Disney in the Classroom
Page 2 of 4
Best of all they got to hang out with Mickey at
the Laughing Place Meet. -
As you can see by the pictures above we had a
great time. But the trip could have been a disaster. Since my son has been
to the Resort many times he decided he didn't need to visit it this year.
Instead he wanted to go camping so "he could catch bugs". Having never
encountered a child who didn't want to go to Disneyland, I was at a loss how
to handle this situation. Fortunately my wife is quite creative. She came up
with a solution that made everyone happy.
She began by going to the library and getting an
audio book of Tom Sawyer. While the kids listened to this she
asked Sam what he'd seen on Tom Sawyer's Island that was mentioned in the
book. Since he could only remember the caves, he decided he needed to see the
Island again to check out what else might be there. So the first part of
Elaine's plan had worked, Sam was excited about going to Disneyland.
(Which made his Father a much happier
person. ºoº)
Keeping Sam excited meant that we headed for Tom
Sawyer's Island as soon as we entered Disneyland. (This probably wouldn't
have been my first choice of the day.;o) Things started out well when we
boarded a raft to get to the Island. (Just like Tom and Huck did in Tom
Sawyer.) Things got even better as we walked up the trail from
the Island's raft dock.
Sam and Susie and Tom
Sam and Susie and Huck
Tom explaining the rules to "Fox and Rabbit"
It turned out that not only that not only were
things from the book on the Island, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn THEMSELVES
were on the Island. Sam and Susie literally spent hours following Tom or Huck
around the Island exploring caves, dancing, running across the bridges, and
playing "fox and rabbits" in Tom and Huck's pirate fort. Tom and Huck did a
great job staying in character. They answered questions as if it was 1840,
and they knew all about their adventures in Tom Sawyer. (Sam and
Susie checked that last part. :o) They even made Sam and Susie friendship
bracelets the last day we visited the Island.