This is the third edition to my 5 part series on inspired lessons from Walt Disney World. Over the five weeks, I will highlight 1 attraction or place in each of the parks where we can create learning opportunities that are fun. Since it is summer break when I write this, you might be vacationing at the parks and can use some of these ideas with the family. Or, you can design classroom lessons and environments for the new school year using these magical and inspirational ideas.
In creating my list of TOP PLACES IN WDW FOR EDUCATIONAL FUN, I found a pattern in my ideas which was using our senses. Each week, the attraction will have a connection to either HEARING, SEEING, TASING, TOUCHING, OR SMELLING.
Disney Springs
Using Our Sense of Sight in Lake Buena Vista
I don’t know about you, but I consider Disney Springs as the 5th park in Orlando. It is my favorite place to just walk around and enjoy the scenery. The Imagineers created opportunities for us, the guests, to escape in places like an airplane hangar at Jock Lindsey’s, a pub in Ireland at Raglan Road to the beautiful Amazon at the Rainforest Cafe.
For Disney Springs, I choose the canals of Lake Buena Vista. My favorite view can be seen when standing on the bridge between Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, and D-Luxe Burger. I lovingly refer to the water in this area as the springs of Lake Buena Vista. Have you noticed that the color of the water changes in this spot depending upon the time of day? That is because the Imagineers used special paint, materials, and technique to make it seem that the village expanded around the natural springs in the area. Read the story behind Disney Springs as told by Jim Korkis and see if next time you visit, you can find visual elements around the free park that support the story.
Vintage Amphicars
Disney Springs was built from a space with many phases starting with the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village which opened in the 1970’s. Since then there have been many iterations to the space, the current model now has four themed neighborhoods: The Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center, and West Side.
One thing has remained and that is the body of water intertwined throughout the dine, eat, and shop space. You can enjoy Lake Buena Vista from many angles. For instance, you can take the family to the Boathouse which is a restaurant that has a large dock in the back with a beautiful collection of boats. Make sure to check out the vintage amphicars.
Have your family or students draw blueprints to their dream amphicar using any type of vehicle. You might end up with a cool amphicar made out of a vintage, muscle, or minivan vehicle. Everyone gets to design their own. If you have a kid who loves Test Trek at EPCOT, this will be right up their alley!
Classroom Hack
Write a backstory for any area at Disney Springs. There are backstories for most parks and attractions at Walt Disney World. Find a spot at Disney Springs or a photo from your last trip and have students do a creative writing activity.
You can give your students an example of a back story using examples from the Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar or even Disney Springs (see the Korkis link above). Here are some fun places in Disney Springs that could inspire your students to create a narrative.
- Lego Loch Ness coming out of the lake
- Earl of Sandwich
- Bookstore inside Gideon’s Bakehouse
- Spitting alien at the top of World of Disney
- Paddlefish, the anchored steamboat
- Aérophile, the air balloon
I can’t wait to hear the backstories that your students create using the different sights at Disney Springs. Next week, we will use the sense of touch at Hollywood Studios. I promise it will be out of this world.
See You Real Soon,
Erin
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