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

[leeserw]

We are traveling with a high school band. I'm wondering how FP+ and Magic Bands work with such a large crowd. There are 75 total people in our group. I emailed the travel agent but he hasn't responded. I'm wondering if they'll all get MB and if not, how will I make FP+ selections for them? Our 60 day window started two days ago. My family booked separately and have AP and bands from our Oct trip so we've already made our selections. I can't see a way for me to make selections for our group and if rumor comes to be, all FP- kiosks will be gone by Spring Break. And FP are going to be essential during that busy time and with such a big crowd. What are your thoughts on how this might work?

 

[Robo]

We are traveling with a high school band. I'm wondering how FP+ and Magic Bands work with such a large crowd. There are 75 total people in our group. I emailed the travel agent but he hasn't responded. I'm wondering if they'll all get MB and if not, how will I make FP+ selections for them? Our 60 day window started two days ago. My family booked separately and have AP and bands from our Oct trip so we've already made our selections. I can't see a way for me to make selections for our group and if rumor comes to be, all FP- kiosks will be gone by Spring Break. And FP are going to be essential during that busy time and with such a big crowd. What are your thoughts on how this might work?

You're about to find out.

(Sorry.)

 

[Laketravis]

Depending on who you ask, it will be 75 times as good or 75 times as bad as it is for one person.

Either way, that's a lot of planning. Good luck.

 

[disneylovin24]

We are traveling with a high school band. I'm wondering how FP+ and Magic Bands work with such a large crowd. There are 75 total people in our group. I emailed the travel agent but he hasn't responded. I'm wondering if they'll all get MB and if not, how will I make FP+ selections for them? Our 60 day window started two days ago. My family booked separately and have AP and bands from our Oct trip so we've already made our selections. I can't see a way for me to make selections for our group and if rumor comes to be, all FP- kiosks will be gone by Spring Break. And FP are going to be essential during that busy time and with such a big crowd. What are your thoughts on how this might work?

Are you sure the whole group will really want to ride the same things at the same times? Or will the group be split up?

I feel like it may be easier to split the group up into groups of 20 or less and do things that way. I think that may be the best time to get things done during a busy time.

 

[Eastern]

Not sure how your high school works, but ours lets the kids pick the parks by groups, and then they do what they want to do in that park. I would not even try to get 75 high schoolers on the same ride at the same time, in any case. Too much individual preference. When my high schooler went, I don't think they went on many rides, but they still had a great time.

 

[Eastern]

Not sure how your high school works, but ours lets the kids pick the parks by groups, and then they do what they want to do in that park. I would not even try to get 75 high schoolers on the same ride at the same time, in any case. Too much individual preference.

Also, the parent chaperones stayed in one area of the park (and all were available by cell phone) while the kids went off on their own (they were not allowed to leave the park). The kids didn't hang out with the parents who went.

 

[leeserw]

The kids are dividing themselves into groups this week based on thrill riders vs not. They'll be in groups of 4-6. My hope is to get fp+ selections for each small group so at least each group gets to ride 3 things each day. I know its a huge undertaking but this will be the only WDW trip for many of these kids and I want them to have a good experience. I remember going to WDW for the first time the same week as our pediatrician and his family went for the first time. We compared notes when we got back and his family did not like it at all. They stood in line and were overwhelmed. Not one of the 5 of them said they ever wanted to go back. Our family had an incredible time. Never waited in line and couldn't wait to book another trip (we've been 10+ times since). The difference was all in planning. I know I'm an over planner but even a little preparationg goes a long way. I'm willing to do whatever leg work can be done ahead of time to give these kids the best opportunity to enjoy the place I love so very much.

I just can't figure out how it will work to make selections ahead of time. Will we have paper tickets? Do I link tickets to MY MDE? I'm hoping the travel agent gets back with me. It's been three days.

 

[AmyB2006]

That's a lot of planning.

I'm sure it can be done, but it sounds like it'll be a giant task. I, personally, would love it, because I'm an uber planner.

 

[Rosanne]

I can only imagine how this will go but I'm guessing...

You will have to enter all the tickets by grouping and go through the process for each group, choosing each day for each group. If the Magic Bands are correctly linked by name and the bands have the names on them it might end up okay but you are in for a LOT of work.

I'm hoping Disney will find a better way to work out FP for large groups. I have three siblilngs who bring band/chorus/orchestra every other year (the siblings are from different parts of the country). They generally have between 75-200 people in their groups. Fortunately, thankfully this is "off-year" for all of them. They are concerned about how it will work for large groups. It really is too much work for them or their travel agents to make all those FP reservations and it would be too messy if there were "glitches". If Disney doesn't find a way to make it easier for large groups I expect many will give up on Disney.

Let us know if Disney gives you insight on how they might make this easier for large groups. And... best of luck!!!

 

[morethananyonex]

That sounds like it's going to take you hours and hours to do unless there's a drastic improvement to the MDE website in the near future. Good luck, I think you'll need it!

 

[mom2rtk]

May the force be with you.

 

[rwdavis2]

Given the nature of WDW IT and its reliability I can't imagine ever being able to successfully do this.

 

[FlipHipster]

I'm willing to do whatever leg work can be done ahead of time to give these kids the best opportunity to enjoy the place I love so very much.

I just can't figure out how it will work to make selections ahead of time. Will we have paper tickets? Do I link tickets to MY MDE? I'm hoping the travel agent gets back with me. It's been three days.

May the force be with you.

ditto

It's awesome that you are willing to put so much effort into making their trip special. You and your computer are about to become very, very close.

 

[rf53]

We are traveling with a high school band. I'm wondering how FP+ and Magic Bands work with such a large crowd. There are 75 total people in our group. I emailed the travel agent but he hasn't responded. I'm wondering if they'll all get MB and if not, how will I make FP+ selections for them? Our 60 day window started two days ago. My family booked separately and have AP and bands from our Oct trip so we've already made our selections. I can't see a way for me to make selections for our group and if rumor comes to be, all FP- kiosks will be gone by Spring Break. And FP are going to be essential during that busy time and with such a big crowd. What are your thoughts on how this might work?

see below...

 

[rf53]

We are traveling with a high school band. I'm wondering how FP+ and Magic Bands work with such a large crowd. There are 75 total people in our group. I emailed the travel agent but he hasn't responded. I'm wondering if they'll all get MB and if not, how will I make FP+ selections for them? Our 60 day window started two days ago. My family booked separately and have AP and bands from our Oct trip so we've already made our selections. I can't see a way for me to make selections for our group and if rumor comes to be, all FP- kiosks will be gone by Spring Break. And FP are going to be essential during that busy time and with such a big crowd. What are your thoughts on how this might work?

The cast members that work the rides have some discretion regarding the ratio of FP vs standby guests that get on each ride. It can be as few as 5 or 6 to 1, or as many as 30 to 1. With large groups they will let you on pretty quickly because the goal of the FP line is not to have people standing around at the entrance too long. The FP line must keep moving. At the secondary (interior) FP checkpoint for each ride the cast member will increase the ratio a bit if it is clogged up. This will mean that the standby guests have a longer wait because the ratios will increase in your (FP line) favor. You won't all ride in a seamless row, but they should let you on in large chunks and you will be through quickly.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Really? Wow. Lots of negativity. I get that people don't like change. It's pretty easy to pick out FP+. Much easier than having to walk to every ride, and put your ticket through unreliable machines, having paper tickets blow away in the wind/get stuck in the machine/missing a plastic ticket.

One easy solution is to let the kids pick out for themselves what they want to ride. Done. It actually very easy to adjust times so they are the same. Under the old system, you had no choice- you got what you got- even if it was a really bad time.

Since they are part of a package, the leader shouldn't have to enter the ticket #'s, just maybe magic band preferences. If you bought tickets through another means, then you should ALWAYS record the numbers, and match to a name. New FP+ hasn't changed that.

The kids don't have to pick FP in advance at all. If they want, they can pick/adjust times on the day they are there.

In the old days, folks loved to complain about large tour leaders would 'hog' the FP- machines when they put 100 tickets into the kiosk. I can't imagine that was much fun, while simultaneously keeping track of 70 kids. FP+ means you don't have to do physically walk to each ride.

 

[FlipHipster]

Really? Wow. Lots of negativity. I get that people don't like change. It's pretty easy to pick out FP+. Much easier than having to walk to every ride, and put your ticket through unreliable machines, having paper tickets blow away in the wind/get stuck in the machine/missing a plastic ticket.

One easy solution is to let the kids pick out for themselves what they want to ride. Done. It actually very easy to adjust times so they are the same. Under the old system, you had no choice- you got what you got- even if it was a really bad time.

Since they are part of a package, the leader shouldn't have to enter the ticket #'s, just maybe magic band preferences. If you bought tickets through another means, then you should ALWAYS record the numbers, and match to a name. New FP+ hasn't changed that.

The kids don't have to pick FP in advance at all. If they want, they can pick/adjust times on the day they are there.

In the old days, folks loved to complain about large tour leaders would 'hog' the FP- machines when they put 100 tickets into the kiosk. I can't imagine that was much fun, while simultaneously keeping track of 70 kids. FP+ means you don't have to do physically walk to each ride.

Yeah but it means someone is going to be spending their trip on the phone or a kiosk trying to manage FP+ in MDE for all those kids. Imagine trying to be one person managing FP+ for 65 people on your phone in the parks. I think that's where most people are coming from, I know I am. The group thing sounds like the way to go if you can get a separate account for each group to manage their own FP's.

 

[chartle]

I too was wondering how it would work ever since I replied to your other Band Trip thread.

I'm pretty sure you are the first to ask this question on these boards.

You will be getting YES tickets for everyone and in years past these could not be linked to a KTTW card. I was wondering if anything changed with MB.

I'm thinking your TA would be the best contact. If you don't get anything back from them you should be able to contact Disney Youth Programs directly. These are the people your TA should be asking if they already don't know the answer. Just like when you book any trip through a TA , they may not be able answer anything specific questions but should be able to answer your generic questions.

You could even just say you planning a trip and wondering how it works. They are great and are the people I worked with when I planned our trip with no TA.

Here is an email contact form or call 1-877-WD-YOUTH. You should be talking directly to Disney Youth Programs not a call center.

https://www.disneyyouth.com/about-disney-youth/contact-us/ask-a-question/

ETA I see its been three days with no response from your TA. I would contact Disney Youth ASAP.

 

[emilyindisney]

I saw on another thread (though I'm not sure whether this was a poster's experience on a group trip, or a suggestion of how it might work) that students will receive grey magic bands upon check-in (a box per a room) and can make their FP+ selections after check-in or when they get into the park on any given day. This would make sense, though I don't know how using a school travel agency, or YES tickets might affect this.

 

[leeserw]

Such good information! Thanks! I'm going to call today. I called before but told them who I was and that my TA wasn't getting me any information. They wouldn't talk to me. They said they had signed a contract with the TA and could only talk to him. It never entered my mind to call and just say I am planning a trip and not be specific. Duh! Great idea! Our TA is very nice but not very knowledgable. This is a side job for him and he isn't great at responding. And when he does respond he says "I'll send your questions to Disney and get back with you". Response time is always days. It drives this uber planner crazy.
Do you think FP+ will be taken up if we wait until we get there? Aren't there only so many like before?