Tuesday, 10 December 2024On 18 October, all S6 students participated in an English Excursion activity to Hong Kong Disneyland. The four S6 classes participated in two different Disney Youth Programmes with 6J joining the ‘Disney’s Foundations for Career Success’ programme which gave them a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes workings of the theme park, while 6L, M, and P joined the ‘Global Perspectives: An Adventure in Our Society’ programme. Read on to find out more about their experience on that day.
S6 Excursion-When You Wish Upon A Star
6J Grace Yuen
18th October 2024 was a wonderful day as all S6 Shungtakians set off for an English excursion to Hong Kong Disneyland. While the other classes joined the Global Perspectives programme, 6J students embarked on their journey and joined Disney’s Foundations for Career Success programme.
If you are a Disney enthusiast you will most likely have dreamt of working at Disneyland, right? As someone who has loved Disney since childhood, this programme not only made me love this place more but also widened my horizons in potential career prospects.
We were very grateful to be taken to Disneyland’s backstage area and given the opportunity to discover its secrets. We visited the Team Disney Building and understood how Disneyland operates behind the scenes. From a glimpse of the costume storage area to the cast members’ cafeteria and even the interview room, we got to understand the wide range of career options available and the corporate culture of this theme park.
After visiting the backstage areas, we had the opportunity to experience different rides. We became passengers on the Jungle River Cruise. Different from what we normally did, this time we needed to pay extra attention to the cast member’s performance and it was surprising to see how challenging it can be to interact with visitors. The programme ended with a ride on Hyperspace Mountain where we were encouraged to face obstacles bravely, as life is just like a rollercoaster ride, full of ups and downs.
Without a shadow of doubt, we were very grateful for being treated so well in this excursion. Not only were we able to learn about the plethora of job choices available in this amazing place, but we will also always bear in mind that faith steps in and sees us through when we wish upon a star.
6L Bobby Tu
On 18 October 2024, all S6 students, including myself, went on an excursion to Hong Kong Disneyland. The program chosen by our class was “Global Perspectives: An Adventure in Our Society”, which focused on appreciating and respecting the pluralism of cultures and allowing students to acquire new perspectives on globalization through exploring Hong Kong Disneyland.
The program was divided into three sections: Understanding Globalization, Understanding World Civilizations from Different Perspectives, and Appreciating Different Cultures. Its aim was to help students acquire the necessary knowledge, values, and skills for societal development, broadening their horizons and fostering a positive attitude. Thus, the program was highly educational and beneficial in granting students fresh perspectives on the concept of globalization.
I really enjoyed the program. The primary reason is that it enabled me to reflect on the issues of cultural integration and intervention. Upon entering Disneyland, the first attraction that came into view was the imitation of Main Street, USA in the 1880s. This street incorporated numerous non-local cultural elements that are not present in Hong Kong, serving as a demonstration of various stages of globalization—from marine travel to air transport, and finally to today’s Internet connections. The second and final attractions were Mystic Manor and It’s a Small World. In these attractions, I felt the rich atmosphere of cultural integration and was surprised by how incredibly harmonious it was to see two entirely different cultures together! The visits to these attractions were carefully designed to make the program educational, and I truly felt the mesmerizing aspects of globalization. I am now committed to respecting and appreciating other cultures.
In addition to the lessons I learned, another highlight of the program was definitely the manner in which it was conducted. A good program should be educational and, at the same time, amusing and entertaining, which the Disney program fully achieved. Before visiting each attraction, there was a warm-up activity that was creatively designed and impressed all of us. For instance, the first activity involved a rope that was tightly twisted after some simple instructions, vividly demonstrating the concept of globalization while being very engaging. The entertaining style of the program certainly satisfied many of us.
As we are studying in Secondary 6, there are not many opportunities left for us to join a program together and bond with friends. The chance to go on an excursion is already very precious; coupled with this enthralling program conducted by Hong Kong Disneyland, the experience was truly fascinating. Perhaps the next time I visit Disneyland, I will still vividly remember this excursion!