Help with a 2018 trip

[Moramoon]

Hi everyone! We took our first trip to WDW this past September and absolutely loved it! We were planning on going back in 2018, but we’re having a hard time trying to figure out when we should go and I was hoping that you all would be able to help us out. We’re a family of 4: DH and I, DS who is 5, and DD who is currently 18 months. We had free dining during our last trip and our initial idea was we would go around the same time in hopes that we might be able to get it again along with checking out the MNSSHP. I know it’s not always a guarantee to get it, but the cheaper resorts and smaller crowds we’re a drive for us too (we had planned on going at this time for our last visit even if we didn’t manage to get free dining because of this). We really liked food and wine as well so we liked the idea of doing that again. We also really enjoyed going to Typhoon Lagoon and were hoping to spend more time there our next trip. We’re from Indiana so humidity is not an issue for us, but we’re both introverts so dealing with tons of people is not on our favorite things to do list. Right now we’re currently living off of just my income while DH watches our children along with taking classes towards his degree so we're really try to go when it’s the most budget friendly. The problem we’re running into right now is at the end of July DS will be starting school. The school’s in our area are year round with a 2 week break the 2 middle weeks of October, 2 weeks Dec/Jan, and the last 2 weeks of March with the school year ending the last full week of May. DH’s breaks from his classes don’t overlap except for a couple of days he'll get in October during DS's 2 week break. DH's spring break is the week before DS's 2 week break. DH should be finishing up his degree in the spring of 2019 and with those higher level courses being left I worry about having him miss classes. The other issue we run into is DD will be turning 3 at the beginning of August which would mean us buying her tickets if we were to go after that date. With all that being said we’re left with a few options, none being ideal, but if you had to choose what would you suggest?

1) Fall trip with DH missing some classes and DS possibly missing some as well (DH should have a 2 day break around mid-October so he may not miss as many classes going at that time). Purchasing an extra child ticket, but being able to go to MNSSHP and Food & Wine. Smaller crowds, cheaper resorts, and possibly free dining.

2) March trip with either DH or DS missing classes since breaks don’t overlap. DD will still be free. Will miss MNSSHP and Food & Wine, but Flower & Garden will be going on. Resort prices are a little higher, but we might be able to offset with a room offer. There will more than likely be moderate crowds.

3) Trip at the beginning of May. DH would be done for the semester. DS would have to miss school. DD will still be free. Will miss MNSSHP and Food & Wine, but Flower and Garden will be going on. Resorts are cheaper than what they are in March. Crowds should be lower.



Our last trip was 7 nights and we’d like to do at least that many again, but honestly I’d prefer to do 10 so we could get the best bang for our buck. Also the last trip we drove (16 hour drive from where we live). We’d like to fly for our next trip to save both time and not feel exhausted when we finally get to our destination.

Thanks so much!

 

[krm222]

Personally I would pick a date based on when crowds are going to be on the low side and everything will be cheaper. My kids are exactly the same age as yours and we're pulling my son out of kindergarten for a week next year to go. As for DH, whether he's comfortable missing classes is up to him: DH and I both missed our fair share of college/grad school back in the day and managed to make up the work, but others showed up in the brink of death because they couldn't fathom missing a single day.

And I'd definitely go before your youngest turns 3: you'll save a lot that way but she'll likely be big enough to enjoy many (most) of the rides and experiences!

So to reread your three options: I'd say May.

 

[Moramoon]

That's what we're leaning towards. I don't really mind pulling him out of school since he'll just be in kindergarten, but I wouldn't want to do it for more than a week so a 10 day trip probably wouldn't happen. Even if we were able to manage to get free dining in the fall the savings would be eaten up by that extra ticket cost. DH did miss classes for our last trip, but he was only in 2 at the time and one was online so one night he stayed up late and sat in the dinning area at Pop to work on his homework. He's been going full time now and a lot of his classes have labs so I just worry about him falling behind. Plus he's one of the brink of death people you mentioned. I was able to talk him out of missing the a week of the one class, but I don't know if I'd be able to with four. Thanks for your input!

 

[KrazeeK120]

Thinking back to when I was in college, I definitely wouldn't have missed class for something fun. Heck, I even went to class when I had mono! (You're infectious for a long time prior to development of symptoms, and I wasn't kissing any of my classmates anyway, but I digress...) I wouldn't ask your husband to miss college level courses for a Disney trip. I think it would be way too stressful.

I'm personally not an advocate of missing school for vacation. However, I concede that it's unlikely any damage will be done by missing kindergarten.

If you won't go in June/July, I say pull the kid out and do the May trip.

 

[elaine amj]

My vote is for May. Especially if your Dh gets stressed about missing classes. As for your DS, I wouldn't hesitate to pull a kindy out for 10 days. Once we got to Grades 5/6, I stopped pulling my kids out for more than a few days here and there.

 

[KangaFan]

Another vote for May--in grad school myself and everything is more relaxing/enjoyable when you don't have pending assignments!

 

[Moramoon]

We were spoiled by low crowds in September so going at a high traffic time would probably cause me more stress than it's worth trying to plan around how the crowds might be. May it is! Thanks everyone!