Hi Jennifer!
I remember very well wanting to take culinary classes while visiting Walt Disney World Resort in the late 90's. Back then the Disney Institute was day to week-long seminars and classes that covered a range of topics (at one time they had 80+ courses!) to provide a more enriched and educational vacation experience. The Disney Institute is still around today, however it's been spun off to focus on corporate professional development.
Luckily for us, there are so many great family tours and
Enchanting Extras that educate and entertain, and do so in about a fourth of the time as the former classes. The two that come to mind that your younger two can participate in are the Behind the Seeds tour in Epcot and the Caring for Giants experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Older Mouseketeers can experience everything from diving in the Living Seas aquarium, discover Disney's humble beginnings through Walt's life-long love of trains, to
cake decorating.
Fun seminars can be found during the
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and during the
Epcot International Festival of the Arts. And if you really want to experience an educational and entertaining vacation, check out some of the members-only
Disney Vacation Club seminars and experiences.
I hope this helped, Jennifer!
~Kristen