Disney YES Program Open to non-groups

[DIS_MERI]

The class itself requires park admission, therefore one of your days will have to be used on the class day.

That's what I was trying to say....

lol, I was typing as you were posting, so I didn't even see yours until after I had posted

 

[mcguisus]

Looked at it again, I was thinking of booking the 8 day ticket, we are in Orlando for two weeks but I want to avoid the parks for the Christmas period.

That way I would lose out on one day but have the other 7 days which is loads. It works out much cheaper then any other way I can see.

Its one park per day, don't think we will be hopping with my 80 year old Dad and three kids

 

[leadfootlevi]

We are staying on-site and we purchased YES tickets. Can we still take advantage of EMH?

Thanks!

 

[jcemom]

We are staying on-site and we purchased YES tickets. Can we still take advantage of EMH?

Thanks!

Yes!

 

[willowsnn3]

I've been following this thread for awhile & have some questions.
Myself, my dd & 2 grandkids have had AP's for the past 3 years & are total WDW fanatics....I have another dd with an 8 year old. This would probably be the best opportunity for them to experience WDW financially. So we are thinking there are 3 kiddos & 3 adults so why not all of us do the YES package??? My question is if some of us have AP's, could we save the YES tickets for when AP expires (I know they are not upgradeable) or would we have to use them when we do the YES class??? Or just wait to do the program after the passes expire??? I don't think we are going to do another AP for a couple years. I hope I'm making sense here, lol. Some of these classes sound awesome.

 

[jcemom]

I've been following this thread for awhile & have some questions.
Myself, my dd & 2 grandkids have had AP's for the past 3 years & are total WDW fanatics....I have another dd with an 8 year old. This would probably be the best opportunity for them to experience WDW financially. So we are thinking there are 3 kiddos & 3 adults so why not all of us do the YES package??? My question is if some of us have AP's, could we save the YES tickets for when AP expires (I know they are not upgradeable) or would we have to use them when we do the YES class??? Or just wait to do the program after the passes expire??? I don't think we are going to do another AP for a couple years. I hope I'm making sense here, lol. Some of these classes sound awesome.

YES tickets have specific valid dates, so you would not be able to save them for a future trip.

 

[willowsnn3]

YES tickets have specific valid dates, so you would not be able to save them for a future trip.

Thanks!!! Will keep looking for a class schedule for the two with no AP to correspond with our next trip, whenever that may be, lol.

 

[michelle06]

Can grandparents taking grandchildren buy tickets for YES or must it be parents? In others words, if your child goes with someone else, can they all buy YES tickets?

Can someone who knows of current changes and not past practices comment on this? When you buy tickets must you say how you are related?

Thanks!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Can grandparents taking grandchildren buy tickets for YES or must it be parents? In others words, if your child goes with someone else, can they all buy YES tickets?

Can someone who knows of current changes and not past practices comment on this? When you buy tickets must you say how you are related?

Thanks!

I called about a month ago and was told that since we were grandpaents taking grandchildren we would be considered guardians, as as such, could purchase the tix for the 4 of us.
Your best bet would probably to call as well, if you're at all concerned. I'd hate to find out differently once I was already there and planning on it....

 

[michelle06]

I called about a month ago and was told that since we were grandpaents taking grandchildren we would be considered guardians, as as such, could purchase the tix for the 4 of us.
Your best bet would probably to call as well, if you're at all concerned. I'd hate to find out differently once I was already there and planning on it....

Thanks!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I am looking for a YES individual enrollment program during our trip in May 2012. I am still hopeful that they will release dates for WDW past the Feb dates now listed. If not, I will be forming a group. I already have 4 girls going, so I would be looking for 6 more people for the group. Our trip dates are May 19-25. If anyone else is going during that week and wants to form a group, let me know!

 

[jcemom]

I am looking for a YES individual enrollment program during our trip in May 2012. I am still hopeful that they will release dates for WDW past the Feb dates now listed. If not, I will be forming a group. I already have 4 girls going, so I would be looking for 6 more people for the group. Our trip dates are May 19-25. If anyone else is going during that week and wants to form a group, let me know!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the last I heard Disney no longer allows individuals to form their own groups to take advantage of the YES program. It must be an official group, like a school or girl scouts.

Also, I have never seen classes offered in May. That doesn't mean there won't be May classes this year, but there haven't been in the past. We would love to go in May, and if they offer YES classes this year that just might get me to book a May trip, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the last I heard Disney no longer allows individuals to form their own groups to take advantage of the YES program. It must be an official group, like a school or girl scouts.

Also, I have never seen classes offered in May. That doesn't mean there won't be May classes this year, but there haven't been in the past. We would love to go in May, and if they offer YES classes this year that just might get me to book a May trip, but I won't hold my breath.

I called and spoke to a YES representative, and she made it sound like it could be easily done by just naming an organization to go through. When I went onto the Trip Leader page and looked at the Program Request Form it only asks for the name of the organization, etc. All of the girls I have going go to a private school so I was going to request a group through their school. They are also all girl scounts so I could go that route as well. The representative seemed fine when I asked if I could do it that way.

If you see any problem with that let me know! I don't see why everyone couldn't be listed in a group this way, even if they live in different places as long as one person pays. It didn't even require an organization spcific check or CC.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

After looking at the ticket order form I do think you have to buy all the same KIND of tickets but I am not sure. I will have to do some research to see if some of the participants could have different length of stay ticket packages. I price quoted 6 day hoppers and it quoted me $183.62 per person. Unless I found 6 other kids of the same age group going at the same time looking for the same ticket package, it might not work. But if I did luck out to get 6 other kids I think it would work.

 

[jcemom]

I called and spoke to a YES representative, and she made it sound like it could be easily done by just naming an organization to go through. When I went onto the Trip Leader page and looked at the Program Request Form it only asks for the name of the organization, etc. All of the girls I have going go to a private school so I was going to request a group through their school. They are also all girl scounts so I could go that route as well. The representative seemed fine when I asked if I could do it that way.

If you see any problem with that let me know! I don't see why everyone couldn't be listed in a group this way, even if they live in different places as long as one person pays. It didn't even require an organization spcific check or CC.

Maybe it would be okay. It was reported here, on this thread, that forming your own group for the purpose of a YES class wasn't allowed. If you are permitted to use the name of your school, or your Girl Scouts group, then I'd think that might work. But, for example, *I* would not be able to form a group here on the DIS and register it as a homeschool group. That is my understanding of the rules anyway, but it's also possible that the rules have changed, or that different YES employees are giving different answers.

 

[jcemom]

This is all I've been able to find so far, from the YES group ticket purchase page (I'm not sure if the bolded phrase is of any importance or not):

Disclaimer
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. This program is limited to Domestic U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico groups only and orders are subject to validation before approval. Disney Youth Education Series Packages are available to organized youth groups of 10 youth or more between the ages of 3-22 years old that are located in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico. Disney Youth Education Series Programs must be arranged in advance prior to purchasing the package. Orders should be placed 6 weeks prior to the group's arrival. Tickets will be valid 7 days prior to the groups arrival date and 7 days after departure date. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Some activities/events at Walt Disney World® Theme Parks may be separately priced.

Please keep in mind that if you are paying with an organization check, we must receive your check 6 weeks prior to your arrival. If your check will not arrive in time, please select an alternate form of payment (Credit Card, Cashiers Check, Money Order). If you would like to have your tickets mailed, you must provide a physical address, no PO Boxes please. Tickets are sent via FedEx and must be signed for.

Here's what I've been able to find so far here on the DIS (posted 1/26/2011):

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39701672&postcount=123

Has anyone successfully set up a group/class recently? I know there have been numerous groups formed to do a class with success (our kids did one last March). I put one together and then got a call from Disney YES to "validate" our request and they said that it has to be a "fully established group with web site, letterhead, etc." Also said all 10 kids had to be the same grade or at least within 1 grade of each other. Even though some classes say "grades 3rd through 12th," you can't have a class of 3rd graders and 12th graders, etc. Unfortunately, our group went from 3rd grade to 11th grade.

So has anyone been able to do this successfully recently?

And this (posted 7/14/2010 ):

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=37388367&postcount=679

I'm trying to put a group together now, so I'll tell you what I've learned so far. And you can follow the link on my signature. On the first post at the bottom are links to Disney & another thread for another group w/ useful info. The group tickets must be purchase together all at one time using only one form of payment : i.e. check, money order, credit card or cash. You can either do this 4 weeks before your trip via internet/mail or at the Will Call window. The adviser told me the classes work better with kids closer in age. Even though the course we're signed up for says 3rd to 12th, you can see how that would be difficult to keep everyone's attention. This is not all about cheap tickets. So try to get kids that are really interested in learning & having fun. Disney also has their Them Park Adventure category for groups of 10 with no class involved, but those tickets are about $30 more each.

I suppose none of that is really helpful, LOL. Sorry, I tried.

ETA: I hope you're able to take your group. Please keep us updated!!

 

[michelle06]

After looking at the ticket order form I do think you have to buy all the same KIND of tickets but I am not sure. I will have to do some research to see if some of the participants could have different length of stay ticket packages. I price quoted 6 day hoppers and it quoted me $183.62 per person. Unless I found 6 other kids of the same age group going at the same time looking for the same ticket package, it might not work. But if I did luck out to get 6 other kids I think it would work.

I am curious about the price you have. I was just looking up 6 day hoppers myself and found them to be $192.55. Please let me know if I'm looking at this wrong.

 

[torinsmom]

When you called, did you tell her you had 6 kids in your group, but were going to add random kids to make it 10? If you just told her you had 10 kids, I can understand her saying it would work, but it's hard for me to believe a Disney CM would condone something they have said they won't allow. I guess as long as the other parents in the group are willing to lie and have their kids lie if the person leading the group starts talking about their organization, you might be able to swing it. Others have been told you need official letterhead for the organization or some other kind of proof, so I don't know how that would work. I would call again and lay out your plan, then see what they say before you get too excited. They have really started cracking down since the program was so abused during the first year of individual enrollment.

I believe with the regular education programs, only one adult per child gets the discount tickets as well, not the whole family. Maybe someone who has done an organized group could comment on this part.

 

[ccgirl]

I called and spoke to a YES representative, and she made it sound like it could be easily done by just naming an organization to go through. When I went onto the Trip Leader page and looked at the Program Request Form it only asks for the name of the organization, etc. All of the girls I have going go to a private school so I was going to request a group through their school. They are also all girl scounts so I could go that route as well. The representative seemed fine when I asked if I could do it that way.

If you see any problem with that let me know! I don't see why everyone couldn't be listed in a group this way, even if they live in different places as long as one person pays. It didn't even require an organization spcific check or CC.

I was told something entirely different.

I emailed the YES program and was told there definitely would NOT be classes offered in May, nevermind group enrollment. I was also told you could not make up a group. It had to be an "official" group. For example, a trip sponsored by a Girl Scout troup, not just girls from that troup who happen to be going at the same time. That's what I was told anyway. Obviously, you were told differently.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I just called and spoke to a CM. He stated that it could be done as long as the school sponsored the trip but that there was the 1 to 1 student/adult ratio that must be abided by. He did, however, state that children outside the age ranges of the class could be part of the "group" and constitute a child in the ratio, even if they couldn't attend the program.

HOWEVER, the most exciting thing he told me was that there most likely WILL be May individual enrollment classes and that they will be announced in early MARCH. Based on that, he suggested I wait until March to make it easier.

So I am going to wait until March before I do anything!

Thanks!