The Magic Kingdom and other Disney parks seem the last place for anything “dark” to be happening but as fans of the Kingdom Keepers series by author Ridley Pearson know, things aren’t always as they seem!

In the Kingdom Keepers series, Disney employs 5 teenagers – Finn, Maybeck, Philby, Willa and Charleen – to act as the models for a new feature where holographic “tour guides” will guests through the Magic Kingdom. Through some special Disney magic, the teens find that they “automagically” enter the parks each night in hologram form to do battle with the Disney villians – the Overtakers – who are attempting to take over the Disney parks.

Now your children have the opportunity to help the Kingdom Keepers save the magic of the Disney parks from the Overtakers and become immersed in the story like never before! With the Kingdom Keepers Quest from Disney’s Youth Education Series, kids in grades 5-9 have the opportunity to join Finn, Maybeck, Philby, Willa and Charlene as Keepers. The quest takes them through the park solving problems much like Finn and company had to do in the first book, Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark.

Each “keeper in training” is given a unique park map that will guide them through the challenge. The group leader explains that the Keepers are in need of help and Wayne, the Disney Imagineer who worked with Walt Disney himself, has designed this quest to see if they have what it takes to become Keepers (in reality, the quest was created and designed by author Ridley Pearson). The kids work together in a small group to solve the puzzles in the quest.

Ridley Pearson says that “the Kingdom Keepers Quest involves problem solving, visualization, observation, creativity, math skills, language arts and critical thinking.” Pearson goes on to say that “by putting the kids in these educational experiences with a book they’ve read and seeing the book come alive, they learn the power of observation, they learn team play and they take a lot of these things and bring them back to the classroom and become better students for it.” (click the link for a video preview of the Kingdom Keepers Quest program!)

Every teacher, and every mother, will agree that children learn best with hands on, active learning that they consider to be fun. What classroom can be more fun than the Magic Kingdom! This is the premise each of Disney’s Youth Education Series programs are built upon. My son and I recently had the opportunity to experience some of the Youth Education Series programs at Walt Disney World first hand and I must say I was very impressed with the offerings! The kids were engaged in the activities and made connections between the material being “taught” and the theme park attractions they experienced along the way.

Are your children interested in finding out if they have what it takes to join the Keepers? This program is available to groups of 10 or more children year round at the Magic Kingdom. If you are looking for a group to join to take part in the Kingdom Keepers Quest, contact your Magical Memories Travel Vacation Counselor.

Check out the following video to learn more about the Kingdom Keepers Quest:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMcQlj04Kp0&w=560&h=349]

If you have preteens or young teens and they have not heard of the Kingdom Keepers series by author Ridley Pearson, I would highly encourage you to check them out (especially if your children have been to Walt Disney World and will appreciate reading about places they’ve been in a whole new light). My 11-year-old son has thoroughly enjoyed the series, as have I, and was thrilled to meet Ridley Pearson in person on board the Disney Dream in January 2011 (see photo above).

Magical Memories Travel will be organizing “Education Vacations” for families looking to pack their vacation with experiences not available to the average Disney guest…and learn something in the process!

See ‘ya real soon!

Lori Hardegree
lori@magicalmemoriestravel.com
@DisneyMomATL