The class of 2027 and 2028 participated in their annual class trip to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fl. All 100 cavaliers were excited to create magical moments, enjoy the thrill of rides and spend time with each other in what is considered the most magical place on Earth.
The sophomore and freshman board were deciding between three amusement parks, so they decided to host a vote to see which park was the most popular. Magic Kingdom won the vote by a large margin, making it the destination for thrill-seeking Cavaliers. After the boards coordinated transportation and rest stops, the payment opened on Oct. 19 and students raced to pay for their $218 ticket to secure their spot to Magic Kingdom.
“Although we had a very busy month, setting this up was a lot of fun. With the help of previous class presidents, Ms. Noval and Ms. Depaola, the process of setting up the trip felt much easier than I expected,” class president Carolina Sesin said.
Departing the Gables campus at 5 a.m., the two buses packed with freshman and sophomores started their four hour trip to Orlando. Organizing themselves, students sat with their friends and found ways to entertain themselves. While on the way to Disney, students made up sleep they had lost the previous night. This helped them accumulate energy for the day ahead of them, preparing to walk around Magic Kingdom for nearly 10 hours.
Halfway there, students took a pause at a rest stop in Fort Pierce. Students were offered a complimentary bagel and orange juice, while also having the opportunity to go to the bathroom. Although it was a short stop, students were replenished and ready to make their way again to Magic Kingdom.
As students arrived to the Disney area, they saw the Epcot Ball and realized that they finally arrived to the parking lot of Magic Kingdom. Students flooded out of the buses and sprinted to the connecting monorail to make it to the park as soon as possible. Once off the monorail, students raced to enter the park and go on their favorite rides before lines got long.
“Sitting on the bus with my friends was really fun. Sitting with my friends and talking to them was honestly really entertaining for being such a long bus ride. Even the small moments like braiding our hair made the trip there and back one of my favorite experiences,” freshman Nadia Martinez said.
Students visited Magic Kingdom’s five different sections, each offering a distinct experience. Adventure Land, a tropical area with classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean. Frontierland, an old west-themed area with the well known ride, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Liberty Square, a patriotic area, with the popular ride, Haunted Mansion. Fantasyland, the largest land, with classic Disney attractions including the Mad Tea Party Ride. Lastly, Tomorrowland, a futuristic area with rides and attractions for all ages, including Space Mountain.
Most students went to Frontierland and Tomorrowland first, as those sections usually have the longest lines for fan-favorite thrill rides like Space Mountain, TRON Lightcycle Power Run and Big Thunder Mountain.
Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster that takes riders on a thrilling journey through outer space, featuring sudden drops, sharp turns and starry visuals in near darkness. TRON Lightcycle Run lets riders board sleek lightcycles and race through a digital world of glowing grids and neon lights, inspired by Disney’s TRON films. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a runaway mine train ride set in a rugged, Old West-style landscape filled with sharp twists, turns and bursts of speed.
“Space Mountain was my personal favorite ride because of its speed, sudden drops and overall thrills. Being on it with my friends made it even more memorable and we had a great time making some inside jokes as well,” freshman Bella Domecq said.
As the day came to an end, students began leaving the park at 6:00 p.m. to make it to the bus on time. Both the Class of 2027 and 2028 were able to spend an exciting day with their friends and make lasting memories in Magic Kingdom. As students enjoy the success of this year’s trip, they anticipate the thrill of upcoming years, creating more core memories in the process.
“This was a special moment for me, because it was my first time going to Magic Kingdom. Being on the ferry and seeing the castle with my friends really sunk into me and that will be a memory I will forever keep,” sophomore Nathaniel Woods said.
