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

[729tink]

I'm hooked! You're a brave lady - We're going in a few weeks with my family of 10 and that group is big enough for me!

 

[natebenma]

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!

Thanks for your kind comments.

It was a little weird. I would make a suggestion and the other parents would say "Let's do whatever the kids want to do", but all the kids wanted to do was whatever their friends were doing. They didn't really care, as long as they were hanging out together.

For all of the complaining that I have done (and will continue to do), I am very thankful for the group we had. The boys were super, for the most part and the other parents were great to be with.

There were some walking groups who had bigger issues with the kids and even between the chaperones.

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

Not sure it is THAT exciting, but maybe I'll sprinkle in a picture here or there.

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.

I'm hooked! You're a brave lady - We're going in a few weeks with my family of 10 and that group is big enough for me!

Glad to have you here!

Have you traveled with this group before? Does everyone have the same touring style?

And are YOU in charge???

 

[MEK]

Subbing. I see you started this the day I left for the world so I have some catching up to do!

 

[natebenma]

Subbing. I see you started this the day I left for the world so I have some catching up to do!

I knew you were at Disney right after I returned from my trip.

Can't wait to hear how your trip was.

 

[MEK]

All caught up!

Excellent!

I really don't know how you managed to keep your head on straight with the chaperoning. I would be a mess.

I agree - odd choice of attractions during the morning at MK. Thank goodness for FP's for later.

I agree that CHH would have been the much better choice. I would have been a nervous wreck when I couldn't find everyone.

I am sure there are many more adventures to be had on this trip.

I love your early morning pictures of the resort. I do think the theming of the values can be so cool. I love seeing the pics!

 

[natebenma]

All caught up!

Excellent!

I really don't know how you managed to keep your head on straight with the chaperoning. I would be a mess.

I agree - odd choice of attractions during the morning at MK. Thank goodness for FP's for later.

I agree that CHH would have been the much better choice. I would have been a nervous wreck when I couldn't find everyone.

I am sure there are many more adventures to be had on this trip.

I love your early morning pictures of the resort. I do think the theming of the values can be so cool. I love seeing the pics!

This trip definitely tested my limits! There were a lot of moments when I was in responsibility-overdrive, but apparently one person can take on all the stress so nobody else has to!

I enjoyed my early morning outings. My internal alarm clock goes off before 5:30 am, every day of the year: weekends, holidays, vacations so it was nice to be able to wander, drink my coffee, find more coffee and take pictures while I waited for everyone else to wake up.

I was extremely impressed with the theming at the resort. Very Disney!

 

[natebenma]

After our ride on Pirates, it was time to check to see if Splash was back up. A few of the chaperones checked their mobile lines apps, but I can’t remember if they said the attraction was opened or closed or even if the different apps agreed.

Why don’t we just walk over?

And we did.

Happily, we heard screams of terror coming from drop on the ride.

We showed our FP without issue, and sped through the queue.


More pulleys:

How many in your party?

17!
(Three people didn’t ride. One chaperone didn’t want to get his new sneakers wet and his son and a friend waited with him)

Our group was in two logs.

Let’s ride!

As we exited the ride, I took two of my best redneck ride photos ever, but you will have to take my word for it because it clearly shows the people in my group, so I won’t be posting these.

At this point, our group was ready to head back to the resort (read: pool) so we headed out.

A monorail approached and I thought it would make a great series of pictures.

One boy thought it would be funny to try to ruin my shot. But it backfired. I really like this!

Next Up: Downtime and Dinner and EMH at EPCOT

 

[JanetMom]

One chaperone didn’t want to get his new sneakers wet

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

How many in your party?

17!
(Three people didn’t ride. One chaperone didn’t want to get his new sneakers wet and his son and a friend waited with him)

SERIOUSLY

A monorail approached and I thought it would make a great series of pictures.

One boy thought it would be funny to try to ruin my shot. But it backfired. I really like this!

I like this too

 

[jmskinner]

One boy thought it would be funny to try to ruin my shot. But it backfired. I really like this!

Ooh, if the hand had been turned the other way, it would look like it was touching or holding on to the monorail.

We need to do a trip together with all the ride photos we would take. I always have my camera out on Splash too.

 

[jakeybake]

Hey Dee!

I love Splash!! My favorite WDW ride ever.

Did you get a chance to swing by our favorite resort?

Jay

 

[MHTeacher]

One chaperone didn’t want to get his new sneakers wet

I find this very funny based on the next picture.

I mean, come on, you're already wet!

 

[bookgirl]

One chaperone didn’t want to get his new sneakers wet

Um dude, you're walking in the rain.

 

[eandesmom]

Too funny on the shoes but then again, soggy tennis shoes aren't fun and it is a difference if they truly get soaked.

Trying to give the guy a break.

 

[natebenma]

You know, I didn't really see the humor potential of that comment until you all pointed it out!

He also avoided Kali, but I'm sure he was not able to keep his sneakers dry on the final night of our trip!

Glad the comment could give you a smile.

I like this too

I really liked it, until I read the next comment about how to improve the photo!

Ooh, if the hand had been turned the other way, it would look like it was touching or holding on to the monorail.

We need to do a trip together with all the ride photos we would take. I always have my camera out on Splash too.

Do photobombers take requests???

That would be cool, riding everything with you, dueling cameras at the ready! Mark sometimes gets aggravated when I have the camera out all the time and it was weird and a little embarassing letting the others see my photo addiction, so I would love the opportunity to hang out with someone else who understands!

Hey Dee!

I love Splash!! My favorite WDW ride ever.

Did you get a chance to swing by our favorite resort?

Jay

My son Ben agrees with you. He said Splash is his favorite when we were playing the "favorite attraction" game. I favor Big Thunder Mtn, myself.

Yes and No, but mostly No on the visit to the Beach Club. I didn't have free time to get over to the resort, but I did take the Friendship boat from EP to HS one night, so I got a glimpse of home. Took lots of photos, too! I posted some of them on the FAQ thread last week and I'll post them again when I get to that point in my report (very near the end)

I find this very funny based on the next picture.

I mean, come on, you're already wet!

Nice observation!

Um dude, you're walking in the rain.

Too funny on the shoes but then again, soggy tennis shoes aren't fun and it is a difference if they truly get soaked.

Trying to give the guy a break.

Thanks for defending my fellow chaperone.

Been there, done that with the soaked shoes, and although you think I would learn...

Been there, done that, OOPS, I did it again!

 

[AnjieNet]

Love the photo of the view before taking the plunge on Spash. My very favorite moment of the ride!

 

[jenneth79]

Ok, finally caught up!

Sorry to hear about Cosmic Rays... can't say we've eaten there, at least not since the "band" was still there..... just a few years ago....

I would just "die" to be backstage at the HM....I wonder if any of the regular KTTK tours or those like it do that?

"I can't manage 20 bladders" - Perhaps the funniest (and scariest) text I can ever think of! My hat off to you for being a chaperone. Disney or not, I'm not sure I could do it!

You know, if you took that picture of the child's arm with the monorail, and photoshopped it, it might make a nice countdown ticker......

And yes, I love Stitch. But I DESPISE the ride. So, I feel bad for you having to suff...ahem...experience it.

Florida = Rain = Wet Shoes. I'm sure he eventually came to this conclusion....

 

[WsPrincess]

Can you believe this...I rode Splash for the first time last week! I had never wanted to get "that" wet so I had always avoided it. DH and I were at EMH and it was a walk on so we did it. I am SO GLAD. I now love that ride. We are trying to convince DD4 she can do it but she said it isn't a roller coaster so she is not interested.

 

[natebenma]

Love the photo of the view before taking the plunge on Spash. My very favorite moment of the ride!

Yes, I love that view too, and also the one from Rip Saw Falls at that "other" theme park

Ok, finally caught up!

Sorry to hear about Cosmic Rays... can't say we've eaten there, at least not since the "band" was still there..... just a few years ago....

I would just "die" to be backstage at the HM....I wonder if any of the regular KTTK tours or those like it do that?

"I can't manage 20 bladders" - Perhaps the funniest (and scariest) text I can ever think of! My hat off to you for being a chaperone. Disney or not, I'm not sure I could do it!

You know, if you took that picture of the child's arm with the monorail, and photoshopped it, it might make a nice countdown ticker......

And yes, I love Stitch. But I DESPISE the ride. So, I feel bad for you having to suff...ahem...experience it.

Florida = Rain = Wet Shoes. I'm sure he eventually came to this conclusion....

Cosmic Rays has mediocre food, but it is really the crowds that bother me the most about eating there.

Love your comment about HM. I'm not sure if any of the backstage tours go there.

I'm not happy I had to send that text!

And I'm glad I wasn't disparaging your love for Stitch with my comments about the attraction.

Can you believe this...I rode Splash for the first time last week! I had never wanted to get "that" wet so I had always avoided it. DH and I were at EMH and it was a walk on so we did it. I am SO GLAD. I now love that ride. We are trying to convince DD4 she can do it but she said it isn't a roller coaster so she is not interested.

Congrats on braving your first ride on Splash!

It is a fun ride, and you don't get THAT wet!

 

[MEK]

One boy thought it would be funny to try to ruin my shot. But it backfired. I really like this!

Backfire indeed! That's awesome.

Wait - I can't believe people in your group actually didn't ride splash. What????? Don't wear new sneakers to WDW if you are going to worry about getting them wet or dirty. Heck - it rains there all the time. Yikes!