Need Advise: Best Time To Go Based on School Schedule

[donald#1]

For the past ten years including the last 4 years with our twin girls we have enjoyed Disney World during the slower, less crowded times of the year. However when the girls reach 1st grade we will be forced to travel during their school vacations. I need some advise from all those parents with school age children when the best time to go is. I realize the weather varies so I'm looking for input primarily on crowd conditions during Thanksgiving, Presidents Week, Easter and the summer months. Or do any of you just pull your kids out of school for a week?
Thanks

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

For the past ten years including the last 4 years with our twin girls we have enjoyed Disney World during the slower, less crowded times of the year. However when the girls reach 1st grade we will be forced to travel during their school vacations. I need some advise from all those parents with school age children when the best time to go is. I realize the weather varies so I'm looking for input primarily on crowd conditions during Thanksgiving, Presidents Week, Easter and the summer months. Or do any of you just pull your kids out of school for a week?
Thanks

My son will be entering 1st grade this September so we're goin at the end of April this year. From what I understand though, you're better off taking the kids out of school for a week rather than dealing with the busy vacation times. Trust me on this!

 

[Darcy03231]

If you decide to pull your child out of school for a week make sure you check with the school first. Since the enactment of "No Child Left Behind" schools have gotten much stricter about taking your child out for a family vacation. I did it when my kids were in grade school (and prior to No Child Left Behind). Now in our school district if you take them out for vacation its considered an unexcused absence. Too many and you can get a visit from the truant officer. Also, if the absence is unexcused the teacher does not have to accept make up work or give the work out ahead of time. Conceivably your child could get zeros on everything they miss. While it isn't a problem in grade school, it can be in middle and high school, especially if your district does block scheduling like ours does. Even if I could take them out I wouldn't anymore as they would have a very hard time making up the work.

 

[daisyduck123]

Or do any of you just pull your kids out of school for a week?
Thanks

Yes, that's us!

My DD12 (8th grade) & DS8 (3rd grade) miss 6 school days every May.
Last year, we threw in an extra trip, & went in Jan. too. They missed 5 days then.

It is totally worth it for us. The difference in crowd levels (hey, in early May there are no crowds!!) is amazing.

Esp. if yours are only 1st grade age...I don't think it would be a problem, but check with their teacher.
(I am a 1st grade teacher myself!)

 

[tripplanner]

Once the kids hit school age, we tried not to take them out of school for trips. We've tried early June, early August, October break, a November break, and Spring Break. Out of these, August is our favorite time. It's hot, but we don't mind the heat and enjoy swimming at night. The other times were really fine too. We found that in November, we could swim at night but a couple nights were uncomfortably chilly around the pool. As far as crowds go, we've found that none of these times are "slow periods". None are overly crowded either, but there are crowds because so many schools are out at the same time. I really expected the November trip to be less crowded and found that it was not.

 

[spindoctors]

I have three school-aged children. We went in '04 when my kids were in K, 2 & 4. We went the first full week after Labor Day. There were no crowds, and at that point in school they are only reviewing old material - not covering anything new. My kids are great students, though. I'm not sure I would try this with kids who struggle with school.

 

[Hannathy]

I have a high schooler so no missing school-too many AP courses and to high a GPA- Even when she was younger we never took her out for more than 2 days. We went the last week of August this year, not bad but not empty either and pretty hot. 2 yrs ago we went over Easter and tho I feared it, it actually turned out to be a good trip. Weather was great and yes it was packed but the long hours more than made up for it and it is fun to be on BTMR at midnight! Getting there at opening using a plan and eating at off times and staying late we went on everything and saw every show we wanted to. Had a great day at BB. So I would consider spring break again.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We have always taken DS out. Just returned from a week at WDW and DS is now 8th grade. most teachers gave him work to do in the car, and after one day back he only has some math and one test to make up. I never hesitated to take him out in lower grades but I did give this one a lot of consideration. He is a straight A student that I knew would do what it took to get caught back up. This is however the last year as I agree high school is just too hard. Next year it has to be planned around the school calendar but at 1st grade I would go when you want to!!!!

 

[homedad]

my wife is a teacher and she takes 4 days off for our every other year disney trip. Our oldest just started kindergarten, but we'll yank from school until high school or maybe jr high. We always go sept or oct depending on state testing.

 

[mom2npr]

I am a first grade teacher too. Your child may be able to make up the work with no problem, but check the school's policy for unexcused absences. I have always let the students in my class make up work when the are out for vacations, but that is not always the policy- esp. with No Child Left Behind where schools are given a "grade" according to their attendance rates. My school really discourages taking kids out during the school year. That being said- I am taking my son out of school one day early before the Mardi Gras holiday. I would try to work around the school holiday schedule. I think President's week is going to be really crowded this year- it is the same as Mardi Gras for us. We've gone at Thanksgiving and it was crowded, but not unbearable.

 

[chrismom2005]

my ds will be in first grade when we go in dec and we are taking him out last year we took my dsd who is in high school and my sister who is in high school both their schools made them do the work that they were going to miss before they went. as long as the grades are fine i think its fine to take kids out of school.
i think id have a real problem with the school punishing my ds by not letting him make up work if we go on a vacation its not my ds fault there is nothing he can do about it. and he is my son not the schools.

 

[WildGrits]

9 & 11 year old here. I always take them out of school. My mom took me out of school to go also. We go in Sept and Oct.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

We're going over the kids' Spring Break in March. For us, taking them out of school wasn't an option so that left March or early June. I figured the crowds could be heavy either way, so I'd rather stand in line with the kids when it was cooler instead of hotter and stickier. This will be our first trip, so I can't tell you a lot about crowd conditions, but I have beed 'advised' that March can be hit or miss. We'll hope for the best!

Good luck with your research!

 

[donald#1]

Thanks to all for your input and advise. We'll check with the school district's policy on unexcused absences. We'll probably end up trying both pulling them out and travelling during school vacations to see what works best for us.
Thanks again.