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

[lynn46356]

Caught up again I think! I'm tired for you right now and the principal! You up already at 4:30 a.m. after a late night. It had to take awhile to get caught up when you got home. I swear the older I get the longer it takes to recuperate! And the poor principal, waiting for the last group to get back each night!!!! He had to have had a week off after the trip. Enjoying the trip report!!!!

 

[thumperjr9]

Hi there from another MA native! I've been loving your TR - I'm always fascinated by the YES program, I wish my school had thought that was a good idea! The biggest thing we ever did was the 8th grade trip to NYC (which I never got to go on, because of 9/11). Can't wait for more!

Sorry you missed your 8th grade trip. My oldest DS missed his 8th grade trip to D.C. because of 9/11....they just completely cancelled the trip that year.

So, we haven't been to Karamel Kuche....how did we miss that?? Probably cause we spend too much time checking out pastries in France.

 

[natebenma]

Caught up again I think! I'm tired for you right now and the principal! You up already at 4:30 a.m. after a late night. It had to take awhile to get caught up when you got home. I swear the older I get the longer it takes to recuperate! And the poor principal, waiting for the last group to get back each night!!!! He had to have had a week off after the trip. Enjoying the trip report!!!!

I talked to the principal before the trip. He said not to expect to sleep very much and that he usually gets less than 3 hours of sleep each night of the trip.

It did take me several days to catch up on the sleep and feel rested again after we returned.

Sorry you missed your 8th grade trip. My oldest DS missed his 8th grade trip to D.C. because of 9/11....they just completely cancelled the trip that year.

So, we haven't been to Karamel Kuche....how did we miss that?? Probably cause we spend too much time checking out pastries in France.

Karamel Kuche is fairly new. I know it opened sometime after my last visit to EPCOT which was in July 2010. I'm sure you will be able to find it on your upcoming trip.

Head into Germany and follow the wonderful smells.

.

 

[pixarmom]

First, regarding the carmel bars: Agghhhhhh!!!! No caramel pecan bars? As M (youngest, not husband) would say, "NO, NO and NO!" That alone supports Ben's campaign to return to WDW. Forget the Test Track closure - Ben needs to get back there and you must try the caramel pecan bar! I do appreciate your replacement order. If I were similarly situated, I would absolutely choose the caramel with sea salt. (Did I mention that my sister-in-law is a chocolatier and owns a local chocolate shop? Her caramel with sea salt is amazing - more on that later.)

In the end, I give you a big hug for seeking out my favorite WDW treat in the midst of all this 8th grade trip hoopla!

Back to Ben and his trip planning - how about MNSSHP?

I feel like Mark and I have failed as parents, not instilling the proper love for the World Showcase for our kids.

You have not failed, because it's not over. Here's our plan: Invite each of the boys to celebrate their 21st birthdays in World Showcase - we pay. We'll see if they accept when they get there. (I've loved World Showcase since the age of 10, but I'm not sure how my parents did that - it certainly was not the photos that my mom made us take wearing hats from each country - yuck.)

 

[natebenma]

First, regarding the carmel bars: Agghhhhhh!!!! No caramel pecan bars? As M (youngest, not husband) would say, "NO, NO and NO!" That alone supports Ben's campaign to return to WDW. Forget the Test Track closure - Ben needs to get back there and you must try the caramel pecan bar! I do appreciate your replacement order. If I were similarly situated, I would absolutely choose the caramel with sea salt. (Did I mention that my sister-in-law is a chocolatier and owns a local chocolate shop? Her caramel with sea salt is amazing - more on that later.)

In the end, I give you a big hug for seeking out my favorite WDW treat in the midst of all this 8th grade trip hoopla!

Back to Ben and his trip planning - how about MNSSHP?



You have not failed, because it's not over. Here's our plan: Invite each of the boys to celebrate their 21st birthdays in World Showcase - we pay. We'll see if they accept when they get there. (I've loved World Showcase since the age of 10, but I'm not sure how my parents did that - it certainly was not the photos that my mom made us take wearing hats from each country - yuck.)

I was so excited when I knew we were going to get to Germany. I looked all over that case, thinking "Did I get the name of the treat wrong?" So very disappointed. And then the pressure of having to make a decision about the replacement.



Now hearing that your SIL owns a chocolate shop- since I'm sure you get to sample some amazing treats, that makes your love of the caramel pecan bar even more impressive to me!

I would love to go to MNSSHP! I think I have mentioned to you that the boys used to have a 4 day weekend off from school around Columbus Day and that would be a great time for a quickie trip to Disney. The timing would be great for a lot of reasons! But the past two years the school schedule has changed and it is just 3 days off.

For Mark and me, EPCOT was love at first sight.

It was my first visit to the World, in April 1983, HS Senior Class trip and I was fortunate to experience it with Mark. All the other kids gravitated to the MK, but we knew EP was the place for us.

 

[natebenma]

Back to Ben and his trip planning - how about MNSSHP?

pixarmom mentions Ben's trip planning. He is really jealous that Nate and I visited Disney, so he has been going onto the Disney website and pricing out trips.

Must. Hide. Creditcards!

He also prepared a Powerpoint presentation about why we should go to Disney this summer.

I posted this on the BC/YC FAQ board, so if you saw it there, just skip over this.

Ben did all of this on his own.


On a couple of slides, the writing doesn't appear when I scanned in the pictures so I just added in the caption:

1. DON'T BE STUCK AT HOME! JUST GO!!!!!!!!!!

2. DON'T BE STUPID!!! AND GO TO DISNEY!!!

4. JUST GO!!!!!

6. YOU SHOULD GO BEFORE I DO SOMETHING BY "ACCIDENT"

7. THEY'RE FORCING YOU TO GO.

8. THE END IS NEAR!!!!

9. IT'S FUN PLANNING!!!

 

[chaoscent]

A bit earlier in this thread Dee posted some awesome pictures of the castle. I am a DISigner on the Creative DISigns board (we make DISigns for people so they can make personalized t-shirts, autograph books, stroller ID's, etc.) and I had been seraching for just the right background for a wedding DISign I had in mind. I had gathered everything I needed for it (and then some), but couldn't find the right background. So it sat in the "to do" pile waiting for Godot. & then, Voila, I was out of my element, in a foreign board, reading someone else's trip report (which I rarely do) and there appeared the perfect castle picture. No people, landscape size, everthing I wanted. So i asked Dee's permission to use the picture, she said yes, & I obsessively searched for the right fornts and colors and made the DISign. I wanted to post it in her thread so she could see that not only is she a help to people on the Beach & Yacht club forum (where I first learned of who she was) but her photograph helped me out. So thank you very much Dee. Greatly appreciated. Penny

 

[chaoscent]

Dee - tell Ben we are hijacking him to the Creative DISign thread. The boy has a future there.
Come on, with such a creative powerpoint, you have to fit in a trip. Penny

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi there Dee! I am finally joining in for your fabulous TR!
Note to self: don't start reading Dee's review until I can finish the entire saga as I can't stop reading and now I will just have to be late into the office!

What an organized trip (door magnets = genius) and I'm sure they were glad to have your knowledge along for the trip!

I hadn't really read about the YES program before so this is all very interesting and relevant for the kids.

I'm subbing for sure!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Wow Dee your castle photo is famous
Love that!
MNSSHP sounds like a fantastic trip so what if the boys miss one day of school. And that is coming from a teacher
I'm sure Ben is loving all this attention!
I would use it as an early Christmas present or somehing like that maybe.
I can't believe how badly I want Ben to go.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I absolutely love Ben's powerpoint! He's such a creative kid!

 

[natebenma]

A bit earlier in this thread Dee posted some awesome pictures of the castle. I am a DISigner on the Creative DISigns board (we make DISigns for people so they can make personalized t-shirts, autograph books, stroller ID's, etc.) and I had been seraching for just the right background for a wedding DISign I had in mind. I had gathered everything I needed for it (and then some), but couldn't find the right background. So it sat in the "to do" pile waiting for Godot. & then, Voila, I was out of my element, in a foreign board, reading someone else's trip report (which I rarely do) and there appeared the perfect castle picture. No people, landscape size, everthing I wanted. So i asked Dee's permission to use the picture, she said yes, & I obsessively searched for the right fornts and colors and made the DISign. I wanted to post it in her thread so she could see that not only is she a help to people on the Beach & Yacht club forum (where I first learned of who she was) but her photograph helped me out. So thank you very much Dee. Greatly appreciated. Penny

Penny- that turned out great! I'm so glad you were able to use the photo. It was no trouble at all. Literally no trouble. I just posted the photo and you took it from there!

Dee - tell Ben we are hijacking him to the Creative DISign thread. The boy has a future there.
Come on, with such a creative powerpoint, you have to fit in a trip. Penny

I just showed Ben your comment and he was pleased.

He said, "There's actually a thread where people make things? And they want me???"

Hi there Dee! I am finally joining in for your fabulous TR!
Note to self: don't start reading Dee's review until I can finish the entire saga as I can't stop reading and now I will just have to be late into the office!

What an organized trip (door magnets = genius) and I'm sure they were glad to have your knowledge along for the trip!

I hadn't really read about the YES program before so this is all very interesting and relevant for the kids.

I'm subbing for sure!

Brenda!!!

I still remember your posts/TR from your stay at the Y&BC.

I'm so glad to have you reading along! I hope you weren't late for work!

I was very impressed with the organization of the trip, and I am a pretty harsh critic when it comes to things like that.

I'll have more on the Y.E.S program when I post my next update tomorrow.

Wow Dee your castle photo is famous
Love that!
MNSSHP sounds like a fantastic trip so what if the boys miss one day of school. And that is coming from a teacher
I'm sure Ben is loving all this attention!
I would use it as an early Christmas present or somehing like that maybe.
I can't believe how badly I want Ben to go.

I know, isn't that cool about the picture?!? I'm so glad it worked out.

I so want to go to MNSSHP. I'm not necessarily opposed to the kids missing a day of school, but I'm not sure even 4 days (some including travel) would be enough.

He really liked your comment about wanting him to go!

I absolutely love Ben's powerpoint! He's such a creative kid!

His presentation was really clever. Now if he can just make a Top Ten Places We Can Find Money for a Trip slide show, we will be all set!

 

[jenseib]

That is too funny!!!!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I would love to go to MNSSHP! I think I have mentioned to you that the boys used to have a 4 day weekend off from school around Columbus Day and that would be a great time for a quickie trip to Disney. The timing would be great for a lot of reasons! But the past two years the school schedule has changed and it is just 3 days off.
I'm with Ben-JUST GO!!
Love the power point-boys a genius

For Mark and me, EPCOT was love at first sight.
Aw shucks
It was my first visit to the World, in April 1983, HS Senior Class trip and I was fortunate to experience it with Mark. All the other kids gravitated to the MK, but we knew EP was the place for us.

Magic!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Joining in late... just spotting your link today. I have to go back & read...

 

[natebenma]

That is too funny!!!!

When Ben told us he was going into the house to make a Powerpoint demonstration, I didn't expect very much. But he really knocked it out of the park! There were some really creative, funny slides. I could do without the guns, though!

Magic!

Ben appreciates all of the feedback, especially the messages that say "Just Go!"

When you find an 18 year old boy who loves EPCOT, you know you have a keeper!

Joining in late... just spotting your link today. I have to go back & read...

Amy!

So glad to have you here.

 

[chaoscent]

Penny-

I just showed Ben your comment and he was pleased.

He said, "There's actually a thread where people make things? And they want me???"


His presentation was really clever. Now if he can just make a Top Ten Places We Can Find Money for a Trip slide show, we will be all set!

Tell Ben to come on down and check us out. If he wants to start DISigning we will put him to work We are always looking for people to help us out.

I like the comment about finding the money for a trip.
Penny

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Dee - fabulous pictures!

I am dying for those dark chocolate carmels!

Unfortunately we never spend as much time in EPCOT as DH and I would like. I'm ashamed to tell you that my kids look at EPCOT as Soaring, Test Track and dinner!

 

[natebenma]

Since last night (well, actually, this morning) was a late one, I slept in.

Until almost 5:30!

Followed my routine of heading to Cinema Hall for my coffee (enjoying my iced coffee along the way) and then I headed over to the breakfast room to help out with the fruit.

I can’t exactly remember what time wake up was for the students. Just like the previous day, we had private buses (4) that would take us to Hollywood Studios for our Y.E.S class. We had to be out there at 7:15, for a 7:30 departure and 8 am class. It was EMH at HS that morning, so the park opened at 8 am for all resort guests.


Today’s class:

Explore the creative process of the world-renowned Disney Imagineering team and discover how storytelling and science combine to create immersive Disney Theme Park experiences. During this one-of-a-kind experience, students explore the creative process of the world-renowned Disney Imagineering team and discover how storytelling and science combine to create immersive Disney Theme Park experiences. In this "insider" look into the creative world of Disney Imagineering, students learn how teamwork and problem solving skills ignite to create the next big idea, and discover the Imagineer inside themselves.

The Disney Difference
• Students have the opportunity to interact with a Disney Imagineer.
• Trained and knowledgeable Disney Cast Members facilitate this high quality and educationally sound program, while never forgetting that fun is a vital part of learning.
• Student participants receive exclusive keepsakes including a Walt Disney Imagineering notebook, pen, and credentials.
• To enhance learning, group leaders receive pre and post-visit tools to reinforce learned skills.

Sounds promising!


Of course, the first thing I see as we get to HS is the dock for the Friendship boats.


Beach Club- thataway!

We entered the park and the boys were given notebooks and they were told that this was the most important tool for Imagineers. Most of the pages of the notebook are blank, but some have inspirational sayings like:

A blank sheet of paper is the greatest opportunity in the world because you get to make the first mark on it!

and

Curiosity leads to information, learning, discovery, creativity and more questions!


The first assignment for the students was to walk down Hollywood/Sunset Boulevard, using their powers of observation to discover the attention to detail (Visual Literacy) that the Imagineers use to transport guests to the 1930s and 1940s, the great age of Hollywood!

Our destination:

Continued in next post

 

[natebenma]

Continued

I can’t think of a better attraction to demonstrate Visual Literacy and Immersion in Theming than Tower of Terror!

And since we were focusing on observation and details, I took that as a personal mandate to photograph…

EVERYTHING!

I will admit to using flash in the queue lines, but once we entered the ride vehicle, I switched off the flash.

And now, we ride!

We dropped! Again. And Again. And Again. (and maybe even Again). I don’t know exactly how many drops, but it seemed like a lot!

Wicked Awesome!

Next Up: What did we learn from that?