Seniors will go on the annual field trip to Disneyland from June 6 to June 7 to celebrate their graduation, and spend time with other seniors.
According to Parent Volunteer Kendra French-Noack, students will arrive at Disneyland around 7 p.m. Students then have the option to go to either Disneyland or California Adventure. From 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., students will go to the Disney Senior Grad party at California Adventure. During that time, California Adventure will be open exclusively for seniors from around the nation.
At the Disney parks “…students can not only ride the rides, but there are bands, dancing, experiences, fireworks, and more,” said Parent Volunteer Brook Feerick. “The park is incredible once it is open only to the seniors,” said Noack. “The atmosphere is vibrant, alive and pulsating and the kids have a fun time – laughing, dancing and just running around.”
“I’m looking forward to having fun with all of my friends and having the park to myself,” said Senior Galen Dougherty.
UC High students will get to meet seniors from other high schools as well. According to the Disney website about its Grad Nite, high school seniors from all over the country will travel to Disneyland (disneyyouth.com). “This year, we hear that several other SDUSD schools will attend on the same night as UC High,” said Noack.
According to Noack, the Disney staff tries to make the seniors’ experience as enjoyable as possible. “The Disneyland Grad Nite adventure caters to the seniors,” said Noack. “They make the students feel special and proud of their accomplishments. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating and genuinely wants to make this a unique life long memory for students.”
“I’m looking forward to just being able to be with all the seniors before we all graduate,” said Senior Lacey Hartin. “It’s interesting going in the middle of the night,” she added. “I’m going to have to drink some serious caffeine before I go.”
Noack feels that students bond during the trip. “Many of the barriers that may keep groups apart at school are not felt at Disneyland,” explained Noack. “They bond on the bus ride and are proud to say ‘we are from UC High’ when other students ask where they are from.”
According to Feerick, about 365 students plan to go on the field trip. “We sold a record of 365 tickets this year,” said Feerick. “We have never sold so many before,” she added.
According to Noack, the field “trip costs a hundred dollars” per student, which pays for the Disneyland ticket and the bus ride.
According to Noack, seniors from UC High have been going to Disneyland for at least the past eight years. “Every year we hear from students that it was one of the greatest experiences they had in high school,” said Noack.