Last Minute Trip - UPDATE Just got back!

[smellyia]

I need help deciding after a whim turned into a real Potential LAST LAST LAST minute trip to WDW this sat 1/30 thru Wed 2/3. Airline on points, really cheap deal at Swolphin, and I have an AP, but need to get tix or APs for DD and DH. We are already planned for 12 days in October.

My biggest concerns:
DD would miss 3 days of school. She is in Kindergarten and has excellent marks. Missed total of 3 days last fall for viral illness. Nothing due next week. BUT THIS IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
We have tickets for a Musical this weekend DD would have to miss and I would have to eat $130 tix if no one bought off me at half price.

Not insurmountable but last minute FPs I haven't even looked at.

Money a non-issue, but I will have to haul hiney to get my crew in gear in 2.5 days.

 

[DisDadDVC]

Well, the issue isn't taking her out of school. Seems like the $130 tix are. Since she is in kindergarten, school is a non-issue to me. The $130 tix? That will pale in comparison to what you will spend even on a cheap trip. And since you said money a non-issue, then go for it!

 

[cckp72]

In Kindergarten, I wouldn't worry about 3 days ! Besides, part of learning is travelling. I say go for it and have fun!!

 

[Micca]

You've come to the wrong place to look for people to tell you not to go to WDW. Can you dump the tickets on Craigslist, or give them to a friend? Is it something that could be donated to Big Bro/Big Sis? I'd be finding a way to make the trip happen

 

[loves to dive]

Normally I would say I wouldn't worry about it with taking her out of school but I know lately some of the school districts have gotten pretty strict in how many days kids can be out, even in Kindergarten. I would keep that in mind, making sure you account for the fact that kids get sick no matter how hard we try. I took mine out of school often for trips but the policies weren't as strict then and I'd often plan it so I could take him out after 1 on Friday, which would then count it as a full day attended. He was a smart kid, in all advanced classes even in Kindergarten and by the time he was in high school carried a pillow to classes because the teachers would rather he sleep then get bored and disrupt class since all the other kids would ask him for help.

 

[smellyia]

Well, the issue isn't taking her out of school. Seems like the $130 tix are. Since she is in kindergarten, school is a non-issue to me. The $130 tix? That will pale in comparison to what you will spend even on a cheap trip. And since you said money a non-issue, then go for it!

LOL. That's the truth. They were a Santa present for DD to see Matilda the Musical and while it isn't WDW, it isn't something that is always available so she may not get another shot to see it. The price of the tickets really doesn't bother me as much as us missing the show does. Sadly, we won't have another opportunity for this last minute type deal due to my husband's schedule changing to less concentrated days off. Even DD is torn on this! Maybe we go to WDW too much.....

 

[smellyia]

You've come to the wrong place to look for people to tell you not to go to WDW. Can you dump the tickets on Craigslist, or give them to a friend? Is it something that could be donated to Big Bro/Big Sis? I'd be finding a way to make the trip happen

Right? I can get the tickets to a good home for sure. Can you tell I'm at my wit's end? Got to run to grocery and def don't want to buy food for the weekend if not gonna be here....

Normally I would say I wouldn't worry about it with taking her out of school but I know lately some of the school districts have gotten pretty strict in how many days kids can be out, even in Kindergarten. I would keep that in mind, making sure you account for the fact that kids get sick no matter how hard we try. I took mine out of school often for trips but the policies weren't as strict then and I'd often plan it so I could take him out after 1 on Friday, which would then count it as a full day attended. He was a smart kid, in all advanced classes even in Kindergarten and by the time he was in high school carried a pillow to classes because the teachers would rather he sleep then get bored and disrupt class since all the other kids would ask him for help.

Ours has a 5 day UNEXCUSED policy that they report you or something. Illness excused and I can't find a cap on that. I wouldn't say for WDW necessarily...maybe family business.... last fall she was out an extra day for travel home from WDW and that was excused. She has all E's and has no issues with school so I'm not stressed on that but I grew up in a Filipino household. Unless you were missing a limb, you didn't miss school so this goes against the grain a little....

 

[Momto2minniemice]

A teacher once told me never let school get in the way of learning when planning a trip. Your kiddo will be fine. At that age you can accomplish homework easily! Now a high school in all AP classes that is different

 

[disney world dreamer]

she's in kindergarten.
and its only 3 days.
nothing she can't "catch up on" by working with you for a short period of time.

 

[Micca]

[QUOTE="Momto2minniemice, post: 55066700, member: 567196"]A teacher once told me never let school get in the way of learning when planning a trip. Your kiddo will be fine. At that age you can accomplish homework easily! Now a high school in all AP classes that is different[/QUOTE]

Our DDs are grown now, but we took them out of school quite a few times over their school careers to go to WDW. The most common remark from teachers: "Will you take me with you?" Schools are likely stricter about absences now.

 

[supersnoop]

A teacher once told me never let school get in the way of learning when planning a trip. Your kiddo will be fine. At that age you can accomplish homework easily! Now a high school in all AP classes that is different

I wouldn't call a trip to Disney a "learning" experience; other than teaching your children that it's okay to ignore their commitments when there's something else that they really want to do.

My daughter has been in school for eight years. The only time I've taken her out for a trip is when her grandfather was singing at the Vatican and we actually toured historical sites. Never for Disney.

 

[DisDadDVC]

I wouldn't call a trip to Disney a "learning" experience; other than teaching your children that it's okay to ignore their commitments when there's something else that they really want to do.

My daughter has been in school for eight years. The only time I've taken her out for a trip is when her grandfather was singing at the Vatican and we actually toured historical sites. Never for Disney.

What if they only go to Ellen's Energy Adventure and Figment?

 

[TriCircle Gal]

TAKE HER!! Family memories that will be made are more important than the 3 days of school that will be missed. Until 3rd grade (when standardized testing generally starts) it really is not a huge deal. Where I am, they do not even give homework until first grade.

 

[Momto2minniemice]

i am sorry some feel that learning only takes place in a classroom. But for that age she can learn to read a watch while trying to figure out when the next FP time is. She can learn about culture from many locations. Spelling can always be worked on. They are are also flying which means you can learn about weather, engineering, and how a plane flies. Kids learn a lot outside the classroom!

 

[patty57]

I wouldn't worry about it until your kids are in high school and taking AP classes. Too hard to play catch up then.

 

[tlmadden73]

I wouldn't worry about it ... EVER. You can educate your kids just as much at home or on a fun trip than in a classroom that teaches more and more to "the test".

The school year is long . .a few days missing school isn't going to ruin their life. They've probably missed that much being sick or snow days (and let's face it .. when schools "make up" snow days later in the year it's not like the kids are really getting quality education those final three days.)

 

[DisneyWishes14]

LOL. That's the truth. They were a Santa present for DD to see Matilda the Musical and while it isn't WDW, it isn't something that is always available so she may not get another shot to see it. The price of the tickets really doesn't bother me as much as us missing the show does. Sadly, we won't have another opportunity for this last minute type deal due to my husband's schedule changing to less concentrated days off. Even DD is torn on this! Maybe we go to WDW too much.....

I am the queen of taking DS out of school for trips. Granted it's usually on a Friday (he has 1/2 days on Fridays) when he has a Monday off, or taking him out a few days early at the end of the year to take advantage of cheaper weekday flights. So, all in all, he doesn't miss much and as he has gotten older (he's in third grade now), I do it less and less (he missed one day right before Christmas break to get a better deal on flights and hotel in Mexico). In kindergarten? Sure!

And I agree with the PP who said there is more to learning than what happens in the classroom. My DS now knows how to travel - he knows the components of traveling (booking the trip, flights, travel etiquette, etc.) that's a functional skill to have. In WDW, there is a TON to learn. Animal Kingdom is a massive learning experience - aside from everything else that is offered, we went to Rafiki's Planet Watch one day to watch them do exploratory surgery on a cheetah - yeah, that's not happening in his classroom and he wants to be a scientist, so that was a huge day for him! Walking around WS has inspired him to ASK to go to the actual countries and we have now been to 8 of those countries along with others. He can also say hello and a few other phrases from many of those countries.

So, I say go for it if you want to. No need to justify your decision to people here on the DIS. I think the only drawback, as you mentioned, is missing the show when you might not have another opportunity to see it especially when you will be in WDW in the fall.

 

[rainboots]

I just spoke w/ DD8's teacher. They happen to be starting a unit on animal habitats combined with area & perimeter for math. Eventually, the students will be laying out a zoo. I said we can certainly tie all of that in when we go to AK. He has even asked us to bring back maps or any printed material we can. She will have actual 'field' experience for the unit when she gets back!

 

[brockash]

I need help deciding after a whim turned into a real Potential LAST LAST LAST minute trip to WDW this sat 1/30 thru Wed 2/3. Airline on points, really cheap deal at Swolphin, and I have an AP, but need to get tix or APs for DD and DH. We are already planned for 12 days in October.

My biggest concerns:
DD would miss 3 days of school. She is in Kindergarten and has excellent marks. Missed total of 3 days last fall for viral illness. Nothing due next week. BUT THIS IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
We have tickets for a Musical this weekend DD would have to miss and I would have to eat $130 tix if no one bought off me at half price.

Not insurmountable but last minute FPs I haven't even looked at.

Money a non-issue, but I will have to haul hiney to get my crew in gear in 2.5 days.

If it were me, my kindergartener missing 3 days of school...or 2 weeks for that matter, would not matter or be a concern at all. I'd ask for the work and we'd do it on our way/way back etc. She's 5/6, she's doing well...it's just not an issue. Go and have fun and spend time with your family.

I have 3 kids (8th grade, 3rd grade and 1 year old) and with the 8th grader I really miss those elementary days of not having any issues missing school. I've taken them out for a week every year and we've always been just fine. Yes the older they get the more work it is to make up, but we get through it (me googling a lot of figuring out how to teach something lol), but it's well worth it. Enjoy the young years of not having to worry about it.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

call the theater- they may be able to switch the tickets to a day you can attend (assuming there are more shows)- Ours has done that for us before.