anyone else tied to school hols??

[Netty]

HI!!
As I now work in a school, I'm tied to going in the school hols.
We have been to florida in august before but it's usually been the last week and first week of sept.
We are now trying to decide when the best time is to go.
If your also tied to these hols, what weeks do you tend to pick to go?
Do you leave it as late as poss , or go as soon as kids break up?
Jeanette

 

[juliebro]

Hi Jeanette

We are tied to school holidays too - but find the thought of the heat and crowds in July & August just too offputting. We have been twice (and are just finalising our next trip) in April. We find the weather just great - but then we don't have anything to compare it to!

Julie

 

[Disney owl]

yes I'm tied to school holidays too, I work as a special needs assistant in a junior school.

We're lucky because our authority gives us 2 weeks at Spring Bank - last week of may & 1st week in June & we prefer to go then. But not many authorities do this, does yours?

last year we went in August because eldest DS was taking his exams & we couldn't take him out of school. High schools only get a week.

it was much more expensive at August & it rained more!!!!!! but like you we didn't have a lot of choice.

 

[***SandieUK***]

I'm tied to school hols and we have been twice in April and we're off again in just over six weeks! It is crowded but, on the plus side, the parks are open much longer and you get lots of atmosphere at the shows. Weather is hot (high 80s) which is warm enough for me!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Suddenly people are plunged into school work and it's with slow realisation that they realise that they now have to take set holidays. No-one ever considers us teachers, yes true it is my profession of choice, no-one made me do it, but why should I be penalised with higher prices just because of the job that I do? It's ok if you have kids you can remove them for 10 days from school for a family holiday - will someone come and remove me for 10 days? Not at £150 per day at the school's cost for a supply teacher. So please people don't moan about working in school. We usually go as soon as I've broken up in summer, yes it's hot but hey, I'm too excited to wait. As well as needing a much deserved break. I've heard that Easter is the best time to go weather wise, but I've never been at that time of year...here's hoping.....

 

[SEVANS2208]

We're tied to school holidays and find the best time to go is end of August/beginning of Sep. The US schools have gone back then so it's not quite so crowded.

 

[gingernick]

Hi, my wife is a teacher so school holidays for us too. We're giving Easter (3rd April to 18th) a try for our 1st trip to Orlando. We know it'll be busy then but we are going to have a great time. I am working quite hard using all the great tips posted here to plan our trip, not commando style just which park on which day, which rides we want to go on & in some kind of order rather than get there & be looking at a map & wondering where we are.

 

[mkingdon]

We aren't tied as such, but DW just WILL NOT have the DDs at home for a full six weeks in summer. She would go insane!!

So we always go the last two weeks in August, getting back just before term starts.

Yes, it's hot then, with some rain, but crowds are light as American schools go back in mid August.

That is a good compromise...but I heartily agree that anyone who doesnot want to take their kids out of school is penalised by ridiculously inflated holiday prices.

I once priced our usual holiday up if we went in term time, in Feb. I was depressed for weeks!!!!!!!!

Cheers

Craig

 

[yorkshiregirl]

Hi,
We have been the middle 2 weeks in July for the last 2 years. First time at FW and the second time a villa. Yes it was hot but we went early and came back for a siesta and then back until the parks closed. Drink plenty of water and follow the good tips you can pick up here like wrapping your flannels around frozen drink bottles so later on you can mop your brows with a cool cloth and have a nice cool drink. You will need raincoats etc. for the afternoon thunderstorms.
We are both lecturers so can get away a little earlier than the schools and our teenagers had either gone into 6th form or missed the last week. Lets hope the terms are changed as is being proposed but I suppose the travel industry will just move the higher prices to whenever the breaks are.
Don't ask how much for 4 adults in high season, it makes your eyes water but well worth every penny.
April and Christmas always looked to be the same cost but climate wise more gentle.
This year we are going on our own to Disneyland and touring California
Yorkshire girl

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Our Scottish school holidays are a little different. I'm a teacher and we break up on June 25th until August 16th.

We always go a week after the schools finish - so this year we fly out on July 3rd.

Won't go at Easter as we go over for 3 weeks at a time so I have to go in summer. It's a hard life but I just press on regardless .

I did go over for 8 nights at Christmas. It was an amazing experience.

Louise

 

[Netty]

Thanks everyone,
Julie do you go at easter time then?
Is it very crowded?
Disney owl you are very lucky we only get a week off that time not 2 like you!!
KV Brown,
you misunderstand me, I'm not moaning about being tied to school hols, I just wanted to know what two weeks out of the six people preferred... As I said, we have been last week of aug and first week of sept.
But the new term starts on the 1st sept this year.
I wouldn't swap my job for the world, I work with autistic kids and love it.

Jeanette

 

[TinkTatoo]

Holidays are different in Ireland and my two break up at the end of June for 9 weeks As they both have autism I wouldn't dream of taking them out of school in term time.

I couldn't face 9 weeks of trying to keep them amused with our iffy weather so we usually go at the begining of August for 3 weeks. It gives us something to look forward to and we still have about a week when we get back for them to get over the jet lag.

It can be crowded and hot but it's all we know (never been any other time)

(this is me at 6 weeks into the school holidays)

(This is me in WDW)

 

[Hilary]

When DDs were younger we did take them out of school to add a week on to the October half term for a few years, but now that they are older we're tied to university terms and GCSE / AS / A level timetables for the forseeable future.

We have been to Orlando at Easter before and are going again this Easter Yes, it's busy, yes it's expensive (although by taking DD out of school for three days we managed to save an awful lot!), but the weather really suits us and it's much better than not going at all!

I do sympathise with anyone tied to taking holidays out of term time - it's something that has put me off looking for work in a school environment (trained as a teacher many years ago) as I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, with youngest DD nearing the age when she'll be out of school terms in a few years. I don't want to be the only one in the family tied to term times when the DDs are finally out of it!

 

[TracyK]

Netty, I'm in the same position. I personally would choose the last two weeks of August over Easter. Easter is cheaper and the weather is lovely but the crowds can be horrendous. After Easter 2002 I vowed never to go at Easter again. The last two weeks of August are A LOT less crowded. The weather can be unpredictable and the prices are sky high but I would much rather that than the huge crowds at Easter.
Tracy

 

[Grumpy John]

Not trying to be controversial here but teachers do have 13/14+ weeks paid holiday a year so should have plenty of weeks to pick from.

People who work in other professions/industry on the whole only get 5 weeks a year and in some cases are told when they can have holidays.

So come on lets put things in perspective please.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by Grumpy John
So come on lets put things in perspective please.

John, I think the contributors to this thread have kept things in perspective. I can't see anybody complaining that they don't get enough holidays and have too few weeks to choose from. See the comments from Jeanette and Louise for example.

The problem, as many people with school-age children or those who work in education will be only too aware of, is that there is a significant price increase for each of those 13+ weeks that you mention. For many families this makes the difference of being able to affords to go during term-time, but not being able to afford it during school holidays. Those families whose restrictions arise from their school-age children at least have the option of skipping school (although this is not without its problems), but those who work in education have no choice. Those who work in education do not have this option. I know a number of teachers for whom the cost of a Florida holiday during July/August is beyond their means, excpet for that once-in-a-lifetime for which they have to save for several years.

As you say, there are other workers who have fewer holidays and restrictions, but I don't see any of the contributors in this thread bemoaning their lot as a downtrodden teacher - simply exchanging views on how best to make their use of their holiday time.

Regards

Rob

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Originally posted by Grumpy John
Not trying to be controversial here but teachers do have 13/14+ weeks paid holiday a year so should have plenty of weeks to pick from.

I did not see anyone complaining that they don't get enough holidays. I certainly didn't mean that in my previous post.

I was just explaining how I select my holiday time. My choice is based on the length of holiday I want - in my case 3 weeks. As I said, the summer is my only option according to my own choice.

I would happily go in October but it would only be for a week in that case and I'd have to weigh up the proc and cons of that.

I'm very well aware that teachers have generous holidays. You sound slightly resentful of this fact. To you I say this - work for a week in a class of 26 6 year olds and then decide. Also, the holidays are for the children as well. They need time away from school to be children.

Louise

 

[Grumpy John]

As I said I was not trying to controversial just expressing a point of view from outside the teaching profession.

We all choose what we do with our careers. I do not doubt for one minute that 26 6 yr olds are a handful.

But I answer that statement with, it is not an easy life working in a job where most weeks consist of 45-50 hours, where deadlines are of the upmost importance, you go to bed not knowing if the phone is going to ring due to problems etc etc. I could go on.

As I said it was my point of view, I did not mean to touch any nerve ends.

 

[Enright78]

Originally posted by Grumpy John


But I answer that statement with, it is not an easy life working in a job where most weeks consist of 45-50 hours, where deadlines are of the upmost importance, you go to bed not knowing if the phone is going to ring due to problems etc etc. I could go on.

Sounds just like MY job in education!!!!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

The point being made, Grumpy John, is that my plentiful 'hoildays' (during which time I need to spend many hours doing school work) must be taken at premium price times, I did not complain that I don't get enough. And just don't get me started on hours - Do you work 8am-11.00pm each day? I think not - I do!!!! vSorry to get on my high horse but I've had enough of antiteacher comments