20050514..May 14, 2005...Official Check in Disney's 1st 14 Day thru Panama Canal

[jin diesel]

Originally posted by JenKatt
I don't have numbers, but my hunch would be less than expexted. Taking kids out of school that late in the year (exams and all) for that long makes me think there will be little ones (less than 6) some school age kids, but very few teenagers and such.
Just my two cents

Yeah, I think you're right about that. For us, school lets out on June 15th, 2005. So she will miss 2 weeks towards the end of the year. Our school district allows kids that are going to miss more than 5 days to sign a contract (along with the parents, of course) for "independent study". Which basically means that the parents have to make sure the kids complete a ton of assignments from the district as well as whatever the teacher and principal ask that the child complete as well.

I was told at the end of the year last year (a month after booking) that it is actually up to the Principal to determine whether or not the child can take the time off and still be re-admitted into the school. (My daughter goes to a magnet school which specializes in science and the environment. Kind of complicated to expalin, but basically it's not her *assigned* school - so she can be "kicked" out.)

I haven't yet decided when to tell the principal about our little cruise. I'm thinking after the xmas break...Hopefully she'll think the trip thru the Canal is worthy enough of her missing 2 weeks of school. Although I must day, the did absolutely nothing of value those last few weeks this year anyway...Our testing goes on here either right before or right after the cruise (I think).

 

[cotomom]

I'm in the exact same boat as Jindy! (pun intended )

Here in so. CA, it's the same and I am just taking that risk with the principal.

I mean, c'mon, what is a kindergartener and 2nd grader really going to miss in 2 weeks?

 

[JenKatt]

We have magnet schools here in Florida as well and it can get tricky taking the kids out of them for vacations from what friends have said. I do think tho, that a trip through the Panama Canal would be justifiable, especially over just taking the kids to WDW or DL for a week or two. It also helps, the cruise returns over a holiday making it easier for said children to get caught up.

 

[kpros]

We decided to keep DD (age 13) in school for this trip (not to mention that it will be nice to get away with just the DW for a change). The May trip is right when they usually do the annual state testing, so that was a big factor in our decision.

We have taken her out of school for our other 7 day cruises.

Ken

 

[Scott H]

Still Nadda with DVC points at DL properties.

Got my Canal map yesterday, have not had a chance to look at it. Too Much work interferring with life.

Keeping tabs on the Tour de France. WOW it is getting exciting.

 

[meb51]

Our children would have finished the school year the first week of the cruise. It would not have even been a complete week for them. Schools in at least some of the southern states end their school year much earlier than in other parts of the country (and start much earlier).

 

[seaulater]

Our DD (now 12) who is not going on this cruise with us, went last year through the Panama Canal with us in May on RCCL. She missed 11 days of school. We forewarned her teacher, and we did assignments prior to leaving and while we were on the cruise. She read books on the Panama Canal, learned alot about the history, we took pictures and then when she returned she turned in a report and did a powerpoint presentation with my laptop about our journey through the canal and how the locks worked and all that stuff.

Lucky for us, she had a wonderful teacher. When we told the teacher our plan she said "She will learn alot more on a 2 week cruise through the Panama Canal than she will sitting in a classroom!" We need more teachers like that!!!!

Besides, in May, our kids don't do a whole heck of alot. They are winding down and they seem to be going everywhere with activities and parties and all that stuff!

Linda

 

[jin diesel]

Originally posted by cotomom
Here in so. CA, it's the same and I am just taking that risk with the principal.

Oh, be sure to let me know how it goes! When do you plan on asking the principal?

Originally posted by Kpros The May trip is right when they usually do the annual state testing, so that was a big factor in our decision.

I think our testing occurs the week before we sail - so I *think* we're safe. However, I know the Principals really want the kids who are doing well in school to take the test (to make the schools look like they are *good* schools so that they can get more funding ), so I certainly hope that DD is not denied the opportunity to go on the cruise just because of the testing if it happens to take place during the sailing dates! If that's the case, I will still take her! (Can you tell I am really irritated by the whole Star 9 Testing scam? LOL!!)

-jindy

 

[JenKatt]

Originally posted by Scott H


Keeping tabs on the Tour de France. WOW it is getting exciting.

Go Lance Go!!!


:thewave:

 

[Scott H]

DVC Folks Info for us......

As posted by Melinda on the CA to FL repo cruise thread:

"RIght now i am sitting on the oceanfront balcony in Wildwood Crest, NJ! Got here yesterday and staying til Sunday. I checkedi in my e mail and got a responsed from DVC because i had my beef with them about the DL points for 2005. The points will be out by Aug 4th or 5th, so they say...Let's hope!! Then i can plan and call in Sept for my stay in DL for next August!!"

This could be a good thing.

 

[kpros]

As long as Lance stays on his bike for the last few stages, it's all his.

I had a good time playing Lance on a 54 miles ride this last weekend. To bad I can't go as fast as he can.

Ken

 

[JenKatt]

Originally posted by kpros
As long as Lance stays on his bike for the last few stages, it's all his.

I had a good time playing Lance on a 54 miles ride this last weekend. To bad I can't go as fast as he can.

Ken

As he proved today, no one can go as fast as he can!

 

[kpros]

At least not when going up hill. He doesn't get involved in the sprints, so we don't really know how fast he can sprint. My guess is he will do very well in the last time trial as well.

Ken

 

[Scott H]

OK Just thinking about having to get my Tux altered. I was wondering how many ofrmal nights we might have on this cruise.

My guess would be about 4.

Back to Tour coverage..

 

[rcostello1]

I would say 2 formal and 2 semi formal, max. I don't want to wear a tux more than once a week. I'm going to buy one before we go but that's a purchase for next year.

 

[Az Pirates]

No tux opinions, but....
Just caught a little clip of The Tour on the news. Seems like for such a big, important event they should have better crowd control.
I was scared for the riders as the people along the streets were jumping out right in front of them and the crowd was pushed forward so far there was hardly any room for them to ride.
Looked pretty dangerous to me!

 

[jragland]

Well, we just returned from the 7/3 Magic...what a blast. Better than the last time. Thought I'd share our good news for the May cruise. We booked a cat 4 on the opening day and waitlisted for a cat 3. Got the call yesterday from DCL - we now have the cat 3, room 8532! We're excited.
Jim

 

[kpros]

You shouldn't have told us.

We had a Cat. 3 last year for a 7 day western. You will love the space! And the Gold Keycards are nice to. I was waiting in line at one of the bars and had my card out. The person behind me asked "what did you have to do to get the gold card". I said "spend alot more money for a room".

It was fun to do the Cat. 3 because we had an extra adult along with us (brother in law) and the space was wonderful.

Ken

 

[rcostello1]

jragland--

Did you waitlist for cat 3 in general or did you request a specific room?

Just wondering! We're in 8048, also a cat 3.

Just got off the phone with DCL. YOU STOLE MY ROOM! They had the 4 rooms I wanted listed wrong (some listed twice) so I missed your room. Oh well, I still have my own, and hopefully one of the other rooms (cat 1/2 or the other 3 'bigger' cat 3) will open up and I can switch to that.

 

[kpros]

rcostello1

We were in 8048 last May. I liked the location.

Ken