Article by Phoenix writer Cristina Palmieri ’25:
The Class of 2025 embarked on the highly anticipated Disney Trip on the first weekend of May. The trip featured six different theme parks, two private events, and endless amounts of fun.
The class was divided into four flights, the earliest of which leaving as early as 2:30 AM from the FCAA. Straight from the airport, students entered Hollywood Studios. The park featured Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and the famous Tower of Terror ride. After a few hours at Hollywood Studios, students were brought to the hotel to find their luggage and freshen up for the first private event of the trip.
The Typhoon Lagoon park was gracious enough to accommodate over 400 students for dinner and three available water rides. After about three hours of water slides and laughter, students returned to the hotel to get ready for another day of fun.
The next day began at EPCOT, where the culture of 11 countries are represented in the World Showcase. Students traveled “around the world”, soaking in all the different cultures on display. Some favorites among the Seniors included Remu’s Ratatouille Adventure and the gift shop at the Japan showcase. Aside from the World Showcase, EPCOT also featured the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind rollercoaster proved to be a hit with the Class of 2025.
Seniors then park hopped to Magic Kingdom, where the more traditional Disney experiences were featured. Students were able to eat at their choice of restaurant and ride any roller coaster until closing time. Students also gathered around the Magic Castle to watch the famous firework display at the very end of the night. Some favorites here included the recently renovated Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Tron. After a long day at the parks, students returned to the hotel.
For the final full day of the trip, Seniors began and Universal and Islands of Adventure. Here, the famous Harry Potter Worlds and Jurassic Park can be found. Whether students were shopping through Diagon Alley or exploring the Simpsons themed ride, every student left the park smiling. In the late afternoon, all of the Seniors were rounded up to get ready for the final event of the trip.
In true Kellenberg fashion, Fr. Daniel Griffin, S.M., celebrated Mass for the students and chaperones. Aside from the Baccalaureate Mass before graduation, this would be the Class of 2025’s final Kellenberg Mass. This inspired a nostalgic and inspiring homily from Fr. Dan, reminding the class of how far they’ve come in the last four years.
Senior Trip Coordinator Mrs. Meisse and Ms. Vigario closed out the Mass by thanking the chaperones, the agency that helped organize the trip, and the Senior class for an amazing trip. Their speeches were met with heavy applause from the Senior class, beginning the fun that would ensue for the rest of the night.
The second and last private event was at Animal Kingdom, where students were given dinner and access to the Na’vi River Ride, Avatar Flight of Passage, and Expedition Everest. Mickey and Minnie Mouse made an appearance for pictures during dinner as well. This was truly a great last night of childlike fun for the seniors.
An amazing weekend with friends and teachers came to an end on Sunday, May 4 when students arrived back in New York. Clearly, the trip was a success.
“It was a magical way to end senior year with fun and faith. It’s an experience I will never forget,” shared Senior Victoria Confusione.
The weekend was a fantastic celebration of all that the Seniors have accomplished, and all that they have to look forward to in the coming weeks.
If you’d like to see more Disney ’25 photos, click here!
