Ten of the Best Ways to Make Disney World a Learning Adventure
Walt Disney World is full of thrill rides, firework shows, and all things Mickey Mouse. But those things just scratch the surface of what a trip there has to offer. Disney World is also a great place for educational family adventures. These 10 ideas are sure to inspire your kids, big and little, to keep the learning going even after you pack away their Mickey ears.
If I were to pick the best adjectives to describe Walt Disney World, one of the words I would choose would be “educational”.
Yep! Educational!
While it might seem that Disney is educational in the same way that ice cream is nutritious, we’ve had lots of special Disney experiences. And we’ve snuck in learning on every Walt Disney World trip. How better to make learning fun than with a trip to the happiest place on earth?And there are actually a multitude of experiences that can be great jumping off points for further learning, before or after your trip.
Often my kids are so excited about a certain aspect of our Disney vacation that I want to extend the learning past our time in the park. Other times, I want to preview it ahead of time. Pairing a Disney World attraction or experience with additional learning that we do before or after our trip is one of my favorite ways to tie a trip to Disney into my homeschool curriculum. (Or fulfill the educational leave of absence public school requirement.)
Here are 10 of my favorite things to do with kids that are actually extended learning experiences. I hope your family will love too.
1. Adventure in the Best Treehouse Ever with Swiss Family Robinson.
The details of the Swiss Family Robinson attraction help the story come alive for fans young and old.
I love classic literature but it can tough for kids to muddle through sometimes.
Abeka, a homeschool curriculum company that offers books both homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers can buy, has books that make classic literature readable for younger audiences. My third grader and I took turns reading aloud Abeka’s Swiss Family Robinson to my first grader. Then, my eighth grader read it on her own. The book enthralled all three of the kids. And they were excited to get to watch the movie after we were done with the book. (As Disney fans, it was also fun to think that Walt himself must have found the book captivating because he designed an attraction after it at Disneyland.)
The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse at Disney World rarely if ever has a line. It can be done at your own pace. And it’s sometimes a nice contrast from some of the more high-tech rides. The trifecta of the book, movie, and attraction sparked great conversations among my kids. We talked about how the three were different, which one they liked the best, and how they would have designed their own house among the trees.
2. Travel around the world at the World Showcase.
My kid’s interest in all thing Viking continued long after this picture was taken.
Courtesy of magicguides.com
Courtesy of magicguides.com
I think it was probably Epcot that first inspired my family’s love of travel. My kids have always loved the sites, sounds, and especially the yummy tastes of the 11 countries represented. (During the annual Food and Wine Festival, cuisines from even more countries are featured.)
The focus of your before or after Disney World educational adventure can be whichever country your family is drawn to.
A few ways to tie learning at home into an exploration of an Epcot’s World Showcase country are:
Write a short story set in the country chosen
Research crafts from our favorite country and trying them at home
Read books and watching movies filmed on location or about the country we want to learn more about
Sample the cuisine of a specific country once we return home
Using your time spent in the World Showcase to inspire future trips to the real locations
During one visit, we chose to spend extra time in the Norway pavilion because my older son was interested in Viking and Scandinavian history. We toured the Norway exhibition area. We ate at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. And we spent time talking to the Norwegian cast members (our favorite part!)
Years later on another visit, my son, who was now a high school freshman, was taking Chinese in school. We spent extra time talking to the cast members and touring the China exhibit. It features a restaurant, a beautiful replica of the Temple of Heaven, a serene garden area, live entertainment, and more.
3. Explore just like Huck on the special Tom Sawyer attraction.
“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is another classic book that has been adapted for younger audiences. My kids enjoyed the book because of the main characters’ thirst for adventure and funny antics. The plot also includes some lessons that make Tom relatable. Pairing the book with an exploration of the Disney World attraction is a great family educational adventure. Tom Sawyer Island at Walt Disney World is an attraction that brings the book to life for readers.
A log raft provides entrance to the area.
The caves, forts, and suspension bridges are perfect for exploring.
It too is a good escape from the crowds.
It was a great discussion starter on how the imagineers’ depiction aligned with what my kids and I envisioned as we read the book.
Nothing brings a book to life and commits it to memory more than pretending to be the main character and literally being able to climb through the real-life representation of a book!
4. Learn amazing facts about your favorite animals on the savanna.
The learning opportunities at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom Park are abundant. But you don’t need to even tell the kids they’re learning! They’ll be having so much fun while they’re doing it that they won’t even notice.
As with Epcot’s World Showcase, our favorite part of visiting the lodge is talking to the cast members from the countries represented. Being helpful and exceedingly friendly is a Disney prerequisite and these cast members are always that and more. At Animal Kingdom, they’re eager to share their knowledge about the countries from which they hail. The experts on hand at the lodge are of course also happy to answers questions about the animal residents. And guests of the lodge can participate in crafts and games that allow them to further experience African cultures.
At the park, attractions like Kilimanjaro Safaris, Affection Section, and Conservation Station rival the best zoos. They offer more opportunities to learn about animals than can honestly be absorbed in one visit. And because food is often such a great window into the soul of a country, experiencing the restaurants at both the lodge and park are learning experiences too. (Delicious learning experiences at that. Some of our favorite restaurants on property are at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom Park.)
5. Revisit cherished characters from the best Disney classics.
Mickey is not only fun to see on TV or movies. He’s also fun to read about in books!
Some of the sweetest characters can be found in Disney stories. There’s “willy, silly, nilly old” Winnie the Pooh and Mickey’s favorite pal, Pluto. And don’t forget those princesses who can be found in books too, not just the big screen. Exploring these classics and then diving into the book by riding the attraction or meeting the characters I s a great way to make Disney World an educational adventure for little kids. duration Educational adventures EaTion
And older kids can learn too by doing author studies and book analyses of children’s literature. In fact, when I wanted to use a children’s book for my older daughter’s curriculum, I was surprised by how many major teaching institutions are singing the praises of doing that. If you need to know how to incorporate children’s books into an older student’s curriculum, check out these Teachers Pay Teachers lessons on the subject.
So, bring on the nostalgia, crack open a book, and ride the attraction or meet the character from the classic stories.
6. Time-travel to your favorite era or place in a wonderfully unique resort.
The Grand Floridian takes guest back to the Victorian era with decorations, period costumes and furnishings. Photo courtesy of magicguides.com.
Nowhere is great theming more alive than in the resort hotels at at Walt Disney World. Education-minded parents will realize these same resorts offer great opportunities to learn about bygone eras and different cultures.
Want to be transported back to the Victorian era? The Grand Floridian can do just that with period clothing worn by staff, vintage cars welcoming you at the entrance, and Victorian decor. Or go back in time to turn-of-the-century Atlantic City at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas. It’s aptly themed on a Coney Island-style boardwalk. Maybe it’s the lure of the Great Northwest during the expansion of America’s National Parks calling? The Wilderness Lodge will be your perfect choice.
And adults and kids alike can participate in activities related to the resort theme for a truly immersive experience. For example, at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, another fantastically themed resort, you can make traditional leis. Take a ukulele lesson. Go to an authentic luau. Or brush up on geography by learning the names of the South Pacific inspired buildings. And to continue the learning once you’re home, do some research about the fascinating history of Polynesia. Make Polynesian crafts. Or build replicas of the volcanos that make up much of the Polynesian landscape.
Whichever themed resort you choose, it can be inspiration for young learners.
7. Make Disney World an educational adventure on the seas with their most famous fish.
If you think “Finding Nemo” is just a sweet story about a cute fish and his dad you probably haven’t really explored the 6 million gallon aquarium attached to the Nemo themed ride in Epcot. Educational opportunities abound at this multi-level underwater habitat. Tour the building to see the over 4,000 sea creatures. Catch the twice daily fish feedings. Meet the people who care for the marine life. And if you have a budding marine biologist, take the Epcot Seas Adventure – Aqua Tour, an add-on experience that includes snorkeling among the varieties of sea life.
After you return home, your child’s favorite finned friends can be great subjects for further learning. Watch fantastic educational videos about all things sea-related at BlueWorldTV.com. Find great ideas for lap books related to fish and sea life on Pinterest. Or do some internet research about 2 of your favorite ocean inhabitants and download this Venn Diagram to compare and contrast them.
8. Learn about the fascinating man behind the Disney magic.
Disney style educational adventures began with Walt, the man behind the magic.
It could be argued that few people have shaped American culture the way Walt Disney did. His moniker is synonymous with the always growing Disney brand that sometimes seems to be taking over the world. That alone makes his a biography worth reading. But combine that with a truly great comeback story (because the man behind the legend was actually bankrupt before his success) and you might have even the most reluctant readers enthralled.
So before you pack your bags for Orlando, or after you get back, pick up a book or watch a documentary on Walt Disney’s inspiring life. And while you’re in the parks, tour the attraction Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios.
Don’t forget to also:
Ride the Carousel of Progress, the attraction designed by Walt himself.
Hop aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad, built in homage to Walt’s love of trains.
Snap a picture in front of the “Partners” statue that features Walt and Mickey in front of Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom.
9. Make horticulture interesting for your little gardeners.
The Behind the Seeds Tour is a unique way to extend your Disney World educational adventure I n The Land attraction.
Planting a seed in a mason jar and watching it grow seems to be a right of passage for the kindergarten set. I can remember doing it as a child and all my kids loved doing the same thing.
Disney takes that fascination with growing plants to a whole new level in Living with the Land. The attraction in Epcot introduces kids to different ways of growing foods. And Garden Grill, the restaurant located in the pavilion, actually lets kids peak inside the ride from a different perspective as the floor rotates during your meal. But if your little horticulturists really want to know more, the Behind the Seeds Tour will check that box for sure.
Once you’re home, get out that mason jar, start an indoor herb garden, or plant a garden in your backyard.
10. Explore history… the fun way.
Great scenes like these in Spaceship Earth make this attraction one of my kids’ favorites.
At Disney World, your trip down memory lane with America’s founding fathers, leaders, and past generations extends across multiple parks and experiences. Similarly, in Magic Kingdom, American history abounds throughout. Meet all the U.S. presidents at The Hall of Presidents. Board the Liberty Bell riverboat for a taste of what it was like when steamboats ruled the rivers of the nation. Learn a bit about the gold rush of the 1800s in Frontierland. Or just peruse Main Street to see the ideal turn-of-the-century American town.
In Epcot, the lessons continue with dining, shopping, attractions and entertainment. Don’t miss The American Adventure, an animatronic show depicting Plymouth Rock, the Boston Tea Party, Valley Forge, the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War, slavery, and important inventions. And that iconic Epcot ball, a.k.a. Spaceship Earth? It’s actually a fantastic ride through history.
And to make your Disney World trip an educational adventure before your vacation or once you’re home? Of course, the options are endless! For elementary age kids, heading over to Teachers Pay Teachers is my favorite way to find something specifically about what interested my kids the most. For middle and high school and iCivics is a great game-based learning tool while Crash Course features short, interesting videos on a variety of topics.
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What are your family’s favorite educational adventures in Walt Disney World? I want to hear about them below, in the comments section.