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

[Mouse Skywalker]

We ride the resort loop, and it's about 2:30p when we get to the TTC. We don't have time to hop on the Epcot Monorail before our 3:00p tour of GKTW. We head back to the Poly to get in our cars.

At this point, something weird has happened to my key fob. It no longer is opening the door to the car. Todd's gone with his students, but my students and I are stuck. I call Todd, and tell him we're stuck. He drops his students off at GKTW, and swings back to the Villa to pick up the valet key for the van that's on my dresser. I call the rental car place, and they said the key fob can get cleared if it is next to an electronic device like a cell phone. Oh, hmmmm, good to know.

So my students and I are going to miss the tour. But we hang out at the Poly entrance and chit chat. Todd comes back about 45 minutes later with the key. We open the van and we're all set. It's too late to catch up with the tour, so we go to Chick-fil-A for a dinner before heading to another Kid's Nite Out shift at GKTW at 5:30p.

None of my student had ever been to a Chick-fil-A before. Mmmmmm, I love Chick-fil-A. We all have a good time, and somewhere along the line everyone starts getting really loopy. Maybe it was a sugar high from the milk shakes.

Todd and his students jump in his car. Me and my students jump in the van. We start racing to GKTW. At one point a milk shake was passed from my van to Todd's car at the stop light. Someone's yelling "Best Chaperones Ever!" Yeah, we're having a good time.

Kid's Nite Out at GKTW was a blast tonight. The kids were all really into it, and really wound up. The show tonight was "Village Idol", and a lot of the kids performed on stage, singing, dancing, hula hooping, etc. They would pull their student buddy on stage too. Lot's of fun. I have pictures, but I need to download them from the camera.

OK, I need to turn in, and get ready for tomorrow.

 

[A.Mickey]

Awwww! That is too funny about the monorail story. There is no competing with Famous!

Thanks for all the wonderful updates. Todd and yourself and your students are doing a great thing! Looks like you guys are having a ton of fun!

 

[aspen37]

Thanks Dave for taking time to keep us updated. It sounds like you guys are having a great time. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it in December over to GKTW. Tell the famous guy that I said Hi. That one guy student must be having ball with all those girls?

 

[cj9200]

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.

I tried to volunteer my daughter and 6 of her friends when we are up there next weekend. Got an email from them that they were fully staffed the morning we could go. Next time. The idea came from the Dis event when everyone went over there.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: Here's a couple more photos from the Village yesterday before we head out to our 7am shift.

Pizza Party for Kid's Nite Out

Village Idol Show in Julie's Jungle Theater

One of my students hula-hooping for their WISH child buddy

Enjoying the show, having fun, singing along

Y.M.C.A.!!!!!!

OK, that's it, and I need to head out.

 

[tlcoke]

Looks like everyone is having a great time. I am enjoying the updates.

 

[maroo]

just found this thread!

You guys are awesome!

You guys get to help with Christmas tonight?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

We have the afternoon off from GKTW, and I have 9 of the students with me at MK.

 

[Cyrano]

Enjoying the latest updates Dave

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).

This really sparked my interest. I will be very interested to hear this

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Thursday, Jan 14
Morning Shift
Early day at GKTW – arrived at 7:00am. Students were serving Express Breakfast, breakfast at the Gingerbread House, Ice Cream Palace, Castle, Park of Dreams, Hula Hut, and Welcome Hut. Mickey and Minnie were taking family portraits and Julie’s Safari Theater. Belle, Goofy, and Pluto were out and about wandering the village. Our shift finished at noon.

We had the entire afternoon and evening off. So the students decided to go to Magic Kingdom. Three students didn’t go because two felt sick, and one had family from St. Pete visiting.

Afternoon
Arrived at the Magic Kingdom by 1:30p, bought tickets, took the monorail over to MK, and started our tour.

Took some group photos in front of the castle.

Todd and I took the students around as a group to hit the headliners of the park.

We did Space Mountain - only a 20 min wait

it’s a small world,

Haunted Mansion,

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad,

and Pirates of the Caribbean.

After Pirates, it was 4:45p, we turned the students loose to do their own thing, and agreed to meet up at Tomorrowland Terrace to watch Spectromagic and Wishes at 6:45p. The students went to Pecos Bill for a bite to eat, and Todd and I grabbed a Dole Whip.

Todd and I decided to do some attractions we’ve never done before. First up, Country Bears Jamboree – I’ve never seen it, and wanted to know why it’s so universally reviled. It did not disappoint. The country music reminded me of Hee Haw, and I was laughing at it. We then wanted to see the revamped Hall of Presidents, but when we went to go in, they were closing the attraction because the audio wasn’t working. Todd and I went to ride Peter Pan, and then headed back to Tomorrowland. Took a relaxing ride on the TTA, saw Carousel of Progress, and then it was time to meet the students on the Tomorrowland Terrace.

The temperature was dropping, so I bought hot chocolates for the students. We watched Spectromagic followed by Wishes. Wishes took on a new meaning for us with all the work we’ve been doing this week at Give Kids The World. There were definitely some of us in the group that were getting choked up.

MK closed at 8:00p after Wishes, and we were back to the Villa by 9:30p. Todd and I wanted to take the students to see Yehaa Bob, but they were all too tired. So we turned in and went to bed.

 

[jen3003]

Dave it sounds like everyone had a wonderful week! What all of you did for the kids and parents at GKTW was truly amazing!

Thanks so much for the updates!

 

[A.Mickey]

What a perfect afternoon/evening at the MK!

Wow! I could only imagine what watching Wishes after all your hard work felt like!

 

[mainegal]

I have really enjoyed reading about the student trip and their good work.
Thanks!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hey Everyone, I'm at the airport waiting to board my flight. I need to update the rest of the trip when I get home. I can't believe how quickly the week went.

 

[Cyrano]

I can see why the students would be tired. Safe trip mate

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Just landed! So excited to be home. I'm waiting for Dana and the girls to pick me up.

 

[Launchpad11B]

Nice work this week Dave. (and Todd too.)

 

[dpuck1998]

Welcome home! and Thanks

 

[ADP]

Great job Dave. I bet you can't wait to see the family.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: I got behind updating the thread because we were so busy the last couple of days. Let me pick up where I left off.

Friday, Jan 15
In the morning shift we split up and worked on a couple of service projects around the village. Students cleaned out and organized some storage areas.

Afterwards, we had some time to get more of a tour of the village for the students that had not seen the Candyland Playground and a villa.

We finished up the morning by going to the new pool area the "Park of Dreams" and did some landscaping and general cleaning up of the grounds.

We finished up our morning shift by 12:30p, and we had a big group lunch/brunch at the Waffle House next to our Villa. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves. The students started talking to the waitresses telling them we were a group on a service trip to Give Kids The World, and what type of work we were doing there. One waitress came up to me and asked if I was the person who brought the students down. I said yes, and she thanked me and started to cry. She said you normally only here about bad things, and it was so good to hear about some good that was being done.