50 Teachers: Encountering the World of Disney

I was privileged to one of fifty teachers in the nation who were selected for the 50 Teachers Celebration at Disney World in May.  I was even more privileged to represent all teachers in the celebration that took part during Memorial Day Weekend.  My thanks to the Disney cast members, executives, and Imagineers who made this trip into more than just a prize won.  During the weekend many things happened, especially on the day that Disney's Imagination Campus took over the schedule.  My goal of doing things few people get to experience was achieved during a few of the activities.

Here is a list I created to document most of my experience at Disney World
​during the last weekend of May 2022:

1. Woke at 2am
2. Flew above the clouds from Springfield to Atlanta
3. Saw the suit MLK’s wore to meet with LBJ
4. Smacked into the runway hard enough to cause masks to drop from the ceiling of the aircraft
5. Contemplated my position in life while on a bus ride to the Grand Floridian resort
6. Enjoyed the benefits of a private balcony on the fourth floor
7. Received a bag of Disney and 50 Teachers Celebration SWAG
8. Traveled by monorail to EPCOT
9. Walked in to Mission to Mars and Test Track with no waits
10. Accidentally got in line to meet Anna and Elsa
11. Ate a piece fish and chips
12. Listened to a Canadian band
13. Soared around the world
14. Appreciated a little girl’s giggle during the Philharmagic show
15. Rode Haunted Mansion, It’s a small World, and Pirates of the Caribbean with short waits
16. Saw the back side of fireworks
17. Watched some country bears playing a jamboree
18. Boated back to the resort
19. Represented as Missouri’s only selected teacher
20. Met teachers from Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, California, Utah, Mississippi, Arkansas, Michigan and 23 other states
21. Drove through a backstage area of the Magic Kingdom
22. Walked Main Street USA with no public guests
23. Ate a full breakfast (including Mickey Waffles, which actually are the best waffles) on the Tomorrowland Terrace with an unobstructed view of Cinderella’s Castle
24. Collaboratively designed a theme park
25. Had a private tour from Main Street USA to Liberty Square
26. Took part in a Magic Kingdom parade honoring and celebrating teachers (with Pluto)
27. Had reserved seating for the Festival of Fantasy parade (in which a certain mermaid totally blew a kiss in my direction)
28. Ate lunch themed to Magic Kingdoms staples
29. Was introduced to half a dozen Disney vice presidents
30. Listened to Disney Imagineers responsible for the latest attractions at EPCOT and in Shanghai, China
31. Sang and danced to professionally directed choreography in a production of Frozen the Musical
32. Received words of wisdom and encouragement from Alton Fitzgerald White, famous for playing Mufasa in The Lion King on Broadway and on tour for more than 4,000 performances
33. Traveled behind most EPCOT attractions, getting a good look at “backstage” areas
34. Ate dinner (internationally-themed) in a building off the beaten path at EPCOT
35. Stood lakeside in a reserved area for Harmonious, the fireworks, projections, lights, and water evening show at EPCOT
36. Returned to consume five desserts
37. Participated in a group picture of 50 celebrated teachers
38. Rode the $500,000,000 Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind on opening day with the Imagineer who designed the attraction
39. Had video cameras and boom mics on me all day long
40. Was on Good Morning America
41. Traveled by bus to Animal Kingdom
42. Flew as an avatar on a banshee through Pandora
43. Took a dark boat ride through Pandora
44. Ate a Mickey Bar
45. Found a quarter
46. Was attacked by a yeti on Mount Everest
47. Got a glimpse of a flying fox
48. Appreciated some parrots flying overhead
49. Spotted Kevin from Pixar’s Up
50. Discovered that it’s tough to be a bug
51. Photographed carved images in the Tree of Life
52. Ate a piece of pepperoni pizza
53. Rode over the headwaters of the Everglades
54. Recognized a big 'ol turtle in the lake
55. Entered Hollywood Studios during the hottest day
56. Walked through Galaxy’s Edge
57. Appreciated some giant toys
58. Saw Walt Disney’s second grade school desk
59. Took a gander at the original model for Jungle Cruise
60. Awed at the original control board and audioanimatronic of Abraham Lincoln from the 1964 World’s Fair
61. Looked at models used for the original Star Wars trilogy
62. Enjoyed the same Beauty and the Beast live show that I saw nearly 31 years ago on my honeymoon
63. Took a Star Tour
64. Rode the Skyliner to Disney’s Art of Animation resort
65. Elbowed through the crowd at Disney Springs
66. Bought a shirt that says "Single Rider"
67. Spent some time in the hot tub at the Grand Floridian
68. Walked to the Magic Kingdom
69. Ate a cheeseburger
70. Experienced TSA in the Orlando airport during Memorial Day weekend
71. Had a flight delay in the crowded airport while a damaged tire had to be changed
72. Caught a rainbow
73. Sprinted through the Chicago airport to catch the connecting flight on time with minutes to spare
74. Arrived at home around midnight
75. Walked over 83,000 steps (almost 28 miles) in four days (with 12 1/2 miles in a single day)
76. Avoided COVID