Time flies! MASH Travelers boarded the Magical Express and have started our journey back to CT!
MASH Travelers are saying goodbye to their rooms and headed back to Magic Kingdom for a final few hours of Disney Magic. Then it's to the airport and CT we go!
Our day in Animal Kingdom was full of lots of "fun facts."
Many MASH Travelers became Wilderness Explorers and navigated the park earning badges for learning about various cultures and animals. A traveler favorite was Expedition Everest, mostly for the excitement of the roller coaster, but the ride fits in with their science class too!! MASH Travelers also took a ride on the Kilamanjaro Safari, where they learned all about different animals. Gabriel learned that giraffes at birth are about an average of 6 feet tall and some giraffes have a heart that weighs about 25 lbs. They also have very long tongues! Elephants have many ways of cooling down, including flapping their ears. Kiara learned that this strategy can drop an elephant's temperature by 15 degrees. elephants and rhinos also rub mud on them to protect their sensitive skin. Disney has become very active in conservation efforts, which tie in to MASH's World Wildlife Week! They are helping breed many animals, including the blue macaw, lion-maned monkeys. Danaihja and her group learned that the lion-maned monkey is severely endangered with about 1% of its population left. The 3D show, Its Tough Being a Bug, taught travelers about several species of bugs. Did you know bugs make up 80% of the animal species. They also learned ways they can eat involved in conservation, like buying fair trade products. We followed the R2D2 back to the hotel for our pizza and pool party! MASH Travelers have arrived to Animal Kingdom! They explored the animals of the Oasis as they caught sight of the infamous Tree of Life! Do you know how many animals are featured? Once again, MASH Travelers played "name that country" as they experienced the world culture side of EPCOT. Spaceship Earth took them on a review of 7th grade social studies with a review of contributions world cultures have had over time on communication! Tricye pointed out the focus on languages and writing and we toured the attraction that include more animatronics. This year Soarin' was open again! MASH Travelers loved flying around the world experiencing many wonders! Even the scents change as we travel, Danaihja pointed out! We could spell grass as we joined the African Elephants and the sea as we returned to the tropics! Travelers got a taste of cultures too, enjoying the kiosks from the Garden and Flower festival. They samples macaroons and crepes from France, "Frushi" from Japan, Brisket from the USA, Carmel popcorn from Germany, and much more! American Adventure featured the story of America. And reviewed several parts of 8th grade social studies, while featuring more animatronics. Each group experiences something unique as they travel around the room. Some groups met mariachi performers in Mexico, Vikings in Norway, Princess Aurora in France, watched Sergio the mime in Italy, traveled through France, Canada, and China through the theater, and saw acrobats from China. We had to take cover from some rain, but we ended the night with IllumiNations Firework Show! By the end of Day 3, groups walked 10+ miles taking in the technology and culture from around the world! MASH tavelers spent a large part of the day applying science concepts to help plan and explore the future. They're racing around had them walk over 10 miles, often following Ms. Gallagher and her R2D2 umbrella.
Travelers, like Joan, designed their own cars as part of Test Track. How efficient and or powerful will it be? He has to test it out to find out! Afterwards, travelers explored some of the newest Chevy vehicles. Next groups experienced deep space conditions on Mission: Space. Do you know the one unique element of this ride? Ask a MASH traveler. Atteactions in the Seas and the Land helped students learn about various ecosystems and scientific developments done to raise crops at Disney! Did you know that much of what is grown and the fish they raised are used in restaurants around the park?! We are spending the day at EPCOT, or the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Ask a MASH Traveler: what was Walt Disney's original vision for this park?
Day 2 of the trip is complete, as MASH Travelers spent a 14+ hour day, walking more than 8 miles, and getting a taste of Florida's heat and humidity in the Magic Kingdom. Curiosity dominated as groups continued the day through a variety of attractions.
Christian wondered how Disney is able to air condition it's a small world when the entire front entrantace is open to the outdoors?! Speaking of it's a small world...MASH Travelers played "name that country" as they toured the attraction. How many can you name? Danaihja wanted to know, what's the story behind The Haunted Mansion?! There's a bride on the ride who'd love to tell you! And how does Disney incorporate the audience so well in the Monster's Inc Laugh Floor? Mahki had his joke incorporated into the show! (Matthew did too, but someone else in the audience submitted the same joke, so they got the credit). We wrapped up he evening with the new Happily Ever After Fireworks show. Travelers wanted to know...how do they get incorporate so many designs on the castle? The answer: it's a projection light show!! But regardless of the how, I think Efrencheli would prefer the castle to maintain Elena of Avalar's colors all day long! After yesterday's YES Program, MASH Travelers continued to identify details that contribute to the magic of Disney attractions.
Danaihja pointed out that the ground changes by land. Liberty Square has a strip of brown down the middle for symbolic purposes. Ask a traveler what it means? Fantasyland incorporates horseshoesthroughout the land. Speaking of knowledge from yesterday...Gabriel pointed out the same technology used to propel them on Rock n Rollercoaster is used on the People Mover (although at very different speeds). Any idea what that technology could be? Ask Gabriel or another MASH Traveler! Most attractions include sound to help narrate the story. Christian pointed out that most rides have the speakers built into the cars you ride in. But on the People Mover, the speakers are on the ceiling. He wanted to know how do Imagineers time the information as guests are always moving on the attraction, yet they still hear the narrator?! Travelers also noticed the change in garbage pail colors to match each area's theme as they explored Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adeventureland, Liberty Square and Main Steet USA! Hidden Mickeys are throughout all the parks and travelers found a few! Welcome to the Magic Kingdom! We're touring Main Street and admiring the forced perspective used to design Cinderella Castle!
|
AuthorsExperience Disney through the eyes and voice of MASH 8th Graders Archives
May 2018
Categories |