I recently recorded two podcasts for Children's Ministry Magazine. I talked about first impressions with guests and how to partner with parents. If you'd like to listen or download they are at http://childrensministry.com/podcasts/default.asp.
Day Three of Vacation/Work at Disney
I spent today at Hollywood Studios and Epcot. I'm going to post pictures I took with the takeaways listed below. Let's get started...
Check out who Disney puts in front of kids...high school/college students! Takeaway...Let's use use high school/college students in our ministries. That's who kids look up to. They can make a huge impact on kids!
This sign says it all...Takeaway...DREAM BIG!
They were putting a fresh coat of paint on Mickey's hat. Takeaway...got anything that needs a fresh coat of paint? Take a walk around your facilities and see if anything is starting to look shabby... take care of it.
Check out these giant crayons inside the new Toy Story ride. Look closer...see the tops of the orange and pink crayons? They look like they have been used. Takeway...attention to detail...it makes the difference!
They have created the American Idol "experience." (see the sign behind my brother) People audition just like the show and those selected sing in front of a large studio audience. The winner gets a front-of-the-line pass to try out for American Idol next year at any city they are holding auditions in. My brother, Derek, made it through the first round ,but didn't make it through the second round. We were proud of him and it was a great experience for him. Takeaway...we live in an "experience" driven culture. How about calling your weekends "experiences" instead of "classes" or "services."
Tomorrow I'm heading to Universal Studios. I'll post some takeaways at the end of the day from my experience there.
Check out who Disney puts in front of kids...high school/college students! Takeaway...Let's use use high school/college students in our ministries. That's who kids look up to. They can make a huge impact on kids!
This sign says it all...Takeaway...DREAM BIG!
They were putting a fresh coat of paint on Mickey's hat. Takeaway...got anything that needs a fresh coat of paint? Take a walk around your facilities and see if anything is starting to look shabby... take care of it.
Check out these giant crayons inside the new Toy Story ride. Look closer...see the tops of the orange and pink crayons? They look like they have been used. Takeway...attention to detail...it makes the difference!
They have created the American Idol "experience." (see the sign behind my brother) People audition just like the show and those selected sing in front of a large studio audience. The winner gets a front-of-the-line pass to try out for American Idol next year at any city they are holding auditions in. My brother, Derek, made it through the first round ,but didn't make it through the second round. We were proud of him and it was a great experience for him. Takeaway...we live in an "experience" driven culture. How about calling your weekends "experiences" instead of "classes" or "services."
Tomorrow I'm heading to Universal Studios. I'll post some takeaways at the end of the day from my experience there.
Day Two of Vacation/Work at Disney
This morning I started out at the Animal Kingdom.
Here are some takeaways I jotted down.
-Creativity. As I saw lots of cool things, this thought kept popping into my mind. "A team of people sat around a table and brainstormed. Someone threw out a crazy idea, they ran with it, and made it reality." An example...someone said, "What if we made a big plant that could walk around and interact with people." It may have been a crazy idea at first...but look what became of it.
This is a plant, tree thing that walks around and interacts with people. It was taking a rest for a moment when I took this pic, but it was a crowd stopper when it moved.
Takeaway...you can make incredible things happen when you get your team together and dream...create...and make it become reality.
-I stopped to ask a cast member a simple question and she gave me way, way too much information. She kept going on and on and on...stuff that wasn't even related to the question I had asked her. We finally had to politely back away and get away before she drove us crazy!
Takeaway...don't overload people with too much information...especially first-time guests. They are just trying to get their kids to the right room, find out where the auditorium is, etc. Keep your directions and info. simple and precise. Don't bury them in too many details!
-Disney has people and characters that are available to greet you and take pictures with you. Below is a picture we took with a cast member today.
Takeaway...be available and approachable on weekends for kids and families. Don't be so busy running around that you don't have time to hang out and greet kids and families. If you're too busy to do that, then enlist enough volunteers so that you're not doing everything and you have time to just be there for people.
After lunch we headed over to the flagship...The Magic Kingdom. Here's some takeaways I picked up.
-Many of the timeless, classic experiences have been updated to stay relevant. An example...one of my favorite rides...Pirates. Notice in the picture below who has been added to the ride...Captain Jack Sparrow.
Takeaway...know the culture and stay relevant. Is there anything you need to update or change?
-Disney now has a website where they post pictures their photographers take of you while you are at the park. You can go to http://www.disneyphotopass.com/ and view the pictures, share them, and purchase them if you'd like.
Takeaway...take pictures of the children and families in your ministry (with written permission) and make them available online for them.
-Attention to detail. Anywhere you go in the Magic Kingdom, you will see attention to detail. As I rode through the Haunted Mansion, I noticed the cobwebs hanging from the chandeliers. Details. Takeaway...it's the attention to the small details that turns good into great.
-Music. Disney strategically uses music throughout the park to set the mood for each environment and time of day. Ever notice when you enter in the morning hours that the music is peppy...when you leave at night the music is soothing and relaxing...when you enter themed areas the music reflects that environment. All on purpose.
Takeaway...use music in your hallways and environments pre and post service to help create the experience you want kids and families to have.
-When I was leaving, I noticed the exit gate had a big sign that says, "Have a magical day!" One last touch to make people's day.
Takeaway...what sign or words can you put at your exit doors to encourage kids and families as they are leaving your children's ministry each week?
That's it for today. More tomorrow from Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Audios!
Here are some takeaways I jotted down.
-Creativity. As I saw lots of cool things, this thought kept popping into my mind. "A team of people sat around a table and brainstormed. Someone threw out a crazy idea, they ran with it, and made it reality." An example...someone said, "What if we made a big plant that could walk around and interact with people." It may have been a crazy idea at first...but look what became of it.
This is a plant, tree thing that walks around and interacts with people. It was taking a rest for a moment when I took this pic, but it was a crowd stopper when it moved.
Takeaway...you can make incredible things happen when you get your team together and dream...create...and make it become reality.
-I stopped to ask a cast member a simple question and she gave me way, way too much information. She kept going on and on and on...stuff that wasn't even related to the question I had asked her. We finally had to politely back away and get away before she drove us crazy!
Takeaway...don't overload people with too much information...especially first-time guests. They are just trying to get their kids to the right room, find out where the auditorium is, etc. Keep your directions and info. simple and precise. Don't bury them in too many details!
-Disney has people and characters that are available to greet you and take pictures with you. Below is a picture we took with a cast member today.
Takeaway...be available and approachable on weekends for kids and families. Don't be so busy running around that you don't have time to hang out and greet kids and families. If you're too busy to do that, then enlist enough volunteers so that you're not doing everything and you have time to just be there for people.
After lunch we headed over to the flagship...The Magic Kingdom. Here's some takeaways I picked up.
-Many of the timeless, classic experiences have been updated to stay relevant. An example...one of my favorite rides...Pirates. Notice in the picture below who has been added to the ride...Captain Jack Sparrow.
Takeaway...know the culture and stay relevant. Is there anything you need to update or change?
-Disney now has a website where they post pictures their photographers take of you while you are at the park. You can go to http://www.disneyphotopass.com/ and view the pictures, share them, and purchase them if you'd like.
Takeaway...take pictures of the children and families in your ministry (with written permission) and make them available online for them.
-Attention to detail. Anywhere you go in the Magic Kingdom, you will see attention to detail. As I rode through the Haunted Mansion, I noticed the cobwebs hanging from the chandeliers. Details. Takeaway...it's the attention to the small details that turns good into great.
-Music. Disney strategically uses music throughout the park to set the mood for each environment and time of day. Ever notice when you enter in the morning hours that the music is peppy...when you leave at night the music is soothing and relaxing...when you enter themed areas the music reflects that environment. All on purpose.
Takeaway...use music in your hallways and environments pre and post service to help create the experience you want kids and families to have.
-When I was leaving, I noticed the exit gate had a big sign that says, "Have a magical day!" One last touch to make people's day.
Takeaway...what sign or words can you put at your exit doors to encourage kids and families as they are leaving your children's ministry each week?
That's it for today. More tomorrow from Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Audios!
Day One of Vacation/Work at Disney
I arrived in Orlando late Sunday afternoon. We went to Downtown Disney Sunday evening. Here are a few things I jotted down as takeaways.
-We ate here Sunday night.
Lots of people watching the Super Bowl. The Steeler's fans were really cheering it up.
Takeaway...create a place where people will want to share special times together.
-There is an awesome new restaurant called T-Rex. Here are a couple of pictures.
Notice the sign.
Takeaway...is your children's ministry a place where families can have an adventure together...where they can explore together...where they can make discoveries together?
-Funny thing...one of the "L's" was out on the big rotating Planet Hollywood sign. It turned the sign into "Planet Holywood." What a cool name for a children's ministry environment. Takeaway...I was surprised they would let that get by...a major sign...surprised it wasn't fixed. Even the best sometimes miss big details or delay taking care of them.
-My wife loves to collect Disney figurines. We were making a purchase in the Disney store. The cast member who was the cashier was very friendly. He even took time to ask my name and find out about me.
Takeaway...Never lose the personal touch in your children's ministry. Call kids by name...call families by name...if you can't remember them all, then make sure you are using name tags so you can call them by name. Never let your ministry get so "big" that you lose the personal touch. I love this logo.."Large enough to serve you...small enough to know you."
-Mickey...he's everywhere.What a great job they do at branding. He's on everything here...hats, coats, glasses, flooring, t-shirts, toys, and on and on and on. You can take a shirt that would normally cost $15, put Mickey on it, and suddenly it's worth $30. One of our staff members works at Disney part-time. He said admissions is not where they make their money...it's in the merchandise and food they sell inside. Part of that is again because of great branding.
Take away...use your children's ministry logo to the max...put it on everything. Kids and families should instantly recognize it...and by the way...when they see it...they should know it stands for excellence in ministry.
That's it for day one. I'll post about Day 2 soon.
-We ate here Sunday night.
Lots of people watching the Super Bowl. The Steeler's fans were really cheering it up.
Takeaway...create a place where people will want to share special times together.
-There is an awesome new restaurant called T-Rex. Here are a couple of pictures.
Notice the sign.
Takeaway...is your children's ministry a place where families can have an adventure together...where they can explore together...where they can make discoveries together?
-Funny thing...one of the "L's" was out on the big rotating Planet Hollywood sign. It turned the sign into "Planet Holywood." What a cool name for a children's ministry environment. Takeaway...I was surprised they would let that get by...a major sign...surprised it wasn't fixed. Even the best sometimes miss big details or delay taking care of them.
-My wife loves to collect Disney figurines. We were making a purchase in the Disney store. The cast member who was the cashier was very friendly. He even took time to ask my name and find out about me.
Takeaway...Never lose the personal touch in your children's ministry. Call kids by name...call families by name...if you can't remember them all, then make sure you are using name tags so you can call them by name. Never let your ministry get so "big" that you lose the personal touch. I love this logo.."Large enough to serve you...small enough to know you."
-Mickey...he's everywhere.What a great job they do at branding. He's on everything here...hats, coats, glasses, flooring, t-shirts, toys, and on and on and on. You can take a shirt that would normally cost $15, put Mickey on it, and suddenly it's worth $30. One of our staff members works at Disney part-time. He said admissions is not where they make their money...it's in the merchandise and food they sell inside. Part of that is again because of great branding.
Take away...use your children's ministry logo to the max...put it on everything. Kids and families should instantly recognize it...and by the way...when they see it...they should know it stands for excellence in ministry.
That's it for day one. I'll post about Day 2 soon.
Time for a Working Vacation!
This afternoon after services I'm driving over to Disneyworld for 4 days. I'll be on vacation,but I'll also be working. I'll have the notepad and be writing down ideas from the masters of creating experiences for kids and families. I'll post what I learn each day this week.
