Amazed and confused!

[samacita]

New here and learning quickly! Can't figure out though how so many of you have such scheduling flexibility to be able to make changes when a code comes out. I feel so limited with school age kids - the school year breaks are either at peak (super pricey, super crowded!!) times or are so short, like just a long weekend. Am I missing something here? How do you all do it? Open to any tips!!

 

[kat3668]

People just usually take thier kids out of school...... ask teachers for homework for the week and enjoy life! Your kids are only young once!
Unless they are in high school testing or doing mcas one week out should not kill them!

 

[samacita]

Oh, I see. As much as we're paying for school, we see it as the top priority! Thanks for the info.

 

[pjhootch]

You aren't alone and we don't have school age kids. However, all 5 of us work and trying to coordinate a time when all can go is pretty difficult. I find a week that could work for everyone and tell them to be prepared to take it off.

Then I wait to see if I can get a discount. No discount, no reservation, no trip.

 

[mickeynut1]

I think it's just some people's schedules are more flexible than others as well as some don't mind taking their kids out of school. My DH's job is very flexible as he can take days off whenever he wants and isn't tied to a certain number of days/weeks off a year. Along with that flexibility, we've never seen it as a problem taking our kids out of school. Our kids have missed school a few times in the past to take advantage of lower pricing and/or discounts. School is top priority here as well, but that doesn't mean it's wrong to take kids out of school for a vacation or that we don't care about education. With that said, the older they get, the more difficult it can be to take them out for extended periods of time. It's a little tougher now for us as we have 1 in college and 1 graduating high school this year, but we work it out where everyone is happy. Having kids miss school is a personal preference, IMO, and there's nothing wrong with not wanting to take kids out of school, but there's also nothing wrong with thinking it's ok.

 

[twoplustwins]

We are leaving the weekend after our last day of school in May.

 

[Sammie]

Oh, I see. As much as we're paying for school, we see it as the top priority! Thanks for the info.

Don't feel bad, it is very hard to schedule it when you put your kid's school first over a Disney vacation. When do yours get out. If you get there in May or even early August, crowds are not bad. Now in early August you will deal with the heat.

Good luck and hope you find a code that works for you.

 

[olecow]

We may be in a similar boat. Our kids attend a Christian school which we pay for. When all our kids were in grade school we would take them out of school for a few days because they could handle it. We also had a four day weekend the last weekend of October because their teachers would attend conferences on that Thursday and Friday. So we would take them out of school for a couple of days before that and have almost a week to spend at Disney.

Now that our oldest is in high school we've chosen not to take him out of school. We're going right after they're all out of school this year(June 2-9). It's the summer season but it's early enough in the summer where it's not crazy yet. When it comes to Disney we find you have to be creative.

 

[ErinsMommy]

We consider school a top priority as well, but to me a week off isn't going to make or break her grades.

 

[lthiesfeld07]

As a teacher, I don't mind when there is a family vacation. If it happens multiple times, than I would be concerned. Most of the time, parents request work ahead of time and are willing to work with me to get all of the make up work!

 

[wdw4rfam]

We homeschool now, so we go whenever we want. But even when the kids went to private school that we paid for, we took them out for a week. They got the SAME work that the kids in school got, only had to do it at home. we always tried to schedule a week bEFORE break, because the crowds were lower and then they had their break to do their work so that they weren't behind the other kids when school went back.

 

[Kingdome8]

We pay for school and I think school is super important.
That said were taking our kids out on April 20th for a week. Their only in 3rd grade and kindergartn. So won't miss much. But I feel family vacations are important too. Something we will always remember. Plus doesn't hurt April is cheaper and not as busy.
I live and work for our vacations. Try to take 2 goods one a year.

 

[michygoomy]

We avoid taking them out of school -- it gets especially hard when they are in high school and have activities. Plus I don't want them having to do homework on their vacation -- it's their vacation, too. Also, we like to go 10 days -- that's too much missed school.

We try to go as early in June as possible or as late in August as possible. That makes for slightly better summer crowds. Plan well, avoid EMH parks, always get to the parks early, etc....use the usual strategies to make best use of your time.

This year my youngest two are going to miss the last three days of school so we can go at the end of a conference I'm attending at a really great rate at the Contemporary. I've found that to be the less impactful time to miss school, though you don't want to do it when a kid is on the cusp (8th grade, 12th grade, etc) because you don't want them to miss stuff.

 

[samacita]

Thanks so much for all the input. I really love hearing the differing opinions. It's helpful to know what other families do. I still don't know what the best time will be for us yet, and I'm doubtful that we'll be able to work our dates around a code, but I definitely appreciate the responses!!! Thx.

 

[DisneyATlast]

This year will be our first Disney trip, and I thought about this too, but decided we will just take them out of school for the week. As a former teacher, I know it's really not a big deal from their perspective as long as there is no important testing going on.

Keeping that in mind, I'll make sure they don't miss any other days unless they are sick in which case they will have a doctor's excuse. Parents can write a note 5 times per semester and be excused so I intend to use all 5 days for our vacation.

 

[JennSaint]

Thanks so much for all the input. I really love hearing the differing opinions. It's helpful to know what other families do. I still don't know what the best time will be for us yet, and I'm doubtful that we'll be able to work our dates around a code, but I definitely appreciate the responses!!! Thx.

I know it's hard to pull your kids out but that said even if you can pull them out for a few days before an official school vacation starts it can save you alot of money. For instance if you can get a flight out on the Wednesday evening before President's weekend and allow the kids to just miss two days it can save you quite a bit of money on flights and most of the time as long as you check into a Disney hotel on that day you will get to apply the code for your entire stay.
Chances are those couple of days before a school vacation are light on learning etc.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I don't pull my kids out of school either. They are older, there's no such thing as being allowed to make up work if you miss because of vacation - schools are strict here.

But our schools get out for the year before Memorial Day weekend. So we try to go not long after that before alot of other school around the country are out to help avoid some of the summer crowds.

This year I was thrilled when the current discounts out are still good through the middle of June 2013. So I was able to get us a room at a discount which really helps us alot.


Good luck finding a time that works for you!

 

[samacita]

For instance if you can get a flight out on the Wednesday evening before President's weekend and allow the kids to just miss two days it can save you quite a bit of money on flights and most of the time as long as you check into a Disney hotel on that day you will get to apply the code for your entire stay.

Presidents Day was initially our top choice! School is closed Thur, Fri, & Mon that weekend so it seemed ideal. When I looked at average crowds and room rates, though, was surprised that it looks about as bad as Xmas & spring break. Frustrating!!

Nice to know the codes apply the whole stay. Very helpful!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Nice to know the codes apply the whole stay. Very helpful!!

Unless things have changed, free dining is the only promo that is good for the entire stay as long as you check in on the last day it's available. Room discounts are date specific and only apply to the dates that are offered in the promo. Any dates that fall outside that window will be at rack rate.

 

[nicki.momof3]

We have 3 children (grades 2,4,5) and we could never pull them out of school. I don't pass any judgement on those that do (glad it works for your families) but it is just not how we priortize our family life.

Schools here are only in session 180 days a year. That leaves plenty of time for trips without missing school.

We go to WDW 1-2 times a year. The week before Christmas is often a school break (depending on when the holiday falls) and it is often discounted. The last 2 years we have gotten free dining by traveling that week and we did not pull our kids out of school. We leave Friday night after school gets out and return 10 days later (still during break). As long as you check in during the FD period you get it your entire stay (through the holidays).

We are also going spring break 2013. We got discounted tickets through the spring offer and saved about $350. We don't mind the crowds and we enjoy have a nice 10 day tip with out worring about missing school, making up work, and completing owrk during a trip. Even though our kids are young our school is very demanding and missing 10 days would require a ton of make up work.

OP whatever you do I hope you and your family have a wonderful trip. WDW is amazing.