Do tour groups get VIP Fastpasses or something?

[TiggerBouncy]

When we were there last month, a couple of times we headed for a line we had a FP+ for and just before we got there a tour group of no less then 50 piled in with these special cards they showed the CM's and were just allowed in (they didn't have to scan their MB's - no validation or anything). It ended up cramming up the FP+ system and as far as I could tell they had the run of the park - could just go where they wanted.

What were those and why did they get to jam up the FP+ lines so bad?

 

[mom2rtk]

Ruh roh.

 

[SaintsManiac]

 

[Accident]

What were those and why did they get to jam up the FP+ lines so bad?

It was probably give kids the world That's the only card that would get that many people into a ride that isn't a paper fastpass they collect. You saw several families with terminally ill children getting their wish granted to see disneyworld.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

It was probably give kids the world That's the only card that would get that many people into a ride that isn't a paper fastpass they collect. You saw several families with terminally ill children getting their wish granted to see disneyworld.

Hm. Maybe so. They were running around like a bunch of teens though. So they didn't really appear that way. However it can be hard to tell from the outside what is happening inside; so I can't really say.

I was wondering if it was something they purchased or was provided as part of their group.

thanks.

 

[John Marecek]

Had this happen in Feburary. I had a Big Thunder FP, walk over, and a good 50 people in a tour group filed in. It was no longer a FP line at that point.

 

[cgattis]

It was probably give kids the world That's the only card that would get that many people into a ride that isn't a paper fastpass they collect. You saw several families with terminally ill children getting their wish granted to see disneyworld.

I've seen numerous wish families get inserted into queues, but never 50 people and never made me think "tour group" (I.e. were pretty obviously families). Sounds like OP saw something different.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Was the group accompanied by any CMs wearing plaid/navy blue costumes? Guest Relations CMs usually accompany VIP tours, which do get FP access, but I believe it's usually ten people or less per tour. I guess a larger group could book more than one tour at the same time, I've never looked into it.

 

[Accident]

Hm. Maybe so. They were running around like a bunch of teens though. So they didn't really appear that way. However it can be hard to tell from the outside what is happening inside; so I can't really say.

I've seen numerous wish families get inserted into queues, but never 50 people and never made me think "tour group" (I.e. were pretty obviously families). Sounds like OP saw something different.

The only other thing I know that would have a card is cast members. If they were running around like that, sounds like their college program just started. My understanding that starts with 3 days in the parks to just enjoy and become familiar with the layout.

If they were dressed exactly the same this probably wasn't it though.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Was the group accompanied by any CMs wearing plaid/navy blue costumes? Guest Relations CMs usually accompany VIP tours, which do get FP access, but I believe it's usually ten people or less per tour. I guess a larger group could book more than one tour at the same time, I've never looked into it.

Not that I saw. (Stress that last word) However, I could have missed it. They definitely all showed something to the CM in the line though. the first one or two, the CM looked more carefully at. The rest just flashed it.

 

[bumbershoot]

just before we got there a tour group of no less then 50 piled in with these special cards they showed the CM's and were just allowed in

Is it possible they got cards instead of magicbands?

It was probably give kids the world That's the only card that would get that many people into a ride that isn't a paper fastpass they collect. You saw several families with terminally ill children getting their wish granted to see disneyworld.

Interestingly, GKTW isn't just for *terminally ill* children. "Life-threatening illnesses" is the description they give on their website. And I'm not sure about GKTW, but other wish organizations grant trips for those who *have been* diagnosed with such illnesses, even if they have since beaten it. Which is all really lovely and cool and I am by NO means disparaging the trips, the people, or the organizations by being clear with words. I'm just being clear with words.

 

[Klayfish]

I haven't seen one of the Brazilian/Argentinian tour groups in a FP+ queue since the days of paper FP. Not saying they don't, but we haven't come across them.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Is it possible they got cards instead of magicbands?

Except cards they would still have to hold up to the micky and get a green light, right? They didn't scan these. That's what made me take notice - the group went in fast (just walked by the CM after the first one) because they didn't all have to scan something to get in the queue.

Interestingly, GKTW isn't just for *terminally ill* children. "Life-threatening illnesses" is the description they give on their website. And I'm not sure about GKTW, but other wish organizations grant trips for those who *have been* diagnosed with such illnesses, even if they have since beaten it. Which is all really lovely and cool and I am by NO means disparaging the trips, the people, or the organizations by being clear with words. I'm just being clear with words.

So I am wondering if it was something like that now? Where maybe they were a bunch of kids who beat some life threatening disease (like cancer) or have it, but were not showing outside symptoms yet? I could believe it was something like that. Would an organization have brought a bunch of them together? Like from a hospital that treats such things?

 

[Accident]

Interestingly, GKTW isn't just for *terminally ill* children. "Life-threatening illnesses" is the description they give on their website. And I'm not sure about GKTW, but other wish organizations grant trips for those who *have been* diagnosed with such illnesses, even if they have since beaten it. Which is all really lovely and cool and I am by NO means disparaging the trips, the people, or the organizations by being clear with words. I'm just being clear with words.

thanks for pointing that out, I didn't know. I always have the time for a family in this situation to go before I do.

 

[Accident]

So I am wondering if it was something like that now? Where maybe they were a bunch of kids who beat some life threatening disease (like cancer) or have it, but were not showing outside symptoms yet? I could believe it was something like that. Would an organization have brought a bunch of them together? Like from a hospital that treats such things?

Give kids the world village has 79 acres and 144 villas so 50 people would be a drop in the bucket for how many are staying there at any given time. it's setup in a way that families will make quick friends with others and would not surprise me to see this many together..

 

[John Marecek]

Now that I think about it, it wasn't a tour group, it was a big group of cheerleaders. We were there in February during the national championships. My bad.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Give kids the world village has 79 acres and 144 villas so 50 people would be a drop in the bucket for how many are staying there at any given time. it's setup in a way that families will make quick friends with others and would not surprise me to see this many together..

Yeah - if they give them some sort of super fast pass, that could definitely be what it was. It wouldn't surprise me if it was a bunch of kids with a similar condition that made friends. probably that closes the mystery. Thanks!

 

[jlovesee]

Really GKTW? We were at Great Movie Ride at MGM, and a large tour group passed us by too, we were FP and they just walked past the ENTIRE queue and got right on the ride. The person at the end of the group was carrying a Puerto Rican tour group flag (Please keep in mind I have NOTHING against those from Puerto Rico, which I know is a US territory, but I am just mentioning it because it designated them as a tour group). They were all teenagers except for a few scattered adults and it made our FP wait probably about 10-15 mins. Annoying.

Please lets not all give Disney a pass on this by calling it GKTW when its obviously not, its aggravating.

Jennifer

 

[bpadair32]

From doing some reading on the DVC website, I know that there are some tours that you can book that give you VIP access to quite a few rides, but I would imagine that those are far fewer than 50 people.

 

[Luckybee]

At one time( and I don't know if they do this any longer) there were tour groups from organizations for underprivileged kids who would get vip treatment for a couple of days. Im going back quite a number of years ago but they would get special character meets, vip access etc. Disney used to contribute financially as well by throwing in rooms etc. Perhaps this is what you saw if , as I said, they are still doing this ?