If you have school-age kids and fly to WDW more than once a year

[KelNottAt]

HOW do you do it? Multiple short trips or multiple long ones? Doesn't flying repeatedly get expensive? (especially for short trips?) How do you get the most out of your points? How do you plan your trips in order to miss as little school as possible? If you're in WDW for a lot of weekends, doesn't that undermine point conservation? How do you find airline bargains?

As for us, we have enough points for 7 nights in a 2br during Magic season. So, ideally, when the kids are out of school we can travel at lower seasons and stretch our points. But that’s still 8 years away. I’m dying to do it now and would like to find out how other members manage multiple trips by air with kids each year.

Thanks.
Kelley

 

[twotoohappy]

We're going for Halloween for a week (dd will miss a week of school) and then during April vacation (no school missed). We get by with a studio so not a lot of points are involved. As for flying, just wait for the good deals. Right now us air has a sale going on, Providence or Boston to Orlando 98- Round trip! I might just have to squeeze in one more trip

 

[dsmith]

We watch for airline deals and hope they match up with when the kids will have a few days off. Maybe take off a couple days before a holiday so they don't miss to much.

Until recently we just took them, DS13 & DD11, out of school for a week. They're great students and could get some work done while at Disney and do extra homework the week we returned. Since they are rapidly approaching High School and the workloads will increase dramatically we won't be able to do that anymore.

If your kids are good students or in the early grades think about it this way: 20 years from now will they have happy memories about their perfect attendance award or will they remember their trips to Disney with the family?

 

[fmed845]

Back when our kids were in school we took them out of school to visit Disney because of cheaper rates and lower attendance. They were told this could only happen if they kept up with there grades or future visits would not happen.

 

[JoEllen]

We used to go every December and May. But, now that DD is 14 we're going June and December this year because school is more intense.

I agree with Dsmith that younger ages can be taken out of school if overall grades are good and your child is willing to spend some time on homework while on vacation. It also helps if the teachers are cooperative and give you the assignments before you leave.

As for airfare, we watch the sales and use our frequent flyer visa for an occasional freebie.

I'm not sure if we can keep going for a week in December with high school next year. But it has sure made for some wonderful memories. December is a special time of year in the World!

 

[CarolynK]

My kids are in third and first grades. We have been taking a Fall, Christmas-NY and Spring trip for the last 4 years. They always miss some school, though I try to minimize it. For example, in 2003 we took our Fall trip during Thanksgiving week, and they only missed two days. Next November, we made reservations during our school's conference week, so they will only miss three days.

Our trips are usually 6 days with one weekend day.

We do fly each time, and usually make airline ressies more than six months in advance.

 

[rsschneck]

We took DD out of school last year during Kindergarten. NO PROBLEM!

We took DD out for 1 week this year (1st grade). WOW! No work was given prior to leaving, but tons of make-up when we returned. It was very hard for her to get Back into the school swing. Work was made-up in 2 days. We decided it wasn't worth it. So, we are trying to stick to the school schedule. Spring Break, Summer, and Christmas. I don't think I would have a problem taking her out for a day or two. We are going to try to stick to the school schedule. I would say it depends on the kids and school policy.

 

[DeDixie]

We drive in the summer and fly during the school year. I just got tickets for Presidents weekend at $91rt. My DD's have off fri and monday so we are going for 5 nights and they will only miss 1 1/2 days of school.

 

[FreeTime]

Our kids are not in school yet but I am starting to worry about what will happen next year when they start. I have 2 plans, 1st is one week in Dec one week in the summer. If the school frowns on the December week or the teacher won't give up the work in advance we will be doing spring break and late summer. Right now we are going on DVC trips 3-4 times a year and we fly half of the time and drive the other. When school starts we will probably fly each time and DH and I will take a yearly kids free trip

 

[zurgswife]

Originally posted by KelNottAt
HOW do you do it? I really prefer not to drive

Multiple short trips or multiple long ones? typically our trips are at least 7nights

Doesn't flying repeatedly get expensive? I'm pretty good about fantastic airfare...examples: Dec paid $107 RT on Southeast..in June I have ressies on SouthWest for $116RT...so, compared to 6 people in a van for 17hrs plus staying over somewhere it is a bargin. (especially for short trips?)

How do you get the most out of your points? We typically don't stay both weekends, I'm now a memeber of Starwood so we use Starwood points to stay in a huge suite at the Dolphin for a few nights..

How do you plan your trips in order to miss as little school as possible? We try to go during school holidays but this Dec we are taking the kids out for a week

If you're in WDW for a lot of weekends, doesn't that undermine point conservation?N/A

How do you find airline bargains? I know the typical price and I now the cheaper airlines and I watch diligently

As for us, we have enough points for 7 nights in a 2br during Magic season. We have 411 so, we also can stay 7 night in a 2bdrm...or most of the week in a 2bdrm in premier season; which is what we did in Dec 2003 and the plans for Easter 2005

So, ideally, when the kids are out of school we take our kids out now every couple of years to do a different season we can travel at lower seasons and stretch our points. But that’s still 8 years away. I’m dying to do it now and would like to find out how other members manage multiple trips by air with kids each year.

Thanks.
Kelley

 

[Pa@okw95]

We went to WDW many times when our kids were young and living with us. We did the President's Week, April vacation, summer and once Christmas. It was very expensive, but went about twice a year on average. I finally ended up buying those large conversion vans, two actually and drove down there from CT. It did not save us money but I could not take the airlines anymore, the service was and still is terrible. I would suggest to you since you live in Maryland and Florida is much closer for you that you try driving down. Driving through NC and SC is no picnic that is for sure, but it either that or fly. The cost of going on vacation to WDW is never cheap even if you are a DVC member.

 

[lnb1230]

Kelley,

I live in Eldersburg, Maryland too. That is so funny! We just bought 175 points at SSR and are going crazy with the same questions as you are!

I have a 2nd grader and a preschooler.

 

[pumpkinboy]

As of next fall, we will have a 1st grader and a preschooler. This past year, DS missed a week (4 days) in October over Columbus Day (and his 6th B-day) and 2 days in January over MLK weekend. We just booked the flights as far in advance as possible then. I am with Zurgswife on airfares: we know what a good fare looks like, and track them constantly.

In the coming year, we have trips planned for Nov '04, April '05 and Oct '05, taking full advantage of our APs (getting 3 trips on an AP: now that's a savings!).
We booked our Nov airfare at about 10 months out: BOS-MCO $204 r-t per person; we're staying 5 nights (2 days school).
For April '05, planning to book SkyMiles tix at exactly 330 days (apparently the only way you can get a direct flight from Delta for the supposed base level of 25,000 miles; if I'mm gonna spend 50,000 miles, I'm going to Europe or 1st class, darn it). This will be Mass & Maine April vacation, which is later than the rest of the country so fewer crowds. No school missed
For Oct '05, after DD enters Kindergarten, we plan to do 5 nights (2 school days). We plan to book the fare as soon as they are announced and simply get a credit if prices come down (we will be coming back, after all.

As for the weekend issue, for Nov '04 we initially booked the while 5 nights in a 2 BR on points. Then at about 9 months out, I was chatting with a most excellent CM at MS and inquired whether any DVC member discounts were available for our Nov weekend nights; they were; I booked 'em and rented out the points (net gain on the arbitrage: $180).
For April '05, I expect we will stay the first weekend in AKL concierge (let's go Sunrise Safari!) and see if we can't score an AP discount on that, and on the last weekend heading to Poly, as I have always wanted to try it, also try to score an AP discount.
For the short trip in Oct '05, I expect I'll just book the weekends at rack rate, since we'll be in a preferred (hopefully BW) view 1BR, and weekends are cheaper for cash anyway on that room type in that season. The extra housekeeping will be a nice treat anyway (unless we score a DVC discount on the cash nights then too).

So that's our strategy. Yeah, it's a bit of work, but for us it is worth it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well now pumpkinboy...you've gotten me thinking about a trip in 4/05!!!! Didn't know that our breaks were different than everyone else's.
We have taken dd out of school routinely until last year. Now, we are doing our big trip in August. About 9 nights. But we do have a trip planned for Thanksgiving. She will miss three days of school but the parks will be a lot less crowded after that Sunday.
We also look for good airfare constantly. In fact, if I see a terrific rate, I'll book it and go see my dad in Florida!
We try to avoid using points on week-ends. We use a studio since there are only 3 of us and the full kitchen is a waste. That way we can stay longer. So, maybe a really long trip next year....say first 4 nights using an AP rate at a moderate (wed-sun), then over to Vero Beach, using points for 5 nights, then back to WDW for a last 3-4 nights at BWV. Perfect.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
Well now pumpkinboy...you've gotten me thinking about a trip in 4/05!!!! Didn't know that our breaks were different than everyone else's.

You betcha, neighbor! Mass and Maine are the only States that celebrate Patriots' Day, and most school districts in both States take April break then, rather than around Easter in the rest of the country. Pretty neat, eh?

Of course, airfares out of Boston and Portland (and to a lesser extent MHT, PVD and BDL) tend to reflect the local schedule, so IMO, best took book as early as possible.

 

[BigDisneyKids]

So, how many Carroll Countyians are lurking out there anyway?

Kelly, we've been going the first 2 weeks in Dec for a few years now. We took both kiddies (DS-11 DD-5) out of school both times with minimal return to school problems.

I think as one person mentioned earlier, it depends on the DK and how they can handle it.

FWIW, when we go (we always drive) home to SSR in Jan (22-31st), they're coming out of school again.

Life's way too short, enjoy it while you can.