Oct 30 2010 7 Night Western

[dizzi]

and their schooling?

Thanks for any input anyone might have
Shannon

OUR school district has a similiar policy, leaving us to have changed our cruise last year to something different.

FIRSt, find out the exactness of the policies.
What i found to be unexcused and what i thought was unexcused was 2 different things. What i found out, AFTER cancelling our cruise, was, IF i had gone into the school beforehand and let everyone know that they would be out of school on certain days that it was deemed excusable. UP to 9 days on the 10 day it became an unexcused so there fore they only had one unexcused day.

SECOND, at their ages and this is what i did, i totally took my kids opinion into consideration, they both asked me to change the cruise that they did not want to miss that much school.

THIRD, If it is 10 days and all of the above doesnt work, Could you take them out of school on the Monday of the first week and just be out of school for 9 days? As long as the kids show up to first period they are present so you could fly out on a monday after noon and be gone almost as long.

 

[Pudo]

Lynn, Jen & "Pudo" - THANKS so much for the AWESOME information about excursions! I feel a little less lost now, but no less excited! I feel like a sponge - just ready to absorb whatever I can find! I ordered a Passporter and the Birnbaum guide - my first "cruise" purchases! Thanks again!

You're welcome. There is a lot of experience on this thread. I personally have been on 6 Disney Cruises (1 3-day, 2 7-day Easterns, 2 7-day Westerns and the 15 day repo that brought the Magic back in 08/08. Feel free to ask away, you'll be an expert in no time.

~ Jeff

 

[Grandma4ever]

Hi everybody!! It has been a LONG time since I posted, but with good reason. I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to keep this date or not because of school. Here in Texas, we have a truancy law that prohibits kids being taken out of school for more than 10 unexcused days per semester. And if we went on a Halloween cruise, we were definately going to WDW for a week before so we could go to MNSSHP. We were thinking that maybe we would have to move our cruise date to Christmas Day again (our first cruise was spring break and our second was Christmas), but the cost is TRIPLE to go at Christmas and I remember how hard I had to work to save up the astronomical price of that cruise The price of a week long cruise combined with one full week at WDW at Halloween was STILL cheaper than JUST the Christmas cruise by itself.

So, I talked to the teachers of my two older kids (who will be 17 and 14 at cruise time) and asked their opinions of what to do and how strict they REALLY are about taking the kids out for two whole weeks in Oct/Nov. I got the same answer from almost all of them....withdraw them from school and re enroll them when we get back. Now, I have a problem with this because my daughter will be a senior and my son is in GT so I am afraid he will lose his place in the program. What is everyone's opinion of this??? I SO SO SO badly want to keep this cruise date, but what effect will it have on the kids and their schooling?

Thanks for any input anyone might have
Shannon

I see several options: 1st to changed your dates completely. The needs of the kids must come first. However, there is no reason that you can't do just the cruise and plan to go to WDW at another time. It will add to the cost due to the transportation but it is still doable. I would talk with the kids and find out how they feel about missing school and or changes to the vacation. Due to the educational value of a cruise you might get the school to give attendence credit with extra work like a written report on the ports that they will visit. That will limit what you can do as excrusion so they can see what they are writing about and take picture to include in the report. And it is a long shot that the school will buy into this plan.

It is hard at best to do what we want and to meet the needs of our kids. I respect very highly any parent who takes the time to consider the needs of their kids as many today are in the mindset of I can do what I want when I want. That scares me because we seem to be losing the knowledge that at time what we want is harmful to others.

Good luck with your decision. I am sure you will make the best one for you and your kids. If you opt not to cruise please know that you will be missed but you will not be alone. The nature of this beast is that we lose some of our members while gaining new. Lois

 

[dizzi]

So, Pudo.......
You went from California back to Florida? Is that the repo you are talking about?......Must be i think if i have my years right.......Just got up.

 

[dizzi]

If so what stops did you make?

We did the first cruise in California after it got there.
What a great cruise.

Would love to do that one again.

But wouldnt mind doing those stops on the way back to Florida.
I will have to check that out sometime maybe througha different cruiseline.

 

[nenner1]

Lynn, Jen & "Pudo" - THANKS so much for the AWESOME information about excursions! I feel a little less lost now, but no less excited! I feel like a sponge - just ready to absorb whatever I can find! I ordered a Passporter and the Birnbaum guide - my first "cruise" purchases! Thanks again!

You're welcome!

I got the same answer from almost all of them....withdraw them from school and re enroll them when we get back. Now, I have a problem with this because my daughter will be a senior and my son is in GT so I am afraid he will lose his place in the program. What is everyone's opinion of this??? I SO SO SO badly want to keep this cruise date, but what effect will it have on the kids and their schooling?

Thanks for any input anyone might have
Shannon

Wow...Shannon, that is a tough one!

It is something we have not so much in the back of our minds too. I know how frustrating it is....the price difference on DCL between non-school times and summer/spring break/holiday times. The price difference is enormous.
We are preparing ourselves for this dilemma as our kids get older. That is one of the main reasons we are trying RCCL; their prices are much more reasonable during peak times. As much as I LOVE DCL and LOVE Disney....I just don't think we can afford the $8K and up cruises every year. And that's what it costs for summer time.

That having been said I think THIS is totally a great idea if you can swing it:

However, there is no reason that you can't do just the cruise and plan to go to WDW at another time.

I think WDW on its' own is much more doable during peak times than the cruise. Especially summertime, there are times in early and later summer where the prices and crowds aren't that bad at all (if you can stand the heat but I see you are from TX! )Also there always seems to be some sort of WDW discount out but rarely are there cruise discounts (well..there has been a lot of discounting this past year but I expect that to decline with the new ships and itineraries renewing interest in DCL..the half off deposit promo is gone now, for instance.)

It is a tough decision for sure, at the age your kids are at I don't think it would be worth getting them so far behind and the withdraw/enroll sounds like more trouble than it is worth. JMO...So that is what I recommend for you, splitting the WDW and cruise portions and/or possibly changing cruise lines if you have to go during a less affordable time of year! It's a tough choice for sure, I hope you guys can find a way to work it out so it is a win-win.

 

[dizzi]

Shannon.....
ANother thought also.....

We have a 2 day breakduring this cruisefrom school. So our kids are only missing 3 days of school for the entire timewe will be gone.

Any possibility that could happen with your county?

Good LucK with your decisions!

 

[ShannonR]

Thanks so much to EVERYONE for your input on my school/cruise date dilemma I have asked both my kids what their opinion is and I get two TOTALLY different answers: my 16 y.o. DD is absolutely fine with missing school (she barely squeaks by every year, so what a shocker that she would choose to ditch school) and my 13 y.o. son who is in GT can't bear the thought of falling behind and DOES NOT WANT to be withdrawn from school.......SSSOOO I am still at a standstill. School DOES come first, but I would really really like a happy medium. Is that too much to ask

Thanks
Shannon

 

[knewton64]

....just got back from my Adventures by DISney, "Spirit of America" trip.

WOW! Cool trip! Am slowly working on my trip report, downloading pics and such but one things fer sure......in about a week - I am weening myself off of patriotic music and back to DCL cruise music.

CYA on Sunday pm!

T.T.F.N.

 

[Pudo]

So, Pudo.......
You went from California back to Florida? Is that the repo you are talking about?......Must be i think if i have my years right.......Just got up.

Yes, you got it right. The cruise left Los Angeles August 17 last year and arrived in Port Canaveral on September 1st (Labor Day) 15 days later. We loved the trip and will hopefully do another repo one day, but it is better for us to bring the ship home instead of taking it out west which is why we didn't book the Wonder in 2011.

 

[Pudo]

Thanks so much to EVERYONE for your input on my school/cruise date dilemma I have asked both my kids what their opinion is and I get two TOTALLY different answers: my 16 y.o. DD is absolutely fine with missing school (she barely squeaks by every year, so what a shocker that she would choose to ditch school) and my 13 y.o. son who is in GT can't bear the thought of falling behind and DOES NOT WANT to be withdrawn from school.......SSSOOO I am still at a standstill. School DOES come first, but I would really really like a happy medium. Is that too much to ask

Thanks
Shannon

I looked up the Texas State Code; looks like you need to get a doctor's excuse.

Sec. 25.087. EXCUSED ABSENCES. (a) A person required to attend school, including a person required to attend school under Section 25.085(e), may be excused for temporary absence resulting from any cause acceptable to the teacher, principal, or superintendent of the school in which the person is enrolled.

(b) A school district shall excuse a student from attending school for:

(1) the following purposes, including travel for those purposes:

(A) observing religious holy days; or

(B) attending a required court appearance; or

(2) a temporary absence resulting from health care professionals if that student commences classes or returns to school on the same day of the appointment.

Reference: EDUCATION CODE - CHAPTER 25. ADMISSION, TRANSFER, AND ATTENDANCE

 

[DisneyMissy318]

New day - new questions from the newbie!!

Okay - I've been reading about dining on the cruises - of course I know about Palo (will figure out what day to try to book later). I'm wondering - since this is a Halloween cruise - will there still be a Pirate night? Is Pirate night just in a specific restaurant or does the whole ship observe the same night? What about formal night - is it formal because it's Tuesday (for example) or because you are in a specific restaurant? I feel like I don't know anything! But I'm learning and have about 1 year, 1 month, 4 days to figure it out!

 

[Grandma4ever]

New day - new questions from the newbie!!

Okay - I've been reading about dining on the cruises - of course I know about Palo (will figure out what day to try to book later). I'm wondering - since this is a Halloween cruise - will there still be a Pirate night? Is Pirate night just in a specific restaurant or does the whole ship observe the same night? What about formal night - is it formal because it's Tuesday (for example) or because you are in a specific restaurant? I feel like I don't know anything! But I'm learning and have about 1 year, 1 month, 4 days to figure it out!

Good question. Pirate night will be observed in all the resturants and at a late night deck party all on the same day. Formal night is the same night as the Captian's Gala Menu and is celebrated but everyone on the same day. There are three days that each resturant has a different menu but everyone gets to eat from each menu. The other 4 nights all the resturants have the same menu. End the end you will eat from 7 different menus.

 

[Pudo]

New day - new questions from the newbie!!

Okay - I've been reading about dining on the cruises - of course I know about Palo (will figure out what day to try to book later). I'm wondering - since this is a Halloween cruise - will there still be a Pirate night? Is Pirate night just in a specific restaurant or does the whole ship observe the same night? What about formal night - is it formal because it's Tuesday (for example) or because you are in a specific restaurant? I feel like I don't know anything! But I'm learning and have about 1 year, 1 month, 4 days to figure it out!

Typically the 7 day cruises have a formal night, semi-formal night, and a themed night which for some time has been a pirate night. For the Eastern and Western cruises the nights are pretty consistent.

Don't quote me, I would have to check the current schedule, but in the past I believe that Monday was formal night, Wedesday is Pirate night, and Thursday is semi-formal.

Your restaurant rotation is independent of the evening's events. Some people feel that Lumieres is the best restaurant for formal night and will try to change their rotation to match up with Lumieres.

You never know what your rotation is before boarding, but you can make a request to change it when you first get onboard. Normally some of the Head Servers are in Rockin' Bar D before the ship sails so you can pop in and ask if you like.

We always request a particular server, but never asked for a rotation change. It doesn't really matter to us what restaurant we are in on a given night.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Thanks for the quick responses! Okay - new question - what does one wear on Formal night? Semi-formal? Regular night? I guess your attire for Palo would be similar to formal night? Thanks for helping us get dressed appropriately!

 

[Pudo]

Thanks for the quick responses! Okay - new question - what does one wear on Formal night? Semi-formal? Regular night? I guess your attire for Palo would be similar to formal night? Thanks for helping us get dressed appropriately!

Humorously enough attire can be a hotly debated subject on this forum, not this thread, just in general on the DCL forum.

My suggestion is that casual attire is fine for any night, but if you want to dress up then enjoy. Many people really get into formal night; tuxedos are fairly common. Also, dressing up definitely makes for a nice family photo.

I typically don't dress in more than a shirt and tie, but then I would be in the minority on formal night. Luckily my wife doesn't like to pack a lot so she will only bring a cocktail dress or two.

 

[Grandma4ever]

Humorously enough attire can be a hotly debated subject on this forum, not this thread, just in general on the DCL forum.

My suggestion is that casual attire is fine for any night, but if you want to dress up then enjoy. Many people really get into formal night; tuxedos are fairly common. Also, dressing up definitely makes for a nice family photo.

I typically don't dress in more than a shirt and tie, but then I would be in the minority on formal night. Luckily my wife doesn't like to pack a lot so she will only bring a cocktail dress or two.

I could not have said it better but wanted to add that for the evening meal most folks will dress for dinner. By that I mean no shorts or day wear tank tops. Swim wear is a real NO No. Women will wear dresses, pants and capries with nicer tops. Men will wear pants with a button up shirt or polo shirt. It does not need to be fancy by any means. Simi Formal is a little dessier and formal night you can take over the top. It can be alot of fun. But it is not required.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Pudo - I guess you and my DH will be in the minority together! I'm not even sure he has a suit jacket - shirt and tie he can do. I might have to find something dressier for him. I just mentioned to my DD that there are dress-up nights and she'll need a dress! She immediately said, then I'm not going - she is such a tomboy! Although she did backtrack and say that she will still go, but will find something other than a dress to wear! LOL! Thanks again for your replies!

 

[philatiger]

I am not a real dress up kinda guy either. But on the disney cruise we brought tux's for both semi and formal nights. We never do formal nights on other cruises. Like others mentioned it is not required.

Although I do have to say I really enjoyed seeing everyone all dressed up on formal night, from adults to kids.

When we ate dinner in Palo we just wore dress pants and button down shirts, nothing fancy. Now I am thinking about the Palo brunch....

 

[Grandma4ever]

Pudo - I guess you and my DH will be in the minority together! I'm not even sure he has a suit jacket - shirt and tie he can do. I might have to find something dressier for him. I just mentioned to my DD that there are dress-up nights and she'll need a dress! She immediately said, then I'm not going - she is such a tomboy! Although she did backtrack and say that she will still go, but will find something other than a dress to wear! LOL! Thanks again for your replies!

Tell her she can wear nice pants with a dressy top. If she wants put her in a tux. It all about dressing up in a manner that you feel comfortable and having fun. It not to worry about or get into power struggles over. It could be fun to see what she might enjoy wearing. Tell her I will be looking to see what she decides to do. Lois