Need Kindergarten Graduation ideas while at WDW

[MelAR05]

This is my first post. My family will be at WDW in May resulting in my youngest daughter missing her K graduation. I am wanting to do something special for her while we are there, some sort of mini-ceremony. We will bring a cap and gown. Any ideas?

This will be a first trip to WDW for all three of my girls.

While we are there we will be going to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall for lunch, 'Ohana for breakfast, and the Star Wars Galactic Breakfast for the last day. I am hoping to get a FP for BOG. *fingers crossed*

Her favorite princess is Belle.

 

[tourguide81]

Is it likely she will even understand what she is missing? A cap & gown? That seems crazy to me but my oldest is just starting K. If she indicated (much closer to the time) that she was sad she was missing it or some such, I'd just get a BBB reservation or something fun for her. I wouldn't try to recreate a ceremony or put the idea in her head that she was missing something.

 

[lazer]

Some schools in our area do this (in the Midwest). My sons preschool does it, which makes more sense to me because he's leaving that school to go to a new one.

If it were me, I'd book BBB as a special treat for her, but my son wouldn't want to be seen in a cap and gown in public. He's shy and doesn't like to stand out, and no one else will be wearing one.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Our preschools also do graduation, Midwest also. Many schools do kindergarten graduation. I am not sure it will remain common since in our area at least kindergarten is now full day. Prior to last year kindergarteners graduated to full day as they entered first grade. It is a fun ceremony and for some kids might be their only graduation. Something to think about.

We ordered a cake to be delivered to BOG for our sons birthday. We worked with the baker at the contemporary to get him just the theme he wanted. Maybe you could so something like that in a graduation theme....

If you get a BOG dinner you can have her pic taken with beast in the library. How fun in the cap and gown

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[sunkissed4]

My son is doing preschool graduation, it's cute. Don't know why anyone would have to get snarky about something like that, figures.

Anyway OP, I'd be sure to put that you're celebrating her graduation on all of your ADRs. Maybe order a cake for one of your dinners as well. Have fun!

 

[sunkissed4]

I'm confused at how this topic has turned into a debate. OP was asking for ideas during her trip. She didn't ask how your school system does things or if you agree with the graduation.

Our school system does graduations, some others don't. Why should you care if there is a graduation? Guess I'm one of those who could care less what other families celebrate since it's not my concern!

 

[MelAR05]

Ok, well now I will give an explanation. I had given up on this thread because of the first response.

First of all, I homeschool and in our area K graduation is a big deal. Both of her older sisters had a very special and sweet graduation. She is the only one who will not get to have this experience so I wanted to create a special moment for her at WDW. That is all.

I have been reading on here since we first booked our trip. I have seen many creative ideas on here - from decorating rooms to gift bags before the trip. I was even able to book the Star Wars breakfast as a result of these boards. I thought maybe someone would have a creative idea I had not thought of yet. I had no idea that public schools didn't do K graduation.

I'm actually shocked by the some of the responses. Thanks to those who did give ideas.

 

[shoney]

I went to public school and graduated K in 1977 and had a ceremony!

My kids did not. Their public school goes from K to 2nd. So, the moving up ceremony is at the end of 2nd grade.
(then another after 5th and then another after 8th)

If it were my child, I would pick him/her up from school on the last day that we'd be home. I'd have the cap and gown ready and take pics in front of the school. That's what everyone does on the ceremony days anyway.

then we'd go have lunch or ice cream or something special.
Maybe have balloons waiting in the car.
Have a little cake that evening with the rest of the family.

Then, that would be it.

If you want to bring that cap and gown to Disney, then do it.

Have a great trip.

 

[Anthony1971]

We have Pre K and K graduation where I am as well... All my other family members had them as well who are in my state and another state...
The Schools make a big deal.... The teachers work hard to have these children memorize songs practice singing them and some children have speech's.
Agree or not it is nice a lot of schools have them... the child knows and understands as they practice a lot for the ceremony...
Sounds to me a lot of people are upset the schools their children went to did not give a hoot about making children feel special and encouraging them after what was the Childs first school encounter.... Preschool is optional, not a full day, may or may not take place in an actual classroom and by far not every child goes..

 

[mjkacmom]

We have them - kids make their own cap, and dress in red white and blue, sing some songs, and there is a DVD of photos taken throughout the year. However, without the cuteness of all of the kids singing, I'd just blow the whole concept off.

 

[ktlm]

It isn't a new thing and it isn't a Midwest thing. My DH who is in his 40s has an adorable picture of himself in his cap and gown with his "diploma" at his East Coast public grade school kindergarten graduation. I'm from the midwest and I'd never heard of such a thing (and yes I think it is a bit nuts- cute, but nuts). We didn't do it when I was a kid and it still is not done here today. In fact, DH's Mom who used to be a public school teacher on the east coast asked about the date for DD's (now 8) kindergaten graduation so they could attend and was surprised there was no such thing here.

Whether or not your opinion is that it is goofy, OP's DD has one and she is missing out on it by not being there. OP is new to the Dis, and really doesn't need this to turn into a debate about the merits or lack thereof of a kindergarten graduation. OP's DD will see the pictures of her friends doing it etc. and they probably will talk about it. As such, OP wants to know some ideas of something special to do to make up for her missing it.

OP, being at WDW is probably enough on its own to make up for missing a kindergarten graduation. It also sounds like you are doing some great things already. That said, WDW probably will have some "grad" merchandise for sale- they usually do. You could buy something from that or any souvenier, grad or not, and call it a graduation present and have a little ceremony in your room. You could do pick a pearl for her in Japan at EPCOT as a forever keepsake for the kindergarten and remind her of kindergarten graduation. My DD (now 8) loves her forever pick a pearl forever souveniers. I think the pearl If you want to cart the cap and gown into the parks, which you might want to forego dragging it around in the heat, you could take her picture in her cap and gown with Mickey or another favorite character- maybe even pose it as having him fake hand her a rolled up piece of paper as a diploma. If her favorite character is Belle, maybe you could do it with Belle in her blue dress over in France in Epcot- although her lines can get kind of long and you may not want to stand in line for her if you have already seen her at Akershus (DD always has wanted to see both). You won't be able to do anything like that at Akershus. It is a really rushed photo there, and they will not let you do the kids separately. Basically, you get one pose there and anyone who wants to be in the photo needs to be there. You can take a photo with your own camera, but they won't let you switch people out etc.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Only on the Disney Board.

Our school DOES have a kindergarten graduation. It's cute and fun and parents and kids love it. I cried at both my boy's! We also did a trip following DS7's kindergarten graduation to celebrate.He did not miss the ceremony.

I would not take the cap and gown. That just seems a bit over the top to me. I would get her a a celebration button and plan a special meal but that is really enough. With two other siblings, you don't want to over focus on her and WDW is special enough in its self.

 

[pigletgirl]

Maybe during one of your meals you can celebrate. Say something like "DD (insert her real name), we are so proud of you finishing Kindergarten! Mommy and Daddy both think you've worked so hard this year!" Maybe order a small cake if you want?

There are endless ideas!

 

[ChitownFamily]

Ok, well now I will give an explanation. I had given up on this thread because of the first response.

First of all, I homeschool and in our area K graduation is a big deal. Both of her older sisters had a very special and sweet graduation. She is the only one who will not get to have this experience so I wanted to create a special moment for her at WDW. That is all.

I have been reading on here since we first booked our trip. I have seen many creative ideas on here - from decorating rooms to gift bags before the trip. I was even able to book the Star Wars breakfast as a result of these boards. I thought maybe someone would have a creative idea I had not thought of yet. I had no idea that public schools didn't do K graduation.

I'm actually shocked by the some of the responses. Thanks to those who did give ideas.

I'm still confused. If you homeschool can you decide when kindergarten ends? If you are part of a homeschool co-op, can you suggest a little party before you leave? What did you do for your other kids?
If you have kinder graduation at Disney for your youngest, how would your other kids feel? Maybe they are okay with it... (Since they just had something at home)
How about making a shirt celebrating the end of kinder. Like future class of year or I just graduated kindergarten & I'm going to Disney. You could then make shirts for your other kids & whatever accomplishments etc they want to celebrate

 

[mukorasirish]

My understanding is the the OP didn't ask anyone's opinion on whether or not she should have a celebration for her daughter because quite honestly that is her decision and others opinions mean diddly squat. (And her decision to do so is no one's business but her own) So why do some feel compelled to critique what was not asked to be critiqued? Boring day in your part of the world?

To the OP - you can order a beautiful cake and have it delivered to any of the restaurants. If you do it at dinner she could wear her cap and gown. My experience is the CM's at restaurants love to make any celebration for a child special. Whatever you do - I 'm sure it will be special and memorable for her.

 

[lizard1]

You could get her some of the Mickey ears with the graduation cap; I think I would probably do something like that over taking a cap and gown, as too me a cap and gown just sounds like too much for inside a park. My other option would be to do BBB and then do a princess meal.

Either way, I would pick a meal and have a graduation cake for her (I know that at CRT they have different packages and stand alone options available for cakes as well as balloons, etc) but I'm thinking that you could probably have one made and delivered to most meals on Disney property.

 

[anniemck]

I went to a private school for Pre-school and Kindergarten, we had a graduation, cap/gown/diploma in a hall and everything. Still have my photo from that graduation. 6th grade we also had a graduation ceremony with out cap/gown but did receive a promotion certificate. Next was high school and for me college will be in a couple more years. Some schools do it, some schools do not.

 

[SEA333]

OP, I think it is a wonderful way to celebrate a sweet moment of accomplishment. You could get a celebration button, or order a cake for one of your TS meals that she wears the cap and gown to...I would love to see an adorable little 5/6 year old in a cap and gown celebrating their first academic milestone of many in Disney World! It would totally make me smile and make my day...I will never forget my oldest's last day of Kindergarten - I think I cried more on that day than his first day of K! And now we are in the midst of preparing to watch him graduate 8th grade - and yes, apparently in the greater Chicago area, 8th grade graduation is a HUGE deal - caps, gowns, 8th grade pictures, dinner dances, ceremonies, the works. Seems odd to me since we have only lived in IL for 4 years and did not do this for 8th graders in Southeastern/Mid-Michigan where we are originally from, but hey....I will always take any opportunity to celebrate and honor another step that my kids have completed in the academic world.

And don't worry about the cranksters here...some of these very same posters criticized me yesterday for surprising my kids with a trip in November that my kids will remember the Rest Of Their Lives and still talk about all the time...we had one little issue in a well-planned surprise and the issue worked itself out very nicely for all involved. And the criticisms came SIX MONTHS after the trip!!! LOL Seriously...some people cannot help raining on other people's parades. It's sad, really....but just ignore them and celebrate your adorable little ones Kindergarten graduation however you want!!!

ETA: Since you are going to Akershus, you have a few minutes to talk to Belle when you are getting your family picture taken with her. For our family of 5, they took two pics - one with the kids only and one with all 5 of us. Maybe if your DD wears her cap and gown to Akershus, you can get one pic of all the girls or your whole family, and one just of Belle and your little graduate? That would be adorable - and what a memory keepsake of her fave princess! If she wanted to wear a princess dress to the dinner, she could just wear it under her gown, and take off the gown before dinner starts. (We loved Akershus...Cinderella flirted with my 13 year DS, and he flirted back and asked her what she was doing at Midnight LOL She almost broke character, but quickly recovered and told him she would be back in the castle for the night and he should be too, so his mother didn't worry about him! LOL It was sooo funny! And the food was really good, too!)

Have fun!!!

 

[MelAR05]

It really is OK that a little girl gets her picture taken in a cap and gown or eats a piece of cake after a TS dinner that says "Congratulations Graduate!!" on it.

This was what I was looking for.

I agree that everyone is entitled to their opinion. With that said, I also believe I don't have to explain or justify my decision.

Thank you to those who gave helpful ideas. I truly appreciate it and think I know what I will do now.

 

[AZMermaid]

I like the idea of a special dinner with a little cake- super cute!

But.... if it really means a lot to her, I would move the trip. A special cake is fun and cute, but not the same. We don't do kinder graduation here, but it sounds adorable!