"Yes...I know I'm crazy, but hear me out"

[ImagineerM]

It all began back one fateful day at the end of September 2010. It was an average day at work...it was lunch time. My students were at lunch and I wondered up to check my mailbox in the teacher's lounge.

"Just some more junk mail," I thought to myself, and I tossed a stack of junk into the trashcan.

I don't know what made me look down into that trashcan after the fact. It might have been fate, or possibly the devil's work, but whatever it was, I glanced down and there it was....sticking out from between two educational sales magazines and an Oriental Trading catalog...a wide, blue cardboard mass mailer with a that familiar tri-circle design that has been so influential in my life: Mickey Mouse.

Curious, I reached down to pull of this mailer and read over it.

"Disney Youth Programs" it read...As I walked back to my classroom, I read the whole way about the Disney Youth Education Series, better known as the Y.E.S. Programs.

Before I know it, my lunch period in over, so I tack the mailer to my corkboard and back to work.

Time passed by and I forgot about the mailer. It was happily perched on my corkboard, minding its own business, enjoying the company of many a days' worth of memos, lunch menus, and sports calendars. Fall break came and went, the wife and I headed on a 4 night Disney Cruise. I came back to work rested, refreshed, and recharged with Disney mania (happens easily and often in my world).

About a week later, at academic team practice, I was working with a few students on their most recent tests. Suddenly, another student who had been studying at my desk perks up and asks "Hey Mr. S, what is this?"

I look up and he's looking at the Y.E.S. ad..."I've never been to Disney World before," he said, staring at the pictures on the advertisement.

Initially, I mentioned how much fun Disney World is, and redirected him to his studies. We had a competition coming up and he needed to prepare. But the bug was in my ear. The gears were moving, and my mind was off to the races.

This kid was in middle school and had never been to Disney World! I had been to Disney 14-15 times by his age! How unfortunate!

That night, I laid down in bed and sleep was useless. I was trying to figure out a way to take a school trip to Disney for the YES programs. So I got up and began typing on my home computer.

Wow...this is....possible! 3 hours passed, then 5...I was transfixed on working this out. By 3:30am, I had a 3 page typed proposal in my hand.

The very next morning, I was on a mission to find my school's principal. We sat down in his office, and I pitched my idea....

"Yes...I know I'm crazy, but hear me out. I have this idea that I'd like to take some of out middle school students to Disney World this summer. I was wondering what you thought?"

For what seemed like hours, the room was hushed and he read over my proposal and that fateful blue mailer.

"Sounds great. I'll support you on this....it'll have to go through the school board, but if you want to put the time and effort out there for the kids, then go for it!"

I couldn't believe it! I am pretty sure I was walking on air the rest of the day! That afternoon at academic team practice I pitched the idea to my team....

"So...this is just an idea...a crazy idea, that probably isn't going to happen, but lets say I spent some time putting together an educational trip to Walt Disney World this summer....who would be interested in going? The reaction was overwhelming.

Next thing I know, I'm putting together a giant binder with educational standards, YES course descriptions, pictures, proposed itineraries, and estimated costs. First thing the next morning, I delivered my complete proposal to my principal.

"You did all of this last night?" he asked. "You really might be crazy!" (I think he was joking...not 100% though). "I'm meeting with the Superintendent this afternoon, I'll share this with him and see what he thinks."

And the waiting game begins....back with more in a bit. Your feedback is welcome and appreciated. Have I captured your attention? Are you interested in reading more?

Cheers,
J

 

[kthshh]

Hey, I'm in. Definitely interested in this. I've considered planning a trip to WDW for a church youth group. So want to know what you did and how you did it.

 

[ImagineerM]

That night seemed to last forever! What would the Superintendent think? Would he support the idea? Am I crazy for wanting to take a whole bunch of teenagers to Disney World for a week? I’m mean, they are good kids…mostly nerds. Academic team and leadership kids….I work with them all the time. I’ve taken them on weekend trips for competitions and conferences. Disney couldn’t be that much different…could it?

I mean, it isn’t like I’m some Disney newbie! I’m an Pnnual Passholder and DVC member! I worked at Disney World as a MK CM for 2.5 years…I go to Walt Disney World 3 times a year with family and friends! This should be cake for me! Right???

The next morning, I’m working in my classroom and the principal walks in. Says the meeting went well, but the Superintendent wants to talk with me about it personally. I immediately call and get on his calendar for that afternoon. I was nervous – this was the make it or break it moment. If I can convince the boss, then odds are the school board will approve!

At the meeting, we sit down and he tells me that he was very impressed by the proposal and wants to know why I want to do this. Am I getting a free trip out of it? Am I getting a kickback? Am I just crazy? So I explain it all…and I explain that I want to do this for the kids….not for me. I explain that, as a matter of fact, less than a week after my proposed trip, I’m going back to Disney World with my family, so it isn’t some stunt to get a trip for me! I genuinely want to do this for the kids.

One hour later, he shakes my hand and says, “I’m impressed! – I’ll support your proposal and present it to the board this month. Once they approve, you have our blessing.”

Later that month, the school board approved what we are now calling “Project Mickey.” At the board meeting, all the members take time to commend me for my efforts and publicly recognize me at the meeting. Afterwards, they introduce me to a writer from the local newspaper that seems very excited about learning more!

The next week, I send home an invitation with approximately 55 students who are involved with academic team and leadership activities. These students and their parents are officially invited to an informational meeting the week before Christmas break. Project Mickey is officially underway.

 

[ImagineerM]

Now, in case you’ve never been to Owensboro, KY in the winter…from December through late March, the weather can be quite bizzaro. It can be nice one day and then we can have 3 inches of ice the next. It just so happens that on the day of my first Project Mickey meeting our county in placed under a winter weather warning with said predicted icing. But I’m going all out on this, so I stick around.

About 30 minutes prior to the meeting, parents start trickling in, and by the 6:30 start time, I’ve got a full house. And so begins the pitch:

I’m Mr. S and this is Project Mickey….

I want to take a group of students to Orlando from June 12 – 17 to participate in the Disney Y.E.S. Programs.

We will fly to Orlando, use the Magical Express to take us to the All-Star Music Resort, where we will stay for 5 nights. We’ll bunk up and put 3-4 students per room depending on how many sign up.

On Sunday, we’ll fly down, visit Downtown Disney and get settled in at our resort. Monday we’ll head to Epcot and experience the “Behind the Seeds Tour” at the Land Pavilion, then spend the rest of the day exploring Epcot.

The rest of the week will include 3 Disney Y.E.S. courses…Magic of Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Wild About Nature at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Energy and Waves at Magic Kingdom. Each class is approximately 3 hours long and after the class, students will have the rest of the day to explore the park!

For about $1,000 (could fluctuate based on numbers and airfare), your student gets round-trip airfare, 2 Quick Service meals per day (breakfast on their own), 3 Disney Y.E.S. Classes, 1 Behind the Seeds Tour, and 5 nights at the All Star Music.

I’ve split it up into 5 easy payments of about $200 and will offer several fundraising opportunities. Only problem is I have to have at least 10 students sign up, otherwise we can’t go.

They had until January 15 to sign up and place a deposit on their spot….it was going to be a long month of waiting. At least I had the holidays to keep me busy, oh and a 5 night trip to WDW the week before Christmas!

Speaking of Christmas….on Christmas morning, front page of the paper…an article about Project Mickey. Including some very ego-boosting quotes about me from the school board and Superintendent! Some good PR could be good for my little initiative!

The parents had seemed enthusiastic….but out of the group on 2 parents signed up that night. I slowly convinced myself that it wouldn’t make…the cost was too high, and people just can’t do it in this economy. However, nothing could prepare me for the first week back from winter break.

 

[ImagineerM]

Happy New Year!

January is hear and for once, I’m ready for winter break to be over! I want to find out if my trip is going to make. On day one, 2 more students sign up for the trip.

On Friday, I decide to send home notice of a second information session the next week. Once again a packed house…and but this time, only one student signs up. I’m halfway there and only a week until the deposit deadline. No way it makes…right?

Wrong. The very next morning, I have 5 more kids signed up, we’ve reached the magic number of 10….but then something unexpected happens…more people want in….by the end of that week, I have 20 students signed up with deposits place…

That afternoon I call Southwest Airlines and arrange a group travel package. Gives me a lot of flexibility, cancelation options, name changes, and a good solid price. I reserve 29 tickets…at ticket #30, the price per ticket jumps almost $200.
So now I’m locked in, I have lined up 4 more chaperons, so I have 24 spots for students….no more.

I’ve gone from thinking, “this’ll never make!” to “holy cow! I might have to close the registration early. I send an email to all the parents who had come to the meetings and warned them that space was filling up and only 4 spots were left.

The next morning, I sold out. And had to turn students away…

 

[Kat in GA]

I really want to hear more!

I teach classes for homeschoolers - and would love to put something like this together for them.

I do have a question for you. When I called to ask about rooms - and to see how it would work if I don't have an adult in a room - they said that as long as I booked 10 rooms, it's done through group sales - and it can be all teens in the rooms. But...with less kids, I have to go through the regular process - and have an adult in each room. How are you doing that with only 24 kids??

With your cost - are you having the kids cover the costs of the chaperons?

I can't wait to hear more!!

 

[ImagineerM]

I really want to hear more!

I teach classes for homeschoolers - and would love to put something like this together for them.

I do have a question for you. When I called to ask about rooms - and to see how it would work if I don't have an adult in a room - they said that as long as I booked 10 rooms, it's done through group sales - and it can be all teens in the rooms. But...with less kids, I have to go through the regular process - and have an adult in each room. How are you doing that with only 24 kids??

With your cost - are you having the kids cover the costs of the chaperons?

I can't wait to hear more!!

We actually ended up with 11 rooms...I had 4 girls rooms and 3 boys rooms. 3 chaperone rooms and a parent room.

We went through Disney Youth Programs. They actually told me that if I needed to only book 8 or 9 that they could make an exception. So I would certainly call and ask.

Also...if you get tax exempt status in your state, you have to apply in Florida as well, which take a month. I found that out the hard way.

My cost includes they kids and a little bit of the chaperones, but not much.

 

[ImagineerM]

So in just a few weeks time, I went from fearing that Project Mickey wouldn't make the minimum to turning students away because I'd sold out.

Reality was starting to sink in...this was no longer some whimsical idea...some blue sky idea. I've convinced these people to commit lots of time and money toward making my project a reality.


The pressure started to settle in, I was feeling a little nervous. But I knew what my next step would be: FUNDRAISING.

I work in a school district with a high poverty rate, lots of kids on free and reduced lunch programs. I promised the parents I wouldn't turn anyone away because of money...we'd figure out a way to fundraise. So that's where I started.

I'm not sure about where you live, but here we have several restaurants that host "10% nights." The basic idea is that we advertise the event and we get 10% of all the orders placed on a certain night. Pretty good deal...easy way to make some dough. That was my first step....I signed us up for one every month from January - May.

I then began a quest for a big $$ sale. I looked at so many catalogs...most of them absolutely crummy. Chocolate bars and wrapping paper, summer sausage and plated jewelry, tupperware and cookie dough. Blah....no one wants to buy this expensive junk. I dred when my nieces and nephews come home with these crummy catalogs.

Then I found the perfect fundraiser: Yankee Candle. I had no idea they did fundraisers! A quality product....same prices as their stores...and we get 40% + a discount for early payment! I'd never seen anything like this around here...and a scratch-n-sniff catalog?? I'm totally sold!

The sale went very well. I told the kids...everything you sell, the profit goes toward your trip. If you sell $100, then $40 goes on your trip. We ran the sale for 2.5 weeks and the response was wonderful! One outgoing student raised 60% of her trip by selling candles!

And as awesome as the sale was, it stressed me out! Fundraising is a lot of extra work. Counting money, figuring percentages, a forrest of spreadsheets...but somehow I survived!

Then something happened that almost broke my heart. The mom of the boy who started it all called me late on a Friday night. She was one of the first to sign her student up, and easily one of the most enthusiastic. She was in tears. The Yankee Candle sale hadn't gone as well as she'd hoped, and the economy had hit hard at home. She was convinced there was no way her son would be able to afford the trip.

I was devestated. I'm fairly certain you could hear my heart break all across town. I told her not to worry...he had worked hard and raised almost $350 for his trip. "Don't give up..." I told her, "I'm going to make this my personal mission to help you out. We will find a way to help you out."

What in the world was I going to do? It just didn't seem right to let this hard working kid miss out on the trip. My stomach was in knots all weekend long.

I'll be back later with more...thanks again for reading!

Cheers,
Josh