This month on Dispodopolis we discuss our experiences with the Disney Youth Program (formerly the Disney Youth Education Series Program or Disney YES program) for the Girl Scouts at Disneyland. They had a special program called “Celebrate Girl Scouts at the Disneyland Resort,” which is for all registered Girls Scouts to attend. It was so popular in 2018 they are carrying on this tradition in the new year, 2019, starting in April and running through June. They have programs for Daisies all the way through Ambassadors, which is Kindergarten through 12th grade.
I have tried to get a group together in San Antonio to attend the Disney Youth Program at Walt Disney World, but it is very difficult to get 10 girls to commit to the same weekend in the summer. When we learned about the program at Disneyland, we were thrilled because Disney was creating the groups and they would take a minimum registration of a single Girl Scout and one adult.
We were able to sign up for two programs: Energy and Waves Physics Lab 201, and Music 101: Inside the Soundtrack of Disneyland. Both programs were presented by Cast Members that were college graduates with a lot of experience in the theater arts and worked regularly with the large school groups that came to Disneyland to perform.
The Saturday program, Energy and Waves Physics Lab 201 was held in Disney California Adventure (DCA) and provided a wonderful trip through the lands of the park. It ran from 10am-1pm. We started on Hollywood Boulevard in the Animation Academy and visited the Sorcerer’s Workshop. Our Cast Member shared some fun activities with the girls to demonstrate waves. After a short break we rode on the attraction Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! We headed to Grizzly Peak to learn about magnets and how they play their role on the many attractions in the parks. After our lesson we headed on Grizzly River Run. At the finale of our program she loaded another attraction, Soarin’ as a fast pass onto our ticket.
The Sunday program, Music 101: Inside the Soundtrack of Disneyland was held at Disneyland. It started on Main Street and the girls learned about the soundtrack that sets the mood for the park. We first visited the Main Street Cinema and learned the importance of sound in the early cartoons like “Steamboat Willie.” Next we headed over to Frontierland to learn about percussion and the change of the soundtrack in each land. We headed over to Adventureland to experience “Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.” Our last teaching moment was back on Main Street in the hub near Tomorrowland. As we departed, the Cast Member shared with us that we each had a fastpass to experience at “Indiana Jones Adventure.”
Both programs were run professionally and the girls learned a lot. I highly recommend anyone visiting the parks during these times to register to attend at least one of these programs. The program is included with the price of the one to five day ticket and you can also just buy a ticket for the program. Pricing starts at $50 for just the program.
After our conversation about the Disney Youth Program, we have a quick discussion about earning badges and journeys at Walt Disney World. I’m always looking for fun and new experiences when we visit the parks. This is great for Girl Scouts and those just interested in taking a closer look at the details of the parks and getting to meet a Cast Member. Check out the curriculum.
Before we jump into our discussion of the Disney Youth Program, we ask ourselves the question, “What attraction would you design and build in Epcot?” We explore the ideas of bringing new IPs to the park, IPs that we would like to see more of in the park and talk about lost ideas for the park.
Next we have a moment for Tinkerbell Therapy. Fiona has a wonderful meet and greet with Tinkerbell at Walt Disney World. She learns to appreciate the characters that you don’t always have a lot in common. Tinkerbell did a wonderful job of helping Fiona work through her feelings of dealing with missing Jiminy Cricket in the new fireworks show, “Happily Ever After,” at Walt Disney World. Our conversation diverges to content we would love to see in the new year on the Disney streaming app, Disney+ (disneyplus.com). Of course this leads to a conversation of Harper Goff and his amazing set decorating and his inspiration in the state of Texas. Check out his penthouse suite designed for Judge Roy Hofheinz at the Astroworld Hotel, now the Crowne Plaza Hotel Houston Near Reliant/Medical Center. Judge Roy Holfheinz was a character that brought the Astros to Houston and stimulated the economy of Houston. Here are two articles to learn more: Paper City Magazine Article, and Houston Chronicle.
We would love to hear from you and your family. If you have any comments, questions or fun and fancy free thoughts for us, email us at comments@dispodopolis.com. Please enjoy our latest podcast, Dispodopolis.
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