Calling all school system employees....

[kennezgirl]

Just wondering when you go to the World and how crowded it is. Last year, I took a week off without pay and went the week before Thanksgiving (Nov 14th I think). It was wonderful...great weather and low crowds...we did not wait for more than fifteen minutes for anything. I have heard that if you go on the school breaks and in the summer that you are only getting half of the vacation that you can get during off-peak times. I am a bit worried about asking for another week off during the school year, though I would love to go the second week of December. Anyone else take time off from work? If not, what has your experience been?

THANK YOU!

 

[Debby7]

For the last 12 years, I have gone with my family to WDW the first week of December. I have asked for and been granted paid personal days each time.
I almost never take any other days off and am the # 7 on the district seniority list. When we go in the summer, it is just not the same experience.

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

We have the entire week of Thanksgiving off so we travel then. Usually we leave the Friday before and come back the Friday after Thanksgiving. That way I still have a few days at home before going back to work.

 

[disneyjunkie]

All of our trips have been during school breaks, one during the summer and two during spring break. Our April 2004 trip was during Easter.

We've always had great trips. Everything is up and running and all of the parks are open late.

We're at the parks when they open and use fastpass often. During out trips we've always been able to ride our favorites several times. Since our ADRs are booked in advance, we never have a problem eating where/when we want.

Believe me, it's possible to have an awesome trip during school breaks

 

[Dancemom]

I teach second grade so we always go in the summer. We didn't go this year but I already have reservations for SOG the first week in June 2007. We always have a great time. We use fastpass and the early EMH so we usually don't wait long in lines. I don't mind the hot weather, I'd rather be hot in WDW than in St. Louis!

 

[emnrich]

Slackers here. Wife teaches kindergarten and I teach high school. We go in September.

Rode Space Mountain without getting out of the car. That's how busy it is.

 

[taximomfor4]

DH is a public school teacher. His district does NOT allow time off of school to travel. Even if they did, DH would not do it. He even missed being best man in his best friend's wedding because he still had 3 more days to teach before Christmas break when the wedding took place, and it was out of state.

So........last year we went over Spring Break (arrived on Easter and stayed all week long). It was BEAUTIFUL weather, and the MK was open extra late because of the crowds. But it was VERY crowded. VERY crowded.

We went again, in August, as late as we could, and came back to ohio the day before DH had to go back to work. It was very,very hot. Not kidding. DD3 got very listless in MGM while waiting for LMA at 10am, our very first attraction of the day. She had heat exhaustion.

That said, DH says we can never go back over Easter ever again. So this year we are going in August again. Luckily, free dining starts a little earlier this year so we are getting it for most of our stay!!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

My district does not allow me to use my personal days the day before or after a break period, but other than that I can use them to travel. For two years (01 and 02) we used 2 of them in December to get a 4 day weekend. This won't work anymore because DD#1 is in HS and you can exempt one of your semester exams if you miss 3 days or less per semester--it is important that she be able to do that with her academic record so far! Plus she is cheering now and in the past you were excused if you vacationed with your family and missed games--but that changed this year and there are more consequences.
Our spring breaks are usually different (theirs is the week before Easter this year; mine is the week after) so that is out. So summer it is! But we had a great week this month and I think the worst crowds were MK on EMH days.
Robin M.

 

[ShelbyR]

I teach in one district and my daughter attends another; our breaks never match up. We were there from 6/25 - 7/3: we walked on to almost everything and never stood in line for more than 15 minutes for anything. I think the people having "half the vacation" who have no plan and wander into the first 120 minute line they see.

 

[jpeka65844]

Isn't it sad that the regulations regarding vacations for school employees makes you feel GUILTY or even worse, PENALIZE you for spending time with your own family? I mean, I know teachers get 2 months off in the summer (whoever says it's 3 months is WRONG!!!) but still....summer's not the ONLY time you want to have with your brood.

We're going to wedding of a dear friend in August and I have to take a Friday off; the 2nd day of school!!! I have to take it without pay or "call in sick"!

DH and I DESPERATELY want to go to WDW in an off-season; we're DVC members now and it would be a great way to use points in a way we'd NEVER be able to if we went at peak. But how on earth would I get that time off?????

DH jokes that we should play the lottery so he could quit his job. But.....oh wait.....he can take vacation anytime he wants; I'M the one that would get to quit my job!



Denice T.
Olathe, KS

 

[DisneyParkFan]

Mostly it is summers for me, usually June after school lets out and the records and classroom are done. I have been to WDW for Thanksgiving twice but had to take the Wednesday off as a personal day. This year I am planning on going in early December and again need to take one personal day to make it a four day weekend. I still need to let the new principal know this, the assistant principal already knows because this is when she usually goes to WDW. The new principal said in passing she would like to go to year-round schooling. We are a Catholic school, and the archdiocese isn't year-round, but this would allow vacation time in the off-season for teachers and families.
I have been to WDW, DL, and DLP during the summer. Of the three, DL is best during the summer!

 

[bethann1970]

Luckily in my district we are allowed personal days for vacation, or, if you would rather not say, you can do that too. You just check the box *Personal. They figure it's my time, and it's personal days, so I shouldn't have to explain myself. I made sure to have an extra day rollover from last year to use this December..taking 3 days off. (It's only my 2nd year in district so I don't have many days built up!)

 

[JungleJim]

Wife and I are both teachers in the same district. We found out (after going to WDW two years in a row) that one week can make a huge difference. The first year was very crowded. The second year was half the crowd. The difference? The second year we went a week later in August, after the Florida schools had begun. I will never go early again. (I know better than to go during spring break....although we don't get a spring break this year!! )

 

[I Love Pluto]

July here. I know it's hot, but that's the way it is. I'm a music teacher, and taking time off for travel just doesn't fit. There are so many rehearsals, concerts, trips to nursing homes, etc., that I just can't seem to fit it all in.

 

[Williamsfamily7]

Our 4 past trips have been during "Jersey Week" before I was a school employee. Crowds were always pretty managable. Now I work in one public school district, my 2 kids go to another public and a private. NO vacations really match-up - except Summer. I would never consider using personal days during the school year for myself for vacation, and the kids are in HS so I wouldn't pull them out for a Disney trip. Therefore, we're going the 3rd week of August. Have my fingers crossed about the crowds!!

I think the whole personal days for vacation must vary from district to district, maybe state to state. I know where I work it is REALLY frowned upon - you can't do it unless you want to be deceptive. I have no problem with that rule because I don't think you should be able to use them - they are called "personal" days, not "vacation" days. Don't care how you slice it, I think the summer and school breaks are when school employees should be taking vacation - at least where I work. Just like accountants usually find it impossible to take vacation from January - April. There are some responsibilities that come along with some jobs. Whatever job you have, you have to take the good with the bad. Just my opinion! And like I said above - maybe it's different in other places.

 

[Kteacher]

I usually go April vacation week or in the summer. We're used to the crowds now , and the heat I can take personal days for travel, although they discourage people from using them all at once. I have taken a 4 day weekend in December once, and I'm taking another 4 day weekend this October. Of course the Dec. trip coincided with Pop Warner, and the Oct. trip coincides with F&W festival, Columbus Day weekend, and the tail end of free DDP, so I'm expecting it to be busy. Oh, well, at least I get to go to WDW

 

[Samsma]

We are going in Nov. with a friend who teaches Kindergarten. She has a brand new boss this year and she will have to ask for 2 days off the day she goes back to school!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think the whole personal days for vacation must vary from district to district, maybe state to state. I know where I work it is REALLY frowned upon - you can't do it unless you want to be deceptive. I have no problem with that rule because I don't think you should be able to use them - they are called "personal" days, not "vacation" days. Don't care how you slice it, I think the summer and school breaks are when school employees should be taking vacation - at least where I work. Just like accountants usually find it impossible to take vacation from January - April. There are some responsibilities that come along with some jobs. Whatever job you have, you have to take the good with the bad. Just my opinion! And like I said above - maybe it's different in other places.

ITA

 

[sarahsmom73]

I took a day before our Thanksgiving break and the Monday after. I had to get permission from our Superintendent... I have always gone in April during April break and I found November to be much less crowded even with Thanksgiving! The Magic Kingdom was dead the Sunday morning aftwe Thanksgiving! I would do it again in a heart beat!

 

[DisneyMama2H&O]

I'm a teacher here also. I work in a huge & I mean huge school district. I know many teachers who take days off during the school year to go on vacations and yes many of them head to WDW. A few years ago my DH and I were in our friends wedding in WDW Labor day weekend. I happened to be opening a brand new school that year and had to ask my principal for 3 days off to attend. (I was back for the first day of school) and she not only said yes but was just as excited as I was. She's awesome but she also has a son in Florida and takes off a few weeks each school year to travel also.

Our school district doesn't start back until after Labor Day and the teachers go back the last week in August. We went last year the 3rd week in August and we're pleasantly surprised at the low crowds. We're headed back again this summer same week and will probably stick with this time for the next few years.