Trip becomes a reality

By Rabyn Ratliff
The Valdosta Daily Times

May 08, 2008 01:12 am

— DOUGLAS — The Magic of Walt Disney World has come to a group of Coffee County High School Seniors, who have been invited down to enjoy a special day at the theme park, after missing out on their 2008 Grad Night Celebration.
It was near the end of last month when news began to travel that nearly 50 CHS Seniors would not be going to attend the annual Disney Grad Night event, despite making payments ($250 each) for the trip to substitute teacher Christy Wise, some since last fall. After arriving to their school on the day of the scheduled trip in high expectation and excitement, the students and their parents found out that Wise had left them high and dry — no bus, no trip, and no trace of the $7,400 plus that she’d collected in the name of Grad Night.
As the weeks continued following Wise’s arrest, the story drew compassion from the area community, and during a special luau event at Valdosta State University, the group was invited to Wild Adventures Theme Park for a senior celebration. This week, the group learned that their story also drew compassion from Disney World officials, after being invited down for a full day, and possibly night in the park, to celebrate before graduation. “When I spoke to the principal (Greg Tanner), he told me that the students wanted to come down and leave at 4 a.m., and all I could think was, “Boy, those chaperones are in for it,” said Dave Herbst, Walt Disney World spokesperson, after speaking with CHS administrators this week.
According to Herbst, when officials of the park learned of the ordeal through media reports and talks with community individuals, work immediately began to organize a special trip for the CHS group.
“When you have a story like this that involves Walt Disney World, you certainly want to see that it has a happy ending — not headlines like, ‘We’re Not Going to Disney World,’” Herbst said, referring to one news article. “Our people just frankly felt as though it was important to work toward a different ending to the story and so, our youth groups marketing people were able to come to a conclusion really quickly to get in touch with the school to provide them an alternative.”
While individuals of the group now stand at the brink of adulthood, “about to take that bold step out into the “real world,” Herbst said, the pre-summer trip to Magic Kingdom is an effort by the park to show the seniors that all does not have to end in harsh reality.
“I suppose you could say that this group has had a preview of that real world that you wish they never had to face,” Herbst said. “We just want to be a part of reassuring them that as they step outside the door, that they can have good experiences in life. And we’re all happy about the things that have happened in the Valdosta community as well. It’s just an example of us all working together to bring a happier ending to these students.”
Details of the trip are still in the planning stages, but Herbst anticipates showing the group a fun and exciting time as they enjoy park attractions and some special surprises.
“We’ve got some terrific surprises planned for them, and of course Magic Kingdom is famous for its range of mountain fun — Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain,” Herbst said. “For those who have never been here, everything will be fun, and for those who have, they’ll enjoy the signature attractions as well because they’ve undergone some significant refurbishment and updates within the last year.”

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