going to WDW in September....update on post #14

[daleswife]

So I know that Disney usually runs the "free dining" around the last week of august to through september and into October. However. For us to go, We'd have to take my DD-5 out of school for a week. Im ok with that, but DH says NO In NO way are we taking her out of school.....I told him if we did it would save us $$$$ and his response is id rather pay for it than have her miss school....My question is: Did any of you have this problem? Did you take your child out of school? How much did they miss and did it put them too far behind??? TIA

 

[cruiserkaren]

I have a 5 year old. I wouldn't hesitate to take her out of school at this age. It's not like she is going to be studying for exams or finals! I don't think I'll have a problem pulling her from school until jr. high if her grades are good and there is no problems/trouble. JMO.

Good luck talking him into it. I've been twice in Sept. (1st week) and while it's beyond hot the crowds are non existent. My fave time so far.

 

[RMulieri]

I am currently having the same dilemma.We went during Sept in 2008 and loved it.We booked the bounceback.Now Dh is saying No way, because he does not want to pull her out of school so early in the school year, and she is just starting kindergarten too.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We went in Sept. 2006 with the kids not quite in school yet. Now we're planning on going back in Sept. 2010, and we'd have to pull 2 of them out of school (3rd grade and 1st grade). Our feeling is that it depends on your kids. Judging from what we've seen, we think our kids are smart enough that they won't have a problem catching back up.

We plan to let the teachers know far ahead of time and do any work they want to give us for the week. Also, whenever I traveled during the school year, my parents would always have me prepare a report on it for my teacher when I got back. We're thinking of having our kids do the same. There's nothing that says a trip to Disney can't be educational. Why not make a project of it? There are certainly a lot of potential research topics out there...

The bottom line is that we think it's worth the savings and light crowds to take the kids out of school for a week. Need any more justification?

 

[daleswife]

I was telling him we could use the $$$ we save from the dining plan to use as souvies... Maybe he'll be ok with that...it will be that much less we would have to save.....

 

[IllumFan]

We took my stepson out of school for Disney trips in October until he got to high school. We let the teacher know in advance and it was no problem at all. We felt it was worth it to avoid the crowds and have a more enjoyable vacation. Plus, I used to be a teacher so I had no problem helping him to make up the work.

Personally, I don't think it's an issue to miss a week of kindergarten.

 

[tinkerlisa]

Next September will be the second time we will pull my son out of school for vacation. Last year he was in kindergarten and it was a few days before spring break and it just happened to be 3 half days he missed due to parent teacher conferences.
But next time will be different. we are going the 6th thru the 12th and the 7th is labor day so he will only miss 4 full days of school. It will only be the second week of school and he wont be missing much. i think that its ok if they are this young but by middle school, i think it may be more difficult.
the only reason why we are going during that week is because my fiance of 7 years and i have decided to finally tie the knot and are getting married 9/9/09 at disney!

 

[daleswife]

My DD will be in 1st grade. She is very smart and will have no problem "catching up". I just gotta remind the DH that we will be saving lots of $$$ for the trip. That dining plan is a lot of green OOP!!!

 

[mommytoone]

We went in Sept 2008 again. I pulled my dd out of Kin and 2nd grade. She is in a Gifted program. I took her out both times for 6 days, we went for 9 total. The teachers were great, the principal was great and she did not miss a thing, because we went early enough in the year. She made the prinipals list for this and last gradeing period. I would have to really think about doing it again,m as she gets older. I don't think doing it in the beginning of he school year is as bad as the end when they are doing testing. Tell your DH eververy thing will be fine, and the experience she has at Disney will be wonderful, use it as an "educational" vacation. Ask the teacher for a vacation packet, that way she will be doing work everyday.

Whatever you choose, good luck, and have a great time.

 

[Embel]

September is review month. If you are going to miss school in a lower grade, it's a good time to do it, because they are generally not introducing new concepts yet. I pulled my DDs out of 1st & 2nd grade this Sept. for a week for free dining.

FYI- I didn't know either of the teachers & as we got closer to vacation time, I got really nervous about how they would view me taking a week off so soon into the year. Both ended up being wonderful, but I was surprised by how nervous I was about it.

 

[LIBLULA]

We have taken our DD8 for the past 2 years for free dining (2nd & 3rd grade).
She has never had a problem catching up with the class. This year her teacher only sent a travel journal for her to fill out. The teachers have been great. Our school just requires you fill out a planned absence form at least 2 weeks before the trip, so the teacher can get their work together. We booked the bounceback for this Sept/Oct. Can't wait!!!

 

[mjkacmom]

I took my kids out last year for the first time at WDW, and I totally regret not doing it every single year! Now dd12 is in middle school, all honors classes, pluls choirs, and she freaks out if I take her out of school an hour early, nevermind for a week. I can't believe I blew it.

 

[candielips]

Maybe you could have your DD's teacher explain anything that she would miss w/ your DH. It sounds like there is no way YOU can persuade him but if he's anything like my DH, once he hears it from someone else he's fine.
Good luck!

 

[daleswife]

So I did it!!! I talked him into going in September!!! What did it was the MNSSHP!!! I told him it would be so much fun for the kiddos and showed him the brochure from last year and he said "Ok, but you talk to her teachers and see what she needs to do before we go and if she can do her work before we leave, then we'll go!!" YAY!!! Thanks for all your great advise....now I only hope Disney dont decide to cancel free dining for SEptember.....That'll be my luck!!!