FP+ Advice please!

[weesignlanguage]

My husband (a children's pastor) is bringing a group of 4-6 grade kids to MK for the day on June 21. There will be approx 30 kids and 15 adults. We are going to be splitting the kids into small groups to tour the park. When I spoke to group reservations last night about the logistics of FP+ and linking magic bands, he said he highly recommended I NOT link all the bands to make FP+ ressies ahead of the trip but rather just wait till that morning and let the groups go to kiosks and make them at their leisure.

I had wanted to just give everyone in the group a set of 3 to start then they can add at the kiosks later on for more. But he said don't do it...it will cause problems.

So here is my concern:
1. How will a chaperone and say 4 kids be able to all go to a kiosk and use their bands and all get a FP+ ressie for the same ride and the same time if they aren't all linked as a group? Could it be possible 2 get a time slot that 3 might not get b/c of availability?
2. What about the new Snow White ride?? Will we be able to access FP+ for that ride the morning of at kiosks or will they be long gone by then?

I've planned a zillion trips for my small family including one this past January with the magic bands and fp+ and MDE but this group thing is really messing with my head! What do you guys think? Help!

 

[weesignlanguage]

Bumping this b/c I really need advice!! Help!

 

[MacDalt]

Can you link the groups in MDE without making the FP+ selections? That way the chaperone can go to the kiosk and make them for his/her group. The only issue is once you make the groups, it's not easy to switch.

 

[weesignlanguage]

I actually wanted to make a separate MDE account just for this trip with our church email. Then link each kid on it so I could do FP + on the app ahead of time. But the sales manager in group sales yesterday said he is warning customers that they may want to avoid linking the tickets at all b/c there have been a lot issues evidently. He didn't tell me what but he said he is strongly advising not linking them. Ugh! So, that leaves us taking 30 kids to a kiosk and doing FP. I just don't know how it will work. Worse part is we are only there a day and half in the parks so we need the FP to maximize the time. Some of these kids won't go back to disney ever as a child probably so we want to get the most out of the day.

Even if we break up into small groups of 4-5 (which we probably will when we get to the park), I am worried we won't be able to get a group that size all with the same time of FP. I don't know what to think...

 

[MacDalt]

What if each chaperone creates a MDE account and just links their group of 4/5 kids to it? That way, they can either do FP beforehand or at the kiosk. I don't see how that's any different than an average family. I could see issues if you link 45 people but 6 should be fine.

 

[weesignlanguage]

Now that's a good idea! Can you link tickets without room reservations and all on it?? We will have the chaperone list set up soon. I could use that to make new accounts. How does it work if you just link tickets and not rooms?

 

[MacDalt]

Hmmmm, I don't know. Offsite people can make FP choices at 30 days and they don't have a room reservation. Do they make a MDE account?

 

[MacDalt]

But wait! Are the chaperones staying in the room with the kids? If so, it will need to be the same group sharing a room as they group in the park.

 

[weesignlanguage]

I don't now about if you can make fp+ without a room ressie, I guess maybe you can! I am so clueless b/c we always do an onsite package!

And the kids will not necessarily be with their roommates and adults during the park time. My husband and I are actually manning two rooms each (joined rooms) but will be dividing some of those kids out to other adults during the day.

I don't know what to do!!

 

[weesignlanguage]

Is there a number that I can call to speak with people who deal with magic band issues directly?? Maybe they can help me!?

 

[Itinkso]

The small groups can make their Fp+ choices as a group. The Fp+ iPad CM takes all of the tickets, scans them, and then comes up with a schedule for the 3 rides the group has chosen. It's very fast when having the iPad CM do this. We had a group of 6 and had no problems at the kiosks. Very easy and good choices if they get there at park opening.

 

[Stefecatzz]

Is there a number that I can call to speak with people who deal with magic band issues directly?? Maybe they can help me!?

The issue that may be happening that you've been warned about could be an IT issue w/the website or phone app. I set up my roommate on my account & now it is saying that his ticket is invalid (not true) so I cannot set up any FPs for him until I call to see about what's going on. It worked fine for us when we went & stayed on property last month so not sure why all of the sudden it's saying this now.

The # on Disney's site is: 'My Disney Experience and Family and Friends (407) 939-4357.'

As an annual passholder, I do not always stay onsite & all you need to set up the MDE account is a valid ticket #. As an offsite guest, I believe they are allowing reservations to be booked 30 days out instead of 60.

It will be pretty quick & easy to let the CM at the FP kiosk help you in the park, depending on how long the line to get to them is. I've walked right up a couple times & I've seen really long lines for them as well. It all depends on the crowd level & location of the kiosk. As far as recommendations for that goes, if you see a long line in one, walk to another & hopefully it will not be too long. I've seen the line for the one in Liberty Square out the door so there are no guarantees for any of them. But when the wait is not long, they work great.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I agree with the pp that the issue might be an IT issue with groups. The people who seem to have the most problems with the MDE systems are people who try to link groups together. In many cases this just means family groups in separate rooms trying to coordinate their fp times so they can do things together. There have been lots of problems with it. It will be a lot easier to have a CM make the fp's at the park that morning. Then there is no chance of error.

 

[weesignlanguage]

I am very relieved to hear that this can be handled in the parks by each chaperone with their kids. Am I correct in assuming that kids can group up (no matter what room they stayed in that night) and make FP together for touring? Also, what is the effect of doing FP + that morning going to have on us getting high demand rides such as the new mine train ride?? Thanks again for all the help guys!

 

[Itinkso]

The groupings can consist of any students. Tickets are what activates Fp+ so the room assignment doesn't matter.

 

[Stefecatzz]

I am very relieved to hear that this can be handled in the parks by each chaperone with their kids. Am I correct in assuming that kids can group up (no matter what room they stayed in that night) and make FP together for touring? Also, what is the effect of doing FP + that morning going to have on us getting high demand rides such as the new mine train ride?? Thanks again for all the help guys!

So far, I haven't heard many people complaining about not getting headliners the day of, even when they make FPs early & want to change them that day.

As far as 7DMT, I don't think anyone can honestly say they know about the FPs for that attraction until it opens up for everyone. I'd get there as early as you can just in case.

Yes, it wouldn't matter what rooms the kids stayed in. As a group, the CM will be able to make the FPs for the available attractions they choose.