I am livid!

[Minnie's Mate]

In March I made reservations for our December trip. Before I called Disney to make the reservations I checked our county's on-line school calendar for the last day before Christmas Break. I also checked the date that my wife would have to do teacher planning. Her last day was December 19th. I made our reservations for FW for December 20th through December 24th so we could be back in time for Christmas Eve. When I made the reservation, the CM told me that I could pretty much have any day I wanted during December up through 12/31.

Well, Sunday night my wife had to check something on the school calendar on the county's web site...they changed the calendar! In stead of a full week at Thanksgiving, she only gets three days and, get this, she doesn't get out of school until 12/21 and because they are before school holidays, she'll have to take them without pay if she takes the 20th and 21st off! All so they could go back a week later at the end of this summer. This ruins our annual tradition of being at Disney for the Christmas Holidays! I called yesterday to see if by some miracle I could change our dates and the CM checked every date individually beginning 12/25 and there are no vacancies at FW. Well, I don't want to drag my 30' Airstream over 400 miles each way for just two nights! Our only other option is to stay in a moderate for $1150 or in a Deluxe for $2200 between Christmas and New Year's. I was looking forward to a little smaller crowds this year and maybe, just maybe, getting a annual pass holder's discount on the campsite by checking in before the Saturday before Christmas. Now it doesn't look like we will be able to go at Christmas at all because we have already gone two more times than usual this year, stayed in a deluxe hotel one of those trips, and have already committed to MNSSHP tickets this fall.

I kept the dates we have for now in case we can some how work out to go those dates, but I don't know if that is going to happen. Any suggestions?

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I would just keep calling sometime thing open up closer to the dates you are looking for. Good Luck!

 

[NJtoATL]

So sorry about your trip. Your wife sounds like she works for the same school district as me. My school district alters the school calendar. I feel your pain. I say keep trying something will work out. I wil be there for the Christmas Holiday (off-site). If you are unable to make the trip, I am willing to pick up a few souvenirs for you. (Christmas Oranaments, etc.)

I hope things work out for you all. Sending lots of Pixie Dust!!!

 

[catalexander]

Is she ABLE to take the two extra days off? Are the required/planning or actual "in session" days...

I understand they will be unpaid, but my question would be: which will *cost more* two unpaid days or having to bump up to a Moderate or Deluxe for two days.. or skipping the trip entirely? (okay.. the last was a bit rhetorical, but a much wished for vacation that has to be cancelled, DOES have a cost!).

I guess I'm wondering.. dollar for dollar... is it WORTH going to a "hotel" and staying 2 less days for more $$ or would it be more cost-effective for her to take the two days as "personal" or "sick" or whatever your system calls them, and not get paid (less taxes) and go to WDW on your original ressie at Ft. Wilderness?

Just some thoughts I'm tossing out there...

 

[tellnotails]

ditto...........

Take the 2 days off UNPAID.........

she has 4 months to make up the difference........

 

[big kahuna1]

That would be a "no brainer" forme. I would take the 2 days off and even pull the kids out of school with absolutely no qualms about it. Enjoy life while you can. It does not last forever.

 

[Whosemom]

hmmmm, while life IS short, there are repercussions beyond the monetary. I guess it would totally depend on the building and district leadership. I taught in a city school system where I could maybe have pulled that off, but it would have been remembered and held against me long after they forgot how I earned the reputation of not a team player at a smaller district.

 

[Colson39]

I would keep on calling, you might be able to stitch something together, it's still far enough out. There are sure to be cancellations between now and then, but it's kind of a luck of the draw thing.

 

[gabesmom]

I agree with the others. Keep calling and maybe something will free up... For what it's worth, I'll be right there with you.

I was even beginning to think you were in my son's school district until I noticed you were in another state. We booked in May for a December trip - our very first holiday visit - as soon as this year's calendar was approved by the BOE. Then, last week, I happened to log on to the Web site to check something else and WHAM! "REVISED CALENDAR"

We tried to move everything back a day because DS will have to miss an extra day before break to keep everything the same. No luck, so we've decided to take our chances and hope he doesn't get sick much this fall.

 

[Shannone1]

In March I made reservations for our December trip. Before I called Disney to make the reservations I checked our county's on-line school calendar for the last day before Christmas Break. I also checked the date that my wife would have to do teacher planning. Her last day was December 19th. I made our reservations for FW for December 20th through December 24th so we could be back in time for Christmas Eve. When I made the reservation, the CM told me that I could pretty much have any day I wanted during December up through 12/31.

I'm soooo sorry. Our spring break plans got messed up for next year because our school district changed the week they have traditionally had off !! I can feel your frustration !! I hope you are able to work it all off with your schedule and reservations.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Thanks for all the support and wishes for things to work out. I've been calling at different times of the day...early morning (in the car on the way to work) in the late afternoon and in the evening and so far no luck. I have scheduled our July 4th vacation for next year already so we for sure have those dates. We do go every year at Christmas, but the last year or two the crowds have really been getting heavy as the week approached New Year's Eve so we were looking forward to getting there before the throngs of people this year.

The Friday before Christmas is a teacher planning day when the teachers do their report cards. My wife always has hers done before then so that day is a blow-off anyway. The kids last day is the Thursday (day we planned to drive down) so missing one day wouldn't be a real biggie for her or the kids. As far as a couple of days without pay, I just changed jobs last year and I have taken at least one day without pay with each of our Disney trips since then because we have been going faster than I can accrue leave! I guess now it's her turn.

Thanks for the pixie dust and I'll just have tokeep trying for those other dates. Thanks for letting me vent. At least it wasn't about Disney!

 

[Colson39]

Best time to call is first thing in the morning. That is when the reservations all get updated in their systems, and when you'll have the best luck of finding an opening. Of course, there is always a chance you could get one in the afternoon, but the morning is definitely the prime time.

Hope everything works out! You're doing all you can, and that's all you can do

 

[finspa1]

I'd keep on trying but an option besides the moderate resort is to "buy" points from a DVC member and try to book at Saratoga Springs or Old Key West. Otherwise, I'd take the 2 days without pay. I'm taking off w/o pay for a long weekend at Saratoga Springs then back again for 9 days in Jan.doing it in December too !!

 

[Minnie's Mate]

I'm not giving up the dates I have until I know for sure we can't make it. My wife is willing to take the two days without pay and doesn't think it will cause too many problems with the administration. I am still PO'ed though. But, if we go after Christmas, we could stay more days. Either way, we just have to be at Disney during the Holiday Season!

 

[AuburnJen92]

I feel your pain. We have ressies on Dec 20-24 and two of those days are "hurricane days", so I don't know what is going to happen. It might be I send the DH and DS3 up there without me if we have to take hurricane days this season. I hope not; I just got the house back in order from the last three. If I ask off and those days are going to be made up, I will probably be declined because I have lunch duty with the admins at my HS. I am praying for a quiet season!!