December 2004 planning question (Warning, long post!)

[tkd lisa]

Okay, I'd like some advice on a change in our travel plans. Hold on cause it's long-winded (surprise, surprise!) Oops, I forgot to say that we're on the 10 day DCL Christmas cruise leaving 12/18 returning 12/28! I originally posted this question on our cruise meet thread, so those guys knew that!

We are a family of 4 (DH, me, two kids 11 and 12 next Dec), plus we're bringing my in-laws. As a family, we did a 5 day WDW trip in 97, a 3 day trip in 99, and a day at MK after our May 2002 trip followed by a day at AK after our Jan 2003 trip. The in-laws made one, one-day trip to the MK back in the mid-70s with their youngest child. FIL is extremely claustrophic in crowds, but I know they would love Epcot and MGM. We will be flying from the DC area, while the in-laws are flying in from Indianapolis (MIL has NEVER flown, FIL only once or twice, so we have to meet them at the airport!)

On to the question. Our original plan was to fly ourselves and the in-laws in on Friday the 17th, priceline an airport hotel, go to port Saturday am, cruise, stay the 28-29th at Shades of Green and do a 2 day length of stay park trip, priceline at the airport again and fly home the 30th. The in-laws have only done Magic Kingdom in 1979. I know they'd love Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Our kids really want to see Mickey's Philharmagic and Mission Space. None of us have been on TOT or RnRC (kids were too little the last time we were in MGM). So I'm wanting to park hop, hence the length of stay idea.

I've been looking at trip reports for this year at the same time, and the crowds seem horrible during the week after Christmas! FIL can't stand crowds. He really gets claustrophobic! I was originally against taking the kids out of school. They will be in 6th and 7th grade, and middle school was a tough transition for my daughter.

I'm really worried about the crowds, and the trip reports seem to show that crowds are really light the week before Christmas, I'm thinking about doing the 2 days before Christmas instead of after. I've also had a lot of trouble getting SOG to communicate with me. I've sent 3 email reservation requests and none have been answered. Their 1-888 number is set up for travel within 90 days so I haven't tried it yet. I found out that we can get the stars and stripes pass (government/military length of stay equivalent) even if we don't stay at SOG as long as we stay on disney property. So I'm considering:

Take the kids out of school Wednesday at noon and catch an evening flight to Orlando (set the in-laws up on the same type flight). Priceline at the a/p (I'm assuming it will be pretty late, probably 9 at least and I'm not willing to drive to WDW and pay WDW prices for a short sleep). Book at either POR or Pop Century with 2 one-day reservations (This is value season, and rack rate is either $133 or $77!) Pick up star and stripes pass on the 16 December one night reservation which gives admission on a park hopper basis for the 16th and 17th. Leave the WDW hotel the morning of the 18th, and CRUISE! Then on the 28th, just fly out that afternoon.

The 2nd option saves us one hotel night, as well as several hotel changes, gives us lower crowds, cheaper rates, etc. The only down side is taking the kids out of school for 2 1/2 days instead of 1/2 day. What do you think?

 

[blondepixieduster25]

Wow long post!!

1st I hate crowds too and with the short amount of time you will be there you prob wouldnt be able to see much and leave feeling disapointed.

2nd I have read that alot of people have asked there childrens teachers for there work in advance so the could do it while on the plane (keeps them busy also). Some teachers have even given the children extra credit projects to do pertaining to their trips. usually right before the holidays the schools seem to be in a lul with the amount of work anyway .

hope this helps,

Tracy

 

[kbkids]

My kids are elementary age, so all I can say is that you know your kids the best. Two days, to me, doesn't seem like an awful lot. I know middle school is a tough age, but I don't think an extra two days out of school is going to affect them that much, as long as there is nothing going on at school that they really want to do and would regret missing (Christmas parties, etc.) I would think with enough notice their teachers could be accomodating.

 

[wilderness01]

If it were us we would pull them out of school. The ONLY way I would not pull them out of school is if they were struggling with or failing a subject. What if they were sick for 2 days? You would have no choice but to keep them home. I think with what you stated about not liking crowds that your family would be disappointed if you went between Christmas and New Years. Good luck.

 

[kiddisney]

i agree with wilderness - what if they were sick for two days -

our son had a hard time going to middle school this year - but we still took him out for a week in october and it was really okay - actually it was comforting to him that we had enough confidence to allow this & not give him extra pressure by indicating that we didn't think he would be okay missing time from school

i have another recommendation if the kids don't want to miss christmas parties - how about the first week of december - it's really slow - but the decorations are up so it's a really good tiime to go -

 

[BrerMama]

As a teacher, I have no problem letting you know that the last 2-3 days of school before Christmas break are essentially worthless. There are teachers who keep their kids working up until the last afternoon, but for the most part the kids are highly excitable, the teachers are just as excited about break and it's easier all the way around to do fun "fluff" activites that hold attention but aren't necessarily going to address any learning objectives. They won't miss much.

 

[flowerfairy]

Lisa

Go for it. As a parent of two children, one in 3rd and the other in 8th, we have taken our kids out of school the week before Christmas for the past two years. They only miss 3 1/2 days. Most work was given to them before they left (and there was not very much) and anything else they finished when they came back from the break.

I also work at a school so I know that not alot gets down that week. The students are just too excited to learn (and *key word--retain) new things. Just be sure to discuss this with their teachers beforehand.

As far as the crowds go, you are right. It will be crazy during the Holiday week. We went this year the week before. On Mon.-Thru. there was little wait time for rides but on Friday it quickly changed. On Thursday night, Test Track had 10 to 15 min. waits, on Friday night it was 75 to 90 min. waits.

My oldest son will be in High School next year and his exams will fall on this week. So it will be a long time till we get to go back at that time of year.

Go and have a blast!!

Tina

 

[tkd lisa]

Thanks for all the advice. It so happened DS (5th grade this year) had pneumonia and did miss the entire last week of school before Christmas. His teacher had me come get the work before we left for vacation, and he probably had about 10 things to do. Of course, this is the same teacher who made him take work on our Jan 2003 MLK day cruise (We only missed 3 days that time too.) I think she's just kind of hard nosed.

DD (6th grade this year) had a big social studies test the last day of school this year, so I'd definitly have to discuss this with the teachers. Since our kids will be out a full week before Christmas, the schools here seem to keep them working til the end.

But even with all that, unless the kids are doing very badly in school next year, I will go with the plan to do WDW first. I just won't make any reservations that have a large $ penalty attached if we have to change those plans. Thanks again! Lisa