From homeschool to high school. When do we travel now?

[quandrea]

My dd will start high school Sept 2018. She is currently homeschooled and we have the luxury of travelling whenever we please. We usually travel January and mid October. Usually to WDW as we own DVC but sometimes elsewhere.

DVC requires early planning. I'm turning my mind to when we will travel as a family. I had considered one last trip May 2018. Dh doesn't want that due to heat. Summer is out as we take advantage of the nice weather here.

What does that leave me with? Just before labour day for a few days? Still too hot for dh. I'd be on my own with the kids. Christmas break? Airfares are high until January first. I was thinking we could go then and dd would have to fly home early for school. Easter is an option too I suppose.

Could be start leaving dd home. None of these sound like great options.

When do you all travel? I need to figure this out. If we won't be going I have to put my dvc points on the rental market.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

It sounds like you may have to compromise some of your ideal conditions in order to travel. The heat in May shouldn't be horrible yet. Airfares are higher near Christmas, but if your DH absolutely won't compromise on the heat, then you'll have to come to terms with the fact that you'll pay more for flights. Me, personally, I love the heat, so I just go in the summer if thats what works schedule wise.

 

[quandrea]

It sounds like you may have to compromise some of your ideal conditions in order to travel. The heat in May shouldn't be horrible yet. Airfares are higher near Christmas, but if your DH absolutely won't compromise on the heat, then you'll have to come to terms with the fact that you'll pay more for flights. Me, personally, I love the heat, so I just go in the summer if thats what works schedule wise.

I'm thinking one more trip while she is still homeschooled--May 2018. Dh will probably stay home. He is actually anaphylactic to heat and spring pollen counts in Florida are brutal for his allergies. So I can't really fault him on that.

After that, it's probably sucking up the high airfares for two weeks around Christmas Break. Dd will be with us for about a week.

Maybe it will be just me and the twins who are only 7.

It's going to be an adjustment. Our days of family travel are probably behind us. Sad. We enjoyed it while it lasted though.

 

[KrazeeK120]

What about spring break? You'd obviously have to do some planning around the crowds, but the weather at that time is pretty nice in my experience. My husband used to be a high school teacher and we did 2 trips during his spring break.

 

[quandrea]

What about spring break? You'd obviously have to do some planning around the crowds, but the weather at that time is pretty nice in my experience. My husband used to be a high school teacher and we did 2 trips during his spring break.

That would work for me and the kids, although air is $800. Dh can't go then due to allergies. Might be something we do Spring 2019. Family travel is over, I fear. Have to be flexible and willing to split up. Maybe dh and I can go alone?

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Wow, heat induced anaphylaxis? that must be terrible to try and work around. Out of curiosity, where do you live that you can avoid the heat and keep him safe?

 

[Tattylou]

What about spring break? You'd obviously have to do some planning around the crowds, but the weather at that time is pretty nice in my experience. My husband used to be a high school teacher and we did 2 trips during his spring break.

My husband is a high school teacher and we always go spring break. In Massachusetts, that is always mid-April. The weather is perfect! The airfare is a bit higher, but not Christmas week level of expensive. It's probably more crowded than the times of year you've been able to go, but not bad. Both my parents worked in schools too and so my only experiences with Disney as a kid and as an adult have been over school breaks and we have had amazing vacations.

 

[Tattylou]

That would work for me and the kids, although air is $800. Dh can't go then due to allergies. Might be something we do Spring 2019. Family travel is over, I fear. Have to be flexible and willing to split up. Maybe dh and I can go alone?

The key with airfare over spring break is to buy right when fares are released and don't be picky about airlines. You will pay more than other times, but you can still get decent prices if you buy early. I've always done this and the prices always go up as time goes on. I've never regretted buying early for our spring break trips.



Oh I just saw the part about his allergies. Can he get some medicine? I have severe seasonal allergies - got shots for them and everything. I just take my zyrtec, flonase, and Rx eye drops and I'm good.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Maybe try next Feb for your last homeschool trip.

As far as after then, Depending on when Christmas falls you could try first week of January or Thanksgiving week. She might have to miss a couple of days of school but those days would probably be the easiest days to miss.

 

[quandrea]

Wow, heat induced anaphylaxis? that must be terrible to try and work around. Out of curiosity, where do you live that you can avoid the heat and keep him safe?

Canada. He seeks shade whenever he can. Air conditioning. The heat in Canada is never bad enough for the most part. He will exercise in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat. They think the anaphylaxis is brought on by heat/exercise coupled with a suspected food allergy so no food two hours before or after exercise. It's tricky. We always carry an epi pen. I suspect dd is the same. She gets very itchy in the heat, red, disoriented, despite being well hydrated. She has many of her dad's food allergies.

 

[brockash]

My dd will start high school Sept 2018. She is currently homeschooled and we have the luxury of travelling whenever we please. We usually travel January and mid October. Usually to WDW as we own DVC but sometimes elsewhere.

DVC requires early planning. I'm turning my mind to when we will travel as a family. I had considered one last trip May 2018. Dh doesn't want that due to heat. Summer is out as we take advantage of the nice weather here.

What does that leave me with? Just before labour day for a few days? Still too hot for dh. I'd be on my own with the kids. Christmas break? Airfares are high until January first. I was thinking we could go then and dd would have to fly home early for school. Easter is an option too I suppose.

Could be start leaving dd home. None of these sound like great options.

When do you all travel? I need to figure this out. If we won't be going I have to put my dvc points on the rental market.

You are right, working around school schedules...none of it is ideal. If you're def. against going when it's hot, that's going to leave out beginning of May through at least end of Sept. Have you looked at the school districts calendars (obviously the one for 2018 I'm sure isn't out yet,) but just like Disney calendars, you can get a pretty good idea on when they'll have off etc. Not sure where you're located, but if in the NE, a lot of schools have a "Feb. break,", which may be a decent option for you. I know some schools have the whole week of Thanksgiving off, or perhaps you have an ealier spring break, like early to mid March? If so I'd pick one of those over Xmas, April spring break. Good luck...I'd start looking at school calendars now.

 

[KrazeeK120]

That would work for me and the kids, although air is $800. Dh can't go then due to allergies. Might be something we do Spring 2019. Family travel is over, I fear. Have to be flexible and willing to split up. Maybe dh and I can go alone?

It isn't really hot or humid in the spring (like high 70s/low 80s), so he shouldn't have an issue with that.

I have horrible seasonal allergies...spring is the worst for me. I take medicine so I don't feel totally awful. Could he talk to his doctor about getting some meds?

 

[quandrea]

The key with airfare over spring break is to buy right when fares are released and don't be picky about airlines. You will pay more than other times, but you can still get decent prices if you buy early. I've always done this and the prices always go up as time goes on. I've never regretted buying early for our spring break trips.



Oh I just saw the part about his allergies. Can he get some medicine? I have severe seasonal allergies - got shots for them and everything. I just take my zyrtec, flonase, and Rx eye drops and I'm good.

Thank you for this. It seems like a good strategy.

 

[quandrea]

It isn't really hot or humid in the spring (like high 70s/low 80s), so he shouldn't have an issue with that.

I have horrible seasonal allergies...spring is the worst for me. I take medicine so I don't feel totally awful. Could he talk to his doctor about getting some meds?

Dh has lots of mess. Even prednisone. Whatever he is allergic to down in Florida is so bad, the medal do little to help in the spring. One March we went down and he was so ill he had to fly home early. Clears up as soon as he hits the airport in Orlando. So if we ever do spring break it will be without hubby.

I realise we are very limited. Christmas break is probably best and maybe a long weekend in October over thanksgiving.

 

[BLAZEY]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it if you are in Canada, you most likely won't have any issues pulling your daughter from school for vacation. Travel when it works for your family best. Is your daughter in grade 12? That might be the only year I'd worry about as not to plan for holidays right around Provincial Final exams. Many of the school boards have the next years schedules up around now. We're in BC and kids take days off from school for holiday all the time, even secondary school. Many send work and reading to be done, just inform your teachers ahead of time.

 

[quandrea]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it if you are in Canada, you most likely won't have any issues pulling your daughter from school for vacation. Travel when it works for your family best. Is your daughter in grade 12? That might be the only year I'd worry about as not to plan for holidays right around Provincial Final exams. Many of the school boards have the next years schedules up around now. We're in BC and kids take days off from school for holiday all the time, even secondary school. Many send work and reading to be done, just inform your teachers ahead of time.

Really? So I could take her out and have her miss 5-7 days of school twice a year with no problem? She could keep up with the work? Very surprising to me. My SIL won't let her daughter miss even a day for holiday. My daughter will be starting grade nine. If all this is true, it's wonderful news.

 

[BLAZEY]

Really? So I could take her out and have her miss 5-7 days of school twice a year with no problem? She could keep up with the work? Very surprising to me. My SIL won't let her daughter miss even a day for holiday. My daughter will be starting grade nine. If all this is true, it's wonderful news.

Yep, My BFF and her family were in Mexico in February for 12 days and her DD17 is in grade 12 French Immersion. They also have a son in grade 3. No worries about truancy police or anything. If your DD is a good student she should be fine. They only do it once a year but get the school calendar for the next year around now and plan. MY DD7 had been pulled twice for a few days each. I do try to pick weeks were the is a stat or a Pro D day. I wouldn't go leading up to exams but other than that no issues. What province are you in? It really depends on your comfort level of the ability of your daughter to handle her work load. My mum pulled my sister and I in secondary school for trips.

 

[quandrea]

We are in Ontario. Dd is in grade seven now but working in high school credits already online. By the time she starts high school she'll have grade 9, 10 and 11 math, grade 9 science and grade 9 and 10 English.

Thanks. You've made my day. This is an absolute game changer. I'll keep an eye out and try and do it around a pa day. A short visit for her in January would work (exams start late January) and maybe something longer in October. I know there is always a pa day with the thanksgiving holiday. Woo hoo!!!!!

 

[BLAZEY]

The Canadian board here never has any of the "pulling kids from school" issues. Check with your school about what needs to be done to take her out, but it is usually informing the teacher so your student can get homework and read ahead. Many times they get a syllabus so they know ahead of time when they have exams or projects due.

 

[elaine amj]

We've flown several times on Christmas Day and the airfare has been surprisingly reasonable. We typically book evening/night flights. We get to enjoy Christmas morning at home and head to the airport about 2/3pm in the afternoon. One year we flew Christmas Eve and again airfare was ok.