Anyone gone to the Disney Homeschool Days?

[anabelle]

It looks like the free dining rumor is running strong. So might be able to swing a trip after all. I know there are usually two homeschool days, the one in January and one in September. Anyone ever gone? Is it more for little kids. I have teens

 

[TheRatPack]

We've not been....but I wanted to. Seems like it wasn't during our dates though (Sept 26th thru October 4th). I just checked and don't see the dates this year, yet....but again, seems like it was earlier in Sept maybe? I kind of did a quick search and saw the dates Sept 13th -19th come up.....for last year. So probably around the same time this year? The week we go (end of Sept) is when food and wine festival starts.

http://disneyyouthgroups.disney.go.com/wdyp/programs/programOverview?page=HSDProgramOverviewPage

 

[arielmomma]

I know that they did it in January but I did not know about September. If anyone gets any information please post it. We will be there 9/18-9/27 and would be interested in checking it out. My son is just finishing kindergarten this year and I am always looking into new homeschool activities - I would love to make WDW part of that.

 

[liv luvs disney]

Disney home school days are September 21-22 this year. Obviously, the January dates are not available yet. They JUST released September's dates last week. I have never been to hs days, but I am this year with FREE FOOD!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

We did it last year on Sept. 15-16th. It was a nice program at AK that time (it changes each Jan./Sept.) and we had to take a day to do the HS tables and then come back the following day to tour AK. The ticket prices were AMAZING, btw.

 

[arielmomma]

We did it last year on Sept. 15-16th. It was a nice program at AK that time (it changes each Jan./Sept.) and we had to take a day to do the HS tables and then come back the following day to tour AK. The ticket prices were AMAZING, btw.

Do you know how much the tickets are for this year? Is it primarily aimed at older kids or is there something for the little ones?

 

[disney_family_1247]

subscribing

 

[anabelle]

Disney home school days are September 21-22 this year. Obviously, the January dates are not available yet. They JUST released September's dates last week. I have never been to hs days, but I am this year with FREE FOOD!

I do not see the dates on the Disney Homeschool days webpage. I booked the week of Sept. 12th-19th. Where did you see the dates?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I do not know this year's prices b/c we aren't going this year (FIL is retired military and those tickets are even cheaper) but last year they were $156 and some change for 5 day waterpark/disneyquest/HOPPERS! Totally worth it!

They had little tables set up in different areas of the park where they did little educational things with the kids. We had a good time!

I'm surprised that someone said it was at the end of Sept this year? They usually do it the 2nd Monday and Tuesday of the month.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Here is the site: http://disneyyouthgroups.disney.go.com/wdyp/programs/programOverview?page=HSDProgramOverviewPage

I don't see any dates either, it says "We are currently planning the next Disney Homeschool Days. Stay tuned for more information. If you would like to be the first to know the event's details, please let us know. "

 

[anabelle]

I found it
It reads

Disney Homeschool Days invites your homeschoolers to discover the magic of learning! Join us September 21 and 22 for a trip around the "World" with Disney Homeschool Days at Epcot®. You will be inspired with a special guest speaker series and will encounter eye-opening experiences around every corner through self-guided education materials


I changed my ressie and am soooo excited. I thought there was no way we could go this year. Room, food and tickets for less than half the cost.

 

[NiniMorris]

Anabelle,

Can you give me the link for that info? I'm obviously challenged tonight!

Nini

 

[anabelle]

Sorry I found it

http://disneyyouthgroups.disney.go.com/wdyp/listing/listingPageRender?page=HSDEventInfoListingPage


It is not on the front page.

 

[lisalonglash]

Yay, a thread specifically about the Sept. 21-22 homeschool days! Oh and yes, those are the dates I received directly from Disney yesterday when I emailed them asking for more info about Homeschool Days and the YES program.

I have asked my wonderful TA to change our dates to Sept. 12-26 to cover the homeschool days dates - our trip will still end up being only 7-8 nights during that time period, but at least we'll hopefully have free dining booked!

I've googled the last homeschool days in January, looking for info and pricing, but I didn't get the best results.

I wonder if this is even an option for us? We have a package booked already (room, tickets and free dining will be booked on Monday ) - how would my TA get us the homeschool park passes instead of the MYW passes?

Questions, questions

 

[anabelle]

Yay, a thread specifically about the Sept. 21-22 homeschool days! Oh and yes, those are the dates I received directly from Disney yesterday when I emailed them asking for more info about Homeschool Days and the YES program.

I have asked my wonderful TA to change our dates to Sept. 12-26 to cover the homeschool days dates - our trip will still end up being only 7-8 nights during that time period, but at least we'll hopefully have free dining booked!

I've googled the last homeschool days in January, looking for info and pricing, but I didn't get the best results.

I wonder if this is even an option for us? We have a package booked already (room, tickets and free dining will be booked on Monday ) - how would my TA get us the homeschool park passes instead of the MYW passes?

Questions, questions

Tell your TA to only purchase the minimum ticket requirement to qualify for the package (one day base). You will then need to register for the event yourself. (When it opens up). Once you register, you can buy your own discounted event tickets.

 

[carolrie]

Yea! I am so excited for this! We are going 9/17-26 so we will be there. I have 2 dd's (8 and 11) Maybe we should plan a meet? We have never done this before. Does anyone have any info on previous programs? We love Epcot and my girls are excited to try the new Kim Possible attraction there as well.

 

[anabelle]

My daughter is 11. She would love to meet new friends. She wants to take an art class. I have looked up the list of YES classes they offer and they have an art one. I can't wait to see what they offer specifically for the week.

 

[liv luvs disney]

Tell your TA to only purchase the minimum ticket requirement to qualify for the package (one day base). You will then need to register for the event yourself. (When it opens up). Once you register, you can buy your own discounted event tickets.

Yes, this is what I did just to get FD. I paid $225 for 1 day tix to get FD, but I will get 3, 4, or 5 (don't know yet) tix with the HS package. This was still cheaper than buying tix through HS group and paying for dining. I have not personally been, but I know families who have and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I mean it's Disney, how can you NOT enjoy it? Can't wait!

 

[MiniGirl]

My oldest will have just turned 10 and my youngest is now 7. This will be our first homeschool days and we are excited. We are passholders though. Does anyone know how the tickets work for pass holders? Just curious.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Here are some pictures from last fall's homeschool days at AK. These are not the extra classes, but what they have set up all over the park of choice. You do have to sign up though (not sure my friend did it for all 4 of us) and before going into the park you go up to a table and get a bracelet. If you don't have one they will have you go get one as the tables are NOT open to other kids in the park, just the homeschoolers, I watched them tell people this over and again. This time they had a card that was filled out with a letter at each station and at the end all the letters spelled something.

The stations were all over, the one's pictured here:

Behind Tusker House they had the kids run and told them how far a cheetah could run in that time, had them flap their "wings" and told them how many times a hummingbird would have flapped theirs, etc.

Another was a conservation boardgame they played in a station set up across from Flights of Wonder:

Another station was near Dinosaur, they got to identify POOP!

It was a lot of fun but we did not finish the first day (the booths closed down at 2pm) but went back the 2nd day and hit one of the other booths we had missed while also going on all the attractions we missed the first day! There was an area back behind the conservation station where only staff is allowed that they had a matching/guessing game on bugs set up. It was kind of cool to be back there. I won't post pics tho b/c I'm pretty sure that's not allowed!