates to book our Bonnet Creek condo, so I'm trying to get a feel for whether we could feasibly hit the right date. Could it be the last day of our stay?

 

[jcemom]

Can someone explain the homeschool days to me, and how they differ from the regular YES Individual Enrollment program? I see people have said the better savings apply to everyone, not just the enrolled student, but what is the price per person? And is it just one day, at one park? Is it still a 3 hour class? Is the age range fairly wide? I have an 8 and 6 yo and would like them to do the same class ideally. We are planning an October trip and could arrive anytime after the 13th, and need to leave by the 25th, would like to stay for 6 nights. I hate to wait until July if that's when they release the HS dates to book our Bonnet Creek condo, so I'm trying to get a feel for whether we could feasibly hit the right date. Could it be the last day of our stay?

It differs from the YES individual enrollment program in that there is a special presentation offered in addition to the classes. If you opt to take a class in addition to attending the Homeschool Days program, you will need to pay for it. There is a difference in ticket prices.

The Homeschool Days main presentation is for all ages. The classes themselves vary and they're usually posted by grade range rather than age.

Homeschool Days ticket prices (January 2013)

3-Day Home School Days Starter Package $154.75
3-Day Home School Days Hopper Package $175.95
3-Day Home School Days Premium Package $194.31
4-Day Home School Days Starter Package $160.61
4-Day Home School Days Hopper Package $180.73
4-Day Home School Days Premium Package $198.13
5-Day Home School Days Starter Package $172.14
5-Day Home School Days Hopper Package $192.14
5-Day Home School Days Premium Package $209.40
6-Day Home School Days Starter Package $187.13
6-Day Home School Days Hopper Package $206.95
6-Day Home School Days Premium Package $224.06
7-Day Home School Days Starter Package $194.04
7-Day Home School Days Hopper Package $213.80
7-Day Home School Days Premium Package $230.82
8-Day Home School Days Starter Package $199.80
8-Day Home School Days Hopper Package $219.51
8-Day Home School Days Premium Package $236.47

YES Individual Enrollment ticket prices are set up differently now, with the attending child getting a different discount than attending adults and other members of your family.

 

[jcemom]

YES Individual Enrollment ticket prices (2013)

3 days -- Starter Package / Park Hopper / Premium
Student $171 / 192 / 211
Child $230 / 288 / 310
Attending Adult $248 / 308 / 332
Other adult $243 / 301 / 323

4 days -- Starter Package / Park Hopper / Premium
Student $177 / 197 / 215
Child $243 / 301 / 323
Attending Adult $263 / 323 / 347
Other adult $257 / 315 / 337

5 days -- Starter Package / Park Hopper / Premium
Student $189 / 209 / 226
Child $254 / 312 / 334
Attending Adult $275 / 336 / 360
Other adult $269 / 327 / 349

6 days -- Starter Package / Park Hopper / Premium
Student $204 / 223 / 241
Child $264 / 322 / 345
Attending Adult $286 / 347 / 370
Other adult $279 / 337 / 359

7 days -- Starter Package / Park Hopper / Premium
Student $211 / 230 / 247
Child $274 / 332 / 355
Attending Adult $297 / 357 / 381
Other adult $289 / 347 / 369

8 days -- Starter Package / Park Hopper / Premium
Student $216 / 236 / 253
Child $285 / 343 / 365
Attending Adult $307 / 368 / 392
Other adult $300 / 357 / 379


***I apologize in advance for any typos. I couldn't figure out any easy way to do that, since the chart they use on the website couldn't be copied and pasted (or at least *I* couldn't figure out how to copy and paste it lol).***

ETA: In case you couldn't guess, I rounded the figures up/down because typing in all the cents would have driven me crazy (or crazier).

 

[appleorchard]

My DGD's class for early February is already full, which I was happy to see. Because we're going to be there 6 days, we had the option of using 2 4 day military tickets each at $156 or doing the YES program for my DD and DGD- I have an AP. The YES program is cheaper and saves the military tickets (you only get 6) for another trip. It's not as good as last year, but it's better than what we would pay otherwise.

 

[TI double-GUH ER]

Thanks Aliceacc and Tzolkin. I really appreciate your input! Sounds like it all depends on the class. Thanks!

 

[tripplanner2]

Does anyone know if they offer Home school days in August? I would like to go early August.

 

[phillytwins]

We are looking forward to Animation class in February. We will arrive the night before the class... will we be able to pick up the tickets at DHS ticket window on the morning of the class (which starts at 7:45am)?

 

[Aliceacc]

Does anyone know if they offer Home school days in August? I would like to go early August.

We don't homeschool. But last year we did Individual Enrollment YES classes the first week of August.

 

[tripplanner2]

We don't homeschool. But last year we did Individual Enrollment YES classes the first week of August.

We also did the individual enrollment last summer, but in July. Ticket prices were awesome and my daughter LOVED the class. It was the highlight of our trip. This year the prices have jumped a lot. But home school days are still around the same price as what we payed last year. I think you have to wait until 6 weeks out to order tickets though. Just hoping they are offered throughout the year. I guess time will tell.

 

[lilpooh108]

Have they ever had Homeschool days in First week of December?

 

[wgeo]

There are 2 different ways for homeschoolers to register. If you are part of a GROUP and sign up as a GROUP there are different times of the year to participate, I think that is different then most people here are talking about.

If you are a single family looking to sign up for Homeschool days, those are only offered during very limited time during the year. If I remember correctly, in 2012 they were offered in Jan and Oct. This year there is a homeschool event at the end of Jan, and the dates that you had to use your tickets was/is very specific.

So to answer the questions from above, I would not expect a homeschool event in either August or December. In August you can go through the regular YES individual enrollment. In December, I do not believe Disney does any classes because of how busy that time of the year is.

These are just my best guesses, but I hope they help.

 

[mrsklamc]

Someone posted on another thread that the reason for the jump is that lots of people were getting the discount and not going to class. I wish they'd just reserved the right to charge your credit card for the difference if you didn't show up (unless you could produce a doctor's note or something.)