Best times to take teenager

[JoanneDisFan]

DD just started high school this year. That mean she can't miss very many days without losing credit for her classes. So no more September Disney trips. When is the best (least crowded) time to go, when kids are out of school? DH doesn't like crowds.

 

[jar]

perhaps MLK weekend? I also look for weekends when my kids have no school on a Friday for p/t conferences and try to reschedule mine.

 

[laughinplace199]

We like the end of August, although you do have to worry about weather a bit (hurricane season).

 

[ajwolfe]

Honestly, we didn't think May was bad when we just went and we usually go in the quieter times. We even bumped up against memorial day weekend and was still okay with it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

MLK week was our choice. It is the end of semester and they often get 3 days off so a 5 day trip with the week-end or miss two and make it a full week. Also play on the end of school or vacation. First week out, or last week before return, decreases the number of kids out of school just a bit. We have done first week of January but found it really crowded. Look at fall break, or any other teacher work days and maybe build on that. Fly instead of drive and cut a couple days off as well. If you choose to pull a couple days and stack with days off, choose a semester that is easier than another one to do so.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

My family bites the bullet and goes during Spring Break. I simply can't miss any classes. We were supposed to go in 2015 but I can afford to miss the classes or volleyball.

Otherwise like PPs said, the end of August depending on her school schedule.

 

[texasroni75]

It depends on where you live. When we lived in NJ, we found that the winter break was best (mid to late February). Not only did the kids avoid missing school days, but boy was it nice to get away from the subzero temps for a week.

Here in TX, school breaks aren't nearly as convenient (no Feb break). To avoid super-crowded park days, we did a December trip that overlapped the school break - so they only missed two school days at the beginning of the trip, and the rest were days the school was closed for Christmas break.

I have to say that mid-December was awesome. We left before the big Christmas Eve and Christmas Day crowds arrived (our checkout was 12/22), but still got to enjoy all the decorations without missing a ton of school.

 

[monorailmom]

We like the end of August, although you do have to worry about weather a bit (hurricane season).

I second for the middle/end of August. (We are in MA too). Our school starts the Tues. before Labor Day, so we just plan as close as we can without running into the first day.

 

[JoanneDisFan]

I'm in Arkansas and school this year started Aug 18th. Only breaks we get are Oct 17th, Week of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Jan 16 & 19th, Feb 27th, spring break, and memorial day. Last day of school (baring snow days) is May 28th.

She can't miss any school this year. Last year we did a week at Disney and ended up taking another week before that when my MIL passed away. DD really struggled to keep up in all her classes. That and state law is if they miss 5 classes in a semester they don't get the credit for the course.

So of those dates what would be our best option?

 

[bigbabyblues]

We like to leave as soon as the final bell rings on the last day of school. For us, that is the Friday before Memorial Day. Yes, you hit M-Day weekend crowds but we haven't had a problem.

 

[karly05]

I'm in Arkansas and school this year started Aug 18th. Only breaks we get are Oct 17th, Week of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Jan 16 & 19th, Feb 27th, spring break, and memorial day. Last day of school (baring snow days) is May 28th.

She can't miss any school this year. Last year we did a week at Disney and ended up taking another week before that when my MIL passed away. DD really struggled to keep up in all her classes. That and state law is if they miss 5 classes in a semester they don't get the credit for the course.

So of those dates what would be our best option?

What is the likelihood of snow days/makeup days at the end of the year? Given the choices, I think I'd go as soon as you can after the school year ends (end of May/beginning of June). Barring that, when is your Spring Break? If it's not the week on either side of Easter, that might be an alternative.