Ah, the mystery, the allure, the exclusivity, the food I sent back. WHAT? OK, yes, I did not like my order of monk fish and they noticed, took it back and brought me mac&cheese. Does it make me sound classier if I say it was “Truffle Mac&Cheese”?

Disney’s Club 33 is a private club inside the original part of Disneyland. There are many stories about the who, what, when, where and why’s behind Walt’s creation of Club 33. It is a legendary place among Disney fans and it is rare to get the opportunity to visit. The general consensus is that Club 33 was opened by Walt as a place to entertain the original 33 investors of Disneyland. However, it says on the menus that is named simply because of its address. Believe what you will. It is the only place within the main (old) park that serves alcohol to this day. It is said the waitlist for membership is about 15 years long. The fee’s are quite steep. Most families that I know who have had the chance to visit work for one of the companies that have a corporate membership.

So, what is a visit to Club 33 really like and what is the hype all about?

You start your day by going to guest services outside of the park. You pick up day passes for your family to the park. These don’t have your name on it and since we had park hopper tickets that came with our package, we walked up to a family that was in line to give them away. If I had known they wouldn’t have our names on them I would have totally had my friend Laura come visit. SORRY LAURA! The attendant at the ticket area saw me trying to give the tickets away and was all “you can’t sell tickets” and I told him I was “not selling, just giving them away”. He said “well, you can’t do that either”. Bob went the other way and found a family. They were so surprised. We felt all warm and gooey inside.

So, you have a reservation for Club33 that is a specific time. DO NOT attempt to get in 5 mins early. Trust me. I know. I was informed of this by the lady inside. There is a little speak easy type box inside the door frame of 33. You push it and tell them your name. Just don’t do it before your appointed time or you will get swallowed up by a big rabbit hole that transports you to Small World and makes you ride it over and over again.

If you don’t fall down the rabbit hole the lady lets you in. You have the choice to go up to this lift that they make a big deal about. It was pretty.  I am not really into stuff like that. But if you are, they say this is an amazing example. If you are in a wheelchair you get to go in a special entrance. You get the privilege of going through the Cafe kitchen across the way. You get to experience all the sights, sounds and smells of the dishwashing area of a cafeteria. Needless to say, I think access for wheelchair users needs to be improved.

Anywho, once your family gets to the second floor you are seated. We went for a late lunch. They ask you to order the entree and you get to go to the buffet for both appetizers and dessert. With the exception of the crab, shrimp and rock lobster tails all the food on the buffet we had already seen at the Paradise Pier concierge room. It is the same stuff.

At first we were all really nervous because you hear so much about how fabulous this place is. I warned the kids not to breathe wrong! Being nervous was unnecessary though. Our waitress was very sweet and very accommodating. She saw that I didn’t eat the monk fish I ordered and offered me something else. I asked for the same mac and cheese the kids had. It was yummy. I don’t know why I didn’t like the meal. There was nothing wrong with it. I just did not like it.

Bob and ordered a bottle of wine. I LOVED the balcony. It was the best part. It was a beautiful day and the views are really pretty from out there through the trees. It was a very relaxing oasis on a crazy Sat. at Disney.

Your bill has to be equal to what the tickets for the day would have cost you. So it is a pretty pricey meal ~ $404 for our family to be exact.

There is a small cabinet that sells souvenirs. Apparently the merchandise in the cabinet changes frequently. It is stuff like golf shirts, pens and rings. We didn’t get anything but now I kind of regret that.

You leave the sanctuary of Disney’s Club 33 and join the masses. The craziness is a little disorienting (or was that the wine?) of becoming one of the ‘regular people’ visiting Disney that day.

I was really glad we finally went. We have talked about going since the kids were little and we knew we had the option. But I am really glad we waited til the boys were older and had more experience eating in ‘fancier’ restaurants. I don’t think the food was any more impressive than your run of the mill upscale restaurant. There are a ton of antiques that were completely lost on the boys. If we could just order a bottle of wine and sit out on the patio I would consider going back but barring that I doubt we would. It is nice to say you have been but not necessarily something you need to do twice.

Here are some insider photos for all of you still curious

I always like to let you all know when this event is coming up. We went to the Disney Youth Education Classes the first year this organization held this event. Sadly, we haven’t been able to make it back since but I hear it just gets better every year. Plan to go if you can. It is really well worth it!

The committee has arranged special workshops for home educated students during the rally week in the area of instrumental, vocal, dance, and theater. All classes are taught by Disney professionals and the classes are customized for our attendees. Please check out the various workshops and the audition guidelines on our website and apply TODAY:

http://www.notbacktoschooldays.com/education/workshops.htm

JUST THREE DAYS LEFT TO SAVE – The audition deadline for the Disney Performing Arts workshops has been extended to APRIL 15TH – so get your group or homeschool individual on video and send the video (do NOT send a link to youtube) to the following email address for immediate consideration:
talent@notbacktoschooldays.com

All are invited to attend the Official 4th Annual Not Back to School Days Rally and Home Education Conference – September 8-11, at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Home education is truly a cause for celebration, and the Disneyland Resort is a great place to celebrate!

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION PRICING WILL END April 15th. Classes fill up fast, so get registered today! Late registrations will be accepted, but are based on availability.

You must be a registered attendee to take advantage of the group rates on park hoppers, food and concessions at the rally, dances and group activities, to participate in conference workshops, or take part in the outstanding field trip classes taught right inside the theme parks. From physics to art, math to history, and even performing arts like dance, vocal, instrumental, and theater classes – kids and parents of all ages can get set for a week long field trip of a lifetime. You are not required to stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel but you must be a registered attendee to take advantage of the group rate for the hotel.

Visit our website today for more information, www.notbacktoschooldays.com and for additional questions you will find quick links on the left side navigator bar to download the complete info packet, sign up for newsletter updates, join our Facebook fan page, and read the discussion boards. Be sure to sign up for at least one of these venues to keep up with the latest announcements – some offers are gone rather quickly.

This rally and conference is a national event – open to ALL home educators, including your extended family. It is an excellent way to show the fruits of homeschooling to anyone so bring those inquisitive or skeptical friends. Homeschool group leaders contact us for special discounts on 15 or more families.

Come and make the Official Not Back to School Days Rally part of your homeschool tradition!
Many blessings to your family,
2010 Not Back to School Days Committee
928-542-1387
www.notbacktoschooldays.com

Really looking forward to seeing Disney Live! Rockin’ Road Show over the weekend! There are not many discount codes offered for Disney Live! shows so take advantage of this offer and have a great time at the show with your kiddos too!

FEB. 5 & 6
Save $3 per ticket on all performances!
(excludes Front Row and VIP seats)
Use the code: KIDS at www.Ticketmaster.com or call 1‐800‐745‐3000
www.DisneyLive.com

Just booked us! WOOHOO! So excited to be staying at the Grand California. I have ALWAYS wanted to. We went to this two years ago and it was by far one of our favorite homeschool experiences ever. This is the last year they plan to organize it so go if you can! My kids LOVED taking classes from the Disney staff!

Join thousands of homeschoolers at the Not Back to School Days Rally and Conference as we celebrate our freedom to homeschool, network with new friends, and be examples for the growth of homeschooling! This conference will be held September 14-17, 2009 at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

WHAT IS THIS?

FIELD TRIP: Kids ages 8 and up can take a Y.E.S. (Youth in Education Series) class, taught in the theme parks by Disney staff. These can only be reserved in advance through a booked group, no walk up registrations for YES classes.

CONFERENCE: Exhibit hall and workshops – a carefully selected program, with something for everyone. Walk up registrations welcome, advance registration appreciated.

RALLY: Celebrate our freedom to educate our children as we feel best. Cheer with special guests who are homeschoolers and work hard to preserve your rights.

NETWORK: This is a priority with our organizers, so expect to meet new friends as you interact in scheduled group activities. Talent show, homecoming dance, more.

VACATION: You won’t find a less expensive trip to Disneyland, from the park hoppers to the hotel rooms, seriously. Your family will thank you over and over again. Send them off to the theme parks, while you soak up some conference action – it’s a win, win solution to past dilemmas of what to do with the kids. Bring the skeptical inlaws – they will get a first hand glimpse of the benefits of homeschooling.

There is so much to do, just download the updated complete conference packet and see for yourself – most of your questions can be answered in the packet: www.notbacktoschooldays.com

Walk up rates are now in effect, but we have added more vendors and more classes, so for those who have procrastinated, here’s a 5-day coupon to save 50% on your conference passes – put in code LATE3 at the bottom of the first page of registration. The coupon will expire on July 24th.

Membership in the sponsoring organization is not required to attend this conference, it is open to all home educators, and especially inquisitive and skeptical inlaws and neighbors. Bring them and show the real fruits of freedom in education!

Hope to see you!
Contact (not me!): Dianne McLean
fieldtrips@sw-home-edu.com

A few weeks ago I posted about the wonderful opportunity by MomCentral to be a Feld Family Activator by attending the show and giving away tickets. Last night was the opening night for Disney On Ice here in Denver. The show was INCREDIBLE. The Incredible’s (aka The Parr Family) take a vacation to Disneyland where they try their hardest to blend in as a ‘normal’ family. But the evil Syndrome shows up and captures Minnie and Mickey. The Incredible’s of course, save the day and all ends well. We had a great time as a family. Parking is really easy at the Coliseum which was a big plus!

All of the Feld Family Activators got together before the show and were treated to a dinner, character meeting, and lots of fun souveneirs for the kiddo’s. It was a wonderful night. I had a great time meeting some of my twitter friends in real life: @KristieMcNealy @geekymommy @milehighmamas @amnichols

If you have not yet bought your tickets to the show, use the code on this flyer to get a family four pack for $44. That is just a little more than the cost of going to the movies and so much more memorable.

I also heard that MomCentral is looking for moms in other cities who may be interested in being a part of the Feld Family Activators. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the experience!

Disney on Ice is coming to Denver! Not only do I have a family four pack of tickets to giveaway but I also have a discount code from MomCentral for those of you who don’t win the tickets!

Denver Disney On Ice Flyer
Find out more about this years show here!

To Get Your Discount:

For a 4 pack of tickets for $44 by logging onto http://www.ticketmaster.com. Select a show and in the MomCentral Promotion box, enter the coupon code: MOM.

Show Dates
Thursday March 12 7:30pm
Friday March 13 11:00am, 7:30pm
Saturday March 14 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Sunday March 15 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm* *Spanish Performance
Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code “MOM” at select ticketing channels**. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Not valid on Front Row or VIP seats or combinable with other offers.

To Win A Family Four Pack From Me:

INITIAL ENTRY: Leave a comment telling me about your favorite Disney moment (mine was watching my youngest son walk for the 1st time down Main Street at two with his little walker)! You must complete this entry to be eligible for the Bonus ones listed below. *You do not need to be a homeschool family to win these

Bonus Entries: You can do any of these that you want. Do 1 or do all!

1. Follow me on Twitter @chaotic_barb (leave your Twitter ID)

2. Tweet This Giveaway. You may do this once a day. Just Copy and Paste this —-> Colorado! Win Disney on Ice Tickets from @chaotic_barb here: http://elementaryspirits.com/ PLS RT

3. Blog about this giveaway. (You must leave the link to the post, not your blog)

4. Stumble this giveaway. Leave your stumble ID.

Please leave a separate Comment for each Entry. Giveaway is open to Colorado, USA Residents 18 years of age or older. Any posts not including the requested information will be deleted. I reserve the right to remove any entry from this giveaway. This giveaway ends February 20th at 11:59pm est. Tickets are good for the Thursday or Friday night show only. They will be at will call for you!

I will be at this with bells on. Please try to join me!

For 2009, we are going even bigger and better – it will be a conference. Not just a conference, but the first-ever HOME EDUCATION conference held at a Disneyland hotel! Our official Not Back to School Days Rally and Conference dates are September 14-17, 2009.

Through your feedback and surveys, we have also added more park hopper days, even lower pricing on the hotel rooms, added a second Disney hotel for more choice, and are planning a host of activities to provide opportunities to meet new friends and mingle. There will be T-shirts and buttons – so people can identify each other in the parks. The theme of the conference is “Be an Example” and we are planning to bring in lots of opportunities to do just that! With a conference abound, we will have opportunities to share the joys of homeschooling with many people who have always wondered, but never took the initiative to learn anything about home education. Disney is providing us with plenty of signage and exposure, so all the families who are there on vacation will know that there is a homeschool conference going on. We are hoping they will ask you questions, or stop in at the conference center, and become inspired.

So we need YOU to be there and be an example for homeschooling, and share your joys and experiences. In case you are wondering, I am not alone this year. We have an excellent committee, and more volunteers are popping up every day to help out. They are contacting exhibitors, speakers, and helping to organize everything. It’s so exciting to be able to have a conference and to contribute to the growth of homeschooling!

This year’s registration page has been simplified, you will find the YES classes on the second page after you choose which of the 2, 3, 4, or 5 day park hoppers you want. There is so much to see, just check it out:

http://sheadisney2009.eventbrite.com

Hope to see you again in September!

Dianne McLean

SHEA Regional Director

The official 3rd Annual Not Back to School Days Rally™ at Disneyland – September 14-17, 2009 – is now going to offer a full service conference and you won’t want to miss it!

This is a great opportunity to show the public what homeschooling is really all about – and celebrate our right to homeschool – as we embark in one of the most family-friendly places on earth – Disneyland! The highlights for this year’s Rally and Conference are:

- Deeply discounted group rates on park hopper tickets
- Y.E.S. classes taught by Disney staff – learn concepts in Physics, Animation, History, Leadership
- Conference with exhibit hall, speakers, workshops, more
- Food discounts at the conference
- Deeply discounted hotel rooms at Disney hotels
- Homeschool Talent Show
- Homecoming Dance for Teens
- Welcome Reception to meet new friends
- Twilight sessions for parents after the parks close
- Gifts and Talents Fair (show off your favorite subject)
- T-Shirts and Buttons to identify homeschoolers in the parks
- Souvenir Program

Membership in SHEA is not required to attend any of these activities. To find out more about this year’s rally, please visit our website: http://www.southwest-home-education.com

To go straight to the reservations page, use this link: http://sheadisney2009.eventbrite.com

Hope to see you!
Dianne McLean
Regional Director

For our 2nd Annual Not Back to School Days at Disneyland, September 15-18, 2008, we have over 1200 people registered and prepaid. Included in that registration, are 9 families that SHEA has sponsored to go on the trip who otherwise could not have afforded to do so.

To help raise the funds for this sponsorship, we received generous donations including a Carnival Cruise for a family of four (upgrades are available for larger families) a Wii game system, and an Ipod. These prizes will be awarded on September 15, 2008 during our talent show and dinner which will be held from 5-7:30pm at Disneyland’s Paradise Pier hotel Pacific Ballroom.

Tickets are still available for this spectacular show, where homeschoolers provide the entertainment while you enjoy a scrumptious buffet prepared by Disney’s chefs! Price to attend is just $33 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $20 for kids (ages 3-9). Remember, that price includes dinner AND a show!

If you are unable to attend the show, won’t you please consider assisting us with the sponsorship by purchasing a raffle ticket today? For each $5.00 donation, you will receive one entry into the drawing and you could win the cruise (next year’s family vacation would be all taken care of!), the Wii (wouldn’t that be a great gift for your family?), or the Ipod (wouldn’t that be great for yourself?).

You do not need to be present to win, just be sure your ticket purchase includes a valid address and contact information. We need to sell 1000 tickets to completely fund the 9 families, so be sure to pass this around to all your local groups and affiliates. You do not have to be a homeschooler to buy a raffle ticket!

Thanks, and to find out more about SHEA, or purchase your tickets, visit our website today:

http://www.southwest-home-education.com

Over 1000 people are registered to attend the official Not Back to School Days at Disneyland from September 15-18, 2008!!!It’s simply amazing that homeschooling comes as a result of our great freedom to choose. What a wonderful opportunity we have. And who would have thought you could actually homeschool at a theme park, like Disneyland?

This is the homeschooling rally you won’t want to miss!From a beach bonfire, to YES classes, to a host of scheduled get togethers, we’ve been planning and planning since October of 2007.You can be sure that there will be plenty of opportunity to meet new friends, and have a great time while you are filling out your syllabus!

Want to join us?Get on the website to find out more and see what’s left, it’s just a couple of weeks away and we don’t want anyone to miss out! There’s just 4 rooms left at the Grand Californian, Disney’s premier hotel which can start at $400 a night and go up. Our rate is only $219 a night, and it includes a spacious and well-appointed room with a queen bed, a bunk bed, and a trundle under the bunk. The room sleeps 5 comfortably, more if you want to squeeze them in.What a magical experience it is to stay at this hotel, right in the middle of everything Disneyland has to offer.Private entrance into California Adventure, and Downtown Disney, plus you can’t get any closer to Disneyland’s main gate.Remember, just 4 rooms left, so hurry!

Need to be part of the rally, but don’t want to attend the theme parks? All are invited to share in a special evening at the Paradise Pier hotel ballroom on Monday, September 15th from 5-7:30pm. While you enjoy a special buffet dinner prepared by Disneyland’s chefs, you will be delightfully entertained by some very talented homeschoolers. They had to submit recorded tapes to even get in this show, so please come out and lend your support for their efforts! The dinner/show tickets are just $33 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $20 for kids (ages 3-9). What a great way to set examples for your skeptical in-laws or neighbors who just don’t get it invite them to a well-organized event! Remember, the price is for dinner AND a show.

Got teens? Got teens who crave get togethers with other teens? Get them a ticket to our Homecoming Dance! Immediately following the dinner/show, we will ask everyone to exit the ballroom and then we’ll only be letting the teens back inside. More and more teens are going HOME to get their education, thus, a dance for them a Homecoming Dance to celebrate their decision to take their education into their own hands.Tickets for the dance are just $21 each and rebates apply for multiple tickets purchased on the same order.No tickets will be sold at the door. Modest dress code enforced. The dance is from 8-11pm.Not like other events which typically hold their dance at the end of the week, we wanted this to be an outstanding opportunity for them to meet new friends, and then spend the next few days getting to know each other!

http://www.southwest-home-education.com

Dianne McLean

Regional Director