PHOTOS COURTESY OF PIXIE DUST AND POSIES
BY TIMOTHY MOORE
As a kid , popping in a VHS of Peter Pan or gazing into the future with an episode of That ’ s So Raven was an escape from the monotony of education . But for Rachel Turney , mother and homeschool teacher , Disney has become an inspiration for the most creative yet educational lesson plans .
For a decade now , Turney has been using Disney movies and parks to design unique lesson plans for her daughter and two sons . While other kids were memorizing the dates of the French Revolution or making up geography flashcards , Turney ’ s kids were learning about geography , culture , and traditions of other countries through her Around the World with Disney Movies series .
Beyond the films , Turney has turned her family ’ s vacations to Walt Disney World into the world ’ s most awesome field trips . “ Whether delving into American history in Liberty Square , traveling the world through EPCOT ’ s World Showcase , observing incredible wildlife from around the globe in Animal Kingdom , or exploring the far reaches of the universe through interactive exhibits in EPCOT ’ s [ World Discovery ], the Disney Parks are rich in learning opportunities ,” Turney told me .
But then , in early 2020 , the global pandemic introduced a new set of challenges for Turney and her lesson plans , which were
built around not only trips to the parks but also cooking and hosting celebrations for friends and family .
“ When the pandemic hit , our new mantra became , ‘ Make our own party ,’” Turney said . She and her family began to explore the world through themed Disney movie and dinner nights just for them . These eventually expanded into the intricate menus and beautiful Disney tablescapes you see on these pages .
DESIGNING A DISNEY DINNER Turney ’ s lesson plan is simple : Use a film ’ s unique location to inspire a menu and decorations for a night dedicated to learning about a specific place in the world . Turney also uses the film to springboard ideas for geography studies with her kids .
While the first film that the Turney family tackled was The Little Mermaid , Pixar films in particular have inspired some of their most memorable creations .
“ The Pixar films engage our kids ’ imaginations in a unique way ,” Turney explained . “ Not only are they vibrant and engaging , but they offer important lessons and meaningful themes . They are steeped in rich cultural traditions and moral lessons . For example , when we did our Coco dinner , our children learned about Mexican heritage and Día de Muertos . Our UP dinner brought about wonderful conversations about adventure , following your dreams , and living each day to the fullest .”
When I spoke to Turney near the end of 2021 , she and her family had tackled five Pixar films : Coco , UP , Luca , Ratatouille , and Monsters , Inc . But she and her kids were already excited about their upcoming plans for Toy Story , and the boys were plotting out ideas for Cars and The Incredibles this year .
CURATING A MENU You don ’ t have to be Remy to put together a themed Pixar dinner . Even if you ’ re new to cooking , Turney believes , well , anyone can cook .