Have to Cancel ... Am in Tears

[JRawkSteady]

Hopefully the kids won't be missing the days on which they're taught the difference between then and than.

I think I love you! hahahahahahahah

 

[PamNC]

And believe me when I tell you, I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. Get this. I'm suppose to be there RIGHT NOW. We had a trip planned 8/11 - 8/19 and had to cancel for financial reasons. Really sad because our anniversary and my DH's birthday is within those dates. I was so depressed the morning of 8/11 when I woke up. I woke up around 7:00 a.m. and the first thing I thought of was, "I'm suppose to be on the road and at this time I would be right at Columbia, SC headed towards I-26 and the next turn would be I-95 headed straight down to paradise." I actually didn't think that I said it to my husband.

Very sad. BUT, you can reschedule and plan another trip. Let that be your solice. I'm HOPING to go the end of October but we're not sure if we can. It's looking good right now financially, BUT I'm afraid to book again and have to cancel. We've decided that we will not book until we are 100% we have all the money saved up and can really really go.

PamNC

 

[laceemouse]

OP, I'm on your side! It would be a different story if this were a "once in a lifetime" trip, but if your kids have been to WDW many times I can see why they would feel it is not worth missing school over. We homeschool now, but my kids STILL have activities they don't want to miss. I have to work around their schedule to get my Disney fix! If they start new classes in Jan. it WILL NOT be all review (and high school is not a lot of review anyway these days, at least not where we have lived in competitive districts.) I can understand why you hate to cancel, and it STINKS that they changed the calendar, but WDW will ALWAYS be there. Just plan to go next summer or something! If it makes you feel any better, the time you were planning will probably NOT be low crowds anyway as many schools are not going back until the 9th. Just my 2 cents!

 

[Spaceship Earthfan]

I understand what most people are saying here, but...if the kids are going to be distressed about it, then don't take the week off. Regardless of whether or not they'll be able to get permission from the principal and be able to make up their work, the point is that the kids are going to have this sort of 'cloud' over them during the trip, and so they won't enjoy it as much. I know a lot of people can kind of put all of their troubles behind them when they enter Disney World, but not everyone can do that. I took a vacation from work a few weeks ago to WDW and every now and then I'd look at the clock and think "1:00, they're about to have a staff meeting" or "6:00, I would be driving home now". As much as I tried to forget about work it was always there in the back of my mind (and it probably didn't help that my boss called me about 3 times a day, lol)...in my opinion, I think it's best to wait until a time where everyone can completely enjoy the trip and not have to worry about something that's going on back home. If the kids have even a little reluctance about missing school then I say it's best to wait!

 

[MartDM]

Thanks again, everyone, for your input. My teens are too distressed about the timing of those four days to take the chance on missing them.

While I agree wholeheartedly that missing a few days of school won't have any long term detrimental effects, it sounds like your kids just don't want to go. If you fight their instincts on this, they probably won't enjoy themselves as much because they'll be stressing over what lies ahead when they return to school.

Rather than put a damper on the family vacation, let them make school a priority for now & reschedule for another time. Don't cry over it; sounds to me like you've got some pretty responsible kids - that's something to be very happy about (nice job mom!)!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes it is wise to discuss the situation with the principal and teachers but the intent is your informing the school of your plans, not asking for approval. The final outcome should be the kids' decision coming first, your decision coming second, and the school's decision having no weight. Do be aware that your kids may be passed over for key positions on the basketball team, in the school play, etc.

The kids should get a head start on the appropriate school work during the Christmas holidays and/or during any other vacation or holidays.

OT below:
>>> there was ONE teacher who was not sympathetic

I'd like to start a fad -- if your kid is having an unusual problem with one teacher who seems vindictive, you should discuss with the school officials and also the PTA (or PTO) about your kid's changing classes or dropping that course.

 

[marconat]

I guess you heard enough about taking the kids out of school, but I have to agree too, I'm taking mine out of school too at that exact time... mine starts back on the 9th too, but we are going from Jan 01 - Jan 15 and they will be only back in school on the 18th, since I have to drive from Syracuse NY to Ottawa (sleep one night there) and then drive an other 6 hours to my little town... So quite a trip ha! But my school is very understanding and my kids are very good, plus they will do the extra work before we leave.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Op if I were in your shoes, I'd also cancel the trip.

By reading these boards, you'd never know that IT IS possible to create great WDW family memories while vacationing during school break.

I scheduled our February trip for 2/14-2/25 in order to take advantage of lower airfare.

My son is transferring to a new high school in September (Catholic). When school starts, I'll speak to the AP and his guidance counselor to see how they handle unexcused days. If there's any chance that my son's grade will suffer, or he'll spend the trip worrying about missed work, I'll pay the higher airfare.

In our family, family time and school are both very important. I've never felt the need to put one above the other

 

[Disney8704]

I would still go regardless. They dont have to return to school when it starts again. Thats up to you. Your the parent. A lot of people take their kids to DW during the school year. Otherwise there would just be adults down there all yr round except summer months and holidays. Whatever work they miss, they can make it up when they return or they can always get their assignments before xmas break during the time they will miss out and they can do it on the way down, on the way back or even like a few mins during night time after you return from the parks. You dont need to explain anything to school. Just simply call them, tell them they arent gonna be in school until the day after you return because your going out of state. And theres nothing they can say or do about it. My parents did this a few times with me when we went on vacation (not to DW but to other places) during the school year and it worked out just fine.

I have our trip planned for January 1 to 7 at AKL, all ADRs made. Even have our itinerary planned, thanks to TGM. Just found out today that due to the delay of our school district's opening day, the school calendar has been changed to have students return from Christmas break on January 2nd, instead of the 9th. That was our vacation week! My kids would have to miss four days of school, and since they're both in high school ... we can't do it. I am just beside myself, as I have been on these boards for months diligently planning this trip to our favorite place on earth. And it's not like we can postpone it til school's out in June ... we can't take the heat or crowds, plus the rates are higher then. Oh I'm so depressed ... :-(

 

[dixiedizfan]

Hi everyone ... Wow, I can't believe this thread has grown so much! I have an update: The new school calendar shows a day off for students on February 9, so we're gonna shorten our trip, take the kids out for only a couple days, and go down then. Fortunately we're able to drive there after school's out on Tuesday, and can at least have four full days at WDW, instead of none! My kids are satisfied with this arrangement, and of course I'll let their teachers know, too. Best of all we'll still be within the value season, and hopefully will experience fewer crowds. Okay, all set ... just crossing my fingers now that the school doesn't take THAT day away from us!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Hi everyone ... Wow, I can't believe this thread has grown so much! I have an update: The new school calendar shows a day off for students on February 9, so we're gonna shorten our trip, take the kids out for only a couple days, and go down then. Fortunately we're able to drive there after school's out on Tuesday, and can at least have four full days at WDW, instead of none! My kids are satisfied with this arrangement, and of course I'll let their teachers know, too. Best of all we'll still be within the value season, and hopefully will experience fewer crowds. Okay, all set ... just crossing my fingers now that the school doesn't take THAT day away from us!

 

[MartDM]

Glad it all worked out to everyone's satisfaction!