Disney Y.E.S. Program

[savannahcat]

It all is how you look at it. We saved 279.00. My kids get to have a great experience and I feel less guilty pulling them out of school for a week.

Me too! I had already purchased tickets from UT before the price increase over the summer, but ultimately decided to put those away for a future trip and sign the kids up for YES again. It will be my younger DD's first YES class and she is really excited!

 

[My3DisneyBoys]

We are planning our 2nd trip to WDW in July. I realize the dates for YES haven't come out for then yet, but I am trying to get an idea of what our options are! I would like all three of my boys to attend a class.....possibly the same one. The problem is that they are all in different age brackets! They will be 12, 9, and 7 at the time. How strict are they with enforcing age limits? Could they all attend the AK class for ages 8-11? I really don't think we can swing 3 different classes so they all can go and I don't want to exclude anyone! Does anyone know?

 

[amylynne01]

We are planning our 2nd trip to WDW in July. I realize the dates for YES haven't come out for then yet, but I am trying to get an idea of what our options are! I would like all three of my boys to attend a class.....possibly the same one. The problem is that they are all in different age brackets! They will be 12, 9, and 7 at the time. How strict are they with enforcing age limits? Could they all attend the AK class for ages 8-11? I really don't think we can swing 3 different classes so they all can go and I don't want to exclude anyone! Does anyone know?

There is a reason for age limits on the classes. Whatever the reason may be, Disney expects its guests to follow the age limits. Could you pull it off? Maybe, but it might take some lying or deceipt on your part.

 

[Music City Mama]

We are planning our 2nd trip to WDW in July. I realize the dates for YES haven't come out for then yet, but I am trying to get an idea of what our options are! I would like all three of my boys to attend a class.....possibly the same one. The problem is that they are all in different age brackets! They will be 12, 9, and 7 at the time. How strict are they with enforcing age limits? Could they all attend the AK class for ages 8-11? I really don't think we can swing 3 different classes so they all can go and I don't want to exclude anyone! Does anyone know?

This is my dilemma, as well. My boys are 4 years apart and all of the classes have a 3 year age range -- until they're 12+, I think -- my kids will be 10 and 6 next June. Even if I found a class on the same day on or around the same time, I think they'll probably be at different parks and I'm not sure if I want to do that (not sure if we'll have time in our schedule to devote two different days to this either). The only way I think the cost savings is worth it for us is if both kids have discounted tickets. I wouldn't mind only one child going and paying at or near gate price for the rest of us, but the nonrefundable aspect of the tickets makes that less attractive to me. I've never had to cancel for any reason and we always go the same week every year so I have no reason to believe we'd cancel, but when I weigh the benefit (the enjoyment of the class and the good discount on just one ticket) vs. the risk (having to cancel and not getting a refund), I'm not sure it's worth it.

I will wait until they release the June dates before I make a decision.

 

[mmdis]

This is my dilemma, as well. My boys are 4 years apart and all of the classes have a 3 year age range -- until they're 12+, I think -- my kids will be 10 and 6 next June. Even if I found a class on the same day on or around the same time, .

I think when you look at the Jan/Feb offerings there could be a split in the same park. Just use that as a guide to what they likely offer. You choices for the same park may be limited to just a couple. My boys will be 11 and 12 and to follow the rules we are spliting up and each taking one but we will be in the same park at the same time.

 

[torinsmom]

My son was in an 8-15 class when he was 16. I called and was told it was okay, and his correct age was on the registration. It may be on a case by case basis though. This was in 2011 and he was in the class with his 11 and 13 year old cousins.

 

[savannahcat]

This is my dilemma, as well. My boys are 4 years apart and all of the classes have a 3 year age range -- until they're 12+, I think -- my kids will be 10 and 6 next June. Even if I found a class on the same day on or around the same time, I think they'll probably be at different parks and I'm not sure if I want to do that (not sure if we'll have time in our schedule to devote two different days to this either). The only way I think the cost savings is worth it for us is if both kids have discounted tickets. I wouldn't mind only one child going and paying at or near gate price for the rest of us, but the nonrefundable aspect of the tickets makes that less attractive to me. I've never had to cancel for any reason and we always go the same week every year so I have no reason to believe we'd cancel, but when I weigh the benefit (the enjoyment of the class and the good discount on just one ticket) vs. the risk (having to cancel and not getting a refund), I'm not sure it's worth it.

I will wait until they release the June dates before I make a decision.

My kids are 6 and 9 and I was able to sign them up for two different classes at approximately the same time, both in the Magic Kingdom on January 9th. It may not happen often, but it does happen.

 

[Lehuaann]

How strict are they with enforcing age limits?

There are rules. Not sure if it's for safety/insurance/legal purposes. Enforced? Depends. I would think in certain cases they may ask a child how old they are if there any concerns (like someone trying to pass a 3 yr old off as a 5 yr old).

Your only option is to call in and get permission, like Torinsmom. But again, Torinsmom was granted permission in 2011 and things have changed since then.

If they refuse to grant permission, you lie on the online registration, and they find out - I would not want to take the chance of being permanently dismissed from the program.

In order to maintain the magic and safety within each program, the specified age is not flexible. Students who do not meet specified age requirements will not be confirmed on the final program confirmation.

 

[reginasue]

We tried to get my boys (11 and 12) into the same class in August 2012 and they wouldn't let us do it. I ended up paying the extra $25 (I think it was) to go with each kid to their class and DH spent some one on one time with each kid during that time. Hopefully next year we can manage to get them in one class together.

 

[Music City Mama]

I think when you look at the Jan/Feb offerings there could be a split in the same park. Just use that as a guide to what they likely offer. You choices for the same park may be limited to just a couple. My boys will be 11 and 12 and to follow the rules we are spliting up and each taking one but we will be in the same park at the same time.

My kids are 6 and 9 and I was able to sign them up for two different classes at approximately the same time, both in the Magic Kingdom on January 9th. It may not happen often, but it does happen.

Thank you for the information. Hopefully it will work out -- we'll see whenever they release the June dates. Thanks again.

 

[My3DisneyBoys]

Well I am definitely not going to lie! That is NOT what I want to be teaching my boys!


I guess I will see when the YES dates come out for July. Maybe I can call and see if they will allow at least 2 to go together and then try to get in the same park as some of you suggested. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Marty1966]

Does anyone know what's going on the week of Feb 6th? We were hoping for a class or two for our 12 and 10yo's but for whatever reason, the only day that week that they are offering YES is Feb 6th. Sadly we don't arrive until noon that day.

Is that a vacation week for some states? Just curious if we chose a bad week. I have noticed a couple of hotels have that week blocked out also.

Thanks, James.

 

[StuckInKS]

Just checked the prices for a Jan 1013 class and it is almost $500 more for YES tix for us than it would have been in 2012. Wish we had sign up for Oct classes now. I didn't know they planned on changing the pricing structure.

 

[tlh0726]

Just checked the prices for a Jan 1013 class and it is almost $500 more for YES tix for us than it would have been in 2012. Wish we had sign up for Oct classes now. I didn't know they planned on changing the pricing structure.

Price increase is making alot of people rethink their plans.

I am glad we were able to take advantage of classes this past June.
The low cost enabled my friend and her 2 girls to join us for vacation.

 

[torinsmom]

My son aged out last year and I am glad to have been able to have the discount for three years. We will most likely be doing a Universal only vacation this year, as my son is done with WDW. I'll probably want to head back after the FLE is totally done.

 

[gilsan]

I wanted to let people know what happened to me with our YES tickets. We are here now, and picked up our tickets on October 25. Yesterday we had a 8:25 breakfast at the castle, so we were rushing in to make our reservation. As we attempted to enter MK we were told our passes had expired the day before.

We went to the ticket booth and the CM there was adamant that there was no way that the expiry date was wrong and the only way we would get in is to buy another ticket. If we hadn't already paid $150 for breakfast we would have just gone back to the room to get our original confirmation. So we paid the additional money. It put a damper on the day to say the least we had no plans to pay more for tickets, we also have 2 more days left on our trip and other reservations I hadn't cancelled and would have to pay a no show fee for. We were looking at an extra $750 to finish the trip. I wasn't hopeful the YES tickets could be fixed based on what we were told at the gate.

When we got back to the room I found our original confirmation and that the expiry was suppose to be November 14 So at nearly 10pm with an exhausted 7 year old we had to go to guest services at downtown Disney. It took nearly 2 hours but they were able to refund our purchased ticket and give us comp tickets to replace the days lost from the YES tickets. Between the time spent that morning and then in the evening we spent nearly 3 hours trying to fix a mistake that was not ours

The moral of the story check the expiry date printed on your tickets when you pick them up. I didn't and it caused a real headache.

 

[Moneypenny]

Does anyone know what's going on the week of Feb 6th? We were hoping for a class or two for our 12 and 10yo's but for whatever reason, the only day that week that they are offering YES is Feb 6th. Sadly we don't arrive until noon that day.

Is that a vacation week for some states? Just curious if we chose a bad week. I have noticed a couple of hotels have that week blocked out also.

Thanks, James.

We go that same time frame (Feb 1-8) and it looks like they offer classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are staying into the next week, you could sign up for one then. It looks like there are still openings for classes on the 11th, 12th and 13th.

 

[woodkins]

Does anyone know what's going on the week of Feb 6th? We were hoping for a class or two for our 12 and 10yo's but for whatever reason, the only day that week that they are offering YES is Feb 6th. Sadly we don't arrive until noon that day.

Is that a vacation week for some states? Just curious if we chose a bad week. I have noticed a couple of hotels have that week blocked out also.

Thanks, James.

Don't know if this is the reason but the national high school cheerleading championships are being held that weekend of feb 9th.

 

[pacrosby]

I'm sure the answer to this is somewhere but I don't know where to find it.

On the website I see they only have dates for January and February and I hear people talking about early Summer and Fall. Do they offer programs in the Spring typically? We are going in the first week of May and just wondering what the liklihood is that they will be offering something then. TIA

 

[softballmom3]

Well if that wasn't just one gigantic headache! Thanks for sharing!!!

I wanted to let people know what happened to me with our YES tickets. We are here now, and picked up our tickets on October 25. Yesterday we had a 8:25 breakfast at the castle, so we were rushing in to make our reservation. As we attempted to enter MK we were told our passes had expired the day before.

We went to the ticket booth and the CM there was adamant that there was no way that the expiry date was wrong and the only way we would get in is to buy another ticket. If we hadn't already paid $150 for breakfast we would have just gone back to the room to get our original confirmation. So we paid the additional money. It put a damper on the day to say the least we had no plans to pay more for tickets, we also have 2 more days left on our trip and other reservations I hadn't cancelled and would have to pay a no show fee for. We were looking at an extra $750 to finish the trip. I wasn't hopeful the YES tickets could be fixed based on what we were told at the gate.

When we got back to the room I found our original confirmation and that the expiry was suppose to be November 14 So at nearly 10pm with an exhausted 7 year old we had to go to guest services at downtown Disney. It took nearly 2 hours but they were able to refund our purchased ticket and give us comp tickets to replace the days lost from the YES tickets. Between the time spent that morning and then in the evening we spent nearly 3 hours trying to fix a mistake that was not ours

The moral of the story check the expiry date printed on your tickets when you pick them up. I didn't and it caused a real headache.