The Making of Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL
$1,195 + | 72 Hours (equivalent to 6 credits)
SPACE IS LIMITED AND FILLS UP QUICKLY, SO REGISTER EARLY!
CLASS SCHEDULE
DAY 1: 4:00PM – 9:00PM
DAY 2: 8:00AM – 10:30PM
DAY 3: 7:00AM – 10:00PM
DAY 4: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Offered in collaboration with Hudson County Community College
Instructors & Coordinators: Vanessa Hornedo & Andrea Smith
May 28 – 31, 2025
June 18 – 21, 2025
July 16 – 19, 2025
August 6 – 9, 2025
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Take a class in the Happiest Place on Earth and learn how they make the magic happen! This interdisciplinary course offers you a unique opportunity to study the design, development, and cultural significance of one of the most iconic entertainment destinations in the world—Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Combining elements of history, engineering, storytelling, business strategy, and cultural studies, the course examines how immersive environments are created and sustained in the theme park industry.
Through a blend of pre-trip academic preparation and on-site experiential learning, you will explore the history of the Walt Disney Company, the evolution of themed entertainment, and the practical components of conceptualizing and managing a theme park. Pre-departure coursework begins three weeks prior to the travel portion, allowing you to gain foundational knowledge of Disney’s history, innovations, and influence on global tourism and media culture.
During the immersive, on-site class component at Walt Disney World, you will visit educational attractions across three major parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom.
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At Magic Kingdom, you will analyze historical narratives and technological innovation through attractions such as The Hall of Presidents, which offers a multimedia overview of U.S. presidential history, and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, an interactive journey through 20th-century advancements in domestic technology. Additional analysis of experiential storytelling will be conducted via attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and the architectural symbolism of Main Street, U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle.
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At EPCOT, the focus will be on cross-cultural communication, globalization, and the role of narrative in place-making. You will explore the World Showcase, engaging with 11 culturally themed pavilions representing countries from around the globe. Experiences such as Frozen Ever After (Norway), Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (France), and Canada Far and Wide (Canada) will be used to analyze national identity and cultural diplomacy through entertainment. Additionally, attractions like Spaceship Earth and Soarin’ Around the World will facilitate discussions on technological advancement, communication, and environmental awareness.
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At Animal Kingdom, the course delves into topics of environmental ethics, conservation, and the integration of ecological education in entertainment. Through experiences such as Kilimanjaro Safaris, The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and It’s Tough to Be a Bug, you will critically examine how animal conservation messages are conveyed through themed attractions. The Pandora section of the park will serve as a case study in world-building, blending fantasy with ecological themes.
* NOTE: You will have some free time at the parks to attempt riding Magic Kingdom’s Tiana’s Bayou, EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Animal Kingdom’s Pandora Flight of Passage.
** Detailed agenda, schedule and information will be shared on Google Classroom 2 weeks prior to class start date. All registered students will connect via WhatsApp, giving an opportunity to get to know each other before the trip and make plans to share a taxi from the airport.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Analyze the Historical Significance of Walt Disney:
– Demonstrate an understanding of Walt Disney’s influence on American culture and entertainment through readings and discussions about his life and legacy.
2. Examine Disney’s Evolution:
– Critically assess how Disney continues to evolve through technological advancements, new attractions, and corporate strategies, as evidenced by discussions and the analysis of recent articles.
3. Understand the Principles of Imagineering:
– Apply the core principles of Imagineering to create their own original attraction, demonstrating an understanding of storytelling, design, and guest experience.
4. Evaluate Theme Park Design:
– Discuss and analyze the elements of theme park design, including how visitors experience themes and narratives through rides and attractions. This includes understanding engineering principles and aesthetic design.
5. Connect Cultural Context to Attractions:
– Explore how social and historical narratives, including race and American identity, have shaped specific Disney rides and attractions, especially in contexts like “Tiana’s Bayou” and “It’s A Small World.”
6. Interpret and Reflect on Themes of Identity:
– Investigate representation and cultural significance in Disney attractions, analyzing how they reflect broader social themes and narratives relevant to American culture.
7. Synthesize Learning Experiences:
– Produce a well-structured reflection paper summarizing insights gained throughout the course, connecting personal experiences in the parks to academic discussions of theme park design and cultural relevance.
8. Communicate Effectively:
– Engage with peers and instructors in discussions about Disney characters and attractions, showcasing the ability to articulate insights and respond thoughtfully to others’ ideas.
9. Conduct Independent Research:
– Develop a research paper that discusses the importance of re-envisioning rides and attractions, demonstrating an ability to gather, synthesize, and critically analyze information related to Disney’s theme parks.
10. Reflect on Learning Outcomes and Personal Growth:
– Demonstrate a personal understanding of how the magic of Disney and its theme parks influence social connections and storytelling, as discussed in the course and reflected upon in post-assignment papers.
– Tuition fees
– 3 x nights of Shared Room Accommodations at SpringHill Suites Hotel OR SIMILAR HOTEL. You will sleep in your own bed (can be a pull-out bed/sofa bed)
– 3 x continental breakfast
– Transportation to and from the theme parks
– All activities including park passes and Lightning Lanes to 3 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot & Animal Kingdom
– Registration fees
– Airfare to/from Orlando, FL
– Airport transportation to/from hotel (it’s a 10 minute ride, Uber is currently around $60. You may want to coordinate with other au pairs in order to share the ride)
– Lunches & Dinners
In addition to the in-person meetings, this class will include pre-assignments and post-assignments as part of the 72-hour class.
You will be invited to join Google Classroom about a month before class starts, which is the platform we use for the course. Check your spam folder, as invitations to join Google Classroom sometimes end up there. Please make sure you register for the course with a valid email address, since this is where you will receive the invitation and later, your certificate. Your email has to be Google compatible, so it’s best to use gmail, outlook, hotmail or yahoo. If you do not receive a notification to join Google Classroom, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact us.
Pre-assignments will be posted on Google Classroom 3 weeks before class starts. Make sure you join Google Classroom early and complete the assignments BEFORE coming to class. It will take you approximately 18 hours to complete
Follow-up assignments will be posted on Google Classroom on the weekend of class, and also consist of 18 hours. You must complete them in order to receive your course completion certificate. Course completion certificates will be emailed to you, a few days after the class has officially ended. You will have 4 weeks to complete the assignments. If you need your certificate earlier, please indicate it during the registration process and upload proof. The earliest you can receive your certificate is ONE WEEK after in-person portion of class has concluded.
Attendance IS MANDATORY all days during the class in Orlando. If you are late or leave early, your will risk not receiving your certificate. Please note, that this is a long weekend intensive class and the days are long. Bring comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing, water & snacks. We expect you to come to class rested and ready to participate, learn and have fun!
SCHEDULE
DAY 1: 4:00PM – 9:00PM
DAY 2: 8:00AM – 10:30PM
DAY 3: 7:00AM – 10:00PM
DAY 4: 8:00AM – 5:00PM