145 Middle Schoolers: Wicked Awesome or Epic Fail???DeParting-Such Sweet Sorrow p. 76

[ddluvsdisney]

I can't believe they questioned you about the FP return for Splash after not believing you about CR and how crowded it would be.

Behind the scenes of HM must have been cool.

 

[AnjieNet]

We've usually had pretty good experiences with Cosmic Rays but we've gone at more off times. Not planned but it was there when we got hungry. DH had a rib and chicken thing several years ago that he was surprised with how tasty it was. Love Pecos Bills too. I'd like to try Sleepy Hollow sometime too.

Hate becoming separated on accident or on purpose. I'm always sure my phone's battery will pick that time to die. Or that DD and DH got separated too and DD is all alone...gah.

Space Mountain is one of our favorites. Pirates too. I always have to ride twice so we can go through both sides of the queue.

The thundershowers can sometimes be a blessing, chasing the not so dedicated out of the park. We went to DLR a couple of years ago and it was drizzly the whole time but we got so much accomplished as there were so few people in the park. It was wonderful!

 

[DrMomof3]

Pirates is a good way to improve your day!
I can't even imagine 20 bladders....

Amanda

 

[15isto2]

Pirates is a good way to improve your day!
I can't even imagine 20 bladders....

Amanda

20 urinary catheters, simples

 

[eandesmom]

20 bladders. That alone would keep me from volunteering to be a chaperone.



I have the worst luck with Splash, hopefully it works out!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Another rough day at the "office". I'm sweltering in the barn waiting to make butterfly crafts with preschoolers. A goat just peed on the floor. And we are washing our hands with a water pump.

I'll try to post photos when I get home.

Just be grateful that the goat was the only one that peed on the barn floor

Pirates is a good way to improve your day!
I can't even imagine 20 bladders....

Amanda

20 urinary catheters, simples

Lovin these post-trip solutions

 

[natebenma]

Were not big fans of Cosmic Rays either!

So it looks like were going to stick with the Energy and Waves class since my DS is really interested in the HM part. The other class that we can change to is Disney's Captivating Moments: Images with Impact. Last October he took the Animation Magic class. I thought it was well done. However he was a little bored and after said he didn't really learn anything new. He loves drawing cartoons, animation, photography, making video etc. and since we live in what's known as the World's Image Center.....home of Eastman Kodak (and former employer of my DH). He has had a lot of exposure to things related to photography, he may be bored with the Images with Impact class too.

BTW speaking of images, what is the model of your Lumix? I need a new point and shoot and.... waterproof would be great since we are going to WDW in Aug. and expecting frequent downpours.

I'll be interested in hearing what you and your son think of the Energy and Waves class. I didn't ask the students what they thought of it. I am not allowed to talk to my son, and I certainly am not permitted to question his friends!

My camera is a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3. It is rated for underwater use to 40 feet (12 meters) and shock proof for drops of 6.6 feet (2 meters). 12.1 MP and 4x6 Optical Zoom

I paid $235 for the camera in March, but it is now listed at Amazon from between $300 and $350 depending on color. I don't know why I got such a deal.

According to Amazon, there is a new version now, the TS4.

I'm very happy with the camera so far. It has been through 5 days of waterpark abuse/snorkeling at Atlantis and it performed well in the pools and in downpours at Disney.

The one thing I need to caution you about is that I have experienced a number of camera leaks/breaches, so I always have a backup with me on vacation, just in case.

I can't believe they questioned you about the FP return for Splash after not believing you about CR and how crowded it would be.

Behind the scenes of HM must have been cool.

Although I have everyone here convinced, I'm not sure that my fellow travelers believe that I was right about a lunch choice. I don't think anyone was as concerned about the crowds, or the food, as I was.

I did enjoy the backstage part of HM.

We've usually had pretty good experiences with Cosmic Rays but we've gone at more off times. Not planned but it was there when we got hungry. DH had a rib and chicken thing several years ago that he was surprised with how tasty it was. Love Pecos Bills too. I'd like to try Sleepy Hollow sometime too.

Hate becoming separated on accident or on purpose. I'm always sure my phone's battery will pick that time to die. Or that DD and DH got separated too and DD is all alone...gah.

Space Mountain is one of our favorites. Pirates too. I always have to ride twice so we can go through both sides of the queue.

The thundershowers can sometimes be a blessing, chasing the not so dedicated out of the park. We went to DLR a couple of years ago and it was drizzly the whole time but we got so much accomplished as there were so few people in the park. It was wonderful!

I'm glad to hear you defend CRs. With the number of people usually there, I figure that have to be some supporters. We did split a chicken/rib combo there once, and it was huge but our trips to Disney are usually in extreme heat when lighter fare is preferred!

Have you tried Columbia Harbor House? Not to beat a dead horse, but you should!

People did scatter and probably leave, but since we were doing an inside ride, Pirates, we still experienced a long wait. 30 minutes is long for me for Pirates.

Pirates is a good way to improve your day!
I can't even imagine 20 bladders....

Amanda

Thoroughly enjoyed the ride on Pirates.

Yeah, I could see how you would not enjoy dealing with 20 bladders while you were on vacation.

20 urinary catheters, simples

Love it!!! I'll suggest that this is added to the packing list next time.

20 bladders. That alone would keep me from volunteering to be a chaperone.



I have the worst luck with Splash, hopefully it works out!

Oh, I remember your neverending time on Splash! One of the funniest stories ever!

Just be grateful that the goat was the only one that peed on the barn floor



Lovin these post-trip solutions

That's true! We did have a group of preschoolers.

Me too!

 

[DrMomof3]

20 urinary catheters, simples

I am a urologist so I guess I should have thought of this on my own.

Amanda

 

[333disneymom]

Cosmic Rays over CHH? Wow! Did they realize after lunch that they should have listened to you? Great pics of POTC. We just took our children on that for the first time on our last trip and they loved it! I can't wait until I can talk one of them into going on Space Mountain with me. One of my favorite rides and I haven't been on it in years. Sounds like this trip was a lot of ups and downs.

 

[Kat in GA]

Joining in!

I can't imagine 20 bladders - I wonder if the girl bladders were worse?!

And I am so curious about the breakfast room - did Disney help you all out with that? Did they bring tables and paper goods? Were your vouchers not good for breakfast?

 

[natebenma]

I am a urologist so I guess I should have thought of this on my own.

Amanda

Cosmic Rays over CHH? Wow! Did they realize after lunch that they should have listened to you? Great pics of POTC. We just took our children on that for the first time on our last trip and they loved it! I can't wait until I can talk one of them into going on Space Mountain with me. One of my favorite rides and I haven't been on it in years. Sounds like this trip was a lot of ups and downs.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure anyone else was nearly as bothered by the lunch choice as I was. But I know CHH would have been SOOOOO much better.

Thanks! I'm really happy with the pictures of the Pirates queue. Most of them were taken using the flash on my camera, so I hope I wasn't annoying the people around me. I did keep the camera stowed during the ride.

So have you been on Space Mountain since the remodel? I want to say that was around 2008-2009.

Yes, the trip definitely had its ups and downs!

Joining in!

I can't imagine 20 bladders - I wonder if the girl bladders were worse?!

And I am so curious about the breakfast room - did Disney help you all out with that? Did they bring tables and paper goods? Were your vouchers not good for breakfast?

Kat!

I don't know how it went with the girls, but I think they all had their own dramas.

Disney did not help out with the breakfast. It was all the teachers! They made trips to Sam's Club every day. First day they got 24 cases of water bottles (not enough), the next day they got 36 cases. They also purchased muffins, cereal, fruit, milk, juice, granola bars, Cheezits, Pretzels, etc and I think all of the plastic/paper goods.

For tables, they took 5-6 from other rooms in our block, same with fridges. I think the breakfast room had 4-5 fridges, also borrowed from other rooms.

We had 6 vouchers for meals per person. They were acceptable for breakfast, but it made more sense to use them for lunch and dinner. I'm not sure if the number of vouchers was based on the number of nights of our stay (4) or the number of classes we signed up for (2).

We arrived on Monday. First group was late afternoon, we got there at 8:30 due to an airport delay. The school ordered pizza from Papa Johns the first night we were there.

Then we were there Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. School provided the grab and go breakfast. We had 2 vouchers per person per day. Friday was an early departure to the airport- we were on our own to find food when we got there.

 

[MHTeacher]

PoC sounds like a good idea when it's pouring rain!

 

[Kat in GA]

Did y'all rent cars just for breakfast items? Holy cow! And was the breakfast room just for breakfast - did anyone stay there too?? I can't imagine the set up and clean up for that each day - and then getting to the parks. I agree it's a better use of vouchers - just thinking about the timing and everything. Most impressive!!

(Isn't it crazy that this little detail is what I want to know more about?? I am so intrigued by other people's logistics!!)

 

[natebenma]

PoC sounds like a good idea when it's pouring rain!

I am so glad we got a ride on Pirates in. I was very impressed with the chaperone who thought of it- wish it had occured to me.

Did y'all rent cars just for breakfast items? Holy cow! And was the breakfast room just for breakfast - did anyone stay there too?? I can't imagine the set up and clean up for that each day - and then getting to the parks. I agree it's a better use of vouchers - just thinking about the timing and everything. Most impressive!!

(Isn't it crazy that this little detail is what I want to know more about?? I am so intrigued by other people's logistics!!)

I think our group rented one car, for trips to Sam's Club and if someone needed to be brought to or from one of the parks in an emergency or for behavioral reasons.

One teacher stayed in that room. It was jam-packed!!!

I was involved in the set up during the mornings and some evenings- I was the chief washer and slicer of fruit. It was quite an operation. A few teachers stayed behind for cleanup, then went to the parks a little later (after a shopping trip). Or they stayed back at the resort during the day.

I don't mind answering questions about how the logistics worked. I was very impressed with the effort and thought put in by the school staff to ensure safe and enjoyable trips for all of the students.

 

[Missyrose]

I don't even ride Splash and yet I feel like it's ALWAYS closed. It must have been even more frustrating with a bunch of teenage boys in tow. Pirates was the perfect diversion, though. Did you guys end up waiting 30 minutes?

 

[pixarmom]

1) Comic Rays - yikes! I could barely continue to read it, I was so uncomfortable thinking about that situation. Stitch and Cosmic Ray's in one day??? I hope your dining situation improved, and if not, I definitely vote for you to book either a Christmas or February trip to WDW to compensate for the dining deprivation you experienced!!!!

2) Love the farm photos - Ben always seems like such a great helper! Sorry about your bad day at the "office!" I chaperoned a local farm field trip for the K4 class at the end of the school year - need to remember to send you some photos of M with the chickens.

 

[natebenma]

I don't even ride Splash and yet I feel like it's ALWAYS closed. It must have been even more frustrating with a bunch of teenage boys in tow. Pirates was the perfect diversion, though. Did you guys end up waiting 30 minutes?

I have to say the boys really didn't seem to mind or complain about the lines anywhere. I think Pirates was pretty close to the 30 minutes. That's probably the longest I have ever waited for that attraction. I texted Mark at 2:25, telling him I was in the line for Pirates.

1) Comic Rays - yikes! I could barely continue to read it, I was so uncomfortable thinking about that situation. Stitch and Cosmic Ray's in one day??? I hope your dining situation improved, and if not, I definitely vote for you to book either a Christmas or February trip to WDW to compensate for the dining deprivation you experienced!!!!

2) Love the farm photos - Ben always seems like such a great helper! Sorry about your bad day at the "office!" I chaperoned a local farm field trip for the K4 class at the end of the school year - need to remember to send you some photos of M with the chickens.

Stitch and Cosmic Rays- a double header! This was not turning out to be a planner's dream trip.

I'm so lucky Ben enjoys going to the farm with me. I don't think I'm working at all in July, but we have groups from inner city camps coming in every week in August. Thursday was really hot, so we didn't have many kids for the program, just 10 or so. Made for a lot of standing around. Then Ben insisted on a tour of the 1690 farmhouse. I keep telling him about the attic that is not on the regular tour, but we include it in our Historical Fiction program. There are "grafitti" drawings up there- names, places, dates and even pictures of sailing ships made by sailors or workers who were housed in the attic. The writing/drawings were made with limestone which permanently stains the woodwork.

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

Just found your report and am loving it! I'm a teacher (not quite as old...5th grade is as high as I've ever taught) and think you and the other adults were very brave to have struck out on this little endeavor. Hopefully, they listen to you a little more as the trip progresses, but as I think about that many teenage boys, I'm thinking that isn't incredibly likely!

Looking forward to more!

 

[JanetMom]

I'm so lucky Ben enjoys going to the farm with me. I don't think I'm working at all in July, but we have groups from inner city camps coming in every week in August. Thursday was really hot, so we didn't have many kids for the program, just 10 or so. Made for a lot of standing around. Then Ben insisted on a tour of the 1690 farmhouse. I keep telling him about the attic that is not on the regular tour, but we include it in our Historical Fiction program. There are "grafitti" drawings up there- names, places, dates and even pictures of sailing ships made by sailors or workers who were housed in the attic. The writing/drawings were made with limestone which permanently stains the woodwork.

Sounds like we need a special trip report for what it is like at the farm in August!

 

[chaoscent]

Just found your report and am loving it! I'm a teacher (not quite as old...5th grade is as high as I've ever taught) and think you and the other adults were very brave to have struck out on this little endeavor. Hopefully, they listen to you a little more as the trip progresses, but as I think about that many teenage boys, I'm thinking that isn't incredibly likely!

Looking forward to more!

You gotta love the internet. I read this post and thought "How rude to call natebenma old" Then I re-read it and realized you were talking about the age of the students. Gave me a morning chuckle.