A little let down by Disney's response...

[Rhongepooh]

I am a huge Disney World fan and go as often as possible. I also teach gifted and talented kids in grades 2-4. I teach a gifted unit on Disney World that include some of the following :

Test taking skills
Creative and critical thinking skills
The history of Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney World
Taxes and Tipping and how to figure these costs
Personification, metaphors, similes and alliteration

The kids also create their own t shirts, their own characters and their own rides for the parks. I wrote Disney the following letter....

To whom it may concern,
My name is Rhonda Kennedy and I am a teacher at a small rural school in
southeast Mississippi. Most of the students at our school come from
very low income houses and will never be able to visit Walt Disney
World. I created a unit about Walt Disney World for my gifted 2nd
through 4th graders. During the unit students will learn about Walt
Disney, Walt Disney World, and Mickey Mouse. Students will also learn
about taxes and tips and will determine if the Disney Dining Plan is a
good deal. Students will end the unit by creating their own ride in
each of the parks. I would be so appreciative if you could send
anything that might bring the parks alive to my students such as maps,
brochures and such. I have a 15 students and anything would be
wonderful. Who knows, I just MAY have the next great Imagineer in my
classroom!

So today I get a letter back stating they don't give out guides before getting inside the parks and also said while they have a site online that creates your personal map with your favorite rides, the kids can't get these maps since they are under the age of 18. Now I wasn't asking for tons and tons of free merchandise, it really disappointed me that they were not sending ANYTHING no maps, no brochures, not even a letter to my students. I refuse to read this email that basically says "Tough luck kids!".


Just a little disappointed...

 

[Rhongepooh]

Well I sent them a follow up letter saying I understood but was still disappointed. Today they called me to tell me they had brochures and a DVD in the mail! Yea Disney!!!

 

[Gantu]

That's super the they came through for you and the kids!


(My kids would LOVE to be in your class!)

 

[Rhongepooh]

That's super the they came through for you and the kids!

(My kids would LOVE to be in your class!)

Thanks! It's my favorite unit!

 

[Kristibo42]

My thing is if they send it too you then they will have to send to everyone that sends a letter. That could be millions!!!

 

[JKMJ441724]

I'm going down at the end of May (too late for this year's class). Let me know if there is anything else you might want and I will see what I can pick up for you.....

 

[JKMJ441724]

That's super the they came through for you and the kids!


(My kids would LOVE to be in your class!)

I would love to take that class!

 

[Rhongepooh]

I would love to take that class!

Thanks for the offer! We get out though at the end if May. I think what they send will be enough. I think the kids will be excited just to receive even a letter.

I LOVE my job. Since I teach gifted/talented I get to work on enrichment activities and am not really allowed, or I'm not suppose to, teach the skills from the regular classroom so I get to be the fun teacher. This unit though kids practice comprehension with passages on Walt, Mickey and WDW. They learn about tipping and taxes and how to compute both. They learn and practice alliteration , personification, similes and metaphors. They create their own t shirts, compare a trip with the dining plan and paying out of pocket for meals. Then at the end they will design their own disney character and new rides for each park. I plan on having the kids write a thank you note to Disney and send them a few files of the kids planned rides! We take about 9 weeks with it.

 

[Aliceacc]

I bet you could post on the Fairy Godmailers thread, and get 15 people willing to send postcards to your kids, c/o you, at school.

 

[Rhongepooh]

I bet you could post on the Fairy Godmailers thread, and get 15 people willing to send postcards to your kids, c/o you, at school.

That's a great idea! Thanks!

 

[bearloch]

hi ya! I have a annual pass and live close enough that I go weekly usually when is your unit on Disney? I will PM you too but I will be going this weekend ( April 6th ) if nothing comes up I will pick up freebes and send to you if there is enough time..