Any one plan a Y.E.S.trip? Need more info then the site gives

[idofabric]

HELP ME... Please....This is a good idea?
I have convinced one of my DS's teachers that a trip to WDW will be very educational... after I found the Disney Youth Group site. DS is in the 8th grade and at a Arts school, in the Theater Arts program and Y.E.S.had a program that is good, the $ is cheap for 3-5 days at the parks. But I don't know if it includes the hotel? This trip is under the same web site that also has Grad Nite and the Night of Joy info, and I know that Grad Nite final prices have the hotel included.
I have never planned a trip for 30- 100 to WDW,( I usually kinda wing it after reading the DIS for a solid month before each trip...), and hopefull there is some intelligent, kind, warm hearted person that has done all this before. And they will read and answer this....
Oh, and we have a tiny window to do this in. There are only 2 weekends in April that we can go due to the all powerfull Standard testing that NOTHING must interfer with. ( good thing they don't test spelling for parents) And there are several other field trips planned.
Really, really want to go back down! For the kids sake that is.... Honest!
Also at least 2 of us going have PAP's and have no idea what that will do for us , if any thing.
As usual, Please and Thank You all!

 

[TNKBELL]

I recieved an info packet from Disney about the Y.E.S. program and it does not include lodging but there is a discount for either the AS resorts or Port Orleans, the brochure I currently have is 2004 pricing and I was told that the 2005 prices would not be available till spring 05. The phone number is 1-800-603-4303.You can call and get more updated info than I have. Hope this helps you out, Oh and according to my info 2 chaperones are included at no additional charge.

 

[LisaR]

Make sure you call them ASAP to hold the dates you need. They were preety booked when I talked to them.

Lisa

 

[idofabric]

Thanks! We downloaded the forms on line. I tried to call per the web site... but they have changed times the phones are open, so I will call during the day tomorrow.
I guess I will ask about the $ for rooms, and if I can use my PAP for that. I am hoping that if we go I can use my pass and my DS can use his and maybe give our tickets to someone else for the park entry,( I know of a few kids that can't afford to go, and hope they would be able to if the tickets were "free" for them) and just pay the $22 to use the YES program... ?
And the site also said that the charpone ratio of 1adult to 5 students ( not to exceed 1 adult to ?15 students) was allowed. Our school dist. has required a ratio of 1 to 4. So ? will we do ? I knew 2 chaprones were free. and we can get a discount for each chaprone up to WDW ratios, but if we go over I guess we would have to split the cost among each person going? Not sure if that is fair to the students, on the other hand, they will get to go to WDW.. ?
Oh, drat, I so wanted instant gratification, and info! I think we should have an instant info line just to answer all DIS members questions- but that would be a different post...

 

[LisaR]

I am hoping that if we go I can use my pass and my DS can use his and maybe give our tickets to someone else for the park entry,( I know of a few kids that can't afford to go, and hope they would be able to if the tickets were "free" for them) and just pay the $22 to use the YES program... ?
And the site also said that the charpone ratio of 1adult to 5 students ( not to exceed 1 adult to ?15 students) was allowed. Our school dist. has required a ratio of 1 to 4. So ? will we do ? I knew 2 chaprones were free. and we can get a discount for each chaprone up to WDW ratios, but if we go over I guess we would have to split the cost among each person going? Not sure if that is fair to the students, on the other hand, they will get to go to WDW.. ?

I'd love to hear how it works out for your group. I have to say they were not at all flexible when I spoke to them. We did not schedule it because of the lack of flexibility. Most of us had AP's but we couldn't use them for the classes we were looking at attending. We had to pay the full amount which included the admission that all of us already had. Maybe a different CM will be more helpful. We actually ended up booking a Sea World class because they were more accomadating (and I am a huge Disney fan).

Lisa

 

[grimgrinnin]

First, let me say that I am using my DH's handle here.

I used the YES program in 1999. I took 40 8th graders down to WDW from Illinois. We did the Magic Kingdom "Theme Park Physics" program. It was a great experience. We payed about $450 each and that included park and program fees, transportation, and lodging, although it was off site. It was over $100 extra to stay onsite. They even included a "security guard" to stand patrol in the hallway all night so that the chaperones could get a good night's sleep without having to worry about the kids running around all night.

I have since moved to AZ, and checked rates again this school year, and it would have cost over $1000 for a similar trip. I can't speak for recent changes, prices, or really be of help much except to say that if you can get it worked out, I think it would be a great experience for the kids. The program was excellent. They did a hands on activity before each ride that we went on, and then we got to do and see some really cool things. We did an activity about potential and kinetic energy before going on Space Mountain with the lights on and then again with them off. We did an activity about light and saw the special material "scrim" that they use before we went behind the scenes of the Haunted Mansion, and we did activity about forces and motion before we took different objects on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to measure the different effects of the roller coaster forces and motion. It was amazing.

I booked our trip through an Educational Travel service (Can't remember the name atm, but will try to look back and find it...I'm thinking ETC-Educational Travel Consultants sounds right). They offered trips all over the US, and WDW just happened to catch my eye. Perhaps that is why the arrangements (hotel and such) were different than what you are finding. I gathered that you are booking straight through WDW?

I hope that this at least helped in so much as giving you an idea that the programs can really be great and worthwhile. I think my favorite part was being able to walk into the Magic Kingdom at 7:00 am the morning of our program. It was completely deserted and felt like we had it all to ourselves, and basically, we did. =)

 

[idofabric]

Wow! Thanks to everyone, I will be calling in a little while, I hope, the DS is home sick.
I knew the $110 for 3 days was to good to include a hotel, , but hope springs eternal....
Will post some more info today, if I get any answers. I am thinking that if I can't keep the cost under $220 ish, a lot of kids won't go. Usually a trip in that price range/ time away from school is planned at least 4 months away. Wish I had know about this in Sept or ever Nov! And from reading more about the program I think that the one where you see the rides backstage/ with lights would be great for theater students, they would learn first hand the staging that produces effects. Not to mention a little science, it sounds like.
Like I said will keep you all updated! Thanks to all.

 

[idofabric]

For the folks that had questions...
Just talked to a CM at the YESprogram, and found out that the cost of 3 day park entrance is $113.50- no extra. 4 day is $129.? with 1 extra- Disney Quest or Water Park.
The Energy in Waves program has the students going behind the sceens at HM and seeing how they do ghosts and stuff. Hotel is extra, AS is $97 to $114 a night with 4 people per room max.
Grad Nite programs start April 22 or 23.
Some of this is common sence, and/or the same info you can get on line.
Just wanted to up date the thread for the anyone else that want to try this.

oh, and I asked if IASW would be open if we went April 14ish. The CM nicely checked the rehab sheet and it looks like a mid March opening. Will post that next...

 

[Schmeck]

My daughter's 8th grade class is spending 5 days at WDW, at an All Star resort, with round trip airfare and food included, for less than $650 per student. They are doing at least two programs, possibly three.

Are you planning on driving from South Carolina?

 

[idofabric]

Sorry I took so long to answer. Yep, we would go down by bus. Possibly leave very, very early 4 am ish, day 1 and do 2 programs. Include 3 meal vouchers to make sure the kids eat 1 good meal a day... spend 3 nites and after a long day drive home on a Sat/Sun. I want to do 4 days since we are pushing the envelope on this trip money/time wise at this point. I figured that it would come out to around $3oo a person, with out spending money and with the one meal a day payed for.

 

[eeyore45]

I find this thread extremely informative, thank you...

also, "I would get vouchers for the kids" I heard that they no longer sell vouchers, due to that MY way dining thing...

 

[disneycm25]

You can also stay at Fort Wilderness in the group camping area. My son's class did that in 2002.They did 3 of the classes. The kids had a great time. We were able to rent the tents right there.

 

[idofabric]

The meal vouchers are for counter service and are special for the Youth Group trips. The allmost $10 per meal includes an entry, drink, side, and dessert. The CM today suggested this as a way to make sure the students on the trip get at least 1 good meal a day in them.
On the Y.E.S. site they have several group rates for at least 4 different meals. While this might not be a money saver it is done so the meals are pre-paid and the kids can not spend any "food" money they might bring with them on cooler other stuff- candy, toys, shirts, hats... you know the fun stuff. At 13 who needs to eat? or at least what is more important, food latter or stuff now? This way the money earmarked for food is pre spent on food. Heck, if we go and I want to check if I can buy a few extras for up coming trips, some of the counter service places have big portions.
As I read and understand the way they work is that we must buy a min. of 20? vouchers @ $10. But there is not a limit to the number of them... however, Disney is not dumb, and if I am taking 40 kids for 4 days the max number I bet I can buy will be 120 a day( 40x3 meals @ day) or 480 for a 4 day trip. Not that we would do that! I am thinking 1 meal per person per day, and wing the rest. The best of both world,and I can take my group of kids and make sure that they experience the (?) joy of a Dole Whip, or something from Anti Gravity... or Mickey Bars... Hot dogs... Oh, yes, my group will eat, and eat , and eat.....