Feeling Like a Fish Out of Water...

[Ness2289]

I'll be chaperoning my DD's band trip in about three weeks. This will be the first time I have had no control over our tickets, and I am unable to schedule FP's. I used FP+ and a magicband last summer during a solo trip, but that is my only experience with FP+. Could someone help me figure out how to approach these three days we will have in the parks? Oh, we're also not staying onsite and the tickets are park hoppers. My DD is stressing about FPs as she is so excited to show her friends around who have never been. Any advice? Will I be able to put my ticket on my magicband even though I'll be offsite? Will we have any luck getting on some headliners without having had the opportunity to schedule in advance? Thanks for any tips you can offer!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I have a feeling that the teens will have fun standing in lines together. My son went on his band trip in middle school before FP+ and the chaperones did manage to get their groups a few FP's but he said they had so much fun standing in lines together that it was ok they didn't have them.

He was the one in his group of 6 (that apparently later turned into 10 when another smaller group joined them) who had Disney World experience. They had a wonderful time.

I am surprised your group is doing park hoppers - his band teacher didn't because he didn't want anyone to leave the park without them all being together. They couldn't even have their own tickets. The chaperone for each group went through the turnstyle first and then as each student went through they had to hand the chaperone their ticket. Each ticket was marked with the students name in sharpie - that was one of the first things that was done by the chaperones when they got the tickets.

I don't know how it would work with Magic Bands - since you are staying offsite, they will be probably just have tickets. If so, you could always take them for your group, go stand in line at a kiosk for the teens and then text them once you get their FP+ setup. The only issue is then you would have to meet them to give them their tickets for the FP+ which means more of a chance of lost tickets. (Had that happen to someone when I chaperoned some High schoolers in Disneyland).

So I'd probably not mess with FP+ and have them just stand in lines.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I just got back Friday from a similar trip with DD's high school softball team. However, we were staying on property so I called WDW 3 days before my trip to get my reservation number. The res. number let me set up MDE and do FP+. Will the person in charge or the travel agent give you your ticket number? From what I understand, that's all you need to set up your MDE.

The coach took all the players to the parks and they waited in line as a team - no FP+. DD didn't get to ride as many things as she does when she travels with me, but she still had a great time with her teammates. The parents all did their own thing. Hope you can get your group's ticket numbers.

 

[mrzrich]

once you get the tickets that first day, you should be able to use the app to plan your remaining days