Dear Disney, Spring Break in Texas in 2013 is March 9, not March 15

[MandyGirl]

There is NO law as such in Texas regarding a state-aligned Spring Break. DCL could not predict as such, and not all districts have adopted their 2012-2013 academic calendars yet.

Spring Breaks vary from district to district as adopted by their local school board. There is a set minimum number of school days (180) and a set date schools may begin the schoolyear (not prior to the fourth Monday of August). (Source) There is, however, a state assessment calendar for assessments (such as STARR) to help meet the No Child Left Behind requirements which must be taken into consideration when a district is planning school holidays. Each district has quite some legroom when developing their district's calendar, which goes through District/Campus Site Based Committees prior to being adopted by their School Board.

Examples for varying 2012 Spring Breaks of two districts in Texas:
Dallas ISD Spring Break March 12 - 16
Canton ISD Spring Break April 2 - 6

These two district's boundaries are less than 100 miles from each other.

Texas colleges do not coordinate Spring Breaks either.

The airports would have quite the challenge handling the entire state on Spring Break at once IMHO.

 

[Milio99]

Denton ISD Spring Break is March 19-23 this year. The week after the "rest" of Texas. It worked out great for us though as rates for condos in Port Aransas are a lot cheaper since it's not the traditional Spring Break. Much easier to get time off at work too.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Disney, you messed up! Spring Break is an excellent time for an 8 night cruise. But you scheduled the 6 night cruise out of Galveston for Texas' Spring Break, and the 8 night cruise for the following week. Maybe you thought Texas' Spring Break was March 15?

When I first read your post I thought you were being funny, but I realize now that you were serious. .

I very highly doubt Disney was basing their cruise schedule on your town's Spring Break. In fact, it seems to me that people further away would need their Sping Break to land on the 8 dayer so they have travel time before and after their cruise, whereas those in Galveston only need the actual days of the cruise.

- Dreams

 

[okcarrie]

I'm pretty sure that the week of the 15th is Oklahoma's Spring Break week though. We are looking at possibly taking that trip.

Yes March 15th is our spring break and we are booking! So excited!

 

[kimgg]

[QUOTEQuote:
Originally Posted by fatfish
Disney, you messed up! Spring Break is an excellent time for an 8 night cruise. But you scheduled the 6 night cruise out of Galveston for Texas' Spring Break, and the 8 night cruise for the following week. Maybe you thought Texas' Spring Break was March 15?

When I first read your post I thought you were being funny, but I realize now that you were serious. .

I very highly doubt Disney was basing their cruise schedule on your town's Spring Break. In fact, it seems to me that people further away would need their Sping Break to land on the 8 dayer so they have travel time before and after their cruise, whereas those in Galveston only need the actual days of the cruise.

- Dreams QUOTE]

She didn't say town, she said state - and Texas at that (not your average size state either). Houston (close to Galveston) has a bigger population than many states in the US.

That said, I think the majority of Texas is on spring break on 3/9, although I know of no law that makes it so. I know the SB breaks have varied in the past although it seems like more and more they are lining up w/ each other.

Just wanted to point out there is no reason to think the OP is joking when she talks about TX having enough population to warrant a consideration. We are far from being a "town." Although I can't say that Disney considers such things regardless of where the port is (but we know they must b/c of the price jumps during those weeks). Of course people from other areas travel to Galveston I realize, but I'm sure a good percentage are from Texas! It would have to be mostly people from the middle states and Mexico, as it seems to be much cheaper to sail from either coast, including on the Dream and Fantasy which are newer and larger ships, especially during the out of school time periods.

I am going on the Fantasy 3/9 and on the meets thread it is mostly Texans on spring break and Canadians . It is cheaper for me to fly to Florida and sail on a new larger ship than sail out of my backyard on the Magic. Sure wish those Galveston prices would come down to be more reasonable. Shows Texans love to cruise Disney !

 

[Disney Dreams]

She didn't say town, she said state - and Texas at that (not your average size state either). Houston (close to Galveston) has a bigger population than many states in the US....

Just wanted to point out there is no reason to think the OP is joking when she talks about TX having enough population to warrant a consideration. We are far from being a "town." Although I can't say that Disney considers such things regardless of where the port is (but we know they must b/c of the price jumps during those weeks). Of course people from other areas travel to Galveston I realize, but I'm sure a good percentage are from Texas! It would have to be mostly people from the middle states and Mexico, as it seems to be much cheaper to sail from either coast, including on the Dream and Fantasy which are newer and larger ships, especially during the out of school time periods....

I am quite aware that TX is not a town. . I read the OP sentence wrong and thought she was referring to Galvaston, which is a town. So, with agreeing upon geography, I don't agree that it "would have to be mostly people from the middle states and Mexico, as it seems to be much cheaper to sail from either coast," as there will not be a ship on the West Coast at the time making it the nearest Disney cruise ship during that time for anyone on the West Coast and for that matter, west of the Mississippi. On our DCL aAlaskan cruise people were from all over, not just primarily from Canada.

- Dreams

 

[mickeymo]

The schedule is based on terminal logistics. Galveston only has two terminals and 2012-2013 there will be 5 ships departing from Galveston. Sundays - RCCL and Carnival = 7 day cruises occupy both terminals. Saturdays in there will be a Princess ship - 7 day cruises at one terminal and Disney and Carnival (3/4 day cruises) will alternate Saturdays at the second terminal.

 

[ksloane]

Denton ISD Spring Break is March 19-23 this year. The week after the "rest" of Texas. It worked out great for us though as rates for condos in Port Aransas are a lot cheaper since it's not the traditional Spring Break. Much easier to get time off at work too.

I wish we had any nontraditional vacation. I ask our school administrators every year for a few days off when everyone else isn't off for cheaper vacation rates....so far, no go though....

 

[designertravels]

Hi Ya'll - thought I would share over here first.

March 9 2013
1A1C cat 10A $2958.56

the Fantasy for same time, plus a night, on opening day was
1A1C cat 8A $2565.00...we'll be flying to Orlando.

Jill

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Hi Ya'll - thought I would share over here first.

March 9 2013
1A1C cat 10A $2958.56

the Fantasy for same time, plus a night, on opening day was
1A1C cat 8A $2565.00...we'll be flying to Orlando.

Jill

Agreed. If it's not saving me any money, I'd rather fly to Orlando to sail the new ship and go to CC than drive to Galveston for the Magic.

 

[fatfish]

The airports would have quite the challenge handling the entire state on Spring Break at once IMHO.

Have you ever been to IAH or Hobby the first Saturday of Spring Break? Its wall to wall people! I feel like cattle being herded. Yes, the airports are overwhelmed, but they know its coming. And we have more than one airport in Texas! Heck, we have more than one airport in both major cities.

I said "essentially" all of Texas has Spring Break the same week. There are always a few renegages, and private schools are free to do as they choose. I think that being new to the Texas market, DCL simply had no idea that essentially all of Texas has the same week for Spring Break, as it is unusual. If the Magic is still in Galveston in 2014, I bet DCL does not make the same mistake.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Spring Break in Texas didn't used to be like this. Back when schools were free to set their own start and end dates all the breaks were staggered and it made travel much easier. But a few years ago in order to keep things "consistent" the state decided we all have to start by the same date. So as a result, to keep grading periods balanced, the vast majority of the districts now have the same spring break.

And can I say how much I HATE it! It is impossible to go anywhere during Spring Break because every other family in the state is trying to go there too. We tried to go to the Fort Worth Zoo during spring break one year and it was closed to capacity. The only way to do anything is to leave the state, ane if you want to fly you'll be paying double or triple the normal airfares because everyone is flying that week as well.

So yes, it is true, nearly the entire state is on Spring Break at once. And yes, it makes travel a nightmare all the way around. The Spring Break issue is common knowledge in Texas. I have a hard time believing a big company like Disney with a whole team of marketing executives didn't do some research before making itineraries. So the 6 night over Spring Break has got to be purposeful.

 

[fatfish]

Hi Ya'll - thought I would share over here first.

March 9 2013
1A1C cat 10A $2958.56

the Fantasy for same time, plus a night, on opening day was
1A1C cat 8A $2565.00...we'll be flying to Orlando.

Jill

That's insane! Port costs at Galveston cannot be that much higher than PC. Its got to be that DCL knows the cruise will sell, and is bumping up the prices. I guess we will not be on the Magic for 2013 Spring Break.

Cat 10A - did you get a SPH cabin?

We have a cat 10A (1A1C) for our 7-night Thanksgiving cruise out of Galveston, and it was about $300 - $400 cheaper. So sad that DCL is pricing me out of cruising from home.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I really wish they'd decided to do 4 and 5 night cruises out of Galveston, like the Carnival ship does. Especially since they are sailing during the school year. A lot of people aren't willing to take their kids out of school for a whole week and as a teacher I just can't take a full week off for a vacation. But Thurs-Mon or Wed-Sun long weekend trip I could do.

I really want to take advantage of the home port and sail out of Galveston, but once again it's just not going to work for us

 

[collectoraholic]

True, but mine would only have to miss the last three days of school to do the Trans-Atlantic out of Galveston, so they called that one pretty well.

Really? The T-A out of Galveston leaves on May 18th. How does your school get out so early? You must not be in school in TX then. B/C of the TX law that schools cannot start their school year before the 4th Monday in August, we have yet to get out of school before June since it passed, so DCL screwed the locals w/ that sail date as well. That + not having one of the fantastic 12-Night Meds to do B2B w/ the Trans-Atlantic really is a disappointment. Won't be able to do the T-A and then 'wait around' Barcelona until our June 27th sail date comes around.

 

[designertravels]

That's insane! Port costs at Galveston cannot be that much higher than PC. Its got to be that DCL knows the cruise will sell, and is bumping up the prices. I guess we will not be on the Magic for 2013 Spring Break.

Cat 10A - did you get a SPH cabin?

We have a cat 10A (1A1C) for our 7-night Thanksgiving cruise out of Galveston, and it was about $300 - $400 cheaper. So sad that DCL is pricing me out of cruising from home.

yes, SPH. I have to think of everything I have on hold/booked. I have X-Mas on Galv. I think they will eventually have to reduce those prices. I could not grab a SPH fast enough for that one. Jill

 

[ksloane]

Really? The T-A out of Galveston leaves on May 18th. How does your school get out so early? You must not be in school in TX then. B/C of the TX law that schools cannot start their school year before the 4th Monday in August, we have yet to get out of school before June since it passed, so DCL screwed the locals w/ that sail date as well. That + not having one of the fantastic 12-Night Meds to do B2B w/ the Trans-Atlantic really is a disappointment. Won't be able to do the T-A and then 'wait around' Barcelona until our June 27th sail date comes around.

Yea....I enjoy that extra time in August, but I do hate that we have less breaks in the year as we still get out by the last day of May each year (so far) so they took our breaks from times during the year.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Really? The T-A out of Galveston leaves on May 18th. How does your school get out so early? You must not be in school in TX then. B/C of the TX law that schools cannot start their school year before the 4th Monday in August, we have yet to get out of school before June since it passed, so DCL screwed the locals w/ that sail date as well. That + not having one of the fantastic 12-Night Meds to do B2B w/ the Trans-Atlantic really is a disappointment. Won't be able to do the T-A and then 'wait around' Barcelona until our June 27th sail date comes around.

We are in an Austin area charter school, so public, but potentially renegade. School starts on Aug 8 with a week off in Oct, and ends the year on May 23 (so actually mine would miss the last four--but what do they teach in the last four days?)

 

[NoodlesMom]

I really wish someone would price a 2a\2c room. I dont care if its the cheapest category. I dont know what to do. It looks like I may break even if I go into a lesser category room. I have a 7a on the Fantasy. We normally drive and I don't know if its worth going on the magic in a lesser category and save the time and money it would take to drive. Went on the Dream in september and loved it. I'm also scared that the magic won't live up group that cruise since we've experienced the newer ship. Decisions, Decisions.

 

[MandyGirl]

Have you ever been to IAH or Hobby the first Saturday of Spring Break? Its wall to wall people! I feel like cattle being herded. Yes, the airports are overwhelmed, but they know its coming. And we have more than one airport in Texas! Heck, we have more than one airport in both major cities.

I said "essentially" all of Texas has Spring Break the same week. There are always a few renegages, and private schools are free to do as they choose. I think that being new to the Texas market, DCL simply had no idea that essentially all of Texas has the same week for Spring Break, as it is unusual. If the Magic is still in Galveston in 2014, I bet DCL does not make the same mistake.

Yep - having worked for an airline previously, I have seen firsthand the crowds at Texas airports. Plus hubby has 16+ years experience with the same airline, so we know to not even attempt standby travel any time in March/April and just purchase our tickets. If *all* of Texas had Spring Break at the same time, there would be many disappointed families because flights are already full as it is that time of year. Thank goodness there is no law in Texas mandating a certain week for Spring Break for the entire state of public schools. One of those things they taught us when getting my principal certification. (Not sure which poster said it was a "law" in Texas for the Spring Break week at a certain time.)

There is no way DCL can predict Spring Break weeks for 2014 because they vary, like the Dallas ISD vs Canton ISD example I shared previously where Spring Break falls in two separate months. It is just common for it to fall in mid-March or the week prior to Easter Sunday, but no state mandate. In fact, the district I live in still has not adopted the school calendar for 2012-2013 as it is currently in the hands of the campus site based decision making committees.