old bridge high school disney trip

Disney Planning Team

Please note, if you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the Senior Class Advisors Mrs.Mackey in the Main Gym and Ms. Czysz in room M142 BEFORE CONTACTING ADMINISTRATION.  

Old Bridge High School Principal

[email protected]

Old Bridge High School Class of 2023 Vice Principal

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Mrs. Mackey

Old Bridge High School Teacher and Class of 2023 Advisor

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Knight Life

Official Online Newspaper of Old Bridge High School

Freshamn Focus : What is the best advice you have ever gotten?

Winterguard gets an “A”

Lyla Gonzalez steps to the front with her flag during a rehearsal of the team’s performance of “Awake.”

Click here for the full story.

Disciplined in victory

Shayaan Qaiser and Kevin Rodriguez stand in the front row of their unarmed regulation group.

March of the egg babies

Jenna Zammar and Blaire Reklaitis listen to their teacher, Katie Farrino, as their egg babies sit in shelters on their desks.

What celebrity do you think is overrated?

A cultural celebration

Snigdha Kandula, Siya Goyal, and Chloe Padilla showcase a Bollywood dance performance.

Bowling teams strike success

Senior captain Savannah Gomez, who achieved a high score of 244 this season, follows through after sending her ball down the lane.

Disney dazzles seniors  

Angeleah Bloodworth and Kailey Siegel show off their Disney spirit by wearing Minnie Mouse ears.

Investing in learning

Hamza Ali displays his prizes as personal finance teacher Glenn Gamble and Vice Principal Sally Fazio point at the banner marking his winning of The Stock Market Game.

What are you looking forward to this spring?

Sweets, treats, and games at the Soirée

Brianna Kholhepp and Sophia Masciotta laugh while they try work together to win the three-legged race.

Flying off to France

Sam Goldburg, Amisha DeSilva, Julia Morgan, and Darriyah Jackson happily smile for the camera, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

What is your favorite school break?

Spring Sports Preview: Baseball

All-Conference senior pitcher Frank Papeo, who had an ERA of just 1.64, locks eyes on his target and prepares to deliver the pitch.

Spring Sports Preview: Boys Lacrosse

Senior midfielder Luke Kennedy, who finished second on the team with 21 assists last year, presses the opposing attacker.

Spring Sports Preview: Track

Sophomore Katelyn Forrester runs down the straightaway and tries to pass the runner in front of her.

Spring Sports Preview: Softball  

Junior Amanda Jupinka, who had 22 RBIs and a .356 batting average, prepares for the pitch in the batter’s box.

Spring Sports Preview: Boys Volleyball

Senior Nicholas Do, who led the team last year with 406 assist and led the team with 175 service points, surveys the court to find a weak spot before delivering his serve.

Spring Sports Preview: Golf

Junior Maya Yong Yow, who shot a 36 against New Brunswick last season, follows through after a big tee shot with her driver.

Spring Sports Preview: Girls Lacrosse

Senior captain Jessica Chin, who has 42 career goals, fights for possession in the face-off.

Spring Sports Preview: Boys Tennis

Junior Mahin Patel, last season’s second singles player, tosses the ball in the air to start his serve.

Freshman Focus : What is your favorite class?

Unified in victory

Sydney Bernabela pulls up to take a shot in one of the team’s wins on their way to a 15-4-1 record.

The Music Man comes to OB

Alexandra Nardone and Antonio Morales hold up Camryn Burniston as Julianna LaBarbera, Jamie Rowan, and the other dancers pose behind them.

Underclassmen step up and rebuild

Junior Adriana Misciagna, who led the team in scoring and rebounds, prepares to pass the ball to a teammate.

Skating to victory

Sophmore Nicholas Gallo, whom Nj.com selected as GMC All-Conference Honorable Mention, races after the puck.

Three senior Knights qualify for States

Logan Roman, who has over 100 career wins and did not lose once all season, celebrates one of his twenty victories this season.

Staying on track  

Senior Peter Afoakwah, a member of the 4×400 relay team that won the Conference Championship and finished second at Sectionals, sprints down the track.

Freshman athletes excel on varsity

Marilyn Togun, who scored 91 points and brought in 103 rebounds this season, defends her opponent.

Boys basketball battles to the finish

Junior center Noah Balbuena, who ended the year with 176 points, fronts his opponent in the high post to eliminate a passing lane and deny him the ball.

An alarmingly fun Lunar New Year

Gia Santapolo and Daniella Young control the head of the dragon during the student-led dragon dance.

Esports team wins Overwatch 2 Tournament  

Junior Zach Lance works the keyboard during the Overwatch 2 competition.

Freshman Focus : If you could be any animal, what would you choose?

A fun Knight Out

Junior Noah Balbuena shifts his weight to balance on the mechanical bull in the main gym.

State Champion Cheer team succeeds at Nationals

Ireland Pouliot raises her sword up high in front of the judges during an early-season competition.

Dominant freshman basketball team reaches GMC Finals

Cameron Olivencia, who led the team in scoring with 19 points per game, drives to the basket for up a layup on a fast break.

Freshman Focus : If you could be any Disney character, who would you pick?

BSU honors Black History Month  

Joana Junaid smiles at the crowd while performing with the Step Team, which provided entertainment at the Soul Food event.

Student Survey : Besides social media, what do you use your phone for?

Grammys 2024 recap

Olivia Rodrigo, who performed at the Grammys and recieved multiple nominations, walks the carpet at the 2021 Oscars.

Back in the swim of things

Kerri Domenia swims in the 100 meter breaststroke race against South Brunswick, earning a thrid place finish.

Freshman Focus : Who is your celebrity crush?

Students share skills at Talent Show

Camryn Smith strums her ukulele as she sings “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan.

Student Survey : What game show do you think you could win?

GMC Champion wrestling team earns #7 State rank

Senior Jenna Magrino, who has accrued a 21-3 record, grabs both of her opponents’ legs in a double to take her down.

Freshman Focus : What movie or TV character would you like to be?

Boys wrestling places 3 rd in Red Division, 5 th in GMCs  

Junior Gage Gojani, who has a record of 14-12 this season, looks to grapple with his opponent.

Student Survey : Do you think Valentine’s Day is overrated?

Swifties vs the NFL

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate his AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens together.

Freshman Focus : What do you like most about yourself?

Girls Bowling wins Red Division, reaches GMC Finals  

Senior Savannah Gomez, who led the team in total points four years in a row, watches the ball roll down the lane.

Student Survey : What song best describes your year so far?

Exploring makeup mastery

Jordyn Oliver embraces a beautiful natural makeup look.

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How To Plan a School Trip to Disney World

Disney World is the perfect destination for school trips. Yes, everyone loves the rides, restaurants, and resorts, but school groups can also participate in Disney-sponsored arts and science workshops held right in the park.  So whether it’s an educational field trip, a high school band trip, or just a fun senior class trip, Disney World is the perfect destination for any youth organization. Let’s take a closer at how to book a school trip to Disney World and how your organization can take advantage of Disney group discounts.

Are you organizing a school trip to Disney World? If so, consider reaching out to the Disney Travel Agents at The Vacationeer for assistance. Their services are completely free and can prove to be invaluable as you navigate the challenges of planning a youth group travel to Disney World. They can even assist with processing individual payments to take the stress off of the organizers. Contact them now for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Eligibility for School Group Discounts

Disney’s Student Group Tickets offer a special opportunity to explore Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at discounted prices exclusive to youth organizations. These discounts are available throughout the year.

To be eligible for these discounts, school groups must have a minimum of 10 guests aged between 3-22 years and should be affiliated with an accredited educational institution, religious organization, or another type of organized youth group . The number of Group Leaders and extra Guests should not exceed the total number of youth guests in the group.

Eligible youth groups for these discounts include, but are not limited to:

• Public or private school classes on field trips or celebrating graduations.
• Organized teams, musical bands, or clubs participating in celebrations, workshops, conferences, or performances.
• Trips organized by faith-based youth groups.
• Special outings organized by social organizations.
• Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other scouting trips.
• Groups from elementary, middle–junior high, high school, and college levels.

Qualified school groups can also access special discounted rates at Walt Disney World Resort by participating in the Disney Imagination Campus program, formerly known as Disney Youth Programs. This program is designed to provide unique educational experiences in a fun, interactive environment.

Disney Imagination Campus provides a variety of educational and performance opportunities, enhancing the traditional theme park experience with a focus on learning and creativity.

2024 Disney Youth Tickets – Costs

The Disney Imagination Campus ticket packages for 2024 cater to schools across the United States, offering diverse experiences based on location.

• For non-Florida-based schools , packages include Performing Arts Packages, Educational Workshop Packages, Festival Disney Packages, and Student Tickets, designed for performance, enrichment, or comprehensive park experiences.
• Florida-based schools have similar options, including Performing Arts Packages, Educational Workshop Packages, and Student Tickets, tailored to local groups’ needs and proximity to Disney parks.

Both categories provide access to immersive theme parks, self-guided learning activities on mobile devices, and various workshops and performance opportunities throughout the year. This enables groups to customize their experiences the way they choose. 

Performance & Festival Pricing | National

• Starter Package : Ideal for groups visiting one park per day. Available for 2 to 6 days, starting at $204 without tax for two days, and increasing up to $446 for six days in peak season.
• Park Hopper Option Package : Suitable for groups wanting to visit multiple parks on the same day. Ranges from 3 to 6 days, with prices from $326 to $507 in peak season.
• Premium Package : Best for groups seeking a comprehensive experience, including park hopping and additional activities. Starts at $336 for three days, going up to $518 for six days during peak season.

Academic Workshop Pricing | National

• Starter Package : Designed for groups focused on single-park academic experiences per day. Offered from 2 to 6 days, with prices ranging from $220 to $462 in peak season.
• Park Hopper Option Package : Tailored for groups combining workshops with the flexibility to explore multiple parks. Available for 3 to 6 days, prices range from $342 to $523 in peak season.
• Premium Package : For a holistic educational trip with workshops, park hopping, and extra activities. Prices for 3 to 6 days start at $352, reaching up to $534 in peak season.

Student Tickets Pricing | National

• Starter Student Tickets : Suitable for straightforward visits to one park per day. Available from 2 to 6 days, with prices from $210 to $468 in peak season.
• Park Hopper Option Student Tickets : Offers the opportunity to visit multiple parks each day. Ranges from 2 to 6 days, with prices from $265 to $529 in peak season.
• Premium Student Ticket : The most complete package, including park hopping and extra activities. Available from 2 to 6 days, with prices starting at $275 and up to $540 in peak season.

Performance Package Pricing | Florida

• Starter Package : Ideal for Florida school groups for a single-day visit to one park. Available from 1 to 6 days, with prices starting at $116 and going up to $446 in peak season.
• Park Hopper Option Package : Enables Florida groups to visit multiple parks each day. Offered for 3 to 6 days, with prices from $326 to $507 during peak season.
• Premium Package : The ultimate option for Florida groups, including park hopping and extra activities. Ranges from 3 to 6 days, with prices starting at $336 and up to $518 in peak season.

Academic Workshop Pricing | Florida

• Starter Package : For Florida groups engaging in single-park academic sessions. Available from 1 to 6 days, with prices beginning at $132 and increasing for longer stays.
• Park Hopper Option Package : Combines educational workshops with the chance to explore multiple parks. Available for 3 to 6 days, starting at $342 and increasing for peak season dates.
• Premium Package : Offers an extensive academic and entertainment experience. Prices for 3 to 6 days start at $352, rising with additional days and during peak season.

Student Tickets Pricing | Florida

• Starter Student Tickets : Tailored for Florida student groups visiting one park per day. Available for 1 to 6 days, starting at $94 without tax for a 1-Day EPCOT or Disney’s Animal Kingdom ticket, with prices increasing for longer stays.
• Park Hopper Option Student Tickets : Allows Florida students to explore multiple parks each day. Offered from 2 to 6 days, with pricing beginning at $265 without tax for a 2-day ticket, increasing for peak season.
• Premium Student Ticket : The most comprehensive option, including park hopping and additional experiences. Available from 2 to 6 days, starting at $275 without tax for a 2-day ticket, with incremental increases for peak season and longer stays.

Each package type includes varying options and additional details, such as seasonal pricing variations. For the most accurate and comprehensive pricing, it’s recommended to visit the official Disney Imagination Campus website or consult directly with The Vacationeer . They can provide detailed information and assist in selecting the best package for your group’s educational goals and budget.

Disney Imagination Campus for School Groups

Disney Imagination Campus offers a plethora of educational and performance opportunities, enhancing the traditional theme park experience with a focus on learning and creativity. Here are the programs available to students in 2024:

Science & Technology

• Technology of Disney Parks : Explore the cutting-edge technologies that make the magic happen.
• Physics of Disney Parks : A practical look at how physics principles are applied in the park.

Performing Arts

• Disney Broadway Magic : Learn the art of stage performance from Disney’s Broadway productions.
• Dance Disney : Experience dance workshops led by professional choreographers.
• Marching Band Performances : Showcase your school’s marching band in a Disney parade.
• Soundtrack Sessions: Instrumental & Vocal : Learn the intricacies of performing and recording music.

Arts & Humanities

• Immersive Storytelling : Dive into the art of creating compelling narratives.
• Theme Park Design : Understand the creative and technical aspects of designing a theme park.

Leadership & Innovation

• Leadership the Disney Way : Gain insights into Disney’s approach to leadership.
• Teamwork the Disney Way : Explore the power of teamwork in a Disney context.
• Disney Leadership Assembly : A seminar on leadership strategies and practices.

Theme Park Experience

• Student Tickets : Special rates for educational groups to explore the parks and participate in learning activities.

For more information on courses offered by Disney Imagination Campus or to book your school group for a Disney World workshop, please contact The Vacationeer . They can be your Disney liaison and coordinate every aspect of your visit!

How to Book a School Trip to Disney World

Here’s what you need to do as you book a trip for your senior class trip , band trip, or other school group or organization.

Pick the Dates

Determine the best time to go to Disney World for your youth group. This decision will be based on certain factors like crowds, seasonal weather , availability of  Disney Youth Programs classes, academic schedules, etc. Consult our Disney Crowd Calendar to get an idea of the crowd sizes.

Choose a Disney Resort Hotel

There’s an in-park resort to fit any budget.

Disney Value Resorts are the least expensive tier of in-park hotels. They offer basic accommodations, no-frills (but very adequate) dining options,  and bus transportation to the theme parks. Disney Deluxe resorts are the most expensive resort tier and offer the biggest rooms, nicest amenities, and the best transportation options to the parks.  Disney Moderate resorts offer a nice middle-ground in terms of price,  amenities, and transportation to the parks.

All Guests staying at Disney Resorts will receive an advance booking window for dining reservations, Disney Genie+ ride selections, and more perks than Guests staying at non-Disney hotels. See our Comparison of Disney World Hotels page for more on the resorts.

Decide on a Dining Plan

Disney’s Dining Plan simplifies the way you eat at Disney World. There are several different tiers of the Disney Dining Plan to accommodate a wide range of eating habits and budgets. Learn more on our Disney Dining Plan Calculator page.

Another option is to just pay out-of-pocket. Paying as you go may save you money (especially if you’re a light eater), but, if you plan on eating at table service restaurants and/or have a big appetite, then the Disney Dining Plan may be the way to go.

See our Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants , Best Epcot Restaurants , Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants , and Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants pages for more dining information.

Book the Dining Reservations 

Booking your dining reservations in a timely manner is crucial to the success of any school trip to Disney World. You really have to make your reservations early or else you may get shut out of some of the best dining experiences at Disney.

See our Disney Reservation Calculator and determine when you should book your reservations.

Coordinate Payments

It can be a pretty complicated process to coordinate a payment plan for every single person in a group of 10+. Why not let the Disney travel specialists at The Vacationeer help you with this process? They can book every aspect of your Disney school group trip, including purchasing the park tickets, hotel stays, dining plans, and booking your dining reservations (not an easy task!). Plus, your dedicated Disney travel planner can process separate payment plans for each student.

All of this and their services are 100% free of charge . It’s really the way to go!

Fill out the free quote form for school groups below, and someone will get right back to you with the details.

Create the Itinerary

It is a good idea to create an itinerary before your school group arrives at Disney World. But where do you start? After all, Disney World is home to 4 theme parks, two water parks, and dozens of resorts and restaurants. It’s a huge place!

I’d start your research with our Best Magic Kingdom Rides , Best Epcot Rides , Best Animal Kingdom Rides , and Best Hollywood Studios Rides pages. We also have Best Disney Character Dining , Best Shows at Disney World , How to Plan a Disney Vacation , Disney World Map , Taking School-Aged Kids to Disney World , and Homeschooling at Disney World  pages.

If this information overload is stressing you out, then I’d recommend reaching out to The Vacationeer for assistance. They can help you make sense of this massive resort and plan a magical school outing.

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful trip!

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• MATAWAN, NJ

Old Bridge High School

• grade  A Overall Grade
• Rating 4.01 out of 5   640 reviews

Report Card

• Academics grade  B+
• Diversity grade  A
• Teachers grade  A
• College Prep grade  B+
• Clubs & Activities grade  A
• Administration grade  A
• Sports grade  A
• Food grade  B
• Resources & Facilities grade  B minus
• High School
• Old Bridge Township

Old Bridge High School Rankings

Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.

• Best High Schools for Athletes in New Jersey 63 of 521
• Best Public High School Teachers in New Jersey 85 of 415
• Best Public High Schools in New Jersey 107 of 422

Popular Colleges

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges.

• grade  A Rutgers University–New Brunswick 784 Students
• grade  B Montclair State University 370 Students
• grade  A minus The College of New Jersey 345 Students
• grade  B Monmouth University 308 Students
• grade  B Kean University 301 Students
• grade  B Rowan University 267 Students
• grade  B+ Seton Hall University 260 Students
• grade  A+ New York University 256 Students
• grade  B+ New Jersey Institute of Technology 248 Students
• grade  A Penn State 236 Students

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Homes for sale.

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Living in the area.

• Cost of Living grade  C
• Good for Families grade  A
• Housing grade  B minus

Culture & Safety

• Football Games 17%
• Pink Out 16%
• Senior field trip to Disney 10%
• Pep rallies 9%
• Any sport game 9%

Clubs & Activities

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Old Bridge High School Reviews

• Rating 5 out of 5   Excellent 209   reviews ( 33 %)
• Rating 4 out of 5   Very Good 259   reviews ( 40 %)
• Rating 3 out of 5   Average 146   reviews ( 23 %)
• Rating 2 out of 5   Poor 22   reviews ( 3 %)
• Rating 1 out of 5   Terrible 4   reviews ( 1 %)
• 17 days ago
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• 26 days ago

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• Destination: Non-performing Groups

ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE!!

After all these years of hard work, you’ve finally made it to senior year. Before saying goodbye to all of your friends, it’s time to create one final high school memory, when you attend the hottest graduation celebration on the East Coast!

Organizing a trip to the Disney Parks for your SENIOR CLASS celebration is a perfect way to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment. Disney Senior Class Trip allows senior classes and senior groups to purchase specially priced theme park tickets and enjoy Walt Disney World parks anytime throughout the year. There are even special event add-ons to make you your senior trip extra special :

“Early-On” Experience in a Disney park is where seniors will get to experience an attraction inside the theme park prior to regular guest admission. Breakfast is included!

IllumiNations Dessert Party at EPCOT allows seniors the opportunity for a private viewing area for the amazing fireworks show along with a spectacular dessert!!

Fantasmic Patio Reception at Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers an option of dinner or dessert along with a private viewing area for the show!!

Villian Party – “Club Evil” is a private dinner party featuring special “Villain” characters.

Themed Dance Party is an exclusive dance party including food, beverages, DJ, lighting, haze and a spectacular confetti finale!!

Dinoland Party is private dinner buffet after hours in the land at Animal Kingdom.

Related Tours

Universals Grad Bash

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Indoor Percussion Send-Off Show 4/15/2024

Spin clinic 4/17, marching knights in hawaii, hawaii 2023.

Performing in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade

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Congratulations, Marching Knights!

Our leaders, melissa thatcher, christopher duffett.

Band Director

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Chantal torchia.

Colorguard Director

OUR 2023-2024 SEASON SPONSORS

Our mission.

 Providing the support necessary to ensure the continued success of the World Class Marching Arts Programs for Old Bridge High School in a safe, and financially stable environment

Supporting national and world class Marching Band, Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard takes a lot of help from dedicated volunteers. We always need help for upcoming fundraisers and competitions

Much of our success is based on our parents. Supporting a top notch competitive Marching Band, Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard takes tremendous time and effort not just by the band members, but also by the board members and volunteers, who are also the parents of the band members

Copyright © 2024 Traveling Knights of Old Bridge - All Rights Reserved.

4207 Route 516, Matawan, NJ 07747

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Man shocked by $143,000 phone bill from overseas trip

(Gray News) - When it comes to your phone plan, it helps to read the fine print. A Florida man learned that the hard way after he incurred a fortune in roaming charges during a trip to Europe.

Rene Remund told WFTS he was charged $143,269 for using 9.5 gigabytes of roaming data during a three-week trip to Switzerland.

He said he’s been a T-Mobile customer for more than 30 years and said he had been assured beforehand at a T-Mobile store that he would be “covered” while overseas.

At first, Remund said his eyes deceived him, as he thought the bill was for $143.

He said he got in touch with a representative, who assured him the bill was correct. At that point, he turned to legal help.

T-Mobile ended up crediting him for the account.

The Federal Communications Commission encourages people to know the details of their cellular plan coverage before they go on international trips, including whether your mobile phone will work there, what the roaming rates are and how to track your usage.

T-Mobile similarly encouraged its customers to check the details of their plans before setting out, as some older plans don’t include international roaming.

“If you’re not on a Go5G, Magenta, ONE Plan, Essentials, or a Simple Choice plan and you’ll be traveling outside the U.S., you can add World Class International Roaming to each line,” T-Mobile said on its webpage devoted to explaining its international roaming services . Customers can do this by managing their plan .

Other options include blocking international data and having a prepaid plan while overseas.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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• Old Wabasso Bridge

THE OLD WABASSO BRIDGE

By   Mike Miller    Updated October 13, 2022

Disney's Vero Beach Resort opened in 1995 on Orchid Island just south of the road to the Wabasso Bridge.

I wonder how many of the guests enjoying their oceanfront vacation at the resort know the historical link that Disney has to this bridge?

The old Wabasso Bridge was built in 1927 and crossed the Indian River Lagoon between the small town of Wabasso on the mainland and Orchid Island north of Vero Beach.

Walt Disney World opened near Orlando in October 1971. The Magic Kingdom theme park is located in the northern region of Disney's huge acreage at the north end of a large artificial lagoon. 

Ferries and other vessels transport guests from the main entrance complex across the lagoon to a landing near the end of Main Street.

The ferries need to be hauled out of the water from time to time for servicing, so Disney built a boat yard to take care of their sizable navy.

This boat servicing area is tucked away in the back side of the Magic Kingdom, out of sight of the tourists.

In 1970 the Magic Kingdom was under construction, including a small gauge railroad whose tracks encircled the theme park. This little train would become known as the Main Street Railroad. The railroad design included a draw bridge over a canal leading from the lagoon to the boat yard. The bridge would be opened whenever the ferries needed to be moved through the canal to the service area.  Disney's engineers heard about an old swing bridge near Vero Beach which was going to be scrapped. They decided to take a look at the bridge to see if it could be used instead of designing and building a brand new one.

In the late 1960s, the Florida Department of Transportation was about to replace this old swing bridge with a modern high rise concrete model.  Disney sent over its engineers to take a look at the old silver painted relic, which DOT intended to scrap as soon as the new one was completed. The steel bridge beams and girders were antiques, and were no longer made by the steel mills. The names of hundreds of boats had been scratched into the tired old bridge trusses by the pen knives of lonely bridge tenders over the many years the bridge stood sentinel across the river. 

Many of the structural members were badly rusted and pitted, and some were completely corroded through.

Still, after careful inspection, the Disney engineers decided they could salvage the old bridge.  They decided to buy it and use it at Walt Disney World rather than building a new one. They bought it from DOT and had it cut up into smaller sections.

The entire collection of old bridge parts was then loaded onto barges and towed to a shipyard on the other side of the state in Tampa.

There it was rebuilt to Disney's high quality standards at great expense.  The bridge sections were then trucked from Tampa down Interstate 4 to Disney World and reassembled across the canal on the Main Street Railroad route.

OLD WABASSO BRIDGE AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The completely restored bridge looked very much like the old original, except for its general shape. Only Disney knows for sure whether or not this imaginative venture saved money.

The Imagineers may have been more interested in saving an old bridge than in saving money.

Millions of happy tourists from every corner of the world have ridden on the Main Street Railroad since Disney World opened in 1971.

It is unlikely many of them are aware of the history of the old bridge.

Many of the Disney guests now have the opportunity to ride over two Wabasso bridges: the old and the new.

OUR VISITORS SHARE MEMORIES OF WABASSO BRIDGE

Read what visitors to our website have said about their memories of the Old Wabasso Bridge.  

Dec 19, 2020 Old Wabasso Bridge by: Gail Ott Brown I loved the Old Wabasso Bridge and have many wonderful memories of my family driving over it to take a Sunday drive to Sebastian Inlet South Side where my dad loved to fish. I can still hear the boards "clapping" as we drove over it. My dad used to sing "it ain't gonna rain no more" as we drove over it...after I got married and the bridge was dismantled we were able to have some of the wooden bridge planks and nails and we put them around our garden in the yard. Also, I have the bench that was in the kitchen at the A.B. Michaels "pink" home that you would see on the East side when going over the bridge. Lots of wonderful memories along that bridge and the beautiful Australian tree lined road leading to the beach.

Jan 24, 2020 T he Bridge by: Anonymous

When there was no bridge over Sebastian Inlet, you had to drive to Wabasso to get to the beach on the south side of the inlet. On the other side, the frangipani [plumeria] on Orchid Island was beautiful. The Disney resort at Vero Beach is reminiscent of the early resorts of that area, and is well worth a visit. Jan 23, 2020 Wabasso Bridge by: Mary Moon I lived in Roseland in the early '60's and traveled over that bridge so many times. I loved it and every time I cross the new bridge I think of it fondly. Once, I remember, the bridge opened to allow the passage of a Chinese Junk. It seems like a dream now but it was real. We were all so excited to see something that exotic sailing down the Indian River. I will never forget it.

Jan 07, 2020 Indian River Lagoon? by: gw No one originally from Indian River County calls it the Indian River "Lagoon". Everyone from here called/calls it the "Indian River" or simply "the river." This "lagoon" business was started by newcomer outsiders who grabbed control of things in the 80s with no respect for the people that lived in, settled, and named this county and sites. It may indeed be a lagoon, but that is NOT it's name and never was. It is the INDIAN RIVER, and our county was named after it. Outsiders renaming our history and heritage is arrogant and offensive. What's next?.. Indian River Lagoon County... Indian River Lagoon citrus? "Indian River Lagoon" is as silly sounding as Gulf of Mexico Ocean. EDITOR SAYS:

Nobody disagrees, but the fact is that all the big time authorities now call it the "Indian River Lagoon."

We still call it the Indian River, but you can't believe the number of irate messages we receive if we only call it the "Indian River" in an article.

It's sad, but times change and I've learned to live with it.....though reluctantly.  Another thing I've learned to live with is that no matter what you write, someone will disagree.

Feb 24, 2019 Good Times by: Anonymous Stood by the rail with fishing pole in hand. Stood looking up at my dad as he took my fish off the hook. Thanks dad for the good times.

Feb 23, 2019 Wabasso Bridge by: Geoff Nordhoff My grandmother grew up in Wabasso, moved away, and later moved back. We visited her and my grandfather many times after we moved to Florida, and would take the old bridge over to the beach. I loved to hang out the window of our (non-air conditioned) car and look at the river underneath the rattling boards. If I recall correctly, we rented huge tire tubes from a stand on the beach, just north of where the Resort is now located.

Jun 14, 2018 The Wabasso Wooden Bridge by: John Charles I can remember crossing over on the old wooden bridge many, many times to get to Wabasso Beach. Clackety, clack; clackety clack would go the timbers. I recollect cars slowing down to get by one another which was always exciting. Great memories!

Jan 12, 2018 Wabasso is Well Loved by: Mike We sure do get a lot of comments here from people who knew and loved Wabasso. That bridge and the connection to Orchid Island made it a special place. I remember many years ago noticing a development under construction on one of the islands of the Wabasso causeway. It was named Marsh Island. Just out of curiosity I checked the real estate market on Marsh Island and it looks like most houses are in the $2 million range.

The bridge comes into the barrier island on Orchid Island.  Now most of the land north of that point is incorporated in the Town of Orchid Island.  It is one of the wealthiest communities in Florida.

I can remember when it was mainly citrus owned by Deerfield Groves. How things have changed since the old times of the bridge tender's simple wooden shack.

Jan 12, 2018 Love Wabasso by: Tom Carruthers

My Dad was the bridge tender for years at the bidge. I had one sister born on that house on the bridge in 1927.. I was born on Orchid Island and a little old white house in July 1931. I think my Dad left there and started to work for Deerfield Growers probably in l945/1935. Those were the good years of Wabasso. I lived there until I went in Service in 1951. My best to all Wabasso.

Jan 12, 2018 Know the bridge well! by: Anonymous Used to live on Little Orchid Island and went to school with the bridge tender's son, Byron. Crossed both that bridge and the one from the mainland to Little Orchid Island every day. Wonderful memories.

Jul 11, 2017 Cain Family by: Jerry Allen I lived on Main street in Micco and had and still have numerous family in the area. Most are the Cains with my Grandmother and Grandfather Dempsey and Leila Cain. Spent a lot of time at the Wabasso Beach and had friends on Jungle Trail just across the bridge. My family is the Allens from Main Street in Micco.

Jun 08, 2017 50's, 60's and 70's by: Jackie Atha Schreur We would visit my parents, Margaret and Ken Atha, always in March. Our two sons were with us. We went over the bridge many times going to the beach and usually were the only ones on the beach ! We were the "snowbirds" down from northern Michigan and it was very enjoyable on the beach rather than the cold weather back up north. When we headed back to my parents house we would stop for fresh orange juice at Hale's. What wonderful memories we have. May 22, 2017 Future Husband by: Sherrie Sikes Sloan I was raised in Fellsmere Florida. Growing up, we would go over the bridge to go to the beach in the summertime most every weekend. Also, when I was a child, we had friends/relatives that came down from Georgia to visit and we would always take them to the Wabasso bridge to fish. One time, my future husband (didn't know it at the time) ran out onto the bridge as it was starting to turn. We all hollered to him to get off before it went too far, but he stayed on. We told him when he got back that he could go to jail for doing that, he didn't care. But, it never happened. I also enjoyed hearing the boards move going over it. Sometimes thought it might break down and we would fall in! There again, that didn't happen.

May 22, 2017 Old Orchid Island Post Office by: Kevin Bearden I lived with my uncle on Orchid Island for a couple of years back in 1973-74..we lived in the old post office that was on the Indian River on Deerfield Grove property, as my uncle was the manager of most of the groves on Orchid Island at the time. We were located just a fourth mile from the east end of the Intracoastal bridge that goes over to the island from Wabasso. How many times I walked from Orchid Island to Wabasso to visit my friend, Tom Chatham, who worked at the packing company there in Wabasso. I had the distinction of being the caretaker for one of Rev Billy Graham's groves, which was managed by the company my uncle worked for. Great times. A wonderful time to be alive!

May 21, 2017 Aunt Bonnie and the old bridge. by: Chip Meadows Back in the 1960's I would come to Vero from Boca Raton to see my relatives. My Aunt Bonnie would take my cousins to the beach, and come back over the old bridge. We would go fast over the old wood bridge and we would scream as we went over the bridge then we all would laugh till it hurt.

May 21, 2017 Wabasso by: Eula Helpling I remember shrimping off that bridge with my brother back in the late 50s early 60s. And when we get tired we would go down underneath the bridge and take a nap because there was no danger back then. Many many fires reported on that bridge and at my home where I lived along US 1 we could hear the boards clapping every time someone went over the bridge and we could hear the crash when someone went off the bridge. We do have a Facebook page growing up in Wabasso if anyone would like to join. I would love to hear more history about the bridge and Wabasso in general as we are trying to maintain the feel of Wabasso as a small town. I was raised here, went to school here, and still live here. So please share your memories.

May 19, 2017 Bouncing across the old Wabasso bridge by: Phyllis Waddell Horner I remember back in the 50's when my grandparents, Beckett and Ruby Waddell would load up all the grandchildren in the back of Granddaddy's truck for a trip to Wabasso beach. We all got to sit on inner tubes (for safety- lol!) and we bounced our way across the old bridge, screaming and laughing. Sometimes we'd bounce so high, we'd be totally in the air. I don't know which was louder - the crazy boards of the bridge or the raucous laughter of all the little Waddell's! Such a fun time to have grown up here in Vero!

May 18, 2017 Loved that old bridge by: Albert Stout Grew up in Wabasso. Loved that old bridge but thought many times it would fall in but it did not lol!

May 18, 2017 Love for Wabasso by: Thomas Carruthers I was born on Orchid Island in July 1931 in a little old white house that was there. My Dad, Robert L. Carruthers was the bridge tender there for years from about 1928 to sometime in the late 1930s. I use to love that old bridge - I left Wabasso in 1949, after graduating form Vero Beach High School than to west Texas, then to the Army where I spend 30 years. I love reading about Wabasso to the full extent. A Ms. Helping always has wonderful info about my old Hometown. My prayers are with all of the Wabasso population.

May 09, 2017 Wabasso by: Sandra McKnight Johnson My Grandmother and Grandfather with my mom (6 months old) came to Orchid Island in 1924 from Lady Lake, Florida. My Mom grew up on Lateral A. I have memories of crossing that bridge and hearing the slap of the boards. My Mom loved the Indian River Lagoon. She showed me where she and her father got oysters.

Jan 19, 2017 Great Memories by: Chip Rommel My family would vacation in Vero and we would be on the bridge at night with lanterns hanging down to the water and catching shrimp that were moving in the tide with long dip nets. What a great time we had as kids. I never knew the bridge found a home at Disney.

Dec 15, 2016 The bridge tender by: Taylor My grandmother, Janice Sizelove, or Janice Wood to a lot, always told me stories of her growing up on the bridge since her daddy was the bridgetender. He lost his arm in an accident and cranked that thing with one arm! I love hearing all her stories, and love seeing how many people enjoy this little piece of history as well! Oct 28, 2016 Old Florida memories by: Karen What a delight to hear that so many others have similar wonderful memories to the ones I do of the old Wabasso bridge. My family vacationed in Wabasso Beach every summer from the late 1940's on and always loved the sound of the car going over the bridge, the smell of the bridge, and seeing what the fishermen were catching.

At night we would go and fish off the bridge and my Dad would buy bait for deep sea fishing from the man at the bridge house. Sometimes he would hang his bait cage from the bridge overnight to keep the bait fresh and pick it up the next day.

We always stayed at the Sea Mist Lodge at Wabasso Beach and I would love to see some old pictures of that place and hear any memories other people have of it.

In the 60's my brother and friend and I would ride our bikes over the bridge and go from the beach to Wabasso and stop and climb under the bridge just for fun. Wabasso back then was old Florida at it's best.

I was so sad to see the old bridge replaced by a new one, but I'm glad to know part of it lives on.

Aug 13, 2016 Old Wabssso Bridge Built by Redstone by: Dennis Redstone In 1910, C.G. Redstone signed a contract with Brevard and St. Lucie Counties (St. Lucie County was created from the southern half of Bernard County in 1905) to build a bridge over the Sebastian River connecting Brevard and St. Lucie Counties. Indian River County would not be created until 1925. C.G. singed his first contract for "C.G Redstone & Sons." He and his older sons drove all the pilings and everything was going well, until they experienced their first hurricane. The work they completed was destroyed by the hurricane. After all was done said, it was a $300 loss due to the destruction suffered by the hurricane. Back then there was no hurricane insurance. The bridge would become famous a decade later thanks to the infamous Ashley Gang, a legendary family of bank robbers. In 1924 the Ashley Gang met their fate on the Sebastian River Bridge, killed in a shootout with lawmen. This account taken from the book, "New York to Florida with Aunt Irene, The Redstone Family Story". May 16, 2016 GREAT MEMORIES by: BETTY MORSE LaMONICA I lived on Orchid Island from 1958 to 1964 and went to school with Byron Wood, the bridge tender's son. When we moved to the island there were just a few houses because most people were afraid the cross the bridge even once, let alone twice a day. We loved the old bridge.....the sound it made when we drove over the planks, asking the fishermen how the fish were biting, seeing the lanterns hung over the edge for night fishing. When we heard a large boat sound its horn for the bridge tender to open the bridge, we often ran out to see how large the boat was. The bridge was still there during the Bay of Pigs Cuban Crisis and I remember the long line of navy vessels going through the bridge and down the Indian River. It was a scary time. I'm so happy to know the bridge was saved and has such a terrific new home. I live in Rochester, New York now. May 13, 2016 History counts by: Jack My brother and I used to fish off of the old bridge. Just seeing the picture brings back great memories. The article was well written and much appreciated. They even used the correct term for the area north of Vero Beach (Orchid Island). May 12, 2016 Bridge and Jones Fruit Dock by: Bonnie I knew the old pioneer , Richard Milton Jones, of "Jones Fruit Dock", and I believe he said he was involved in the dismantling of the Old Wabasso Bridge. He never mentioned what became of the scrap, maybe nobody ever pondered that fact? What became "junk" to them, is history today, imagine. May 08, 2016 Wabasso Bridge. Swing Span by: Anonymous I lived in Wabasso from 1966 to 1970, and during the time I lived there the swing part of the old Wabasso bridge was just one lane, and had a traffic light on each end (east and west) to control the flow of traffic. I fished off of that bridge almost every day. And then they tore it down and built the concrete bridge and the fishing there was never the same, not near as good. May 07, 2016 OLD WABASSO BRIDGE by: LEE E JOHNSTON I also grew up in the Wabasso area from 1940-2014 and I remember the original swing bridge was a narrow single lane bridge. I was away from Wabasso while in Germany in the US Army in 1959 and 1960. It was during that time that the single lane swing bridge was replaced with an old two lane swing bridge. One thing Janice Wood forgot to mention was that her dad Ben Wood was physically disadvantaged but was very much able to manually open the bridge by walking in circles pushing a large crank whenever a boat came by. The two lane bridge had an electric motor to open it. Back in those days there were only a few school children living on Orchid Island. My wife Ruby Piatt and her family grew up on the island and whenever a fire occurred on the bridge and the school bus was unable to cross, her dad Bunn Piatt would take the kids across the river in his little fishing boat to catch the school bus.. May 07, 2016 Great memories! by: Donna What a great story! I remember that old Bridge and oh my, it was scary. The sounds of the cars crossing was a constant clickity clack and I remember riding in our station wagon taking in the view from the back. What a great memory! Thank you for sharing. Never knew what happened to it, just knew it was replaced by a bridge that was so high it still scared me...lol!

May 07, 2016 My home from 1951 til 1965 by: Janice Wood Sizelove My Dad, Ben Wood, was the bridge tender on this bridge from 1951 until his death in 1965. We moved into that small house in 1951 when I was 13 years old, and had 2 younger siblings. It was my home until I graduated from VBHS in 1956, and my families home until my dad died in 1965!!Many great memories of this Wabasso wooden bridge!! May 06, 2016 Memories! by: Brenda That was one narrow bridge in a '57 Chevy, and the boards made a great sound when crossing! Thanks for the picture!

May 06, 2016 Building the Bridge by: Terri My family built that original wood bridge in Wabasso. May 06, 2016 Bridge History by: Deana I loved that old bridge. We would catch fish, shrimp and crabs from that bridge. It's part of my growing up years. Now that my Dad is in heaven, I reflect on my upbringing with gratitude. I'm so happy to hear that this, piece of my history, has been preserved. We are a Disney family. Now every time I ride that train, it will be extra exciting. One thing I remember best was the smell of the creosote on the wooden timbers and the clackity clack sounds when we drove across. It was always exciting when the bridge would catch on fire. Here would come the fire department with their sirens blaring. The creosote was very flammable. A spark from a cigarette or lighting a lantern was all that it needed.

May 05, 2016 My connection by: Cecilia This is so cool. I never heard this before but I graduated in '65 from Vero Beach High School, went off to college and came back 4 years later to teach at Wabasso Elementary for the school year of 1969-70. Now I know that right after that this bridge was dismantled and redone and installed at Disney World. My brother got a job at Disney right after it opened and we always went to Disney World with them and rode that train. Now I finally know that this is the same bridge from Wabasso that we rode over. Amazing!

Stories by an engineer who worked on the construction of  Walt Disney World from 1968-1971.

Click on the cover for a free Amazon preview of the Kindle version.  Also includes a soft cover edition.

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