Magical Blogorail: Kids' Edition

Welcome to the first stop aboard our Special Edition Magical Blogorail Loop. Enjoy the ride as we share with you our favorite Disney attraction.” You recently heard from my teenager about his favorite Walt Disney World Park and attractions. Today his younger brother and sister talk about what they love about the Most Magical Place on Earth.

My two younger children, Chloe and Adam, agree that Magic Kingdom is their favorite Park at Walt Disney World Resort. They both said it just feels like home! Adam called it “the original Park, because you always see the castle on movies and stuff.”

Adam is 5 years old. He doesn’t remember his first trip to the World, because he was only 9 months old at the time. He can, however, tell you all about every visit since! He could not, though, narrow his choices down to just one favorite ride, so here are his top 3:
1) Haunted Mansion – Adam says, “Haunted Mansion seems so real! It scares me a little bit, but the ghosts are funny and it’s fun. I like the upside-down stairs and the bats and the hitch-hiking ghosts who get in the Doom Buggy with you at the end.”
2) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Adam says, “I like the big hills and the mountain and then how you zoom down and how I fly off the seat! The cave is cool too and the scenery. I really like riding in the back where it’s bumpy and I slide around.” [Adam rode this 5 times when we were there a couple weeks ago!]
3) Barnstormer at Mickey’s Toontown Fair – Adam says, “I’m really sad they took this ride down. I hope they move it to the new Fantasyland, because I want to ride it again. It was a good way to see what a roller coaster is like. It was short but fast and not too scary.”

It's hard to see, but Adam's the little guy with his hands in the air in the back car (3rd from last row) between me & Kyle :)

Chloe is 7. She was almost 3 on our first trip to Disney, and she does remember every bit of that trip as well as each visit since. You’ll notice a recurring theme with Chloe’s comments: the magic is REAL! Here are her 3 favorite things about Magic Kingdom:
1) Parades – Chloe says, “I love how the Characters come see you and take your hand and dance with you. It’s so neat, and they just seem REAL. When I look at the Characters, I know it’s just someone in a costume, but to me it’s like that really is Peter Pan or Donald Duck or Cinderella hugging me. It’s especially fun when I’m with my friend Hannah, because she feels the same way. It’s so magical, yet so REAL, and it’s so fun!”
2) Peter Pan’s Flight – Chloe says, “It’s like flying into a movie. It’s so REAL. It’s like I’m watching the movie and in it at the same time, like I can do the stuff with Peter and Wendy and everyone and laugh at Captain Hook.”
3) Pirates of the Caribbean – Chloe says, “This ride is funny! It’s a little scary but it’s silly too, and the scenery is so REAL. The pirates seem like they’re really there doing that stuff and could reach out and tap me on the back. It’s neat when the canons fire and splash like it landed right beside the boat too.”

Twirling with Donald

I had a hard time limiting these kiddos to just 3 favorite topics! I think they’ll be more than willing to be our special Guests again soon.

Today’s Takeaway:
Adam talked about the stairs in Haunted Mansion. I have a personal affinity for those too, as they're inspired by one of my favorite artists, M.C. Escher.

"Relativity"

Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) was born in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, but settled in Rome, Italy after his marriage to Jetta Umiker. He is one of the world’s most famous graphic artists, known mostly for his “impossible” structures, such as “Relativity” and “Ascending and Descending” (seen here, and which inspired the Haunted Mansion stairs).

"Ascending and Descending"

During his lifetime, Escher made 448 lithographs, woodcuts and wood engravings and over 2,000 drawings and sketches. He also illustrated books and designed tapestries, postage stamps and murals. You can visit the official M.C. Escher website to view 16 of his most popular prints.

Escher also created amazing images utilizing a basic concept of mathematics: the geometric shape. He strung together series of repeating patterns of polygons and transformed them into animals or other shapes. (See “Horseman.”)

"Horseman"

Go to Illuminations: Resources for Teaching Math to access an interactive tessellation builder. Kids can also create their own tessellations using geometric shapes manipulatives available at teaching supply stores.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Math / Art
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The DisneyFAITHful.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse (YOU ARE HERE)
2nd Stop ~ The DisneyFAITHful
3rd Stop ~ Ramblings, Reviews & Reflections
4th Stop ~ My Dreams of Disney
Final Stop ~ Return to Disney

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