If you would not take your child out of school

[gracie1]

I am looking into taking my nephew to disney next year, but still have to ask his mom if he can go. If you didn't take your child out of school, would you go the week after easter (spring break) or the week after christmas (christmas break)?? I cannot get vacation time in the summer, so that is out of the question.

Thanks!! I hear such horror stories about the week after easter, and he is 6 years old, so I don't know if he would have the patience to stand in lines that are in excess of an hour!

 

[java]

Christmas break week is also NYE week- it's PACKED.
We found Easter break to be more managable.

 

[luvsJack]

What about Thanksgiving week?

A lot of schools are out the entire week. Its crowded, especially starting on Wednesday, but not as bad as Christmas week. and the weather is wonderful and the decorations are all up for Christmas.

Of the two you named--the week after Easter.

 

[4forWDW]

I vote for the week after Easter also.
My DS was 7 when we went and did just fine. We made sure we used FP and EMH and did better than what I had thought we would. I heard so many horror stories about how crowded it would be. With the right planning and strategy it worked out fine.
HTH

 

[gracie1]

No, we don't get thanksgiving week off here. I wish we did!!

So the week after easter isn't so horrible? I heard that the parks get to capacity?? We really would be just go with the flow with him, since we have been there. This would be his first time

 

[java]

When we went the week before easter was the killer according to the cm's but I suppose that changes yearly with school schedules. This past year we had the week before off. The year we went to Disney it was the week after. And really it was great. The weater was fantastic. It was "crowded" but nothing like we have seen during 4th of July week or Christmas week.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks everyone. I have to talk to his mother, but if she doesn't really want to take him out of school I would do it on his break. I'm thinking atleast in April we would be able to swim in the pool too (November weather can be cold!)

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

Christmas break is probably the worst possible time to go. We went over my son's April vacation (19th-23rd) this year and it wasn't bad at all. I would definitely return during that time again. As my DS gets older I am more hesitant to pull him from school as I have in the past. So April may be our annual trip from now on anyway. Have fun!

 

[beansmom]

spring break isn't the week after easter for ALL schools...christmas break is pretty universal. If those were my only choices, I would do Easter week.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks everyone. I never thought about the christmas break being universal!

OP...he is in 1st grade, but my parents were sticklers about not taking us out of school for a vacation. They were uneasy about getting behind in school

Thanks everyone for your help I feel so much better about the week after easter

 

[wahmtexas]

We had low crowds Thanksgiving week 09 but our Sept trip was wonderful, great character interactions and walked on so many rides.
As a former teacher, taking a 6 year old out for a Disney trip is really not a big deal, the beginning of the year is so much review anyway. My daughter missed 7 days in Sept and it was not a problem at all, the teacher did not even give her any make up work just told us to keep reading
Just thought I would pass that along in case it may be helpful...

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I think that is wonderful that you are taking your Nephew and I hope you have a lovely trip. We have done the week before Christmas, the week between Christmas and New Years, the week after Easter, Thanksgiving week, and Fourth of July numerous times as we could not pull our children out of school. We had a great trip each time. During crowded times just use fastpass and, if you are staying on property, EMH. At Christmas 09 we were at Epcot at 7am one morning for EMH. By 10:00an we had ridden everything, including HISTA, except for the rides in World Showcase. We rode many rides multiple times including Soarin and Test Track, and had a pocketfull of fastpasses for later. Between 11:00pm and 1:00am we did tons at MK. Afternoon naps, and an occasional day off to relax at the pool make it really manageable. Enjoy your special time with your Nephew whenever it is.

 

[3boymthr]

Just a thought, but check with your sis and see if there are any other dates at odd times when he is off. For example, my kids have 2.5 days off for Columbusday Weekend so basically if we leave Thursday right after school and return Wednesday evening we can get in a weeks vacation with only 1.5 days out of school.

 

[clutter]

Done both. Christmas week is awesome. The atmosphere cannot be beat. The crowd control is amazing, and well-needed. After about 11am, the less popular rides have lines over an hour! Spring break is more doable. But I'd see if there's a 4 day weekend in the schedule and do it then.

 

[SoonerSarah]

This was something that we debated as well. We don't have a problem taking our daughter out of school, but she will be missing a week previously for a business trip. We will be going during my daughter's spring break, which is in the middle of March. I'm hoping that with Easter so late this year, the park will not be completely nuts.

 

[MSSANDRA]

just a thought, but check with your sis and see if there are any other dates at odd times when he is off. For example, my kids have 2.5 days off for columbusday weekend so basically if we leave thursday right after school and return wednesday evening we can get in a weeks vacation with only 1.5 days out of school.

ita!!!

 

[TnTWalter]

what about FALL BREAK? That is the least crowded and least expensive...some schools have at least 3 days off...[W-F] so you could leave Tuesday evening and stay til Sat or Sun...

How nice of you!

 

[Colleen27]

I'd look for a minor break and take a shorter trip. We have a few times where we could fit in 5-6 days without missing school, at Thanksgiving, Presidents Day, etc.

But if Easter and Christmas are the only choices, Easter is probably the better one - spring breaks are spread out, especially this year with Easter falling so late, and the weather is more reliably nice for enjoying the pool. Everyone is off at the same time, give or take a few days, for Christmas/New Years, and you never know if it'll be gorgeous swimming weather or winter coats weather (we got some of both on our Dec. trip, the week before Christmas break).

 

[jenlynn0808]

Have you taken a look at your nephew's school calendar (most schools have them online now)? You may have other options.

Our school district has a half day on the Thursday and no school on the Friday before Memorial Day. If you did take him out of school, it would be for a minimal amount this way. For example, if we left Tuesday night/afternoon they would only miss a day and a half of school, versus a whole week, and we would still get a Wed-Sun/Mon (depending on when you left) at the parks.

 

[Pigeon]

It's going to be packed either of those times. We can't pull the kids out. Well, more accurately, we can't pull dh out--he's a teacher.

It's crowded any school vacation.