how valuable is fastpass in november?

[SpaceAce]

I am planning a trip for high school kids to Disney World November 10-13. During that time of year (notice that includes a Friday and Saturday night), how much of a loss will it be to collect our tickets? Collecting the ticket provides us with safety - we know that the kids can not exit the park, go visit another park, and return (at least without buying another ticket.) Collecting it also makes it impossible for the students to lose the ticket( and make the adults wait in line to replace it). I know that will eliminate the perk of Fastpass, but will that be necessary to enjoy the parks during that particular time of year?

What are your thoughts,?

Many Thanks in advnace!

 

[darner]

i'm sure the students will find something to do while waiting in line w/o fastpass tix...

talk talk and talk some more...

 

[CNMooner]

Why don't you just purchase tix without the hopper option?

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Without a ticket, I'm pretty sure that the kids will still have no problem just exiting the park, and grabbing a cab to unknown places.
I think it might be best to have them keep their tickets, use fast pass, but
do NOT have the park hopper option on it. If you gave everyone their own ticket, and put it in a plastic pouch that is held by a lanyard around the neck, I think it would be pretty secure that way.

 

[SC Minnie]

The parks aren't that crowded in Nov but it is Super Soap Weekend then and MGM will be PACKED!!!

 

[MelanieC]

When we were there about that time of year (we usually went over Thanksgiving).

It was a very nice time of year to go. A few days were one of the slowest I ever saw except for January. It was great.

They would probably be ok without fast pass, but it really is a help to see the most.

 

[lovethattink]

Without a ticket, the kids may exit the park without any trouble. Are you staying on property? Will their room keys also be their tickets?

 

[cdntourguide]

I have been to WDW the last three years in November. I use the fastpass alot, IMO your students will be missing out on some rides/attractions without the fastpass being available to them.
You are going to have more things to think about than tickets. IMO you are asking for alot more work to collect then distribute the tickets, to the correct individual by the way. If you do this remember to have the students put their name on their ticket. (biometrics rule)



35days until I get to POP

 

[SpaceAce]

Thank you to all who responded. Here are some reactions to what I have read:

1) Parkhoppers are the only option as of when I checked a couple months ago because we are a performing group. That is what Disney offers. Does anyone know if you can ASK for anything else?

2) It seems easier for 1 chaperone to collect 8 student tickets right after they entered the gate to the park than the opposite. SOMEBODY will lose a ticket (if we don't collect) and we have to stand in line to get it replaced. Any thoughts?

3) Liability is an issue with school groups. I could see being asked in court, "Did you have a way to make it less easy for students to leave the park and return?" If they do not have a ticket, and you have them meet IN the park, they had to get another ticket somehow to do that.

Please respond with more thoughts. I really appreciate all that you have to say. I would love for somebody to compare, in the eyes of students, which is more of a turn-off:
1) Collecting the ticket, and therefore losing fastpass.
2) Having a few check-in times during the day. (This "keeps the leash short.")

THank you!

 

[kda]

That particular weekend falls in "Jersey week", I believe. (At least those are the dates that were posted by some NJ folks). A lot of NJ schools are off because of teacher's convention and many people go to Disney during that time. And isn't it Veteran's Day weekend, too? That will make it much busier than other dates in November, and not a quieter time to go. Fastpass will make it much more enjoyable.

 

[amw]

We went to WDW in 2003 during Jersey Week in November --wasn't aware of this since we're from Canada! I expected quiet, but it was actually quite busy at MK. We used the Fast Pass a lot. It was an absolute for the Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan, and Buzz Lightyear. We only had preschoolers at the time, so I can't imagine what the lines would have been like for the thrill rides.

 

[Minerva]

Please respond with more thoughts. I really appreciate all that you have to say. I would love for somebody to compare, in the eyes of students, which is more of a turn-off:
1) Collecting the ticket, and therefore losing fastpass.
2) Having a few check-in times during the day. (This "keeps the leash short.")

THank you!

As a student I would rather have had a few check in times during the day. If you're that convinced that the kids are going to lose their passes, and lets not forget that adults lose their passes everyday, check out some place like Orental Trading Company and buy a bunch of inexpensive lanyards and the plastic cases to go with them and give them out with the tickets for the kids to use.