Looking for a Pep Talk...(feel free to lie if necessary)

[Tbone17701]

So...my DD10 starts middle school next year and has voiced that she is not looking as forward to the Feb 2015 trip we are planning for my 40th b-day due to missing school and the resulting work load. My bday falls President's Week along with Mardi Gras next year and after much debate, we decided to go the week after DUE TO CROWDS. IF we decide to respect her wishes and go over a holiday when she would miss 2 days max, the choices are between Christmas & NYE or Easter. (Note the part about choosing dates in Feb to avoid crowds above.) Summer is out. We did the last week of Sept and while the crowds were great, we were MISERABLE in the heat! We tolerated one day pre-cruise in mid-Aug, but barely. I'd rather crowded that melting any day (and should be careful what I wish for apparently).

So, I'm asking for input on which God-awful season to choose and also, how would sleeping in, then pool, then PM parks with EMH type touring work for these crazy crowds? I'm guessing park hours will be pretty late for either? I know rope drop is preferable, but highly unlikely. We do late MUCH better than early!

I still can't believe we're even considering this, but thought I'd get some input from the DIS before transitioning to a mental commitment. I knew this day would come, but I thought I'd have a couple of years yet.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Is Thanksgiving week out? We went one year and with a little planning (avoiding certain parks on certain days), it was great. Just don't make the mistake I did and try to go shopping at DTD the weekend after Thanksgiving. Whatever was I thinking? Although we haven't been to WDW during Easter, I'd recommend that as your second choice, after Thanksgiving. I find the weather nicer, and the crowds more tolerable.

 

[BurleyGirl]

I completely understand your daughter's reluctance to miss school. (I applaud you for respecting her wishes.) We did that when our son was in 4th grade, and the toll of the make-up work was very hard, and we all three said we did not want to do that again, and we haven't! We are like you with regard to the heat...heat (and humidity) and crowds is a recipe for disaster for our family...we just don't tolerate either one very well, and especially not together! This year we are going to try the Thanksgiving break (DS gets the full week of Thanksgiving off). We know we'll have the crowds, but not the heat, so we're going with a modified attitude and hoping for the best.

When is your Easter break? We have a "spring break" which fell early in the month so that we weren't actually over Easter. Does yours do that? If so, that might be a touch better than Easter week.

 

[sethschroeder]

Disney has invented a time machine for trips actually. Your daughter can go with you at anytime in the year and at the end of the trip get into the time machine and go back to the beginning of the trip so she doesn't miss school. Oh make sure to FP+ the ride though there is limited seating.

*You said to lie

Couldn't you go on vacation the week prior to a school vacation? The resulting workload she is scared of could be done during that vacation time period...?

Going in the middle of december would allow you to avoid some crowds and then during christmas break she could catch-up on all the work easily I would assume?

 

[gonnago]

I was just there in April the week leading into Easter and it was crowded but manageable the worst day was at MK that Thurs. and it was hot not summer hot but hot with a few showers. I would agree that either Thanksgiving or Easter would be the better options. But as the PP suggested that you go the week before a break and use the week of the break to do the missed work is a great unless your DD is worried about missing instructional time in the classroom.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

The reason we go over Christmas break is so they won't miss school (high school now, started not wanted to miss in middle tho) and we can't tolerate the heat. Just plan for crowds, use RD and FP wisely, and bring your patience and it will be fine.

 

[evcollins]

Last school year we had a Labor Day wedding in Disney, so my then 6th grader had to miss a day and a half of school. Quite honestly, it wasn't bad. In our case, all homework is online. We just hauled his books with us to do his homework in the car on the way there and back. We also let the teachers know two weeks in advance in case there was something we needed to get upfront from them. Enjoy whatever week you choose. Just thought I'd let you know we were in the same position with our 6th grader.

 

[MattRyan]

Get the work that will be missed beforehand if possibly.

Honestly, missing a week of middle school isn't that bad. It would be much more concerning if it were high school, where the grades really matter.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

First off, great job raising someone so responsible at only 10 years old. I love what a PP said. If you take the week before a break it will give her a whole week to make up the work which she could probably bang out a chunk every morning and still be free to enjoy afternoons and evening during her week off.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Couldn't you go on vacation the week prior to a school vacation? The

That week is often reserved for testing.

 

[Barzeski]

I teach middle school. If possible, I would talk with the teacher(s) and daughter after the school year has started to make a final decision.

Many of my students miss a week of school with absolutely no problems. We give them all of their work ahead of time, I'll meet with them to discuss math concepts ahead of time, and they make up necessary work over their vacation (or before). However, some students, especially those with less supportive parents mindlessly complete the work, turn down my help, and can struggle all quarter.

The reason that I suggest waiting until school starts is that (you sound like a responsible parent and) your daughter's teacher can help make a wise decision. If your daughter is feeling anxious, the teacher may provide some insight that relaxes her and allows her to commit to missing some school.

 

[leebee]

The last time I took DD out of school to go to Disney was in 7th grade. When we got back, she said never again would she skip a week of school to go to Disney. It's just too much to make up, catch up on, and just the whole bit of doing this week's learning having missed last week's was more than she was willing to juggle. She was a straight A student and her grades meant SO much to her, so we respected her wishes. We started going to Disney in late August. The crowds aren't horrifying, but the heat is. We pretty much slept in every morning, went to the pool, had lunch, and headed to the parks around 2pm. From 2-5 we did inside stuff- shows, movies, etc., in air conditioned theaters. We'd schedule dinner late every evening, so we'd finish up just prior to the start of the fireworks/evening shows, and then stay until the park closed. It worked well for us, and helped us beat both the heat and the crowds.

(I should mention, our school system has a policy of not giving out work in advance so kids can go on vacation.)

 

[Tbone17701]

Is Thanksgiving week out?

Unfortunately it is with a widowed mother and grandmother that I can't justify leaving on what might be the biggest holiday for my family. Some things just aren't negotiable. Otherwise DH and I would jump on that week!

When is your Easter break? We have a "spring break" which fell early in the month so that we weren't actually over Easter. Does yours do that? If so, that might be a touch better than Easter week.

Our spring break is always linked to Easter no matter when it falls. Our only other mulit-day break is Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Disney has invented a time machine for trips actually. Your daughter can go with you at anytime in the year and at the end of the trip get into the time machine and go back to the beginning of the trip so she doesn't miss school. Oh make sure to FP+ the ride though there is limited seating.

*You said to lie

Couldn't you go on vacation the week prior to a school vacation? The resulting workload she is scared of could be done during that vacation time period...?

Going in the middle of december would allow you to avoid some crowds and then during christmas break she could catch-up on all the work easily I would assume?

I repeat...be careful what you ask for!

The week before a vacation is a good idea. I think she does have concerns about missing "new stuff", as she puts it...because it's harder to learn on your own (again, her words). I guess my only concern is how strict the teachers will be about when she returns her make up work that way. For example, if we go Sat-Sat before Thanksgiving or Christmas she goes back to 2 days of school. The same applies to Easter. Unless we try to go funky days (I.E. Tues-Tues), but then she is actually missing more than 5 days that way. It's worth running by her though. (I promise we don't usually let her dictate our vacations!)

Get the work that will be missed beforehand if possibly.

Honestly, missing a week of middle school isn't that bad. It would be much more concerning if it were high school, where the grades really matter.

Oh how I want to take this and run with it!!!

Anyone have 2 cents to share with regard to flipping touring from RD to PM and EMH if we end up with the worst case scenario?

I really appreciate all of your responses! DH might run for the hills if he has to "talk this through" with me anymore. What can I say, I can be a bit like a dog with a bone when it comes to getting my Disney ducks in a row!

 

[Order66]

When my kids were in elementary school I didn't hesitate to take them out for a week in the fall to go on vacation. When they got to middle school, we'd leave the day school ended or the next. The last few years that has been the first few days of June. Next year the school year starts a week early but they get out late May.

Really late May or early June isn't a bad time to go. Crowds aren't huge yet as not all schools are done for the year. Weather is more tolerable. It's hot, but not July/Aug/Sept hot and the humidity isn't crazy yet. I've gone during that time our last 4 trips and really enjoy it. Someday I'd love to go during Christmas season, which also happens to be my sons' birthday week too.....but I know I couldn't handle the crowds of Christmas week. But with my kids entering high school this fall.....I know that won't be an option. So May/June it is!

regards

 

[Tbone17701]

That week is often reserved for testing.

Rats! Forgot about that!

I teach middle school. If possible, I would talk with the teacher(s) and daughter after the school year has started to make a final decision.

Many of my students miss a week of school with absolutely no problems. We give them all of their work ahead of time, I'll meet with them to discuss math concepts ahead of time, and they make up necessary work over their vacation (or before). However, some students, especially those with less supportive parents mindlessly complete the work, turn down my help, and can struggle all quarter.

The reason that I suggest waiting until school starts is that (you sound like a responsible parent and) your daughter's teacher can help make a wise decision. If your daughter is feeling anxious, the teacher may provide some insight that relaxes her and allows her to commit to missing some school.

You sound like quite a teacher! We always strive for open communication with our teachers since we like to approach DD's education as a "team" and I fully intend to discuss this trip with her future teachers just as I have those in the past. However, on a selfish note...if we do decide to go for a major holiday time frame, I'd want to jump on reservations for all (WDW & airfare) as soon as they are available with the hopes of getting the best price and resort/room type that we want and that will happen before school starts for us.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Any fall breaks around Columbus day? I know it's busy but I think crowd level 7s vs 9s and 10s.

 

[Barzeski]

Rats! Forgot about that! You sound like quite a teacher! We always strive for open communication with our teachers since we like to approach DD's education as a "team" and I fully intend to discuss this trip with her future teachers just as I have those in the past. However, on a selfish note...if we do decide to go for a major holiday time frame, I'd want to jump on reservations for all (WDW & airfare) as soon as they are available with the hopes of getting the best price and resort/room type that we want and that will happen before school starts for us.

Thank you.

It's usually the best students, the ones who shouldn't worry who worry the most! This is probably the case with your daughter. I've reassured so many students that vacations are just as important as a week of school. Yep, there's things more important than math!!! SOMETIMES!!! Maybe book everything as you originally planned with the understanding that you can change things if the teachers think it's a bad idea.

 

[itchin2go]

It is for this very reason that we are going Thanksgiving week this year.

Last year (my daughter's 6th grade year), we took her out of school for several days for our WDW trip. Making everything up was very difficult and her grades suffered. In years past, it wasn't such a big deal.

It depends on the school and the student. If you could discuss your family's concerns with the school, you might get some reassurance that everything will be ok even with missing a week.

I will say that in our case, my daughter's school doesn't frown on missing the days. They're ok with it. I just know with my kid, it's not ideal, and I don't want to go through that again.

Every time I look at a crowd calendar, I see that very non-busy week before Thanksgiving and it kills me! You do what you have to do though. We may not get as much done, we will probably see more crowds, but it's Disney, right?

Between the dates you're looking at, I would do Christmas. We hate the heat. October was miserable last year ...

 

[lake queen]

If you want to go in the summer, consider a trip to DL! We went the last week of July and the weather was wonderful! Warm days,cool nights and low humidity!

It was pretty crowded, but we had a good plan, and made good uses of Fp and did every thing multiple times in 3 days. They were very long days- we were in the parks from 8 am- MN all 3 days!

We had always loved Wdw, but a trip to California was a real treat for us.

 

[1stvisit0909]

So...my DD10 starts middle school next year and has voiced that she is not looking as forward to the Feb 2015 trip we are planning for my 40th b-day due to missing school and the resulting work load. My bday falls President's Week along with Mardi Gras next year and after much debate, we decided to go the week after DUE TO CROWDS. IF we decide to respect her wishes and go over a holiday when she would miss 2 days max, the choices are between Christmas & NYE or Easter. (Note the part about choosing dates in Feb to avoid crowds above.) Summer is out. We did the last week of Sept and while the crowds were great, we were MISERABLE in the heat! We tolerated one day pre-cruise in mid-Aug, but barely. I'd rather crowded that melting any day (and should be careful what I wish for apparently).

So, I'm asking for input on which God-awful season to choose and also, how would sleeping in, then pool, then PM parks with EMH type touring work for these crazy crowds? I'm guessing park hours will be pretty late for either? I know rope drop is preferable, but highly unlikely. We do late MUCH better than early!

I still can't believe we're even considering this, but thought I'd get some input from the DIS before transitioning to a mental commitment. I knew this day would come, but I thought I'd have a couple of years yet.

We did Christmas Week 2012. Had an AWESOME time. I have a trip report in my signature. We enjoyed it so much we are doing it again!

I have near empty pictures of fantasyland at 905 am 12/26

We also saw bone crushing crowds - on our way out of the parks for a rest or a swim!

We didnt do any EMH evening hours - but we did do some Non EMH nights- Christmas week on non EMH nights MK was still open to 1. We had a BLAST touring from 10pm-1!!