Band Students in Disney-help!

[jcdeberry]

My daughter is going to Disney with her high school band over Valentine's Day. We are traveling as well but staying separately at POFQ. I don't believe the band students will be making fastpasses (I guess the logistics are too difficult for 150 people). Can she use the entrance card (or whatever they give them) to make fastpasses at the kiosks once she gets in the parks? Also, she will have a magic band linked to our account (as we will be in the parks with our younger child while she is riding rides with her friends). Can she use the magicband the whole time to charge food and other items to our account even though she did not use it to get into the park that day? Thanks for the help from the worried band parent!

 

[5kidsmommy]

Magic bands are linked to the room. If she isn't staying in your room she wouldn't be able to charge to it. I would just suggest having her use gift cards. As far as fast passes when my kids went on band trips they didn't even think about using them. The kids just hung out in groups and waited in line. My kids told me going with their friends was a totally different and fun experience than going with the family. Honestly I'd just let her wing it.

 

[jcdeberry]

Thanks for the advice. She is technically staying in our room even though she will be in the room off-site with her friends for all but one night (we decided to put her on our room reservation just in case she wanted to stay with us). We are staying a day later than the band so she will be there one night with us. Our tix were separate from the room reservation for this reason. So, she will have a magicband linked to the room. So, she will be able to pay for stuff with her magicband?

 

[Fangorn]

Magic bands are NOT linked to the room. They are linked a specific profile in DME. If your daughter is listed on your reservation and one or more bands are associated with her profile on your MDE account, then she will be able to use the band to charge back to your room (as long as she has the PIN).

And, yes, she will be able to make fastpasses at the kiosks in the parks.

Note that unless you're able to link her park ticket (and you should be able to) to her profile in MDE, she will not be able to use the MB for entry into the parks or for FP. She'll need to use the ticket card she gets from the trip coordinator.

Steve

 

[Mome Rath]

And, just as a heads up from our recent experience; my niece was indeed able to add the ticket from the trip coordinator to her MDE early and hence make FP's for the group she was going to be running with in the parks (she was the only one that had been enough to know what to do, how to do it, and which rides to pick). The kids all split up into different groups of their choosing, so she wasn't making them for the whole band, just the smaller group she was going to hang with.

 

[Boopuff]

My DD went with her high school band a few years ago. It was so much fun. We didn't get to see her very often but it was a great experience seeing the band march down main street!

 

[jcdeberry]

Magic bands are NOT linked to the room. They are linked a specific profile in DME. If your daughter is listed on your reservation and one or more bands are associated with her profile on your MDE account, then she will be able to use the band to charge back to your room (as long as she has the PIN).

And, yes, she will be able to make fastpasses at the kiosks in the parks.

Note that unless you're able to link her park ticket (and you should be able to) to her profile in MDE, she will not be able to use the MB for entry into the parks or for FP. She'll need to use the ticket card she gets from the trip coordinator.

Steve

Thanks? That is what I thought

 

[jcdeberry]

And, just as a heads up from our recent experience; my niece was indeed able to add the ticket from the trip coordinator to her MDE early and hence make FP's for the group she was going to be running with in the parks (she was the only one that had been enough to know what to do, how to do it, and which rides to pick). The kids all split up into different groups of their choosing, so she wasn't making them for the whole band, just the smaller group she was going to hang with.

Awesome! When did she receive her ticket from the coordinator? When they got there? Would she add her friends Tix to our MDE account? How does that work?

 

[jcdeberry]

My DD went with her high school band a few years ago. It was so much fun. We didn't get to see her very often but it was a great experience seeing the band march down main street!

When and where do they usually march? I'm trying to plan our day

 

[Mome Rath]

Awesome! When did she receive her ticket from the coordinator? When they got there? Would she add her friends Tix to our MDE account? How does that work?

It was about a month before. She helped them make an MDE account, their tickets go on their account, and they make sure they are on her friends and family list, and then just go from there. Each person needs their own account, it can be separate or controlled by whoever they want to control it (if the students would ever be going to Disney again, they may as well have their own account if their parents approve).

To answer your other question; they can march at one of 3 times (or that was the way when she did it), and they should have a schedule beforehand (before even heading down there). They march down Main Street along the parade route.

 

[aggiedog]

I've had 2 kids march at WDW, the last was this past March. FYI, they march well ahead of the actual parade. One thing to pass on to the band - there will be a CM that "crowd sweeps" in front of the band, walking quickly. They do NOT have to match her pace. My first dd practically ran down the parade route as her drum majors tried to keep up with the CM. For the second trip, second dd, who was drum major herself, knew to walk at standard parade pace.

We got 3 days worth of tickets on the first day, so were able to make FP's as much as 3 days out. I chaperoned the band both times. It is a TOTALLY different experience than going as a family, as there is very little pre-planning you can do, and no control as to when you get to the park. You just go and wing it. We initially had an itinerary 3 months out with at least what parks we'd be at on which days. We were given an updated itinerary 1 week out that had switched parks and days. Every experienced mom in the group was sitting there in that meeting trying to rearrange dining reservations. LOL With all that, it is a fun trip, and it's fun just to see the kids enjoying themselves.

 

[jcdeberry]

I've had 2 kids march at WDW, the last was this past March. FYI, they march well ahead of the actual parade. One thing to pass on to the band - there will be a CM that "crowd sweeps" in front of the band, walking quickly. They do NOT have to match her pace. My first dd practically ran down the parade route as her drum majors tried to keep up with the CM. For the second trip, second dd, who was drum major herself, knew to walk at standard parade pace.

We got 3 days worth of tickets on the first day, so were able to make FP's as much as 3 days out. I chaperoned the band both times. It is a TOTALLY different experience than going as a family, as there is very little pre-planning you can do, and no control as to when you get to the park. You just go and wing it. We initially had an itinerary 3 months out with at least what parks we'd be at on which days. We were given an updated itinerary 1 week out that had switched parks and days. Every experienced mom in the group was sitting there in that meeting trying to rearrange dining reservations. LOL With all that, it is a fun trip, and it's fun just to see the kids enjoying themselves.

So, they usually march in the afternoon before the big parade? The parade is at 3:00, so whattome do you think the band will march?

 

[jcdeberry]

So, they usually march in the afternoon before the big parade? The parade is at 3:00, so whattome do you think the band will march?

What time

 

[Mome Rath]

As I mentioned, I asked down in MK and bands can march at different times, and there is usually more than one band marching in a given day. They can also march starting on Main Street then head to Frontierland, or from Frontierland to Main Street depending on when they march. You daughter should be able to inform you (they should know ahead of time and it should be sent out to the parents), but you can also ask in City Hall for your specific group. My niece marched at around 2:30 and marched from Frontierland to Main Street, and there were 2 other bands marching after her group.

 

[Boopuff]

My DD marched in the 3:00 parade. We were there in May. We found a great spot right in front of Country Bears. The visiting band does march ahead of the main parade so we had our spot before 3:00

 

[subtchr]

I am a tour director for a company that creates trips for high school music groups. I am in the parks with bands, choirs, and orchestras 8-12 times per year. I love my job!

To answer your specific questions...

1. When they kids receive their ticket info is up to the travel company they are using, or their directors, if the group is planning the trip on their own. What our company does is email the group their ticket confirmation numbers at just more than 30 days out, so that they can link the number to MDE to be able to book fastpasses. We do not give the kids their actual ticket card until arrival morning, but they don't need those to book FP, just the number from the back. Even if your daughter does not receive the ticket information before arrival, she can still link the ticket to MDE as soon as she receives it, and can book FP in the app. No need to visit a kiosk.

2. As a PP mentioned, the kids generally tour the parks in friend groups, so that is how they book FP. They just have to be aware of the itinerary, so they know which park to book in, and what times would not conflict with other scheduled events.

3. Most marching bands perform before the Festival of Fantasy Parade in the Magic Kingdom. There are often 3 bands performing each afternoon, and the first one steps off about 2:30, on days the parade is at 3:00 (which it is, in February). However, at busy times of year, they also can march in the morning or evening. (They also could march at Epcot, before all the construction, but they will not be there for a couple years, at least, and maybe never, depending on how the "flow" through the middle of Future World shapes up with the construction.) Your child's director should know at this point the general performance details, and will receive exact timing about 3 weeks before the visit.

4. If the group DOES march before Festival of Fantasy, my favorite spot to recommend for parents to watch is the hub, about "4:00", if you consider the hub is a clock, facing the castle. This is because they will enter the hub from the Liberty Square bridge, and circle in front of the castle. The spot I mentioned is a wonderful place to see them and get some great pics with the castle in the background.

5. Many groups also do a Disney Performing Arts workshop in addition to the performance. That is up to the directors, and they would have that information now.

6. The group will have so much fun! They have to realize that their schedule is not their own, especially on workshop or performance days. But they still always manage to have a great time together.

7. Most groups receive either meal vouchers or dining gift cards to cover meals. We much prefer the dining cards, because they are so much more flexible.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[jcdeberry]

I am a tour director for a company that creates trips for high school music groups. I am in the parks with bands, choirs, and orchestras 8-12 times per year. I love my job!

To answer your specific questions...

1. When they kids receive their ticket info is up to the travel company they are using, or their directors, if the group is planning the trip on their own. What our company does is email the group their ticket confirmation numbers at just more than 30 days out, so that they can link the number to MDE to be able to book fastpasses. We do not give the kids their actual ticket card until arrival morning, but they don't need those to book FP, just the number from the back. Even if your daughter does not receive the ticket information before arrival, she can still link the ticket to MDE as soon as she receives it, and can book FP in the app. No need to visit a kiosk.

2. As a PP mentioned, the kids generally tour the parks in friend groups, so that is how they book FP. They just have to be aware of the itinerary, so they know which park to book in, and what times would not conflict with other scheduled events.

3. Most marching bands perform before the Festival of Fantasy Parade in the Magic Kingdom. There are often 3 bands performing each afternoon, and the first one steps off about 2:30, on days the parade is at 3:00 (which it is, in February). However, at busy times of year, they also can march in the morning or evening. (They also could march at Epcot, before all the construction, but they will not be there for a couple years, at least, and maybe never, depending on how the "flow" through the middle of Future World shapes up with the construction.) Your child's director should know at this point the general performance details, and will receive exact timing about 3 weeks before the visit.

4. If the group DOES march before Festival of Fantasy, my favorite spot to recommend for parents to watch is the hub, about "4:00", if you consider the hub is a clock, facing the castle. This is because they will enter the hub from the Liberty Square bridge, and circle in front of the castle. The spot I mentioned is a wonderful place to see them and get some great pics with the castle in the background.

5. Many groups also do a Disney Performing Arts workshop in addition to the performance. That is up to the directors, and they would have that information now.

6. The group will have so much fun! They have to realize that their schedule is not their own, especially on workshop or performance days. But they still always manage to have a great time together.

7. Most groups receive either meal vouchers or dining gift cards to cover meals. We much prefer the dining cards, because they are so much more flexible.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Thank you so much! That is exactly the info i needed. One more question though, how do the kid groups sign up for the fast passes together if they all have separate MDEs?

 

[subtchr]

Thank you so much! That is exactly the info i needed. One more question though, how do the kid groups sign up for the fast passes together if they all have separate MDEs?

They can connect as friends and family in MDE, the same as other guests do. Alternatively, they can just plan together and get the same or overlapping times.

 

[klmcleod]

Jumping on here too...I'm chaperoning my daughter's band and chorus trip in March during our spring break. Thank you to subtchr for your information! I was a bit concerned about the fastpasses as well. We are staying off site, so no access until 30 days out.
One question I had was on the food vouchers (which our directors have already let us know our rough schedule and that we'd have vouchers for food). Are these basically "gift cards" but for counter service? Or how do those work????

 

[DemoBri1]

When our kiddos went with their music department a couple of years back they were able to get their ticket numbers ahead of time and create a group on MDE to make their FP ressies. In fact, one of their friends actually moved down to Orlando prior to the trip and they were able to include her in the FP planning on MDE.