Pull them from school?

[Hera]

No way are we going to WDW over March Break. Never ever ever!
We don't like the crowds.
And we don't want to go in the summer it's just too hot for us Canucks. Christmas is also out as we have obligations to visit family.

So would you pull the kids out of school for a week and go in February or October? Does the school give you any trouble?

 

[DaniB]

I have not discussed it with the school yet, but we are pulling out our two kids 4 days AFTER school starts up again in Sept.

I figure I will let the school know in early June so if they want to assign extra work over the summer, that's fine. But there's NO WAY I'm going to take school work to WDW.

Dani

 

[strawberrygirl]

I've discussed this with my sons teacher whose sister lives in Florida and she goes there frequently herself. She told me to pull him out of school for 2 wks but there is NO way I will do it for that long. Instead, we will pull him out for 5 days before Easter in 2011. I plan to tell his grade 4 teacher at the beginning of the yr and then at the beginning of Jan. We pulled him out once in grade one and his teacher said "no problem" and even told me that he would not have any homework. Well, the $*%$ teacher gave him so much homework when he got back, that it took him 2 wks to get caught up (I can't stand her).
Discuss it with the new teacher even at the end of this yr. Tell the principal too. I don't imagine they will miss too much at the beginning of the yr.

 

[abdmom]

February? Before Easter? Even October? These are some major vacation times in the States and the U.K. I've been to WDW during these times as well as ON March break. All of the times are just as crowded. You might get cheaper airfares, but that's it.

 

[ccudmore]

We usually take our kids out of school for a week or two in April - sometimes for Disney, some times for other places. Never had an issue. Kids are in grades 6, 4 and 1 this year.

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

We have taken our kids out of school for a week ever since they started school (one in 5th grade, one in Kindergarten) We usually go in Oct or Dec. Our teachers and school have never given us a hard time. And I think what they get out of a week of really quality family time is way more than what they might miss in a week of school!

 

[BellyBaby]

I think this is the last year we're pulling our son for a week for holiday (he's 15). We made sure it was a week with an inservice day, or even a Cdn holiday.

I think October and May are the best times...good weather, good park hours, and you should be able to find a holiday or inservice day for your week (Thanksgiving, perhaps?)

Have a good time!

 

[erinbharris]

Absolutely...I'm a teacher--I tell parents all the time that some things are more important in life than school; spending time with family needs to sometimes take priority!

 

[fan1080]

February? Before Easter? Even October? These are some major vacation times in the States and the U.K. I've been to WDW during these times as well as ON March break. All of the times are just as crowded. You might get cheaper airfares, but that's it.

Feb is fine if you can avoid President's Day crowds. We've gone in Feb 3 times and have had to major issues.

Oct can be a very good time to go as well. Haven't gone in Oct, but from what has been posted here, it's a fantastic time to go.

From all accounts I've read, Easter can be busy.

We've also gone during March break, and late July. To be honest, I didn't find it over-crowded during either of those times. It was busy, but certainly manageable.

 

[bzymommy]

We are pulling DS#1 out of school, but only for 1 day.

 

[M_T]

Pulling the 3 kids out for a week in September right after they start

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

We did it in '08 JK and Grade 3 in Sept..no probs...this year we have a surprise trip for April so we need to talk to the teachers on the downlow...but I don't foresee any issues. My oldest DD even has ADD and has issues with class work, but I figure we made the decision to pull her so it's up to us to hunker down and help her "catch up" when we get back..it's worth it to have that special family time and memories.
We would be going during peak times if we could, but we work in travel and tourism so, disney peak times are our peak times....that's okay with us, it gets us great discounts and lower crowds!!

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

For the last ten years we have been mostly going in Oct with a Aug or Sept trip thrown in here or there. My child hood holidays in Disney were in June/July. My before kids days we also tried feb and April. After all those visits, the most ideal time for us is the end of Sept through to mid OCt. The weather is usually beautiful, the crowds mninimal and the prices decent.
I have 3 kids 10,8 and 7 and we have never had trouble pulling them out of school. I let the teachers know right away. We have the kids keep a journal daily, they read everyday and we take along what homework is expected. It's not to hard to find an hour in the morning to keep up with it as they are very early risers. My husbands job, like many other people, just dosen't allow him to travel much in summer or March break as that is his busy time. Schools are usually pretty understanding of this! Family time is so important to all and time is short and precious! So enjoy!!!!!

 

[sk8jdgca]

JUst watch May holidays if you are in Ontario and the kids are in grade 3 or 6- other than that I've not had a problem. Dec is good as the kids aren't doing a lot then anyways

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Yep, those standardized tests get you in grades 3 and 6!!

 

[sjsjbrook]

I like to book my vacations over those standardized tests. I don't like them and since they don't need to write them to pass until grade 9, I am saving my children from the stress of them.

I have found that after the long weekend in May, they really do nothing in the class, report cards are done, marks are in and so basically they are just putting in time. The week before Christmas Holidays is another one of those weeks where nothing is done.

Of course this changes when they hit high school, even more so in a semestered school. So I have thought twice about pulling my highschooler out for a trip.

 

[rodeo65]

We tried June last year so we didn't have to miss any school (Grades 1 & 2 then) but we (DH) really couldn't take the heat. We are now planning January 2011 (Grades 3 & 4). We will head down to my parent's place near Tampa on boxing day or so and stay there for a few days. When the crowds leave after New Year's we'll head over to Disney for a week.

The kids will miss about 7 school days. I'm going to ask if there is work they can do while away, since we drive, we'll set them up with a tray and spend a little time each day going and coming and hopefully have it all done on the road. I don't anticipate any trouble with the school - many of their classmates don't come back for a week or two after the holidays.

 

[Pirate Dad]

And I think what they get out of a week of really quality family time is way more than what they might miss in a week of school!

I think this is the last year we're pulling our son for a week for holiday (he's 15). We made sure it was a week with an inservice day, or even a Cdn holiday.

I think October and May are the best times...good weather, good park hours, and you should be able to find a holiday or inservice day for your week (Thanksgiving, perhaps?)

I agree and we do the same.

Absolutely...I'm a teacher--I tell parents all the time that some things are more important in life than school; spending time with family needs to sometimes take priority!

Again, a big

We're pulling my kids (grades 1 and 3) out for a week in April. Crowds are lower and my daughter's egsima flares up in extreme heat so summer's are out. We usually, fly out on a Wednesday and return on the Tuesday. Mid-week flights are cheaper and everything tends to be less busy. (Plus it seems like they're missing a bit of two weeks instead of one whole one... maybe just my rationalization! )

 

[snickerboo]

Yep, yep and yep! LOL I've always taken my kids out of school. It's so much more enjoyable to go off-peak. My kids are now in grades 1 & 4 and I pulled them out in November and didn't care. They're strong students. I always figure a trip to Disney is very educational: they learn about geography, travel, time management, budget management, they see people from around the world, etc. Our school has never cared. I usually give them about 2 weeks notice-and I don't ask, I tell, "I just wanted to let you know that our family will be traveling to Walt Disney World from xxxxx to xxxxxx. Please let me know any work you'd like them to catch up on or if you'd like them to do a travel journal". They've always done the journal and presented it to the class on their return. The teachers have always said, "have a great time!"

 

[PrincessDonna]

When they are younger than high school? Definitely! Our DD is still young (6 and a half); so I have nothing to worry about yet. We are hoping to even drive down next year 2nd or 3rd week of February. I wouldn't go during the peak times either. I agree with those who don't like crowds. It's just too much. We went in May 2009, and it was waaaaaaaaaaaaay to hot for us. I would like to try a late Oct or mid Nov time as well though. DH was talking about doing about 2 weeks (minus 4 days to drive down) in Feb. We also went Jan 2008, and it was FANTASTIC. It was jacket weather, but not sweltering.

Yeah, go for it! I would.......