| | The end of the month finally arrived, and that meant that I was finally able to set out on my journey to Florida for the Disney-sponsored 50 Teachers Celebration. There were lots of "magical" experiences planned for the 50th anniversary of Disney World, and the folks at Disney's Imagination Campus were keeping most of it a secret. |
But first, I had to get there. After months of anticipation, I finally started my journey by traveling to the airport in Springfield, Missouri, for a very early flight. Waking at 2am to drive in the rain for 90 minutes was not my preference, but I do like to take advantage of time, and I knew I would have more time to explore if I could arrive in Orlando as early as possible.
The carpet in Springfield gives the illusion of a river of water streaming down the middle of the concourse, a layer of rocks laying on the banks, and fields of grass to the outside (See the first picture above.). I had some time to appreciate the art and theme of the airport as I waited for my first flight to Atlanta, Georgia.
One the second leg of my journey (Atlanta to Orlando), one of the panels, above a passenger in front of me and to my right, swung open, revealing the oxygen masks normally reserved for emergencies. The flight attendants would not touch any of it until the plane landed, so it all just hung up there through the rest of our flight. That is, until the pilot landed hard on the runway, banging into the concrete with a pretty hefty force that passengers did not appreciate. When he did, the oxygen masks fell from their compartment, tickling the man's head below (last picture above). The people around the area were instructed repeatedly that they must not pull on the tubes or masks, as it would cause the rest of the masks in the cabin to drop. I'm sure they didn't want the delays and inspection of the aircraft that would inevitably follow.
But I was safely on the ground, ready to find my scheduled, pre-paid bus to travel to the exclusive Disney resort, the Grand Floridian. Since I appreciated the carpet in Springfield, I took an obligatory photo of the tile at the airport in Orlando, as well. Then, sitting on the bus, I enjoyed getting a glimpse into stops at other Disney resorts on the way to my own.
Unfortunately, this trip came on the heels of a mass school shooting, and many American flags flew at half-staff, making "the happiest place on earth" not quite as happy as we would have liked.
The carpet in Springfield gives the illusion of a river of water streaming down the middle of the concourse, a layer of rocks laying on the banks, and fields of grass to the outside (See the first picture above.). I had some time to appreciate the art and theme of the airport as I waited for my first flight to Atlanta, Georgia.
One the second leg of my journey (Atlanta to Orlando), one of the panels, above a passenger in front of me and to my right, swung open, revealing the oxygen masks normally reserved for emergencies. The flight attendants would not touch any of it until the plane landed, so it all just hung up there through the rest of our flight. That is, until the pilot landed hard on the runway, banging into the concrete with a pretty hefty force that passengers did not appreciate. When he did, the oxygen masks fell from their compartment, tickling the man's head below (last picture above). The people around the area were instructed repeatedly that they must not pull on the tubes or masks, as it would cause the rest of the masks in the cabin to drop. I'm sure they didn't want the delays and inspection of the aircraft that would inevitably follow.
But I was safely on the ground, ready to find my scheduled, pre-paid bus to travel to the exclusive Disney resort, the Grand Floridian. Since I appreciated the carpet in Springfield, I took an obligatory photo of the tile at the airport in Orlando, as well. Then, sitting on the bus, I enjoyed getting a glimpse into stops at other Disney resorts on the way to my own.
Unfortunately, this trip came on the heels of a mass school shooting, and many American flags flew at half-staff, making "the happiest place on earth" not quite as happy as we would have liked.
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There is more to come, as I continue to report about this one-of-a-kind professional experience. You can read more about the 50 Teachers Celebration on my Imagination Campus page.
