Y.E.S. Program

[Chumpson]

The ticket prices make this seem like a no-brainer and I think my kids would enjoy the class. So, why don't more people do this? OR do they?
Also, how long are the typical classes, I guess you could say the drawback it time spent in the class is less touring time, but that might not necessarily be a drawback if you enjoy the class.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Many of us used to do the YES program, but the ticket price increase of over 75% from 2012 to 2013 no longer makes the program worthwhile for most.

The programs are good overall, but it does take a 3 hour gap out of the park touring day.

The tickets also cannot be modified.

For our family, the ticket cost was around $550 last year, that included the waterparks/Disney Quest. Similar tickets now cost nearly $900. With the discounts through mousesavers, through Orbitz, or attached to free dining, the discount is no longer worth going that route.

 

[Chumpson]

Okay, but say you have 3 kids and 4 adults and you have all the kids take a class and you can save yourself $368 as a group on base tickets. Would it then be worth it? I know you are giving up some time in a park, but don't the kids still enjoy the class?

The other option for our group is to take the classes and upgrade for parkhoppers, which we weren't going to do to save some, by taking the class and still come out $232 ahead of buying regular tickets.

 

[abolanwoski]

We too have stopped doing it due to the RIDICULOUS price increase in the past year. We used it last year and it saved us some serious money, but we are military and at this year's prices, it can't be justified. So we will be going with the Salute tickets instead. Too bad because DD8 did enjoy the class.

 

[kristenrice]

We're hoping to do a YES class next October with our DD's who will be 9 and 11 at the time of travel. Based on this year's prices, we would save almost $270 on 5-day PH passes over the UCT price with the Mousesavers discount. Since we are DVC members, we go quite frequently and the class will be a nice change of pace. It will be something we've never done and we can save money too! It seems like a win-win situation.

I also noticed that those who have "children" over the age of 9 (which Disney considers "adults") are still charged the "child" rate for the YES tickets. This is a big advantage. If my brother's family went and took a class, their family of 5 would save $410 since their kids are between 10 and 14. I know that those who have been doing YES classes for years were very upset by the reduction in the discount, but it is still a substantial savings.

 

[DawnM]

Student prices haven't increased too much, but adult prices are just basically regular gate prices.

So, it can save you quite a bit depending on how many kids you have.

 

[Chumpson]

UCT price with the Mousesavers discount.

How do you get a Mousesavers discount at UCT?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We did it last year. Premium 4-day tickets (hopper + WPF&M) for $748 for the 4 of us. We spent 4 days at the parks & 3 at the water parks, so 7 days of fun. IIRC, same tickets today are over $1100. As much as my wife & daughter enjoyed the class, I don't think it's worth it anymore. The class did eat up quite a bit of park time, to the point we felt a little short-changed at Epcot & really needed to stay another day. And then that means 1 more night of lodging to pay for, and 1 more day of meals to pay for, and upgrading to 5-day tickets (or we would have had to have spent less time in the water parks).

Combine that with the rigid structure of the tickets (and no refunds if you have to cancel) and I don't believe we'll do it again.

 

[Chumpson]

Good points. Thanks.

 

[wendow]

We saved almost $500 in 2012 but this year, it would only save us *almost* $100. We decided to pass. My girls really enjoyed the class we did but it ate up a big part of our only day at AK and that isn't worth the meager savings they give now.

 

[Burnedout]

The ticket prices make this seem like a no-brainer and I think my kids would enjoy the class. So, why don't more people do this? OR do they?
Also, how long are the typical classes, I guess you could say the drawback it time spent in the class is less touring time, but that might not necessarily be a drawback if you enjoy the class.

It sort of depends on how much time you plan to spend and what sort of tickets you would normally buy. It is still a good deal for us because we spend a couple of weeks, and have been and will go again so a few hours lost isn't a big deal. We also enjoy hopping and my kids like dq which we'd never pay extra for at regular prices.

But that isn't how everyone travels.

 

[kristenrice]

How do you get a Mousesavers discount at UCT?

Subscribe to the Mousesavers newsletter. It comes out on the 15th of each month and it has a special link in it to UCT which gives you an added discount.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ICan'tWait]

We've gone the last couple years and will go again this year. My kids really enjoy the classes, but then they've been to Disney quite a few times and so it's a nice change of pace/something new. One year my oldest son took two classes. The discount has allowed us to get the waterpark/park hopper feature the last few years. It is a shame they raised the prices so much this year.

 

[pinoke]

Last year we saved $400 with 8 day park hoppers ( regularly would have been $1000. DS wasn't really impressed with the class, but it was okay ( marine). For a 40% savings- he can do it
This year, we will only save $250 dollars, but it is a much greater savings than UT. We are getting 7 day hoppers with WP and more option. Trying again because it's a good savings for us. At first, I didn't think so....