Ultimate Science Trip 2018 Itinerary Wednesday, March 21, 2018 GOOD BYE CANADA! HELLO FLORIDA!

01:00am        Meet at Black Knight Inn Parking lot. (NW corner) Envelopes, meds, passports are given to chaperone. Pictures? Board bus and depart at 1:30am.

03:15am         Arrive in Calgary. Luggage tags, tickets, clear customs, drop off luggage, clear security, buy lunch (or bring lunch). Often I'll buy subway for myself. Bring snacks for plane too. Drinks are free on plane. Water bottle? Fill up after security check.

06:00am        Depart Calgary International Airport Flight #UA 1599  to Houston.  SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP! Did you bring a sleep mask? They help a lot!

10:45am    Arrive at Houston Airport. Transfer to Orlando on flight # UA 1980.

03:40pm.    Arrive at Orlando Airport. Travel to EPCOT.

Groups will transfer to Epcot to continue their learning and exploration of different cultures.  Did you know that word EPCOT is actually an acronym and was created by Disney himself?  It means Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow? Disney even wanted it to be a REAL community, with residences, businesses and services. Now you are ready to choose from a long list of displays, demonstrations, exhibits, labs, shows, activities, rides and performances as it relates to all things science. Know that there are countless themes represented at EPCOT.  Some examples are hydroponics, biomes, space and technology, life science, coral reefs, consumer energy options, gardens, cause and effect, technological advancements (with practical applications), marine biology, and much more.  These are all presented in different ways that will have you thinking, asking questions and participating.

Explore the culture of eleven nations with a journey around the World Showcase! Have conversations and ask lots of questions with friendly people from around the world!  Each country has amazing exhibits that reflect their unique culture.  For example, Japan’s Bijutsu-kan Gallery that introduces visitors to all that is “Kawaii”. Morocco has the Gallery of Arts and History where people experience the mystique of Morocco through the distinctive, detailed designs and crafts of the country.  In China, they present to you The House of the Whispering Willows that features the Terracotta Cavalry that was created to protect the country’s first emperor.  All countries also have a variety of shows and live performances.  Remember your memory workbook asks you to have an interview with someone from one of the eleven countries.

Dinner with voucher. Watch “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” at 9:00 pm. It is a night time show performed nightly at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The show utilizes fireworks, pyrotechnics, laser lights, fountains, and fire to create a visual production on the park's World Showcase Lagoon.   It has

received several awards throughout the years including 11 straight Best Outdoor Night Production Show Golden Ticket Awards.

09:30pm       Arrive at Hotel, Holiday Inn Water Park (14500 Continental Gateway Dr, Orlando, FL 32821, USA) Phone 1-407-387-5437 Check-in.   (Chaperones your safe is at the front office for securing $ and passports)

10:00pm       Unpack get ready for Thursday. (buy your water for the week from Keenan or Nathan ( Cheap only $1.00.)

10:30pm       Room Check & Lights Out. Security will check in with Scott.

10:45pm       Chaperone meeting in Scott’s and Martin’s room.

Thursday March 22, 2018   BUSCH GARDENS at Tampa Bay -reticulated animals!

07:30am              Buffet Breakfast at the Resort

08:30am              Leave to Busch Gardens. (10-7) Sleep on the bus if you wish.  Park opens at 10:00am.

08:30am   Serengeti School. Step outside the classroom and onto Busch Gardens Serengeti Plain to experience the ultimate in learning adventure! Come face to face with giraffes, zebras, antelopes, ostriches and more. Participate in an interactive activity on board a safari truck.  Receive an opportunity to hand feed our animal ambassadors that live on the Serengeti Plain Habitat (the reticulated giraffe).

09:45am              Another day filled with so much to do. They have 5 live shows, tons of animals, 6 roller coasters, 2 water rides plus more! Quick Queue Passes will make line ups invisible!  Lunch (a voucher) will be at the park.  This park has some amazing dinner choices too. * Go feed the baby kangaroos - it's awesome! Lunch. Voucher 

03:30pm            Meet at the front entrance, just inside the park. Depart Busch Gardens.

05:00pm             Arrive at Clearwater Beachfront. Prepare for a swim and/or shopping!  

06:30pm             Depart Clearwater beach, now dinner is on your own.

9:00pm Meet at coaches and then depart back to hotel.

10:45pm             Room Check & Lights Out. Security will check in.

Friday, March 23, 2018 SEA WORLD     / DISNEY SPRINGS

07:15am              Buffet Breakfast at the Resort

08:00am              Leave to Sea World Orlando. Martin gets in line for Quick Queues.

9:00am             Get your Quick Queue wristbands they allow unlimited access to most attractions. Maybe first get a  Picture with the Shamu mascot near the front entrance? Free exploration and learning time in the park.  Get a map/schedule and plan your day carefully.  Must see animal habitats /  exhibits are: Turtle Trek, Wild Arctic, Stingray Lagoon, Pelican Preserve, Shark Encounter!, Jewel of the Sea Aquarium, Dolphin Nursery, Manta Aquarium, Pacific Pointe Preserve (Oregon coast habitat), Dolphin Cove and my favourite: The Manatee Aquarium.

Check out the shows Blue Horizons (The best), Clyde and Seamore's Sea Lion High, A’Lure, The Call of The Ocean and of course One Ocean! with Shamu.  Then there are the rides Kraken, Manta, Journey to Atlantis (a wet ride), and Sky Tower (free with QuickQue)   Lot’s to explore and learn here! 

12:00pm              Voucher for lunch

04:30pm              Meet outside front gates. Transfer toDisney Springs.

05:00pm             Most of you have dinner reservations for around 5:00pm.

09:15pm             Leave to go back to our hotel.

10:30pm             Room Check & Lights Out.

10:45pm               Chaperone meeting in Scott’s and Martin’s room if necessary.

Saturday     March 24,   2018 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS / ISLANDS of ADVENTURE –Harry Potter

06:15am            Buffet Breakfast at the Resort. Maybe wear your bathing suit underneath.

07:00am             Leave to Islands of Adventure (opens from 8-10) At Islands of Adventure try: Harry Potter, The Hulk (closed), Spiderman, Dragon Challenge, Seuss Landing, Jurassic Park, Rip-saw Fall (lots of water), Popeye and Bluto’s Barge Ride (lots of  water), The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad (live action show), Poseidon’s Fury (live action with amazing special  effects!)  You have lots of time, so rest every once in a while!  **You must get a locker for your backpacks before you do anything. There are all day lockers at the front entrance for a fee, but the lockers are free if you do the ride only once. Lunch (voucher)

02:00pm              Leave to Universal. (9-11)  Group will enjoy Express Passes for Universal Studios, including two park pass!  Lunch  in the Park with Lunch Voucher. So much to see, do and experience this day. At Universal Studios try: Diagon Alley, Revenge of the Mummy, The Simpson’s Ride, Men In Black, Shrek 4-D, Rip Rockit

Roller Coaster, Terminator 3-D, Disaster!, and more! Whew!  Plus so many "characters" and "movie stars" to take selfies with! **You must get a locker for your backpacks before you do anything.  There are all day lockers at the front entrance for a fee, but the lockers are free if you do the ride only once.

08:00pm        Mardi Gras Parade

09:00pm        Mardi Gras Concert at Music Plaza Stage. Jesse J to perfom her hits “Domino” and “Bang Bang.”

11:00pm       Room Check & Lights Out. Security will check in with Mr. C.

10:30pm       Chaperone meeting in Scott’s and Martin’s room - (if necessary)  

Sunday, March 25, 2018   KENNEDY SPACE CENTER – Atlantis!   / Air Boats + Creatures!

06:45am         Buffet Breakfast at the Resort

07:30am         Leave to Kennedy Space Center (9-6) (see any dolphins in the water or gators in the ditches as we approach The Kennedy Center?)

08:55am         Arrive at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Go to the new Atlantis Space Shuttle exhibit.  Your journey begins in the Atlantis theater where we bring to life the story of the people who dared to do the impossible. Gaze in wonder at a close-up view of Space Shuttle Atlantis, displayed in mid-flight glory. With more than 60 interactive exhibits, it's a moving celebration of humankind’s greatest achievements. Then feel the sensations of  blasting into orbit at the Shuttle Launch Experience.  Shuttle Launch Experience immerses visitors in the sights, sounds and feelings of a Space Shuttle launch, an incredible journey of launching into space and orbiting Earth aboard a Space Shuttle. Guest crew members strap in and go vertical for launch in a one-of-a-kind custom-designed crew cabin. Next, checkout  the Visitors’  Complex, maybe go reflect at the Astronaut Memorial, go to the rocket garden or get an  update at the Launch Status Centre, if enough time go watch a 3D I-max

Movie.    

Meet for Lunch at the Debus Conference Facility (near front entrance) with an Astronaut like Sam Durrance! What would YOU ask a real astronaut?  Start thinking!Mr. Durrance’s Bio, For two flights and 615 hours in space, he assisted crews with operating sophisticated scientific equipment aimed at understanding our universe. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in physics from California State University. He then attended the

University of Colorado, completing a Ph.D. in astrogeophysics. He worked at Johns Hopkins University as the principal research scientist in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. While at Johns Hopkins, he began his work as co-investigator for the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope. When it came time to deploy the telescope, NASA selected Dr. Durrance as a payload specialist on space shuttle mission STS-35/Astro 1. Both that mission and STS-67/Astro 2, which Durrance flew on, were dedicated missions to astronomy.

After lunch, take Shuttle Bus Tour all together past the launch pads, support buildings, the crawler and the vehicle assembly building to the Apollo/Saturn V Centre where you see a real 363 foot moon rocket, a recreation of the launching of the Apollo 8 mission and a lunar landing, plus so much more! Be back by 3:00pm so that you have plenty of time to shop at the world’s largest Space Shop and get an autograph from your astronaut!  The signing takes place on the balcony/second floor of the gift shop at 3:45pm.

04:15pm Meet outside gift shop and Transfer to Midway Air Boats (5:15pm) (407-568-6790)   There should be time to purchase unique items in their gift shop. Try some Gator Jerky. Then get ready to enjoy a ride of a lifetime!  Plus there will be some hands on education about some of the native animals of Florida.  You will carefully travel through and witness a biome and ecosystem found nowhere else in the world.   Your tour guide on your airboat will explain everything from the different vegetation to the water life to the weather and birds in the air.  You’ll see how seasonal flooding affects the biome and adaptations the plants and animals have to deal with the changing weather. Each airboat is U.S. Coast Guard approved and each ride is a unique opportunity to see Florida alligators, bald eagles, otters, blue herons and other wildlife. At the end of your trip get ready to smile with a real gator as you hold and look at it! Depart to Disney Springs.      

06:45pm         Arrive at Sweet Tomatoes for dinner.

08:00pm   Swim time back at the hotel.     

10:30pm Room Check & Lights Out. Security will check in with Mr. C.

10:45pm         No meeting tonight.

Monday, March 26, 2018 HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS - YES Program MAGIC KINGDOM

06:45am       Buffet Breakfast at the Resort

07:30am       Leave to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (9-9:30)

08:00am      Hollywood Studios YES Program  “Imagineering: Gravity”  (877-343-5387)   Students will join an Imagineering Teacher to explore how Walt Disney Imagineering uses Newton's Laws of Motion to create multi-sensory experiences within the Disney Parks. In this 3 hour academic adventure hands-on experiments challenge students to test the force of gravity and study how combining it with technology can create an enhanced affect. Students will uncover how our Imagineers are able to turn ordinary spaces into immersive spaces that challenge their perception of reality.   

12:00pm       Lunch in the park with a Meal Voucher. Continue to enjoy the park!

Time permitting also consider learning about the history of T.V. media and programming by visiting The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame

Plaza.  Next could be a visit to The Star Wars Launch Bay which is really a cool place to check out movie props and other exhibits from the feature films of Star Wars. More Star Wars?  O.K.  Check out the new techniques and consideration of shooting scenes from the latest Star Wars movie at The Launch Bay Theatre.   Don’t miss Indiana Jones Stunt Show,and for fun try and do a meet and greet with any Disney character you might see along the way.

02:30pm      Transfer to Magic Kingdom. Enjoy exploration and learning time in the Park.  At The Hall of Presidents retrace American history as told from several of the 44 presidents featured. Perhaps get active and learn about the places, such as secret hideouts, that inspired Mark Twain on Tom Sawyer Island.   Try riding and enquiring about vintage modes of transportation like a real train locomotive, paddle wheeler, and an assortment of vehicles before 1960.  At Disney’s Carousel of Progress you can travel through the 20thcentury to see how technology has improved our way of life.

03:00pm      Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade if desired. (12 min. long)  Starts at Splash Mountain.  

08:30pm Find a spot to watch the Happily Ever After, fireworks show.

11:30pm       Transfer to Resort. Stay close together. Do you have your wristband on?

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 DISCOVERY COVE–Dolphins!

07:15am Buffet Breakfast at the Resort

08:00am         Leave to Discovery Cove.

08:45am         Group Registration.  Get Lanyards (ID necklaces).  Group picture, learning and exploration time will include  lazy river, an aviary with assistant, ray pool with assistant and salt water snorkeling using self guided identification cards of the animal water life. Lunch provided at Discovery Cove. Dolphin experience (1 hour in length).

Featured sites at Discovery Cove are The Grand Reef.  Surprises abound. Students can seek discoveries along the water’s edge or cross a bridge to see sharks swimming below. Play hide-and-seek with thousands of beautiful fish, from small colorful wrasses to velvety rays. Further out in the reef, stunning habitats create the feeling of swimming right alongside sharp-toothed reef sharks safely behind glass. You can even take paths and bridges to the reef’s islands and hidden grottos as they delve into the reef from above, around and below. With the dolphin experience/encounter, you will make a friend that will live in your heart forever when you experience the highlight of your day, a one-on-one dolphin encounter. Learn about dolphin behavior and communication. Wade into the dolphin lagoon. Come nose to bottle nose with one of these fascinating and intelligent animals, take hold of its dorsal fin and learn about its uniqueness.In another habitat called the Explorers Aviary, venture beyond the beaches and waterfalls of Discovery Cove and enter a hidden treasure, called the Explorer's Aviary, where an inspiring natural habitat sings with the rhythm of wings and the melodies of birdsong. Watch as hundreds of colorful birds soar above and around you. Feel your heart soar as a feathered friend glides in to meet you and nibble fruit right

from your hand!  An interpreter is there to answer all of your questions and guide you around the different spaces.Another section of this special place is called Freshwater Oasis. It is an all-new attraction featuring wading adventures and face-to-face encounters with playful otters and curious marmosets.  Park staff are often in attendance to allow you to see the animals close up and to answer any of your questions.

11:00am            Lunch at Laguna Grill is free and students will eat on their own time (served from 11:00am – 3:00pm)  There are also FREE Snacks and Beverages served throughout the day at different “Snack Shacks”.

05:00pm          Transfer to hotel for Pizza and salad dinner.

06:45pm           Free swim time at Waterpark.

09:00pm Pack to go home.

10:30pm            Room Check & Lights Out. Security will check in with Mr. C.

10:45pm            Chaperone meeting in Scott’s and Martin’s room.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018 ANIMAL KINGDOM / AIRPORT / CALGARY / HOME

06:30am         Buffet Breakfast at the Resort

07:15am         Check out and load motor coach. Leave to Animal Kingdom (8-8).  Arrive at Animal Kingdom for free time exploration.  Don’t miss Pandora, Expedition Everest, Kali Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur!, Finding Nemo the Musical, and It’s Tough to be a Bug. Fast Passes were pre-booked shortly after February’s meeting.

12:00pm          Lunch (voucher)

12:45pm         Meet inside the front entrance. Depart to the airport. $15 Cash for supper at the airport is  provided. Group departs Orlando International Airport on UA 1230 at 3:30pm.  Get food at the airport, after security if necessary. Depart to Houston.  

09:45pm         Arrive Calgary International Airport.  We hope you had a trip of a lifetime!  Now we go home to our regular beds that we will have to make from now on!! We were spoiled!

11:30pm         At Olds (35 minutes away from Red Deer, we will call the initial contacts from the fan out list.  I expect us to return to the Black Knight Inn parking lot just after 11:30pm. But of course this depends on road conditions, Canada Customs and so on.