Need advice for a teacher

[Murphydog]

Due to my school calendar, I can only go to disney during the crowded times. When would it be best regarding weather and crowd level?
Summer, Christmas week, Spring break,

Also I do have three personal days I could take off the three days before Thanksgiving and go the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the Saturday after
Thanks for your help

 

[Mermaid4me]

Could you take your 3 personal days around a 3 day weekend? I am a teacher and that is what I do. I try to avoid the busy times at all costs. We are going in 12 days and we went the same time last year. It was the BEST vacation ever. Crowds were so manageable. If it were me, I would try to do it that way. Hope this helps.

Mermaid4me

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[chop456]

I am also a teacher and have gone in the summer - June and August. It is hot! However, the crowds are do-able. Use fastpass and have ADR's.

We also have off the Th/Fr before Halloween and I have gone then as well. This year I am taking personal days so the trip can be 6 days rater than 4.

I am not sure of the 2 other times you mentioned - all I have read is that it is crowded at Christmas/Easter!

 

[rlovew]

I like to try to go when it is not crowded and will take off right before a long weekend. Columbus Day weekend although somewhat crowded is doable. Thanksgiving weekend can be crowded but the weekend before and days leading up to the holiday aren't bad. That may be your best bet for a longer trip. It will also proivde you with the beauty of the Christamas decorations before all the music becomes Christmas music and you can still listen to the subtle sounds of each land.

 

[schweig]

Do you have next years school calendar? I have taken my three PL days right before Thanksgiving and stayed until after the holiday. Crowds definately picked up on Thursday of Thanksgiving. Also taken PL days before Winter Break. Holiday decorations are up, Candlelight Processional. Crowds were not bad. Left WDW on the 24th of December and noticed a huge increase in crowds the closer to Christmas. Going in March of 2007 - our Spring Break is 2 weeks before Easter. Know we will have crowds, but we plan, plan, plan. Go early, rest in PM, go back in evening. Lots of AR's. My daughter wants to go the Blizzard Beach - last two Christmas trips it has been too cold.

Can you take your PL days around an institute that also has a three days weekend?

 

[teacher31]

Like the rest of us replying to this question - I'm a teacher, too. I literally leave school with the car packed and head to WDW. Is it crowded? I don't know. There are other people, but I'm where I want to be so who cares!! I have to use my personal days for other things so there isn't a choice. If it's the only time you can go, hit summer. If your school gets out in early June it is great because the garden show is still going on in Epcot. Enjoy your last couple of weeks of school!

 

[daisyduck123]

Teacher here too...could you use some sick days along with some personal days & take a week off during school?

That is what I do...we went for 8 days in January & are doing it again the 2nd week of May .all during school.

I always said we'd never go during school vacations....but now we're even going August 13-20....Free Dining was calling out to us!!

 

[Sher]

Just thought I would throw in my two cents here.

I am a "pre-service teacher" who will be heading to WDW for the busiest week of the year between Christmas and New Years next year. It is my present to my self for graduating from college in my 40's.

Obviously, since I expect to be a teacher, I know that I am limiting my future trips to the world. In our district you are not allowed to take personal days in conjunction with a school holiday.

In the early days, we took our kids out of school for our trips to avoid the crowds. Then, when they got older and missing school became a problem we took a chance on the week before Easter. We were pleasantly surprised by the crowd levels. It just wasn't that bad. We get up early and do EE and if the park gets too crowded we leave and go somewhere else. Our standing plan is to not wait more than 20 minutes for anything and that has worked during the Easter week as well as off season.

The worst part of the holiday trips is paying the high rates for hotels, but I'm willing to do it to get my Disney fix.

Good luck and have a great trip!

Sher

 

[tamman]

I am going this Thanksgiving. I will be using a comp day (that I will have earned due to kindergarten conferences- I have double the kids and conferences, so I get a comp day) the Friday before and I will be calling in sick from my cell phone on the Monday and Tuesday. We have Wed-Fri off. We are not allowed a personal day before or after a holiday and after the third sick day, we need a dr. note. So I should have butt covered

We have gone in the past during Presidents week and during the summer- This time I really wanted to go and see the decorations and I didn't want to be sweating profusely!!!

 

[torinsmom]

I was thinking of taking a day before and a day after Labor Day. We have a workday on the Friday before and then on course the Monday is Labor Day. That would be 5 nights. COuldn't swing it financially, but thats what I was gonna do.

I went in March for our Spring Break and I think it really depends on the time of your break. We were there March 25-30 and it was not that crowded. Just followed TGM's suggestions and we were fine. I wouldn't go in the summer, b/c I can't stand the heat!(probably good I couldn't swing Labor Day, although the free dining would have been GREAT)

Marsha

 

[CindyT]

DH and I are both teachers, so we only go in summer. We just stay a little longer and take it a little slower. We take afternoons off to swim or relax. Some day we will go in off season, but for now summer is better than not going!!

 

[mdoc]

The only one of those times when I've been is Spring Break. Last year it was the week after easter; this year it was the same week (last week of March), but a couple weeks before easter. I found the crowds to be big but manageable. If you're going at a crowded time, consider signing up for TourGuideMike or something like that to help you plan. I've also been in mid-November (before the Thanksgiving crowds). We often have 1.5 to 2 days off around Veteran's day. If you could parlay something like that into a full week, the crowds are light and the weather is pleasant at that time.

 

[kimkarli]

I am also a teacher. We get out a little over two weeks for Christmas, this year we get out around the 15th. I am thinking of going the week before Christmas, as soon as we get out of school. Not too crowded (I know the closer it gets to Christmas it will be) PLUS we would get to do the Christmas parade in MK!!! Just a thought.....

 

[jpolak]

DW and I are both teachers. This past year we went over the Jewish holidays in Oct. Some districts I know get very funny about using personel days before or after holidays so check. It is amazing how many people in my family get "married" that time of year.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Another teacher here. Our last trip and upcoming trip were both early June right after school lets out. We didn't find the crowds to be unmanageable or unpleasant last time and are hoping for the same this time. The only day we were bothered by heat was our EPCOT day. We drive, so adding a couple personal days to a holiday isn't really an option - just doesn't give us enough time. Good luck choosing a time for your trip!

 

[disneyobessed]

another teacher here.... First of all i envy you guys that can take personal days before nad after holidays and vacations. Its a no no for us and actually written in our contract..
Ive gone during april vaca and once in august and back again this august. The crowds are maby a tiny bit smaller in august but you have the HEAT to deal with. But on the other hand the airfare is much cheaper.

 

[Jacksmom99]

I used to be able to use my personal days to extend long weekends and/or school vacations. I went to WDW with my mother for Vertern's day weekend. We went Sat.-Tues and the weather was beautiful!!! We usually go in August and Feb. The weather is much better in Feb, but the crowds are better in August. However, we had a better time in Feb because our tempers weren't flaring up due to the HEAT.

In November I changed school districts, and it states in our contracts that we cannot use personal days to extend vacations. So, we'll be going for six days every Feb until I retire in 22 more years!!! Although DH and I are doing a kid-less trip in August. We can skip the parks if we want, and lounge by the pool all day.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each time of year that teachers must choose from. I guess you have to decide for yourself and your family which is easier to deal with; heat or crowds.