How do you think FP+ will work with a large group? (65+)

[LucyBC80]

Would this all apply to all tour groups? This would definitely give an advantage to guests over the infamous South American groups.

 

[motherof2boys]

Just got back from Disney with DS 14 Marching Band. I'm a bit confused by some of your posts. So all I can do is tell you what they did. I did not chaperone but was there with DH & DS11 the same time.
130+ kids & chaperones stayed at the All-Music Resort from Dec 27th-Jan 2nd (they got snowed in an extra day. Thank you trip Insurance!) The 1st 2 days they were at Universal & went as group (3 full buses) to breakfast before entering the Park. Each child paid with a meal card. The next 4 days they ate breakfast at the Food Court before going to a Park. Each kid was given a $15 Meal Card for breakfast & Dinner. Each child was responsible for their own lunch & snacks.
Each person was given a Magic Band as their Park Ticket & Room Key. There were no charging privileges on it.
While in the Parks my son & his friends used the Fast Pass+ kiosk to set up rides. I don't think you could use MDE with that many people. That would be very difficult to set up. I missed the dates of when you were going so I don't know if it's a busy time. My son had no problem getting Fast Passes for the rides he wanted. They spent long days in each Park so even if the Fast Passes were not for a few hours they still got them.

 

[leeserw]

My TA sent me an email from one of the YES people. She said our magic band would only be for our room key, not our park entry. I had to fill out a paper and my choices for tickets were to have them mailed to me or to pick them up at T&TC or DTD. It was so strange and I didn't know how to answer. I'm waiting on a reply from my TA to further explain that.

What time did y'all leave for the park after eating in the food court? I'm still on the fence about breakfast.

Thanks for the info!

 

[chartle]

1. My TA sent me an email from one of the YES people. She said our magic band would only be for our room key, not our park entry. I had to fill out a paper and my choices for tickets were to have them mailed to me or to pick them up at T&TC or DTD. It was so strange and I didn't know how to answer. I'm waiting on a reply from my TA to further explain that.

2. What time did y'all leave for the park after eating in the food court? I'm still on the fence about breakfast.

Thanks for the info!

1. Again this is all a new frontier.

2. Probably later than you want to so just be flexible. I would also try to not stress the "this may be the only trip these kids ever get so it has to be the best trip ever". I just think its going to put too much pressure on you and make for a bad trip.

 

[Aliceacc]

My school sends 600 or so Seniors to the same park, but once in the park they don't travel as a group.

 

[3PrincessesAndaFrog]

Following....heading with school group in April.

We were told that we would get both a wristband and a park ticket. It was implied that the Magic Band could be used for the park but we would have a park ticket in case we had problems. Also, we were told we would be part of the "test group" for Groups using Magic Band. And we could not select FP+ until the arrival in park.

I haven't heard of Meal Cards, someone mentioned a link, if you have it I would love to read up on it. At the moment, we have meal vouchers. I didn't see much cost savings to the student unless they ordered the most expensive thing on the menu.

Also, someone mentioned another link to Band Groups or Large groups...again if you know can you post. Sometimes it takes forever to find threads.

I would love Disney to allow groups to plan ahead with FP+. (Just in case they read the threads!) We plan on breaking our groups up into 5 to 10 kids.

Thanks!

 

[natebenma]

Thanks so much to the OP and to everyone who has participated on this thread.

Our middle school 8th grade has gone to Disney every year for the past 12 years or so. I chaperoned in 2012 and I am helping with planning for this year's trip.

Our group stays at ASMo, schedules 2 Y.E.S. classes and gets meal vouchers (2 per day for 3 days), along with 3-day Park Hopper tickets.

I'll be following along closely to see what large groups are experiencing and I will add any information I get.

I was extremely impressed with the organization by our school of this trip in the past-

As another poster suggested, our group orders pizzas for the first night dinner.

For breakfast, the teachers make runs to Sam's Club for muffins, cereal, granola bars, fruit, drinks, etc. One teacher moves all of the mini fridges into her room and keeps all of the food there.

We also hire security for overnight duty.

We use private buses to get us to the parks on the days of the Y.E.S classes and rely on Disney transportation for everything else.

I wrote a report after the 2012 trip (145 Middle Schoolers- Wicked Awesome or Epic Fail???). I have attached the links detailing some of the group organization suggestions I have described above.


Arrival Day:
Who's in Charge Here?
We havent even left the airport and the EMTs show up


Day 1:
First Morning

Security Measures
Magnets

 

[mousefan73]

God bless you and other who plan such large group of kids!! I got exhausted just reading this thread.

Checking this thread as I am curious if Disney meeting can linked and assign FPs to a larger group.

OP: I understand you are trying to make this trip awesome especially for those kids who this will be the one big time going to WDW. But I would not put all the work on your shoulders.

Another wards these are HS kids who are IT smart. Is there a parent Info/planning meeting or an info flyer being sent out before hand? Maybe add that FPs are the individual group responsibilities, and split into groups. Are you sure the MBs cannot be used for FPs??

I think you are just going to go crazy by making sure the whole group is at this point at this time for a FP...

The only problem I see is the whole MDE website thing. How that would work??? Or can the kids make FPs at the resort??

 

[chartle]

Security Measures
Magnets

I read your "blog" from your trip a few years back and its bringing up good memories of the two trip I did with my sons' band.

Just one issue to those that think the magnets or tape are a good idea. I think I posted here that they are very easy to defeat if you really think about it.

 

[natebenma]

I read your "blog" from your trip a few years back and its bringing up good memories of the two trip I did with my sons' band.

Just one issue to those that think the magnets or tape are a good idea. I think I posted here that they are very easy to defeat if you really think about it.

You are correct, they are not foolproof and there are a couple of ways around the magnets, but it is at least a little added protection to keep the kids from trying to leave the room, in addition to the security guards patrolling outside of the rooms.