Kids in February

Michael2013 · Jul 26, 2016

I'm curious if there are a lot of kids on Caribbean cruises in early February. I would assume there would be on a Disney cruise but since most kids are in school I wasn't sure. This year we cruised on Carnival in early February and there were maybe 5 kids in my daughters group (age 8).

AAAG · Jul 26, 2016

On Disney - yes.
We have been on DCL cruises that departed Feb 8th and Feb 15th in different years - both were full of kids.
On other cruise lines, I'm not sure.
I believe many states (such as MA) get a school break the week of Presidents Week, ie mid Feb, so that week should have a lot of kids on any line

Shanti · Jul 26, 2016

Michael2013 said:
I'm curious if there are a lot of kids on Caribbean cruises in early February. I would assume there would be on a Disney cruise but since most kids are in school I wasn't sure. This year we cruised on Carnival in early February and there were maybe 5 kids in my daughters group (age 8).

I'm a 5th grade teacher and had one student out for a week last winter for a Disney cruise. I regularly have 2 or 3 students pulled for a week+ from school each year for various vacations, often Disney. Many parents don't hesitate to do so anymore. In fact, the father of the girl pulled for a week for a winter cruise got angry at me when I gave her a modest amount of make-up work after the cruise. :rolleyes2

So yes, you'll see plenty of kids on DCL & at WDW year-round.

DisneyMissy · Jul 26, 2016

As a previous poster said, in MA we have a February vacation the week of President's day. That week would likely have the most kids and maybe most people in general for the month. I went in January and there were a bunch of kids.

Michael2013 · Jul 26, 2016

Thanks, we are cruising Feb 4 in 2017 so it is early Feb. Schools are in session around here but we are going to pull our daughter out for a week.

Michael2013 · Jul 26, 2016

Shanti said:
I'm a 5th grade teacher and had one student out for a week last winter for a Disney cruise. I regularly have 2 or 3 students pulled for a week+ from school each year for various vacations, often Disney. Many parents don't hesitate to do so anymore. In fact, the father of the girl pulled for a week for a winter cruise got angry at me when I gave her a modest amount of make-up work after the cruise.

So yes, you'll see plenty of kids on DCL & at WDW year-round.

Jeez, I remember whenever I was pulled from school when I was a kid I had a pile of work to take with me and my mom asked for it. It's not as big of a deal for us to pull our daughter as she is in special ed but even at that I told the teacher she would take pictures and talk about her trip for her homework, the teacher seemed surprised I would make her do anything.

PrincessShmoo · Jul 26, 2016

Michael2013 said:
Jeez, I remember whenever I was pulled from school when I was a kid I had a pile of work to take with me and my mom asked for it. It's not as big of a deal for us to pull our daughter as she is in special ed but even at that I told the teacher she would take pictures and talk about her trip for her homework, the teacher seemed surprised I would make her do anything.

Sadly, that's what's happened.

I remember, also, IF (big IF) they would allow us to be pulled out of school, and believe me my parents wouldn't do it unless there were some dire reason, not taking a vacation, there was always take-along work to be done and turned in upon return.

arlopop · Jul 26, 2016

All of our cruises (including upcoming EBPC) have been taken during school. We get approval ahead of time and actually sign a contract with the district regarding independent study. The kids get a huge folder of assignments and we usually set aside a couple days before we depart for them to try and get a good portion of it done (keeps them out of our hair as we pack.) And then we set aside at least an hour every morning on board where they do more work - some of which are specific assignments about where we are traveling (reports, journals, artwork.). The kids have complained they actually do more work for the cruise, which is fine by us.

When they get back the teachers pile on anything they missed specific to classtime. So they're not getting off easy.

I think that's why the school accommodates us - the kids do the work and keep up. And we always pitch it as the learning opportunity it is.

It's too bad some of the examples mentioned by other posters feature schools or teachers that don't seem to care. We are fortunate to have ones who expect a lot.

elvispursley · Jul 27, 2016

Last Feb. we had our kids out of school (this past Feb our kids had a mid-winter break). There were quite a few kids on the ship and the cruise director commented on the fact that there were so many of them on board--also made the comment that there were likely a lot of kids on board because a to of families were trying to escape that harsh 2014/15 winter that year in the midwest and east coast. I remember how COLD it was when we boarded in Port Canaveral...40s!!!

We pull our kids out but they attend private school and take their school work with them. Every time we pull them, their work is completed. If I could take vacation during the summer, I would, but I work in the only level 1 trauma center in 4 states and summer is "trauma season" and is next to impossible to take time off. The school knows and understands this, thankfully.

The Sasquatch · Jul 27, 2016

just because its "vacation" doesnt mean it cant be valuable to your children's development. I find real world experiences have a far greater impact than being lectured in a room somewhere but each kid is different. We also attend a private school so normal public school "policy" is more of a guideline. We pull her from school roughly a week every year and the teachers have been great giving her makeup work when she returns. I thought we were bad until I found out how many other parents were doing the same. Some were taking their kids out a week or two into the school year in September. I guess in some ways maybe that makes more sense since they are just starting and may not be that far into the lesson plans.

MrsSmalls · Jul 27, 2016

Shanti said:
I'm a 5th grade teacher and had one student out for a week last winter for a Disney cruise. I regularly have 2 or 3 students pulled for a week+ from school each year for various vacations, often Disney. Many parents don't hesitate to do so anymore. In fact, the father of the girl pulled for a week for a winter cruise got angry at me when I gave her a modest amount of make-up work after the cruise.

So yes, you'll see plenty of kids on DCL & at WDW year-round.

I have pulled my kids out of school for vacation. We always get a packet of work to take with us, and I ALWAYS expect it. I like knowing that they won't be too far behind after vacation. The class isn't going to go in hiatus just because my kid is not in class. That's crazy that a parent would get angry with you for trying to be a good teacher!

cmph · Jul 27, 2016

There are a lot of homeschoolers who go to Disney in the "off" season (if there is such a thing anymore). When we homeschooled, we went to WDW in Feb purposefully to avoid crowds and have better weather compared to summer months (and compared to our home climates!). We don't homeschool anymore, but I've definitely seen threads here on many occasions, and definitely specific to cruises, so you may try to search for those and get an idea of the number of kids your daughter's age who will be sailing at the same time.

I miss the days of taking a vacation when it was cheaper!! DD is in middle school now and freaks out at the thought of missing school and having to make the work up. I even have to make her orthodontics appointments for the crack of dawn so we're at school on time.

bbel · Jul 27, 2016

Personally, I've found there's not really any time for quieter cruises, just quieter itineraries. Itineraries such as Alaska, the Med and especially the crossings (Panama and the transatlantic) and Hawaii have less children than the Caribbean and Bahamian cruises..

OrcaPotter · Jul 27, 2016

As a teacher myself, I have at least a few students each year who are absent for a week or more for a vacation. I teach middle school, so this is tough on the students to make up all the work (and with so many standardized tests, if they miss one that puts them even further behind). As result, I often had students elect not to do their missing work and they dropped a letter grade or two, while other parents had students keep up with class online since most of the work can be retrieved or even turned in that way.

I've done most of my cruises (4 day) in January and February and there were plenty of kids, so I wouldn't be worried especially since you'll be on Disney.

Rabb it · Jul 27, 2016

bbel said:
Personally, I've found there's not really any time for quieter cruises, just quieter itineraries. Itineraries such as Alaska, the Med and especially the crossings (Panama and the transatlantic) and Hawaii have less children than the Caribbean and Bahamian cruises..

That makes a lot of sense!

fritz1215 · Jul 27, 2016

Michael2013 said:
Thanks, we are cruising Feb 4 in 2017 so it is early Feb. Schools are in session around here but we are going to pull our daughter out for a week.

I think we are on the same cruise

Western Caribbean on the Fantasy? Regardless, make sure to check out the Disney Cruise Meets to find the cruise you are on, info about Fish Extenders are there too.

Kids in February

Michael2013

Earning My Ears

AAAG

Mouseketeer

Shanti

Momketeer

DisneyMissy

Mouseketeer

Michael2013

Earning My Ears

Michael2013

Earning My Ears

PrincessShmoo

DIS veteran

arlopop

Mouseketeer

elvispursley

DIS Veteran

The Sasquatch

DIS Veteran

MrsSmalls

dreaming of the next cruise

cmph

DIS Veteran

bbel

DIS Veteran

OrcaPotter

Lucky to be local to the Mouse

Rabb it

Kings Over Aces

fritz1215

Mouseketeer

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