Do you take your kids out of school to go to DW?

[BonSchwe]

Took DS14 and DD13 out of school for 8 days last April. I don't regret one moment of it. I spoke to all their teachers and their principal well ahead of our leaving and they were given some work which they did complete by the time we got back. We had the most wonderful time and we all have many memories that will not be forgotten.

 

[G00fyDad]

It's kind of like going to a Nascar race and asking, "Who here likes cars that go fast and turn left?

I laughed so hard my sides hurt! LOL
Maybe I find this so funny because I "dislike" NASCAR. But lord that was funny!

 

[jehma]

We're adding 2 days onto Winter break for our 4th and 6th graders (2 days driving, 4 days with grandparents, 3 days Disney, 2 days driving). I don't think I'd take them out for a week. My 4th grader's teacher gives so much homework! She has trouble catching up after being out sick for 2 days.

My preschooler's school is in a different town with a different calendar, so he'll miss 6 days of school (one of the days is Presidents' Day).

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

That was EXTREMELY funny! Not a bad way to illustrate your very valid point, either!

 

[pbharris4]

Twice we took my older DD out of school (the munchkin wasn't born yet). Well, once in preschool and once in 1st grade. She just had a little bit to make up. We took her out the last week in Jan. when they had 1 full day, 3 1/2 days and an in service day...so she only missed 2 .5 days. But they did away with that week. We will go down again in early Feb. in the near future (summers for now) because it's my favorite time to go and I will take them out of school. It's great family time and it's also a good learning experience. Espeically EPCOT & AK, but all parks have something. When I was in 11th grade my parents took me out of school for 14 days and we went to Hawaii! The 1st week was excused the second week wasn't excused (but I was with my parents so I didn't get penalized) and the last 4 days they took 3% off my final grade for that semester in every subject for every day! (total of 12%) Luckily I had awesome grades! It was worth EVERY deduction! It was a trip of a lifetime. I learned alot of Hawaii..things that people still haven't learned AND I got a great tan too! That was around 17-18 years ago and both of my parents have died, but I will always remember that trip and being able to spend time and those new experiences with them. If the opportunity arose to where I had to take my DD's out of school for a great trip..I'd do it. Otherwise, we do most of the traveling in the summer, but would do it during the school year if we had to.

 

[laceemouse]

Good one MrsPete....ITA!!!!! BTW, I hate NASCAR

 

[Brian Noble]

I don't---I want my kids to understand that you have to take care of business before you play. But, I've been informed that I'm the meanest dad in the world on a host of other issues (notably the Eat Most Of Your Vegetables If You Want Dessert issue and the Yes I Know You Are "Not Tired," But It's Bedtime issue) so I wouldn't use me as a yardstick.

We take our Disney Trips during President's Week (which our schools have off, and it's snowy here, so Florida and California both sound Real Nice) and deal with the higher prices and the larger crowds, thanks to mousesavers, my uncle with the Orlando vacation home (family discount!), TourGuideMike, and the Unofficial Guide. We chalk it up to the cost of doing business with school-aged kids.

We also pack *a lot* into our summers (beach, Grandma's lake, local amusement parks, trip to the Maryland grandparents, etc. etc.) and try to do fun weekend or evening things during the school year. Having a university in town helps, as most any week has 2-3 home sporting events plus another 2-3 cultural events---last week we went to a women's gymnastics meet, I paid a total of $3 to get us in between faculty/staff and school-aged discounts, and we had a ball. However, my DD6 now wants to quit soccer and take up gymnastics instead, so I suppose there is never a free lunch.

 

[matdamom]

I see that you've received an overwhelming number of "yank 'em out and go" responses; however, in all fairness, this is the Disney Board. What type of responses would you expect? It's kind of like going to a Nascar race and asking, "Who here likes cars that go fast and turn left?"

If you're genuinely concerned about whether this is a good idea, you might consider asking the question on some other boards as well. Perhaps a general parenting board, an education board, etc.

LOL - people take their kids out of school to attend NASCAR races as well. I live within a few miles of the "Fastest Half Mile in Racing" and typically see lots of families with their kids out of school in late March. I'm also not a fan of racing, but the tourism industry in this area loves it.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have to say that people take their kids out of school for a variety of reasons, not just going to WDW! My neighbor takes her dd out of class to attend dog shows. She has probably missed 2 weeks of school already this year. Another one takes the ds on business type trips, so that it gets paid for by the company...that one has been out close to two weeks. Kids miss school for car races, gymnastics meets away from the area, cheerleading competitions, band trips. Yes, some are school sanctioned, but they are still missing school. I would really love to know why it's okay for a child to miss a week of school for a band trip, but not for a family trip to 'anywhere'.

As parents we need to make choices for our kids. You just have to weigh the positive vs negative aspects. Yes, if I take my dd out of school for 3-4 days at WDW, she will have work to make up. But, understand...this happens only if she is doing reasonably well in school. No subjects are being struggled in. I will not buy into the whole 'travel when we tell you to' mentality. It would almost triple my vacation costs. When airfare triples, just because it can since so many are needing to go south, well...no thanks. I'll travel at other more reasonable times of the year.

 

[Drizzo67]

Due to work schedules we only travel in February. DH is a landscaper and works from spring to first snow. I work for accountants so March and April are crazy. As my bosses vacations take priority over mine, they all travel President's week leaving the only time for us to get away the week before President's week.

I will be pulling my kids (6,9) out of school for 6 days this year. Their teachers have been notified and have already started to send home work that can be done before we go (book reports, etc.). Both of them have decided to keep journals to hand into their teachers when we get back. My DS(9) is looking forward to collecting material from EPCOT for a WORLD REPORT.

Each individual has their opinion and knows what their child can or cannot handle as far as making up work or keeping up with what they have missed. JMHO.

 

[kay_key3]

This will our first trip, but we are taking the kids out of school. Youngest is in preschool, DD is in 7th and Eldest son is 8th. Since we are going due to a Cheer comp and its not on thier spring break, we are going still for the week.


We may never have another chance to go.

 

[makaira]

We took our 4th grade DS and 2nd grade DD out in Nov for a trip on the Magic. DD's teacher said have a great time. 2 weeks after we get back we have a conference with DS's teacher and she gave us a hard time about taking him out (even though she knows my work schedule doesn't allow for summer vacations), and telling us there is no way he could make up the work. Then she slides his report card across the table to us with straight A's on it . I think it just boils down to your kids and how well they do in school.

 

[weluvdisney]

We have taken DS out of school twice in the past, but he was only in Pre-School and Kndg. at the time, he has always been a very good student though. This year we are planning on taking an Oct. trip , ds will then be in the 2nd grade and dd will be a "BIG Kndgner" she tends to struggle more than ds so I am stressing a little about how missing 6days of school will be for her. I do try to do make up work while we're there if teachers permit that, but I am also hoping that since it will still be somewhat early in the school year it won't affect them too much.... But I definetly think that a trip to WDW is best enjoyed in the fall or spring, and those memories are priceless even if you have to do some extra work when you get back!!!! Good Luck and Enjoy Your Trip!!!!!

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi My oldest DD is now in grade 11. Since she was in kindergarden we have taken her out of school. We try to head down a week before March break, then drive home during March Break. Both daghters only miss 5-8 days of school. Never any problems. Have fun. Bye

 

[dopeyone]

Every Year We Take The Kids Out Of School For 6-8 Days, We Always Stay For At Least 10 Days. This Year The School Now Goes To Split Recess, Now Having Pres. Week Off. So Now We Get To Stay For 15 Days, And We Only Have To Pull The Kids Out Of School For 5 Days! Of Course They Get Threatened With Missing The Trip If Their Grades Aren't Up To Snuff. Luckily That Hasn't Been A Problem.

 

[Mom2tmha]

Last year we took our kids out and we are leaving in 9 days and will pull them for a week again. My son is in 9th grade and I am afraid this year will be much harder on him, but he is normally a straight A student so I am hoping he is ok. My daughter is in 5th grade and a good student so she should be ok. My 2 yo doesn't know the difference. LOL. Have fun!
Wendy

 

[tmatthews]

My school only allows 5 vacation days a year for each student....if you exceed you are taken to court!!! But when you think about it and plan well those 5 days can be added to any holiday. As a teacher, it is very frustrating when children are missing alot of school and don't make up the work. I can appreciate the value of family vacation time, but we do it around school time especially now that my daughter is getting older. The stress of trying to make up the work and catch up when we come home just isn't worth it anymore. We are going during break!

 

[Lizardbeth61]

. . . and I'm not sure I'd care. Disney's lots of fun and if you look for it, it can be educational as well. DS 8 does fine in public school, DD 11 has a learning difference and she learns better from these experiences than from the school curriculum . . . in fact, we've just enrolled her in a virtual charter school and she'll be taught in a class of three so that she can learn the way she learns best, but I digress.

The point is that these vacations are precious family time, can be made to be educational and will, in the long run, have more impact on the child's life than missing a few days of school. Educatiion is VERY important, but it doesn't happen ONLY in the classroom!

 

[lilyprincess]

I too think traveling is very educational for children. My DH works for an airline so our family travels quite frequently. DS (4) is only in preschool but we plan on removing him from class as he gets older too. I think as long you're responsible about keeping your kids on track academically it's fine to pull them out. 2 4

 

[misslauri]

I think it depends on the kid, and you know yours best. My parents had no qualms at all about pulling me out of junior year high school for a week at WDW. Of course, I was kind of an over-achiever anyway. Unfortunately for me, I had many many Disney oriented teachers so my homework consisted of the physics of Space Mtn and Splash Mtn (how does the different coeficient of friction alter the general speed and ease of the ride, when taking into account height the drops?" or something like that) some American History (Hall of Presidents) Math (again with the rollercoasters) and sadly, even BioChem (whatever you do,. do not eat a lipid and ride the Tea Cups. Motion and fat digestion does have a violent reaction). Fortunately, for English, all I had to do was read Of Mice and Men on the plane. Me, personally, I would take the kids out if I felt confident that they weren't going to fall behind, especially in the younger years. But if they had any struggling points at all, I'd skip it.