Just found and read your trip report and it's so fun! BTMR is my favorite ride, but I've never thought about looking backward while riding. I should on my next trip though since I've been on it enough times that I know the ride track by heart! And you've convinced me that I need a Starbucks Disney Parks tumbler in addition to the mugs.
I hope you get the chance to do the DCP! That's definitely one of my wish-I-had-done college regrets, but since I, like you, wish I was British, I studied abroad in Scotland for a semester instead (at the same school as Will and Kate!) which was still an beyond amazing experience. My DF and I are hoping that one or both of us will get to work at Disney some day!
One last thought - I don't know how you and your mom made it during those park days with your hair down! I went in September a couple weeks after you and omg it was SO. HOT. AND. SO. HUMID. I left the room each day with wet hair in a bun and still it was dry in like two seconds. But still SO. FUN.