(inspired by Wish Upon A Star) When do you go to WDW if you have children in school?

[WendyZ]

I just read Wish Upon A Star's post about canceling their trip. I'm sorry to hear you have to cancel, but I completely understand. We took our kids out last yr for a Dec. trip, they were in 6th and 2nd. Luckly everything went fine. They would like to go again, but I'm thinking WHEN!!! There's no way I can pull DD out of school now. The work is unreal she would miss, plus all her sports. Not a possiblilty.

So, when does everyone go that is in this situation? For us it looks like it would be the first part of Aug., before basketball practice starts. That thought doesn't thrill me as I know it will still be HOT there!! But I guess it would be better than June or July.

Boy, what we don't do for our kids!!! hehehe

 

[Blondie]

We've been so lucky.

The first time we pulled them out of school (January 2000) we had several snow and ice storms. School was closed for all but one day during their absence. The school work sent along actually put them ahead of the class because we did it while we were at WDW (a little each day, and then on the long drive home.)

The second time, this passed February, really didn't seem to hinder them at all (5th & 6th grades.) They did quite nicely. The school principal wasn't too happy about it, and sent a letter stating he advised against it, but that he couldn't do anything to stop us either.

For our next trip, God willing, they'll only miss 2 1/2 days of school because that week they only have one full day of school (Monday) and the rest (Tues, Wed. Thurs.) are 1/2 days, and Friday is a day off! (all because of teacher workdays.) We'll see how this one goes. If they fall behind, I won't be pulling them out of school again.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

My son's in 3rd grade, and at this point I have no problem with pulling him out of school for a week. Family time is every bit as important as school time, especially while he is very young.

We've been to WDW in January, May, June, and October. I probably won't do October again, as it's so close to the beginning of the year, but we intend to make January our annual time to go. This year's trip is great, because there are teacher work days during 2 of the 5 weekdays we'll be at WDW.

 

[JESW]

Our children are still young - 3 (pre-school) and 7 (2nd grade) so we still pull them out of school for trips. This year we will be going in November - and that will probably be the month we go every year. This year, the week we are going DS will have 2 half days so he won't miss as much.

We will continue to pull the kids out during the school year as long as they can keep up with their work.


Jill

 

[luvdisnee]

WE TOO had to adjust when our kids left the "it's ok to take them out of school" ages plus now with sports year round. We've found a block of time in June/July that works out perfect. Be prepared for "Disney showers" nearly every day. But now that my kids are teenagers, they actually look forward to the rain in that the "diehards" like us stay in the parks and get to ride without lines, etc. Be prepared also to add a couple days overall than you usually spend, as some of the parades, fireworks, etc may be postponed due to rain. We've not found it to be any hardship, though--it's still a magical time !!

 

[Serena]

I went during the summer vacation.

 

[snoopy]

We try and plan around school holidays - like teacher's conference, etc. Last year the teacher's conference was in October, so we only had to take DS out of school for 3 days rather than 5 in order to go for a whole week. Of course, he was in 1st grade then and it wasn't as big of a deal.

This year, we've decided to do a late May trip. DS will miss school, but we figure better at the end of the year than the beginning. Again, with him being in the 2nd grade, we feel we can safely ensure he will do all his assignments while on vacation.

I think it becomes a bigger issue when the kids get a little older. I don't know what I'll do then. DH hates crowds, being that as an officer of the law he is constantly on guard and doesn't want to do it on vacation, and also hates hot weather, so that rules out holiday weeks and summer.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

We go during my school's spring break which is 2 weeks in March. It is different from my brother and sister's which is 1 week in February and 1 week in April.

 

[Kitty 34]

The last couple of years we have gone the 2nd week in June. Before that, we were going Spring Break but we decided that was too busy for us.

 

[DisneyMim]

Well, hubby is a teacher and unfortunately I can't take him out of school ( I don't think parents would approve!), so we've always gone during school vacations. End of August is nice. We went this year more near the middle of August because of my son's schedule and we found the crowds to be not bad at all. April vacation is super especially if it is not Easter week. Basically, we go when we can!!

 

[d.kurz]

This, for me, is the $64,000.00 question. We took them out of school in '97, but they were 2nd and 4th graders. And the 4th grader had a rough couple of weeks when we got back. In 2001, we went in the last week of August so they wouldn't miss any school. It was sooooooo, sooooo HOT that I felt the heat was in charge that week. It made us go back to the room sooner than expected too many times!

So when will we go next time? Well, I just don't know!

 

[supercarrie]

The two trips I have taken have been during spring break and the first week of January, which was part of my winter break from school. It is just too hard to miss class for me, when it isn't a school sponsored trip.

 

[EROS]

Our little guy is only in Kindergarten, but we do NOT believe in taking him out of class. We're next going to WDW in April during school vacation............

 

[Talking Hands]

I go between classes since I only have class Weds and Thurs. Weekends. And I leave the kids at home on their. There is an advantage to having older kids.

 

[Kteacher]

We've always gone April vacation because of school, and also because DH plows snow in the winter, so no winter vacations for us This year we are going the last week of June because I am going to Washington DC with DD and her GS troop during April vacation this year

 

[dianeschlicht]

When our kids were in the elementary grades, we would go right after Christmas and they would only miss a couple of days. That seemed to work all right. After they got to 8th or 9th grade, though, it was a lot harder. Our daughter could not do it, but we did take DS out once during that time. It really depends on the kid. DD had to work very hard in school, but DS found it very easy.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We now go in the summer. Already booked first two weeks of August at OKW. Stayed this past August and although very hot we still had a blast and were able too relax knowing my kids weren't missing school!!

We took DD#1 out of school until 4th grade. Now she is in 6th grade and misses about 4 days of school due to Nationnal cheerleading competitions. They aren't happy about it but that is life..............they don't offer cheerleading so she has to ddo it somewhere.........they say kids involved in sports are more likely to stay away from drugs!!!

 

[pollyanna]

Mardi Gras!

Luckily, in a few South Louisiana cities, the kids have 3 days off & the weekend....usually it is in Feb or March...we've also taken them out the last 2 or 3 days before X-Mass(when not much goes on in school) and had the week before X-mas at WDW.

 

[WendyZ]

WOW!! Look at all the replies. We will become part of the summer group now. But that's ok...I'd rather be relaxed, even if it's REALLY hot, than to be stressed about the kids getting their work done. Ash likes to play alot of sports and that's fine with me. I agree with you rbuzzotta....Keep them busy and hopefully they will stay out of trouble!!

 

[SeaSpray]

In May 2001 we took our 2 DSs (4th and 7th grade at the time) out of school for a week. They both are honor roll students and we had approval from their schools, so it wasn't a problem at all.

I will still take DSs out of school to go to WDW (or any other special vacation) UNLESS it would present a real problem at school for DSs. If that ever happens, then I'd plan the vacation for immediately after the school year ends, OR right before school starts back up again in Sept. I hope I never have to do that, but school comes first.