How to Make Your Trip to Disney World Educational

When you read some articles on “the best times to travel to Walt Disney World,” often you’ll see recommendations to avoid the busiest times. This means, of course, around spring break. And Christmas. And Thanksgiving and other holidays. And of course peak times during summer, which is most of the season. What times does that leave, then? You guessed it: usually when kids are in school.

While I’m not encouraging you to take your child out of school to go on vacation during the academic year – although I and many other families have done so – for some people this may be the only time to realistically go, due to finances or flight availability. But anytime your children miss school, it’s a good idea to ensure that they’re still learning.

So can you make a trip to Disney educational? Sure! A trip to Disney parks can teach kids about nature, wildlife, technology, engineering, history, and more. With special exhibits and hands-on experiences, your children can learn while having plain-old fun.

Of course, not all parks offer the same level of educational opportunities. Without question, the two that offer the most this way are Animal Kingdom and Epcot. At Animal Kingdom, guests learn about wildlife, conservation, animal care, and environmental issues. One must-do attraction is the Kilimanjaro Safari Ride; this open-air ride through a wildlife reserve focuses on conservation efforts, and guests see and learn about dozens of wild animals native to Africa. With this ride and the park’s many trails and petting zoo, your day at Animal Kingdom is like a trip to the zoo.

In the park’s Conservation Station, you can learn about the meal preparation, veterinary treatment, and other care for the park’s animals. And the Wilderness Explorers program lets kids earn different badges by participating in hands-on educational tasks.

Epcot, like Animal Kingdom, is rich in learning opportunities. With its 11 World Showcase Pavilions, your kids can learn about the culture, art, language, food, and history of various countries. The other half of Epcot is all about technology. Future World has plenty of hands-on science and tech activities, such as the 3D games about energy and medicine at the end of the Spaceship Earth ride, or the automotive design activity before Test Track that teaches engineering concepts.

Other great educational attractions at Future World are Mission: SPACE, which highlights the roles of NASA crew members, and Living with the Land, a working greenhouse where you learn about hydroponics and see agricultural displays. At SeaBase, you’ll see a huge Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium, with more than 4,000 sea creatures representing over 60 species, and other ocean exhibits.

The Magic Kingdom is lighter on educational opportunities, but you can still learn a thing or two. At Hollywood Studios, don’t miss the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. This behind-the-scenes look at a Hollywood movie set teaches guests about special effects, equipment, and other tools involved to make movie magic. At Magic Kingdom, the Carousel of Progress shows how technology has impacted our society over time, and the Hall of Presidents provides a quick lesson in American history.

Other Useful Tips

• Be intentional about getting your kids to visit the parks with an educational mindset.To do this, thoroughly review the websites for each park in advance of your trip, reading the descriptions of the attractions, programs, and shows to make a list of “must-see” sights with educational value.
• Take photos of exhibit signs along the way, since you probably won’t have time to take notes. This will help you recall information when you return home.
• Have your kids write an essay about what they learned, by park, by day of travel, or by subject matter. Also, ask teachers what subjects the class is studying, and see if your kids can tie these to the park visit. Ask if the teacher would consider accepting the essay for credit.