This Game was rescheduled twice due to money issues. The production of this game cost us nearly $3000, almost all of which was obtained through fund-raising (a first for MRV). The game finally took place on December 1st, 2012, and, to much celebration, was held at the Walt Disney World Resort. The theme of World Traveler had the teams moving throughout the parks, resorts, and assorted destination areas, arriving, by the end of the day, at the House of Mouse, with roughly 3 hours to spare.
We changed the tempo of the game once again, by setting specific times for the teams to arrive at the clues. This really allowed the game to be managed by far fewer people than you would think it would take to run a game of this size. We used Facebook once again to communicate, which worked even better in this format than the last.
We changed the tempo of the game once again, by setting specific times for the teams to arrive at the clues. This really allowed the game to be managed by far fewer people than you would think it would take to run a game of this size. We used Facebook once again to communicate, which worked even better in this format than the last.
Clue Zero
The tour bus picked us up at VHS at 7:00 AM and dropped us off at Downtown Disney at 8:20 AM. The game began as they stepped off the bus.
The game was originally set to begin at 9:00 AM, but with having to drive 45 students and staffers to Orlando, we had to buffer the start time so the remainder of the game would fall into place.
Clue One
Here there be sea monsters….but not at Cypress gardens. (9:00-9:20) |
Most Floridians know that Cypress Gardens was sold to and turned into Lego Land, and the Lego Store at Downtown Disney has a Sea Monster out front. It was also the scene of one of several EXTRA POINT areas. A mason jar was filled with assorted Legos. Guessing correct, or within 5 or 10, netted you between 200-500 points.
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Clue Four
I see London, I see France….but you cannot enter from here. (11:30-11:55) |
Several teams found the area behind the Boardwalk hotel and resort where you can see both London and France in the World Showcase of EPCOT, and there was an entrance to EPCOT the teams knew they could not enter.
Teams that made it to this clue on time received a map of the Magic Kingdom, the next stop. |
Clue Seven
Between the worlds of fright and thundering speed, suspends the path that you might need. I’ll hint and huck of places far, though you cannot get there in a car. (2:30-2:45) |
Every team found this clue, staffed by Mr. E and his son. The suspension bridge on Tom Sawyer’s Island sits between the Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountian Railroad….and you must use a boat to get there.
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Clue Nine
A major topic of debate as a world traveler – only civilized people have it at half-past 3, because by 4, it is much too late. (3:45-4:15) |
This clue was harder than i thought. Only civilized people have tea at 3:30. And the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland was very late.
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Clue Eleven
You've been ordered to sail east my boy! Find your riches in the wilds of Florida. (5:00-5:30) |
This one confused a lot of the teams. Most teams did not think to leave Magic Kingdom to find their riches at Fort Wilderness Resort. In fact, no team made it to this clue in time for points, although several were very close.
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Final Clue
Back and Forth, north and south, all day and all night. I’ll climb above and wait a while and take in all the sights. A General craft is where i am, you better hurry up. The end is near for most of you, I’m tired of this stuff. (6pm) |
The ferry boat on the seven seas lagoon, sails north and south all day and night, but only the boat named General Joe Potter had me on board. Five teams found me in time and received finishing points.
This ended the game. |
We had several strategies employed by the teams, including blowing off the first 4 or 5 checkpoints to focus on scavenger items, slow-and-steady progression (hard fought decoding of the clues), teaming up with another team (which has actually happened before), and lastly the “Just going with it” method. The scheme of limited time at the clue locations kept the game moving and no one was ever out of the race. The scavenger items were huge as far as the points earned, but we threw a few challenge points in there to benefit the teams that hit most of the checkpoints. For example, at the first clue location, White team guessed the “LEGO-in-the-jar” to within 4 pieces and earned a bonus 300 points, and the yellow team was the only team to figure out that CLUE 6 was referring to the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House and earned and burned 300 extra points for their challenge (climbing the tree 3 times, back to back).
In the end, the first ever Parent Team took home the Wisdom Trophy in a close win over Blue team. Their strategy of Scavenger Items paid off big for them as they got several high value items (including the Mr. E picture for 1000pts) and managed to be one of the five teams to get points for finishing (Also recieving finishing points were Purple, Green, Pink, and Orange). After the game, the teams got 4 more hours to enjoy the Magic Kingdom before we headed home.
All in all, it was my impression that the teams had a blast, and were just a little past exhausted by the end. The last Disney bus of the day, we took together as a group. It was very loud at 10:30 PM, but by 11:00, things were much more subdued.
All in all, it was my impression that the teams had a blast, and were just a little past exhausted by the end. The last Disney bus of the day, we took together as a group. It was very loud at 10:30 PM, but by 11:00, things were much more subdued.