2012 Free Dining Watch and Wait HERE

[mskermit]

seems like there are some restraunts missing from the dining plan. do they add some back on at a later time?? we were planning on Teppan Edo and i dont see it

 

[livinlife25]

Signing up for the watch!

 

[livinlife25]

They dont sign their contracts until the end of this year. The list will be udpated as the year goes on.

 

[*sarah*]

I'm on the watch too! We are planning on going again August 2012, for my bday and for mine and dh's anniversary. Last trip we had the free dining plan and loved it, would LOVE to have it again this trip.

 

[cutigress]

Just back from a trip with free QSDP and want to go back again at the first of June, hoping for another pin... Does the general public offer ever include early June?

 

[HoltDisney07]

I think we are going to try a different time of year than August. Guess free dining will play in to when we decide to go in 2012. It just stinks, we are soo limited as we really hate to pull the kids out of school for a trip to Disney. I'd love October or during Xmas.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I think we are going to try a different time of year than August. Guess free dining will play in to when we decide to go in 2012. It just stinks, we are soo limited as we really hate to pull the kids out of school for a trip to Disney. I'd love October or during Xmas.

You're kids are only 6, 4 and 2, I wouldn't even think twice of pulling them out of school at such a young age. High school age is when it becomes tricky to pull them out for vacation.

 

[goNsoon2WDW]

You're kids are only 6, 4 and 2, I wouldn't even think twice of pulling them out of school at such a young age. High school age is when it becomes tricky to pull them out for vacation.

I completely agree! We have pulled our kids out of school for the past four years. When they are this young it is the best time to do this.

I might hesitate about pulling them out when they get to high school but can't imagine that anything covered in kindergarten or first grade wouldn't be able to be missed without a problem.

Pull them out and enjoy!

 

[sandym718]

Another who agrees!! Even middle school, I don't think we'll do that, at least not for more than 2-3 days maybe butted up against a school holiday. But until then....
And DS has one more year of elementary school, so we're heading back next Spring!! He'll be in 4th and DD will be in 2nd. He missed in 3rd and they both missed in 1st grade. 6 days for the first two trips and 5 days for this most recent one. Should be 5 days next Spring too. We've had not one problem. Our school handbook does allow 5 days for family trips, though, so that might help us out.

 

[kifuller4]

I'm planning a trip in late Oct 2012... anyone know historically what discounts were offered?

 

[goNsoon2WDW]

I'm planning a trip in late Oct 2012... anyone know historically what discounts were offered?

Here is a link to the MouseSavers.com with historical discount information. I hope this helps.

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html

 

[HoltDisney07]

Believe me guys I wish it weren't that big a deal. Our August trip this year was originally booked for Sept. 21-Oct. 1. She would have only missed 4 days of school, due to a school holiday. Well I spoke with my daughter's current first grade teacher and her kindergarten teacher from last year. Both said they recommended us not pulling her. The school principal is a stickler for following all school board rules. Ranging from no siblings at school activities, to absolutely no homemade food being brought in for school activities. She even pulled the Halloween parade and holiday parties this year! Another rule is if your child has more than 10% unexcused absences (vacations fall under this) within one quarter they can and will fail them. Now who knows if the principle would really do that, but with a threat like that, her track record with other things and now having seen it in more than one parent newsletter from school through out this year I didn't want to take the risk. 4 days would have only been a 12% unexcused absence ratio for that quarter. I have no doubt my daughter would have been able to do the make up work and keep going without missing a beat, but the school principle...thats the real issue.

 

[mskermit]

I think we are going to try a different time of year than August. Guess free dining will play in to when we decide to go in 2012. It just stinks, we are soo limited as we really hate to pull the kids out of school for a trip to Disney. I'd love October or during Xmas.

I agree with you. Some of the schools, like ours are very strict on taking them out for vacation, i myself have never done it. i think their education is more important. My daughter is a principals list student ranked #8 in her class and in all honors classes. A week missed of school would be extremely tough for her.

 

[DancinDaisyDuck]

I am joining in on this 2012 free dining stakeout! I am hoping for a late October offer *fingers crossed*

 

[ctnurse]

I missed FD this year but have a pin that Im using for August. But don't want to miss 2012 if they offer.

 

[sandym718]

Believe me guys I wish it weren't that big a deal. Our August trip this year was originally booked for Sept. 21-Oct. 1. She would have only missed 4 days of school, due to a school holiday. Well I spoke with my daughter's current first grade teacher and her kindergarten teacher from last year. Both said they recommended us not pulling her. The school principal is a stickler for following all school board rules. Ranging from no siblings at school activities, to absolutely no homemade food being brought in for school activities. She even pulled the Halloween parade and holiday parties this year! Another rule is if your child has more than 10% unexcused absences (vacations fall under this) within one quarter they can and will fail them. Now who knows if the principle would really do that, but with a threat like that, her track record with other things and now having seen it in more than one parent newsletter from school through out this year I didn't want to take the risk. 4 days would have only been a 12% unexcused absence ratio for that quarter. I have no doubt my daughter would have been able to do the make up work and keep going without missing a beat, but the school principle...thats the real issue.

\Ugh, I'm sorry your school is so difficult to work with on that. 4 days in first grade??? Wow. Didn't realize how lucky we are to have a school district/school/principal that values family time and sees how it can work in conjunction with education (each time the kids have been given special projects/journals, etc. to do for the trip, in addition to the regular school work).

I agree with you. Some of the schools, like ours are very strict on taking them out for vacation, i myself have never done it. i think their education is more important. My daughter is a principals list student ranked #8 in her class and in all honors classes. A week missed of school would be extremely tough for her.

Well count me as one that sees education as very important and still pulls them out for a vacation (in elementary). Not sure how old your daughter is, but I'm pleased to say both of my kids got straight A's (DD got the equivalent, they don't do A's), for ALL quarters this year, including the one where they missed a week. And DS has a difficult grading system, where a 93% is required for an A- (ours used to be 90!). So I think it IS possible, obviously, to still do well. I think it depends on the child and also on the family. We drive to FL, so the kids did work to and from, we did math flash cards for DS (multiplication) every day, they wrote in their journals every day, wrote postcards (writing practice), and did other school things every day. We were very blessed that the only thing that had to be "made up" when we got back was a Math test for DS. Everything else was done in advance (they both took some tests in advance before we left), so it was really low-stress for both of them, which was really nice.

Not trying to have a debate here at all, just wanted to point out that I think it all depends on the child, the family AND the school district/schools rules/way of doing things. For some of us - it works!

 

[mskermit]

\Ugh, I'm sorry your school is so difficult to work with on that. 4 days in first grade??? Wow. Didn't realize how lucky we are to have a school district/school/principal that values family time and sees how it can work in conjunction with education (each time the kids have been given special projects/journals, etc. to do for the trip, in addition to the regular school work).




Well count me as one that sees education as very important and still pulls them out for a vacation (in elementary). Not sure how old your daughter is, but I'm pleased to say both of my kids got straight A's (DD got the equivalent, they don't do A's), for ALL quarters this year, including the one where they missed a week. And DS has a difficult grading system, where a 93% is required for an A- (ours used to be 90!). So I think it IS possible, obviously, to still do well. I think it depends on the child and also on the family. We drive to FL, so the kids did work to and from, we did math flash cards for DS (multiplication) every day, they wrote in their journals every day, wrote postcards (writing practice), and did other school things every day. We were very blessed that the only thing that had to be "made up" when we got back was a Math test for DS. Everything else was done in advance (they both took some tests in advance before we left), so it was really low-stress for both of them, which was really nice.

Not trying to have a debate here at all, just wanted to point out that I think it all depends on the child, the family AND the school district/schools rules/way of doing things. For some of us - it works!

true. I wish the schools were a little more accomadating. my daughter is a worrier!! she would be sick the whole time worrying about how behind she is LOL. she will be 16 in july and goes to a technical school and their grading is tough as well. what happend to 80 being a B!!?? one of the first things said at orientation after she was accepted was vacations are not excuseable. my daughter is also handicapped,she has spina bifida and with one of her medications sometimes the heat can be a little much for her and i have to keep an eye on her. hhmmm... maybe i can get her a disney note from her doctor for a week missed of school!!!
I am so looking forward to a fall or spring disney trip one day

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I agree with you. Some of the schools, like ours are very strict on taking them out for vacation, i myself have never done it. i think their education is more important. My daughter is a principals list student ranked #8 in her class and in all honors classes. A week missed of school would be extremely tough for her.

Her child is going into the 2nd grade, not high school.

And just because someone takes their kids out of school for a few days for vacation doesn't mean their family doesn't value their education. Don't turn this into one of "those" threads. Some school districts actually factor family vacation days into their yearly calendar.

 

[mskermit]

Believe me guys I wish it weren't that big a deal. Our August trip this year was originally booked for Sept. 21-Oct. 1. She would have only missed 4 days of school, due to a school holiday. Well I spoke with my daughter's current first grade teacher and her kindergarten teacher from last year. Both said they recommended us not pulling her. The school principal is a stickler for following all school board rules. Ranging from no siblings at school activities, to absolutely no homemade food being brought in for school activities. She even pulled the Halloween parade and holiday parties this year! Another rule is if your child has more than 10% unexcused absences (vacations fall under this) within one quarter they can and will fail them. Now who knows if the principle would really do that, but with a threat like that, her track record with other things and now having seen it in more than one parent newsletter from school through out this year I didn't want to take the risk. 4 days would have only been a 12% unexcused absence ratio for that quarter. I have no doubt my daughter would have been able to do the make up work and keep going without missing a beat, but the school principle...thats the real issue.

our principal runs an extremly tight ship too. It has its good points and bad points

 

[HoltDisney07]

Sorry everyone, my intention was not to cause a fuss. People are entitled to their own opinion with regard to pulling their kids for vacation. I know some topics can get touchy, but we shouldn't be condemning others just because we necessarily don't hold the same views. I am sure many factors are considered by families who do take their kids out of school for vacations and as such we as Disoholics cannot truly understand their circumstances/reasons. Personally I find nothing wrong with pulling your kids out for a vacation and would do it if our principal didn't have a problem with it and our situation allowed it. This way of thinking isn't for all and I respect that, to each his own.

Now back to the free dining offer watching. Also where are all of you thinking of staying and where have you stayed? Favorites and why?