Tech and Teachability

This is your sign to take your students to Disney.

I've taken some groups to Disney World and it's been AMAZING!! It does seem a bit overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be.

Don't know where to start? I gotchu boo.

I've compiled an informational blog post for you to know where to start.

Decide on dates

I usually do 4 days over Mardi Gras Break or Spring Break.
If your school district allows, take the trip over regular school days. It's up to you!

Decide on who you will invite

What grade levels? I do 4th and 5th grade. I've done middle school in the past. My daughter went with her High School Marching Band and they marched down Main Street!
Will you require an adult with every child?
Will you allow other family members? (I allow siblings of the parents if the student come, but everyone pays the same price)

Get in touch with Disney.

Fill out an Imagination Campus interest form on https://www.disneycampus.com/
A Cast Member will contact you within 2 weeks via email.
This person is your best friend. You’ll talk with them for everything to get started and set up.

Imagination Campus

This is Disney's student field trip program.
They have performing arts and education workshops.
Decide on which program you want and book it ASAP. They fill up quickly.
Since Imagination Campus started, we've done Technology of Disney Parks and this year we are doing Broadway Magic!

Pictures from last year's Technology of Disney Parks

We got to explore behind the scenes at the American Adventure to see how the animatronics worked and how the trackless ride works at Remy's. The students were given tasks to complete and work together through the Design Process.

This year, we are doing something more in line with our Magnet School Theme. We are participating in a workshop called "Broadway Magic" where we will get to work with Disney Teaching Artists to learn a little bit more about the entertainment industry. According to the website, "

"In the Disney Broadway Magic – Musical Theatre Workshop, students gain an understanding of the fundamentals of musical theatre through participation—including breath control, diction and character development.

Industry professionals will lead students in fast-paced rehearsals of a scene from one of Disney’s world-famous shows—culminating in a show-stopping final performance!

This Broadway theatre workshop also offers students critical insights into audition techniques, the importance of every role in a production and how to overcome unexpected obstacles during performances." - Broadway Magic Imagination Campus

We've been practicing with the students on their piece of performance and it's going so well! Now, this workshop said it's best for Middle and High school students, but our 4th and 5th graders have been performing at our school since Kindergarten so I think they've got a leg up on the competition. It's going to be so fun!

Decide on accommodations.

Will you stay on property? If yes, ask your Imagination Campus contact for quotes on rooms.
Usually a value resort will be the cheapest, but they will quote you on any of your top three choices.
If you stay off property make sure you have transportation to and from the parks worked out.

We like to stay at Value Resorts - they have a bit smaller rooms but they are cheaper and most affordable for most families. Pop Century is my favorite!

Pull Down Murphy Bed

Decide on Tickets

How many days will you need? We do 4 days
Do you want Park Hoppers?

We get park hoppers so we aren’t stuck at one park all day, especially if it’s super busy.

Do you want water parks?

Decide on transportation.

Will you fly or take a bus?
Bus is infinitely more affordable than flying, and in Louisiana we aren't that far from Florida.
I’ve used Dixieland Charter, Hotard, and Spangler Tours. Hotard has been the most comfortable but also most expensive. Find a local bus company for your school!
It takes 9.5 hours from Baton Rouge to Orlando.
We leave at 9 pm at night and drive through the night, waking up on the Florida Turnpike!

Decide on your Itinerary.

Sample - Disney World Trip Itinerary 2024
When we wake up on the bus, we stop at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza on the turnpike. Here, we freshen up - brush teeth, hair, get dressed, get breakfast, drink coffee - the basics.

Then we get back on the bus and head to the resort.
The resort will hold your bags for you. Your room will be ready around 3 or 4. Sometimes earlier!

Decide on Dining

Will you provide a card or vouchers? (I do cards; the funds never expire)
Will families have to pay for their own food? This could make for a cheaper package for your families, but they will have to budget for themselves when in Disney.

Book everything through your Imagination Campus Cast Member.

Accommodations
Tickets
Meals
Program
Extras

Please Note: You can use a Travel Agent, but all funds MUST go through the travel agency. Since our trip is a school based trip, our district won't let this fly - we have to do things from the school. Thankfully Disney will take school organizational checks, as well as school based Credit Cards and wire transfers.

Meal Cards/Vouchers

I do Meal Cards - The funds act like cash and never expire; this gives more flexibility for families to purchase meals to share.
Vouchers are a set price each (like $13.90 for breakfast or $16 for lunch/dinner) and will include an entree and a drink.

Decide on Fundraisers/Sponsors.

If you do any fundraisers, I usually total the amount raised, divide it by the number of STUDENT participants, and then subtract from the total due.
For example, if I have 20 students coming, and we raise $1000, I will subtract $50 from their totals. So If Johnny and his mom are coming, and their total is $2,000, I will subtract $50, making their balance due $1,950.

Decide on a payment plan for your families.

I do 5 payments of $210, spread throughout the year and then 1 payment of the balance due.
This is what was charged this year:

Accommodations: $340 per person (based on double occupancy)
Tickets: $450 (we do park hoppers) per person
Bus: $270 per person
T-Shirts: $15 per person (1 t-shirt for the day we have our program)
Dining Card: $200 per person
Total: $1,275

Each year we have to increase the price by about 15% to account for Disney’s price raises; but if the amount is less I do adjust the payments for the families. Next year we are floating the idea of not including the meal card.
This is a significantly cheaper trip than planning a direct one from Disney. There's discounted tickets AND if you can get a Tax Exempt form from Florida (ask your district office!) your trip will be TAX FREE!!

Type up an informational packet. Here is mine: 2024 Disney Trip Informational Packet

Here is an informational slideshow from this past year:

And finally, find a co-sponsor who is crazy enough to take twenty 9 and 10 year olds with you on a cross country field trip for four days.

Don't forget to have fun!!

I hope this blog post helps you plan a magical outing for students at your school.

Jessica

Hello and welcome to my summer post on MEAL PREPPING!

Every summer, I work for LSU developing curriculum and teaching teachers about that curriculum. I spend the entire month of June in front of a computer from 8 am to 5 pm. I'm exhausted by the end of the day, and my summer doesn't really start until it's over. Then I usually take a vacation with my family at the beginning of June. And I come back to finally get two weeks of summer before going back to school! It's crazy.

So I meal prep. I make freezer meals that I can easily pull out of the freezer and dump in a slow cooker or on a sheet pan instead of having to spend every day fixing dinner. My meal plan in particular is for 7 weeks and takes into account my vacation and my first two weeks of school.

I am also doing the Ultimate Portion Fix from BODi (Beachbody and Autumn Calabrese), which if followed correctly it provides enough food for that day, sometimes more than enough. I am trying to lose weight so I am following the plan according to the formula and I am working out daily. This meal plan is for the UPF Plan A which is between 1200-1400 calories a day. So my weekly plans cover all these containers and foods.

The daily plans include all containers for that day, with snacks; however, sometimes I don’t eat all the containers. If I’m not hungry, I won’t eat it. And let me just say I am not a registered dietician, or expert in diets and health and can only plan according to my knowledge of UPF.

I plan every detail. From shopping list to how to prepare the freezer meals to how to get ready each week of the plan.

And this is how my meal prep goes:

For the massive Freezer Meal Prep day, I schedule a Walmart Grocery Delivery for some time that morning or the Saturday evening before (click here for referral link; you'll get $20 added to your account when you join Walmart Plus!). Walmart plus is $12.95 a month or $98 a year and in my opinion totally worth it. I get access to unlimited free home delivery, free shipping from website, Paramount Plus subscription, a fuel discount of 10 cents per gallon at Murphy and Exxon, Scan and Go at the stores, Walmart Rewards, and more.

So when I get my groceries, I can store them or if it's early enough on Sunday (my meal prep day) I get started.

Then all I have to do is start prepping the meals.

Most meals go in the storage bags. Some go in the foil pans. I have labels made so I can easily stick on the bags and pans and know what's inside. They are waterproof labels from Avery. All information is in the download.

Then, for each week I defrost what is needed. I also purchase fresh fruits and vegetables each week for breakfast, snacks, or lunch. So each week I do have minor meal prepping to do. I usually meal prep on Sundays. I make sure to have a clean kitchen and several meal prep containers ready. Depending on what I’m prepping, this could take an hour or more. I prep everything into containers. Unless it’s a single piece of fruit (if I don’t want that fruit cut), like an apple or banana that I can just grab when it’s time for a snack.

And that's it. You can grab my meal plan at the link below. It includes the labels and also a template to make your own.

Some common meal prep questions:

"But what if I'm not hungry for what I meal prep?"

Then I don't eat it. I'm not stuck with this plan. There are some days I want Raising Cane's so I go and get it.

"But what if I have an event to go to?"

I go to it. I eat the food there. I enjoy myself. I'll have leftovers later.

"What about healthy eating choices? What if there aren't any at the event?"

So what? Eat and enjoy. A well balanced diet is eating what you want, in moderation.

"Can I drink alcohol?"

Heck yeah. Drink and be merry.

"What if I don't follow the plan exactly? What if I don't want all the containers?"

Then I don't eat it. Food is not the enemy. Food is not in control. I am. I decide what I want, how much I want, and when I want it. I just use this plan as a guide. I don't actually use the containers to measure every piece of food. As long as I am making healthy choices the majority of the time, I'm good. I've already lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks and I feel great. So much healthier, lighter, and my IBS is under control. I've also eaten cookies and ice cream and have had no regrets.

Click the pic below to gain access to my 7 week Freezer Meal Plan.

Jessica

Bring some fun into your sequence of events lessons with this easy to set up sequencing activities packet. With this "plug and play" packet you can add sequencing centers, forms, and games into any lesson or program you have in your classroom.