Bringing group of students in March, what to do?

[goofyfan]

After an absence of 2 years (I had a heart attack last year) I will be bringing my fourth group of students on an educational field trip this Spring. In addition to 3 days of educational programs through the Disney Youth Educational Seminar (YES) program at MK, I personally want to introduce my students to some educational attractions at AK, Epcot, and MGM and am trying to develop a list of "must sees". What do you think are the best educational attractions at these parks?

[Matterhorn Fan]

Wow, I went to the wrong schools. ;)

How old are your students? What subjects do you teach?

[teri]

When my daughter went with her school group last summer, they did a behind-the-scenes tour of Animal Kingdom habitats - will that be on your agenda? The Maharaja Trek and the areas between the gates and the Tree of Life have plenty of zoological interest. The Lion King Show would be an excellent motivator for PE! And Music, and maybe even physics. :) Conservation Station has that nursery and petting area - not sure how exciting that will be, but worth checking out.

At Epcot - gosh, there is so much there, you will have no trouble finding relevent activites in Future World. The Living Seas will probably be part of your YES package, but make times for all of Future World.

I don't know if they still do the Swamp Stomp and other tours that Camp Disney used to arrange, but you should ask - those were terrific. I know they no longer do individuals, they only do groups of 10 or more kids.

I'm not sure what might be considered educational at MGM... but the Indy Jones stunt show is interesting because they show special effects.

[marklodi]

Originally posted by teri
I'm not sure what might be considered educational at MGM... but the Indy Jones stunt show is interesting because they show special effects.

I can think of three things that could be educational at MGM:

1. Arrange to ride Star Tours twice: First time in regular mode, then go back through and request non-motion mode. It would be even better if somehow they could run it with the motion on, but no video. Anyway, discuss how all of these aspects work together to create the final product.

2. Ride Tower of Terror, with each student holding a small object (attached around their neck with a lanyard) and watch it rise during the drops. Discuss the gravity of the situation.

3. Stand and force the students to stare at that big hat. For 5 minutes. Straight. Ignore their screams of pain and terror. Then while trying to sooth their poor eyes, discuss common sense and how to properly "theme" a theme park. :)

[teri]

There are other things to do outside Disney World as well - my daughter had a great time holding snakes and critters, even met a rare, endangered Florida Panther at Safari Todd's Wildlife Productions. (a picture: http://pixiedustinn.com/photos/floridapanther.jpg ) They had a day of educational activities at Sea World. Discovery Cove sounds really special - expensive, but special.

Plenty to do and see. :)

[goofyfan]

I am bringing a group of Gifted ninth graders(about 14 or 15 years old) We are in a physical science class, so I signed up for the 2 physical science programs at MK, which are about motion (especially centripital acceleration:) ) and electromegnetism (we get to go behind the scenes at the Haunted Mansion!). Everyone is a little more patriotic than we were before 9/11, so my students begged me to include the Hall of Presidents (we get to go onstage before the park opens! way cool!). I know that most of my students would probably enjoy the backstage tours at MGM, and the Universe of Energy at Epcot, but I have never been to Conservation Station. Do you think they would enjoy that? I've been trying to make connections between some of the really good attractions with science so that my principal will be happy. I just thought about a connection with HTH and gravity. can you think of any more?

[teri]

Conservation Station is more of a little-kid activity, but it is worth a visit.

Physics of motion - Oh Man! You MUST take them to the Lion King show!!!!!! :D The Tarzan Rocks! show also has some incredible stunts with good examples of centfugal and centripedal force.

Of course, You could check out the waterslides at Blizzard Beach for an experience with gravity! :)

Innoventions East and West have lots of science and technology bits. And the Wonders of Life Pavilion has TONS of educational value all around. The kids will enjoy Cranium Command, Body Wars... they will have a blast. We spent hours in that pavilion, as a family.

[HTHBellcaptain]

Originally posted by marklodi
3. Stand and force the students to stare at that big hat. For 5 minutes. Straight. Ignore their screams of pain and terror. Then while trying to sooth their poor eyes, discuss common sense and how to properly "theme" a theme park. :)

I couldn't agree more. :D

A couple of other attractions at the Disney-MGM Studios which have not been mentioned yet are The Magic of Disney Animation and One Man's Dream.

The Magic of Disney Animation is a tour that takes you through a part of the Disney Florida Animation studios. It is entertaining and uses segments that star Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams. This attraction shows the different steps that are used to create animated films. It's very educational and fun.

One Man's Dream is an attraction that tells all about Walt Disney (The person). The first part of the attraction is a walk through museum type area retracing all sorts of important events in the life of Walt Disney and the company that he built. There are all sorts of cool artifacts such as Walt's Office (sorry Disneyland), Props from movies, Walt's childhood desk in school, pictures, attraction models, and all sorts of other things. Then everyone is taken into a theater where they see a film about Walt Disney. Most of the film uses footage and audio files from interviews with Walt Disney. The only downside is that Michael Eisner narrates portions of the film. He does not have a very convincing stage presence. But the film is very good.

[goofyfan]

Thanks for all the neat suggestions-Please, keep them coming!

[pixiedust]

Hubby is a high school history teacher and always gives assignments around Epcot relating to culture and history. One his favorites that the kids find fascinating (and takes little time) is the copy of the letter sent by George Washington to the King of Morocco.

Morocco was the first country to recognize the United States as a sovereign nation after the signing of our Constitution, and Washington gives his thanks and pledges friendship between the two countries. The copy of the letter is posted on the wall just outside the dining room of the Restaurant Marrakesh.

Another interesting tour is the hydroponic gardening and fish farming in the Land. The ride covers this area, and there is also a "Behind the Seeds" tour which covers it more in depth. Then you eat in the Garden Grill Restaurant which uses the fish and produce.

HTHBellCaptain, is One Man's Dream going to continue after the "official" end of the 100 years celebration on Feb. 28th? I really enjoyed this exhibit and would like to see it permanent!

[HTHBellcaptain]

Originally posted by pixiedust
HTHBellCaptain, is One Man's Dream going to continue after the "official" end of the 100 years celebration on Feb. 28th? I really enjoyed this exhibit and would like to see it permanent!

My understanding is that it will stay after the 100 Years of Magic celebration. However, that is not from an official source. I, too, hope that it becomes permanent.

[Matterhorn Fan]

*Double-agent-ness showing*

While I'm sure that exhibit is great and (I wish I could see it :(), it has left a small hole in Disneyland. We They Many Disneylanders would like for that area not to be boarded up any more. The space looks truly strange now that you we WDW has kidnapped the office.

[HTHBellcaptain]

I do think it's awful that they didn't put anything in the space at DL that used to house Walt's office. The company has so many artifacts of our heritage (except of course, for the ones that have been sold on Ebay), that I'm sure they could have found something cool to replace it with.

[spookrepitus]

Originally posted by marklodi

2. Ride Tower of Terror, with each student holding a small object (attached around their neck with a lanyard) and watch it rise during the drops. Discuss the gravity of the situation.


Alternatively, if you pay my way down there, I will sit in the row in front of your students and they can just watch my (big, frizzy, waistlength) hair stand straight up. :)

[goofyfan]

Thanks for the info on Conservation station, and the suggestions about the backstage tours at MGM. You folks have already given me much more than a single mornings worth of activities. I guess that I will have to bring a group of students again next year (sigh), in order to experience all the things to see and do at WDW. Sorry HTH Bellcaptain, my doctor says that I shouldn't ride the ToT or any of the jerky rides anymore. I guess I'll have to slip out the exit door when I get to the elevator!

[goofyfan]

Originally posted by marklodi
Stand and force the students to stare at that big hat. For 5 minutes. Straight. Ignore their screams of pain and terror. Then while trying to sooth their poor eyes, discuss common sense and how to properly "theme" a theme park. :)
I can then use the big hat as a reference and meeting point for my students. For example "I'll meet you at the big ugly hat at 6:30 so that we can all go to Fantasmic together"