Disney Wonder Sept 3-7, 2006

[Ker-Bear]

Is it hard to change a Palo reservation from 2 people to 4 when you get on the ship? I got my DH and myself a reservation but could not get a table for 4 for our friends. I went ahead and booked the table for two because we are taking the Disney bus from the resort and I am afraid we will get there to late for Palo. Anyone have any idea?

Go to Wavebands and have it changed as soon as you board. If they cannot change it, then get wait-listed. It's my understanding that most people do get Palo's fixed or get to go after being wait-listed.

 

[Ker-Bear]

Did DS get some door signs made for the cruise?
Jan

No, but I only had him for a week and we crammed so much other stuff in that I didn't get to. However, we are doing it as soon as he gets back.

 

[Ker-Bear]

O.k., my kids will be missing school for the first time this year for the cruise. How do you all plan on selling the cruise absences to your kids teachers? I need all the excused absences I can get this year.

I will be doing the same as Vicki. School starts August 9th and we will meet the teacher some time the week of August 14th. I plan on giving her/him a note at that time.

DS is only missing 3 days so I'm hoping it's not too big a deal. I plan on making him do a journal so he can do a trip report when he gets home. My goal is to do the extra work the week before we leave.

 

[suzannef]

My girls are actually missing the first 3 days of school 1st,3rd, and 6th grades- Academically this should be no problem- but I'm sure socially it's not the smartest thing we have ever done Even they are a little apprehensive about it but are still excited to cruise. The hard part is that we don't find out who are kids teachers are until about a week before school so we will be scrambling before we leave to inform everyone and try to get school work and such. I'm all prepared with this years report cards to show the new teachers that my kids never miss school and are A+ students so they don't have a negative first impression
When all is said and done we are going on this cruise anyway so suck it up new teachers and deal

Suzanne

 

[NJBILL]

My kids are also missing the first three days of class. Most schools recognize that trips to WDW and Cruises have some educational components,so it is different than say 3 days at the beach in Atlantic City....

On the cruise, the kids will get a chance to view another country Bahamas, and the kids clubs are structured toward indirect fun learning and not just a babysitting service.
My suggestion is to write a letter to your Principal now and explain your situation. I would also include the educational aspects of the trip and your willingness to makeup any work upon return. The first day is really a wash anyway, so you will only miss two days of real instruction....
If the Principal balks..send a note to the Superintendent,but don't wait until the last minute. I sent my letter as soon as we booked the trip...

 

[suzannef]

Thanks Bill
I forgot that the principal is a 12 month position so both principals (elem. and middle school) will be in school all summer. I think I will write them a letter explaining the situation and maybe they can pass along the info to the teachers and then I can follow up when the teaher letters come in August.

Suzanne

 

[purplern]

I will be doing the same as Vicki. School starts August 9th and we will meet the teacher some time the week of August 14th. I plan on giving her/him a note at that time.

DS is only missing 3 days so I'm hoping it's not too big a deal. I plan on making him do a journal so he can do a trip report when he gets home. My goal is to do the extra work the week before we leave.

I made a journal for Amanda too! We have done them for our WDW trips too! I think she likes doing them!!

 

[Ker-Bear]

57 days to go

DBF has decided he will wear our matching t-shirts. I can't get him to do lime green so I think we may end up with a shade a green just not as bright. Of course now he wants to put input in about the shirts

I told him "you snooze, you lose" I think all my excitement has actually worn off on him

 

[NJBILL]

57 days to go

I think all my excitement has actually worn off on him

My wife is now slowing waking up and getting into "trip mode"..she has begun packing...

55 days until we leave.............

 

[LCTsMom]

I'm sure the school administration and teachers deal with these kind of absences much more than we're aware of.

I will let my DD's first grade teacher know in advance and have her give me the work that DD will miss. As for my 8th and 10th grade students, our district allows one extra day to make up assignements for each day missed. They don't usually send work home unless you're missing 4 days or more (we'll be missing 3) so my DSs will have a busy, school work filled weekend when we return .

I have been torn as to whether or not I should send them to school the Friday after we return but I am thinking that I should. There's really no reason for them to miss another day. In high school, they allow 9 excused absences per semester before the district intervenes, so I'd rather play it safe and keep the absences to a minimum. It's so early in the school year that I am concerned that my kids could become ill and push the count way up. In the future, if we plan another (longer) cruise, I will have to plan my vacations around the school calendar to avoid any problems. It's much easier with elementary and middle school.

 

[suzannef]

Lisa
I think this will be our last vacation that we plan during school time too. Once my oldest goes to 7th grade and has 7 teachers it will be too hard. I guess that means we'll just have to party even harder on this cruise


Oh yea!!!!!

Suzanne

 

[Ker-Bear]

I guess that means we'll just have to party even harder on this cruise


Oh yea!!!!!

Suzanne

We will be right there with you. I cannot wait.

 

[NJBILL]

Just paid off our land portion at AKL.......No turning back now!!!!!!

 

[Ker-Bear]

Just paid off our land portion at AKL.......No turning back now!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!

 

[taeja71]

Just paid off our land portion at AKL.......No turning back now!!!!!!

I know what you mean. My hands were sweaty as I was typing in the info for our final cruise payment. No turning back for sure!

Thanks all for all your input. I dug up the parents handbook for my kids school and here's the attendance section. Excused absenses will be granted by KCS for illness, funerals, medical or dental appts., and court appearances. ...All other absesnes will be considered unexcused, unless approved by the administrator. Things which would be considered valid by the admin. would include Page Day for the Geeral Assembly and special honors given to a student which necessitate that student's attendance elsewhere.

Vacations taken during the school year will be considered unexcused absesnes. Makeup work for unexcused absences (over 5 days) will be accepted, however the grade may still be lowered due to lack of class participation or not turning in make-up work in the alotted amt. of time.

So, I guess I do need a way of selling our vacation as educational so that it won't be held against them. This is a christian school they are attending. I'm open to your suggestions. Maybe we could stow the principal in our luggage to seal the deal.

 

[Blackunicorn]

Tae Ja, are you going to WDW as well, or just the cruise?

Visiting the Bahamas is a way to study another country's economics, culture, history, and geography. You can observe people up close and see how they live, how they make money, discuss why their dollar is so similair in value to our dollar. You can talk about what happened in the past to make the country the way it is now. You can study maps of the country, and then see the places on it up close. Heck, you could study the weather and the ocean currents, and that's science. Discuss how the weather affects the trip, what causes weather, why this time of year is more likely to have hurricanes than other times of year. Talk about what makes a hurricane versus a tropical storm. There are tons of things that can make this educational. Whether the school will see it that way is out of my control, though.

 

[zweihund]

HAPPY FOURTH!!!!!!!!

I'll be at work

Me too

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

You all have some great suggestions. My DD is going to be in 5th grade this year. She is missing 7 days of actual school. I will send her principal a letter and see where that gets me. Some of you are lucky because we dont learn our teachers until the day before school starts. I cant wait we are getting closer. I ordered some stuff from the Disney sale. If you have not checked it out you should. There are some pretty good deals. I know I will not do the T-shirt so I just ordered the lime green mickey icon shirts for myself and DD for $3.99. Thanks Kerry for the info I will try to do what you suggested for Palo.

 

[zweihund]

you have until 11:59PM tonight to take advantage of some extra deals disneydirect is offering. They are offering free shipping on purchases of $75.00 or more, a $25.00 credit if you spend more than $50.00 and a $50. credit for purchases $100.00 or more. Also, I found a coupon code CARS10 which will give you an additional 10% off your purchases.

My husband is thrilled that I did not see that post until today

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

My husband is thrilled that I did not see that post until today

You can still get free shipping and use the coupons today. The only difference is I got a nemo towel instead of the credit. I much rather would of liked the credit but oh well.