Final Update 1/18! Latest Roving Reporter Trip Jan 8 - 17 GKTW Alternative Break

[Mouse Skywalker]

Inside the Clubhouse - there's a lounge with a kitchen. You could easily host parties in here.

A Gameroom

Business Center

Fitness Center

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Here is the interior of the ground floor of one of the Villas. Note: this is not John and Kevin's DreamsVilla. I had to rent two villas for the students, and only one is John and Kevin's. The layout of the interior is the same. I'm staying in one, and Todd is staying in the other. I would have taken pictures of the DreamVilla, but, in all honesty, Todd's students are neater.

This is just the downstairs:

Living room

Full Kitchen

Master Bedroom: Todd's Kingsize bed had a swan towel animal and was sprinkled with rose petals when we checked in. Seemed appropriate.

Master Bathroom: Has a jacuzzi tub - I haven't used mine yet. I don't know if Todd has used his to soak with rose petals around him.

There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs. I didn't take pictures of the upstairs bedrooms because all the students were still up there sleeping. I didn't think it would be appropriate as their professor to take photos of sleeping students and post them on the internet.

I can hear it now, "Mom, the trip was great except the professor would open the doors while we were sleeping and take photos of us. Then we saw them on the internet." Yeah, that's a sure-fire way to get fired.

 

[AnneR]

Great report Dave.

Sounds like GKTW is a wonderful experience for you and the students.

The Clubhouse has a business center?? computers that Todd could be using?? Give him a hard time for us - where is his trip report

Look forward to hearing more.

BTW - the villas look really comfy - but are you really going to need all those paper towels?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

BTW - the villas look really comfy - but are you really going to need all those paper towels?

Two words - Sam's Club. I stocked our villas getting supplies from Sam's Club. So, believe me, we have plenty of paper towels, toilet paper, kleenex, etc...

 

[AnneR]

Two words - Sam's Club. I stocked our villas getting supplies from Sam's Club. So, believe me, we have plenty of paper towels, toilet paper, kleenex, etc...

and you will use all these supplies????

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Here's another view of our Villa. My Villa, the DreamsVilla is the green one on the right behind the fountain.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

and you will use all these supplies????

We'll leave the extras in John's Villa for the next guests to use. They won't go to waste.

 

[AnneR]

We'll leave the extras in John's Villa for the next guests to use. They won't go to waste.

ok - now I feel better, I was trying to imagine you fitting the leftover supplies in your suitcase to bring home.

 

[sshaw10060]

ok - now I feel better, I was trying to imagine you fitting the leftover supplies in your suitcase to bring home.

I can just imagine Dave trying to stuff a giant Sams size package of paper towels into the overhead bin.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

We did not have to be at GKTW Village until 3pm. Monday night half of the students went to CityWalk to sing karaoke until 2am - those students slept in late, and went to Waffle House when they woke up. Students in Todd’s house went to Applebee’s for lunch and Congo River Mini Golf for a couple hours.

Afternoon Shift
At the village at 3pm, it was very quiet. Only about ~80 families at the village, but heard 30 of those families were at the Disney Parks.

Half of our group worked at Amberville, Katie’s Kitchen, and the Castle. The other half of the students worked on a service-project with Neal. He took us on a tour, showed us a villa, and talked about the history of the Village.

The students were really eager and motivated to get working. We went to a storage facility on the property and worked on organizing it and cleaning it out. The students really did a great job getting the facility straightened up.

Evening Shift
Very quiet, pizza dinner (students getting tired of pizza). Students working in Spa, Concession Stand, Brianna’s Express, Game Zone, and Hula Hut

Delivering Pizzas:

Playing games with kids:

Working the theater concession stand:

Todd and Dave working hard:

Group photo after the magic show:

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Today we're having lunch at the village with Pam Landwirth (President, GKTW) and Lee Cockerell. The students have been reading Lee's book. After lunch we'll have another tour, and then a Kid's Nite Out shift in the evening.

 

[dpuck1998]

Looks like a great trip dave! How many days are you working at GKTW?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Looks like a great trip dave! How many days are you working at GKTW?

5 days Don. Monday through Friday, pretty much two shifts a day.

 

[dpuck1998]

Today we're having lunch at the village with Pam Landwirth (President, GKTW) and Lee Cockerell. The students have been reading Lee's book. After lunch we'll have another tour, and then a Kid's Nite Out shift in the evening.

Dave you are a rockstar! I'm glad I have those photos of you on the ship in case I ever need a favor

 

[dpuck1998]

5 days Don. Monday through Friday, pretty much two shifts a day.

I'd love to do that, I'm jealous When my kids are old enough I think I can convince them to spend time there.

 

[Madi100]

Dave, I've really enjoyed reading this. I would love to be in one of your classes. Can I enroll

 

[jen3003]

Dave sounds like you are all having an amazing experience at GKTW!
What all of you are doing is wonderful and I'm sure the families truly appreciate it.

Keep up the awesome job!

Tell Todd "hello!"

 

[AnneR]

Dave - thanks for taking time out of your trip to keep us update. You are very inspiring. I know that volunteering at GKTW is rewarding enough but I want to thank you for encouraging all of us to give of ourselves. Those students could've planned a trip to play the entire time in Orlando, instead they are working two shifts a day at GKTW - it's just wonderful what you and Todd are doing.l

 

[Cyrano]

Dave impressed with the work that the students, Todd and yourself are doing. I am sure it is very rewarding.
Relaxing at Dreamvillas at the end of the day is the least the students should be getting. You have a great bunch of young people

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Evening Everyone: I just got back from GKTW. I better update the thread now, because we need to get up really early tomorrow to get to GKTW for a 7am shift.

This morning the students could sleep in. We didn't need to get to GKTW until noon for lunch. We had lunch with Pamela Landwirth (President, GKTW) and Lee Cockerell. I went over at 11:30am because Lee and Pam had agreed to record an interview with me for the show. They are going to talk about their experiences with being part of the opening team for Disneyland Paris (then EuroDisney).

Todd brought the students over at noon in the van. We met for lunch, and Lee spoke to the students about his thoughts on leadership. He was very relaxed, accessible as always, and incredibly generous with the students. He and Pam both were great.

Unfortunately, I was listening to Lee and Pam, trying to get the students to ask questions, and I totally forgot about taking pictures of them. Shoot!

Lunch ended, it was about 1:30p, and we didn't have anything scheduled until a formal tour of the village at 3:00p. So I think, hey! We've been spending a lot of time at GKTW and in the villa - let's take the students to WDW Resort.

I say, "who wants to ride a ride?" They look at me and go, huh? I say, let's go to Disney, and ride the monorail. They still kind of look at me, I say it's free, we get a view of the resorts and the park, and maybe we can even hop on the monorail that goes to Epcot. That one goes through Epcot. Now everyone's excited - whoo hooo let's go, and they start cheering,

"Yay, Todd! You know everything about Disney! Todd rules! Whoo hoo Todd!" Uuuuuummmm, wasn't this my idea? Oh well... what can you do? He is famous.

We head to the Polynesian to hop on the monorail.

Students in the Poly Lobby

Waiting on the monorail platform

Here comes the monorail

On the monorail

We have a great time riding the monorail, and Todd shamelessly claims the idea as his own... sigh... I'll get him back by posting on here how it was my idea all along. Yeah, that will get him.