The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

ACTIVITY: “Theme Park at Dark”

In this activity, students will act as marketing coordinators for a theme park by coming up with a strategic plan for hosting night events while considering the theme of A Change of Perspective.

Many theme parks host events “after dark,” trying to draw adults and sometimes their families to attractions that take place in the evening by hosting tours, putting on fireworks displays, and/or incorporating live music. You and your team will plan one such “after dark” event for a theme park of your choosing.

In groups of three, select a park. It could be a Disney park, a theme park of your choosing, or even a national park. Think of an event that you could host at that park that would draw in new guests and fulfill that park’s mission (whether it is a business or educational one). Be sure to take the following into consideration:

• Audience: Who are you trying to draw into your event?
• Outcome: What do you hope people take away from your event?
• Risks: Do you need to only open part of the park? How will you ensure that people will not get lost in the dark?

After the period of time allotted by your teacher, come back to the class as a whole. Each group should then take turns presenting their events.

Then, as a class, discuss the following questions:

1. Why are people interested in what happens in theme parks after dark?

2. How does The Kingdom Keepers build on these interests?

3. How might the dark offer a different side of a park? How does this connect back to the theme of A Change of Perspective?

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Throughout the novel, Finn feels chills.

• What do these chills symbolize? (topic sentence)
• Provide three examples of when Finn feels these chills. Describe how they add to the plot or build tension within the novel.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, consider what effect Finn’s chills have on him and how he overcomes them.

2. The DHI kids’ holographic forms give them the power to fight evil.

• What is the relationship between technology and magic in this novel? (topic sentence)
• Think about how the DHI kids use their forms while also relying on the servers. Use three examples from the text to support your argument.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your essay back to the theme of The Magic of Belief. What message does the relationship between technology and magic convey in this story?

3. The first step in defeating the Overtakers is solving the puzzle of the Stonecutter’s Quill.

• What does solving this puzzle teach the DHIs? (topic sentence)
• Provide three examples of how the DHI kids become stronger as a result of solving Walt Disney’s mystery.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your essay back to the theme of The Importance of Teamwork by exploring its significance within the story.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. The DHI kids come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. What happens when one of them tries to act alone? Why is it essential that they work together? How do their individual backgrounds help them to succeed? Write an essay in which you discuss The Importance of Teamwork, tracing the character development of the DHI team members. Be sure to incorporate specific, quoted examples from the text to support your points.

2. The DHI kids work as a team throughout the novel but struggle at different points with the Stonecutter mystery. How does looking from different points of view help them to solve it? Why is it essential for the DHI kids to change their perspective? Write an essay in which you analyze the theme of A Change of Perspective. In your conclusion consider how the novel offers an alternative look into the typical Disney experience for its readers.

3. In some ways, this novel is a story of Disney magic. How is this apparent in the DHI kids’ journey? What role does the myth and history of the Disney parks play? As you compose your essay, incorporate the theme of The Magic of Belief and discuss how the DHI kids come to believe in their powers in order to defeat the Overtakers. Use three quoted phrases from the novel to support your thesis.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which one of the following facts places the novel in the fantasy genre?

A) The fact that it is about children

B) The fact that visitors’ belief in the Disney characters is what brought them to life

C) The fact that the DHIs are holograms

D) The fact that they use an app to meet up in real life

2. Which of the following words best describes Charlene and Maybeck’s willingness to be involved in fighting the Overtakers?

A) Excited

B) Carefree

C) Hesitant

D) Confused

3. Which of the following moments best shows how fearful Disney workers are of the Overtakers?

A) When Finn mentions that he knows about the Overtakers and Brad looks scared

B) When security chases Finn and Amanda through the park

C) When Walt Disney creates the parks and the characters come to life

D) When Amanda tells Finn that it might be dangerous to keep going to the parks at night

4. What lesson are people supposed to take away from the fable of the Stonecutter?

A) That people need to mind their own business

B) That people should look within for their ability to succeed

C) That people would be more powerful if they were stonecutters

D) That people need to help one another

5. How does the scene at Small World echo classic horror movies?

A) The light goes out.

B) The kidnapping occurs there.

C) The kids hear eerie music.

D) The dolls come to life.

6. What is the real reason that Jez comes to Finn’s house?

A) She wants to keep him from sleeping.

B) She wants to see if he has feelings for her too.

C) She wants to tell him that Amanda is evil.

D)  he wants to hang out with his parents.

7. Which event makes the danger of the Overtakers real to the DHIs?

A) Their skirmish with the Pirates of the Caribbean

B) Their first conversation with Wayne

C) Maleficent nearly finding them in the tent

D) Maybeck’s kidnapping

8. Which of the following is the most accurate list of elements from the Stonecutter’s Quill?

A) Sun, wind, cloud, stone

B) Fire, water, cloud, earth

C) Sun, wind, stone, earth

D) Fire, wind, air, stone

9. In what ways are the DHIs vulnerable that the Overtakers try to capitalize on?

A) They are children who have homework.

B) They are easily divided.

C) They are connected to the computer server system.

D) They are not interested in saving the world.

10.  Why wouldn’t Maybeck have been able to escape, even if he believed he could walk through walls as a hologram?

A) Only Finn has the power to pass through solid objects.

B) There was another trap set for him.

C) He wouldn’t have been able to find his way out of Space Mountain.

D) The rope that was used to tie his hands was not regular rope.

11.  What evidence does Finn’s mom have that shows he has been sneaking out?

A) His clothes are dirty every morning, and he is failing his classes at school.

B) His teachers are concerned, and it looks like he has a cigarette burn on his arm.

C) His clothes are dirty every morning, and it looks like he has a cigarette burn on his arm.

D) He goes to bed early every night, and his clothes are dirty the next morning.

12. Why is Jez’s choice of a Cruella de Vil costume an example of foreshadowing?

A) It is white and black, symbolizing a battle between good and evil.

B) It is a villain costume, while everyone else is either wearing a hero or silly costume.

C) It is specific to a villain who hunts down innocent bystanders.

D) It is easy for her to hide the fact that Maleficent is her mother.

13. What is the symbolism of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks display at the end of the novel?

A) It represents Finn and Amanda getting together.

B) It represents the Overtakers’ victory.

C) It represents the fact that the Overtakers’ leader is still a mystery.

D) It represents good overcoming evil.

14.  Which of the following best describes the role that Wayne plays in the novel?

A) Wisdom figure

B) Hero

C) Antagonist

D) Traitor

15. What tension is left unresolved by the end of the novel?

A) Jez’s allegiance

B) The identity of the Overtakers’ leader

C) The technology behind the DHIs

D) Wayne’s omissions

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How does the novel build tension around who is good and who is evil?

2. In what ways does this novel offer insight into the Disney theme parks? What effect might this have?