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

[natebenma]

I have to say, I almost enjoy cold pizza for breakfast more than fresh pizza!!! Especially if it's pineapple and pepperoni.... mmmm....

Great idea regarding the magnets! I will have to tell my friend about that. She gets a separate room for her three teenage daughters each time they go on trips, and always worries about them sneaking about.

MK looks super crowded! Was that just for the opening show or did it seem pretty packed? My only fear with traveling in the summer....I've gotten spoiled going off season, but we do miss out on a lot.

Glad you were able to get some coffee, I cannot live without mine now and have some starbucks via packs on hand at all times (though no coffee maker, wow, that just turned me off from Value resorts for forever. Moderates still have them, right?)

Looking forward to seeing which ride was 'dis'ed.... could it be a little Blue Alien???

I think the crowds depicted in my photos were mainly due to the opening show- nobody had been let into the park yet.

I do have a crowd picture that is quite scary from noon that day, near the narrow It's a Small World/Peter Pan corridor.

Hmm, that's right, you are a Stitch-lover!

 

[hcoker1]

Thanks for the update! I'm impressed with how well the trip is organized and just might have to steel the magnet idea for my future music dept. trips.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

OMG the magnets are genius!!! that is awesome. Have they always done that or did somebody just think of that??
My DS15 said they didn't do anything like that for his 8th gr. trip. He's convinced they could get around magnets lol.

 

[Missyrose]

Okay the magnets are just genius! I had friends that went to Disney with our high school's band (this was about 15 years ago, at this point) and the chaperons used the old-school tape method and it didn't work at all. I don't think any of my friends stayed in their assigned rooms or got much sleep at all!

Pizza, the vacation breakfast of champions. I'll echo what PPs have said, kudos to the planners for the breakfast setup. I'm sure it was much easier than scrambling to find CS breakfasts for those boys.

I'm curious to hear how the FP collecting went with the new FP policy in place....

 

[jmskinner]

That was a great breakfast spread. And love the magnet idea. Have to remember that for future trips if we ever had kids in their own rooms.

This trip sounds amazing!

 

[Schmoodle]

Yowza, Dee - I'm afraid for you. But I guess you got back in one piece!
It must have been difficult for you to not be in charge. Were the boys okay with sharing beds? Your boys are lucky, though - our school district doesn't do an 8th grade trip.
Breakfast was brilliant. I'm ashamed to say that if I was passing those rooms with magnets on the doors, I would be very tempted to pull one off.

 

[momabaarjo]

How did I miss you having a TR? Now to go back and catch up!

 

[natebenma]

Thanks for the update! I'm impressed with how well the trip is organized and just might have to steel the magnet idea for my future music dept. trips.

The teachers have done an awesome job with this trip over the years!

OMG the magnets are genius!!! that is awesome. Have they always done that or did somebody just think of that??
My DS15 said they didn't do anything like that for his 8th gr. trip. He's convinced they could get around magnets lol.

They have been doing the magnet trick for many years, at least 5 because one of my friends went on the trip with her oldest son. I'm not sure if our teachers "invented" the system. I'll have to ask.

Okay the magnets are just genius! I had friends that went to Disney with our high school's band (this was about 15 years ago, at this point) and the chaperons used the old-school tape method and it didn't work at all. I don't think any of my friends stayed in their assigned rooms or got much sleep at all!


Pizza, the vacation breakfast of champions. I'll echo what PPs have said, kudos to the planners for the breakfast setup. I'm sure it was much easier than scrambling to find CS breakfasts for those boys.

I'm curious to hear how the FP collecting went with the new FP policy in place....

The system realy seems to be effective, plus we have the security guard backup if kids do leave. The chaperones and nurse have signs on the outside of their doors, so if a kid does have to leave a room, he or she will know a "safe" room to go to if they need help with something during the night.

Fortunately, Schmoodle wasn't along on the trip to get our kids in trouble!

I was very impressed with the breakfast setup! The teachers worked really really hard on this trip! I helped every morning with breakfast prep.

That was a great breakfast spread. And love the magnet idea. Have to remember that for future trips if we ever had kids in their own rooms.

This trip sounds amazing!

It was a really really nice opportunity for the kids.

Yowza, Dee - I'm afraid for you. But I guess you got back in one piece!
It must have been difficult for you to not be in charge. Were the boys okay with sharing beds? Your boys are lucky, though - our school district doesn't do an 8th grade trip.
Breakfast was brilliant. I'm ashamed to say that if I was passing those rooms with magnets on the doors, I would be very tempted to pull one off.

I'm back, but still exhausted after a week!

Although I didn't get to dictate what we did or where we ate every time, I was more in charge than was probably healthy for a person!

How did I miss you having a TR? Now to go back and catch up!

You are excused! I haven't had much time to post on your report since I got back, so you haven't had much of an opportunity to see my TR link in my signature.

Need to go catch up on that now!

 

[DrMomof3]

The magnets are brilliant! Love it!
4 kids to a room is a lot!

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

The magnets are brilliant! Love it!
4 kids to a room is a lot!

Amanda

I almost didn't post about the magnets. I'm not entirely sure that they aren't top secret!

I think it worked out ok with 4 kids to a room. As long as I didn't have to be there, too.

Your comment reminded me that someone asked if they all used the beds. I'm not sure how it worked in all of the rooms, but I know in Nate's room they took turns. Two boys had the beds one night, the other two slept on the floor and then the next night they switched.

One of the discussions about roommates led to an upcoming humorous post "Showering Habits of Teens"

 

[DrMomof3]

I hadn't thought about sleeping on the floor.... It's been too long since I was a teen!

Amanda

 

[pixarmom]

OK, is this a post or an essay test???

The lack of a large food court at the Beach Club does not bother me. With Sunshine Seasons, Tangierine Cafe, the French Boulangerie and many more places a quick walk away, I have never been wanting.

Oh, it's definitely an essay test - and you passed! I'm in the Dis minority on the food court issue, but I know you're with me - I actually prefer proximity to WS and no food court. That's one of the many reasons BC is perfect for me.

I love the magnet, but you know what I love even more than the magnet? I love the fact that you took a picture of the magnet - awesome! And in the world of teens, that picture is better than any description that any of us could possibly write!

I appreciate the quest for coffee and the early morning success story! As my favorite beverages are milk, coffee and wine (in no particular order,) the availability of coffee in the early morning is a huge issue for me. It's one of my biggest complaints at DL - nothing is open early enough for coffee and no refill mugs - ugh! I so appreciate how WDW caters to the early bird.

Great breakfast spread, but I'm really curious about how the group used those CS tickets, whether you had to wait in line, how you decided where to use them, etc. As a person who makes at least two ADRs per day, the CS situation with 14 boys makes me nervous. I'll look forward to the next installment of your report and additional info regarding the food situation!

 

[JanetMom]

Your comment reminded me that someone asked if they all used the beds. I'm not sure how it worked in all of the rooms, but I know in Nate's room they took turns. Two boys had the beds one night, the other two slept on the floor and then the next night they switched.

That was the same when my son went on his gr 8 trip. Some of them had to sleep on the floor since there was no way they would share the bed. Too funny.

 

[thumperjr9]

That was the same when my son went on his gr 8 trip. Some of them had to sleep on the floor since there was no way they would share the bed. Too funny.

My DS will be going on his 8th grade trip to Wash DC in Nov. He said he won't share a bed and will sleep on the floor if he has to!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Ok I have a probably daft-ok make that definitely daft-question!
How did the magnets stick?? Are the doors metal? I love the magnets but I thought that the doors would be wooden? It's way too early for my brain to work these things out so I'm asking the fountain of all knowledge Dee

Laughed at how many teens would sleep on the floor rather than share a bed Asked my 14yo and he was horrifed at the very idea of sharing beds Definitely another 1 for the floor

 

[natebenma]

Oh, it's definitely an essay test - and you passed! I'm in the Dis minority on the food court issue, but I know you're with me - I actually prefer proximity to WS and no food court. That's one of the many reasons BC is perfect for me.

I love the magnet, but you know what I love even more than the magnet? I love the fact that you took a picture of the magnet - awesome! And in the world of teens, that picture is better than any description that any of us could possibly write!

I appreciate the quest for coffee and the early morning success story! As my favorite beverages are milk, coffee and wine (in no particular order,) the availability of coffee in the early morning is a huge issue for me. It's one of my biggest complaints at DL - nothing is open early enough for coffee and no refill mugs - ugh! I so appreciate how WDW caters to the early bird.

Great breakfast spread, but I'm really curious about how the group used those CS tickets, whether you had to wait in line, how you decided where to use them, etc. As a person who makes at least two ADRs per day, the CS situation with 14 boys makes me nervous. I'll look forward to the next installment and your report and additional info regarding the food situation!

Of course I took a picture of the magnets!

Yes, the food situation was a bone of contention a few times. I had in my mind before the trip what the right thing to do was. Didn't always work out how I had envisioned it, but I'm also not afraid to admit when I was wrong.

Each day we took a mid-day break back at the resort and ate dinner at the food court at Movies. Actually, there was quite a good selection there and the food was pretty decent. I'll have more info on the food situation, as it happens in the report.

Yes, the kids had to wait in line. Yes, the thought of trying to seat 20 people (14 boys and 6 chaperones) all together frightened me. Yes, the thought of having to split up scared me even more. I have major separation anxiety when we are just together as a family of 4- I usually have a Plan A and a Plan B if we get split up. The situation was compounded with the numbers in this group. And nobody wanted to discuss Plan A, let alone any other letter!

That was the same when my son went on his gr 8 trip. Some of them had to sleep on the floor since there was no way they would share the bed. Too funny.

My DS will be going on his 8th grade trip to Wash DC in Nov. He said he won't share a bed and will sleep on the floor if he has to!

Ok I have a probably daft-ok make that definitely daft-question!
How did the magnets stick?? Are the doors metal? I love the magnets but I thought that the doors would be wooden? It's way too early for my brain to work these things out so I'm asking the fountain of all knowledge Dee

Laughed at how many teens would sleep on the floor rather than share a bed Asked my 14yo and he was horrifed at the very idea of sharing beds Definitely another 1 for the floor

I'll answer this in a group reply.

I guess refusing to share a bed is a universal teen issue.

Originally, my son said he was going to sleep in the bathtub, but then I reminded him that some of his roommates might need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

The floor it is!

Yes, the doors and the frames are metal. Same at most of the resort and even on the Disney (and other?) cruise ships. So a lot of times people will bring along magnetic decorations to spruce up their doors during vacation.

Not much of that goes on at the Deluxes, though.

 

[natebenma]

When I left off, we were at the Magic Kingdom. But I’m going to go back in time a little bit, to a week before the trip…

Because I didn’t really have a part in planning this trip, to keep my Disney instincts sharp I started putting together info for the other parents who were chaperoning. I prepared enough material to hopefully help but not overwhelm anyone. I included a map of the All Star Movies resort, the menu from the food court, park hours including EMH, times for fireworks/parades/shows, and a couple of “notes” for each park:

EPCOT
Test Track Closed for Refurbishment
Soarin’ Fast Passes may run out. There are reports this attraction stays open after the park closes, with short lines.
Check out “Sum of All Thrills” a design–your-own thrill ride in Innoventions East
Phone numbers for phone booths in UK (407) 827-9861, (407) 827-9862, (407) 827-9863

Hollywood Studios:
Toy Story Mania- 3-D shoot out carnival game is most popular attraction in park, Fast Passes may run out.

Animal Kingdom:
Kali River Rapids- you will get wet, maybe drenched, on this ride. Protect cameras and phones with plastic bags.

For Magic Kingdom, my tip was “Don’t bother with Stitch’s Great Escape- that’s 30 minutes of your life you won’t get back!”

I have never actually experienced Stitch or the Alien Escape ride, but my impression is that it is a waste of precious space in Tomorrowland. After giving this recommendation to a friend who ignored my advice a couple of years ago, she told me: “ I should have listened to you, Dee”

Since this was such a negative comment, I debated about including it, but I was vindicated when one of the teachers approached me at the airport and told me he totally agreed with my warning.

Back to the park- Donna gave the kids a few hands-on lectures and experiments about sound waves. We started off in the shade in this Main Street alleyway.

I have never spent any time here, but the area is really cute.

Then we moved over near the Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace- more hands on discussion with lots of props (a Slinky, tuning forks, a rubber ball).

I love this vantage point with the views of the castle:

It was time to reinforce what we have been discussing with our first attraction. I will once again use my text technique to illustrate the story:


9:59 am First ride. Stitch. R U Kidding?


Yup, I was about to experience my first time with Stitch. It wasn’t as terrible as I feared, but it wasn’t really good, either. I guess the point was to pay attention to how the speakers behind your head made it seem like Stitch was in different parts of the room. Yawn!

In past years, the MK physics class enjoyed Space Mountain with the lights off AND on, and the two other mountains.

WTH!?!

Last summer, on my family’s one day trip to MK, by 10 am we had:

Surprised the boys with the MK visit
Walked from CR To MK
Enjoyed the opening show, 9 am
Rode Big Thunder Mountain
Rode Splash
Rode BTM again
Visited Haunted Mansion
And had FPs for Peter Pan, Philharmagic (bonus) and Splash Mountain.

You can read all about it here: Magic Kingdom


This was going to be a much, much different trip!!!


Next up: Shhhhhhh!!!

.

 

[Katesdad]

They use that side area on Main street for Keys to the Kingdom tours too. Guess because it is a quiet place to set up groups. Did they use the radios with the group so the leader didn't have to yell?

 

[natebenma]

They use that side area on Main street for Keys to the Kingdom tours too. Guess because it is a quiet place to set up groups. Did they use the radios with the group so the leader didn't have to yell?

Hey! Happy Fathers Day!

No radios. All of the guides doing this program with our class were just using their unamplified voices.

 

[DrMomof3]

Tom and I went on Stitch during a kid-free trip (I was attending a medical conference at Yacht Club) and it was definitely 30 minutes that we'll never get back. Nathaniel periodically wants to try Stitch and we've been able to avoid it - so far. I suspect his curiosity will get the better of him on one of our trips...

Amanda