I’ve been to Disneyland more times than I can count, and I still find myself learning something new and experiencing something new every time I walk through the gates.
That’s one of the reasons why I love it so much.
Yes, I love the rides. I have very strong opinions about the food and actually plan out my Disney meals in advance. I can spend an embarrassing amount of time looking at the details most people walk right past. And there is a certain kind of nostalgia that hits the minute you’re there. For a little girl who grew up in California and went on to travel the world, Disneyland still feels like coming home.
But as a mom, what really keeps pulling me back is the feeling that there is always something new to discover- and a new way to experience it with Livia. Since we worldschool our daughter, we naturally look at the world through a learning lens, and I love sharing simple, fun ways for other parents, families and teachers to do the same.
We created the HEART Method™ because I’ve always believed that some of the best learning happens when you aren’t trying to teach a lesson at all. You’re simply curious about something- and you want to know more.
That’s exactly what I wanted to share with Jeremy Hubbard of FOX in Denver for a special story about our HEART Method™ and learning at Disneyland.
HEART stands for History & Humanities, Engineering & Exploration, Arts & Culture, Reading & Research, and Technology & Science.
Five different ways of looking at the world, and Disneyland happens to be a pretty spectacular place to try all five.
Take a roller coaster. Most kids are thinking about whether they’re brave enough to get on it. We can also ask: Why does the car move the way it does? What creates the speed? How does gravity work here? Why are some hills shaped the way they are?
Or look around Main Street, U.S.A. The architecture, storefronts, signage and details aren’t there by accident. They tell stories about a particular vision of America and a particular moment in time.
A walk through a new land can spark conversations about the environment, plants, geography, and architecture. A parade can open the door to music, choreography, costume design, and storytelling. A meal can become a delicious way to explore ingredients, regions, and culinary traditions.
And sometimes, the best question is simply: How did they do that?
That’s the magic for me. We don’t have to manufacture the learning. It’s already there.
Livi is a pretty great example of what happens when you let curiosity take over. She is still talking about the physics of roller coasters and sharing what she learned with her friends.
That’s when I know we’re onto something.
Because the HEART Method™ isn’t about making a vacation feel like school. It’s about making room for curiosity. It’s about looking at something you already love and asking one more question.
And it connects directly to what I call Memory-First Travel™– the idea that travel is about more than checking places off an itinerary. It’s about creating the experiences and conversations that become the stories your family tells long after you’ve come home.
Some of those memories are planned. Others happen because someone asks a question.
That’s what I love about Disneyland through the HEART lens. You can have an incredible day, ride the attractions, eat the food, take the photos- and still come home having discovered something you didn’t know that morning.
We’ve created free HEART Method™ guides for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure to help families do exactly that. Each downloadable guide below offers ideas for exploring the parks through all five HEART lenses, with questions and discoveries you can weave naturally into your day.
No worksheets. No homework. No turning vacation into school.
Just LOOK → ASK → PREDICT → INVESTIGATE.
Because sometimes all it takes to turn an ordinary family outing into a learning adventure is to pause and ask, “Wait… how does that work?”
At Disneyland, the possibilities are everywhere. You just have to slow down, look a little closer, and be curious enough to find them.
Downloadable Guides:
Disneyland: A Parent’s Guide to Making Disneyland an Educational Adventure