September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[KellyWasHere]

MamaJessie -- the only place we ever eat at DHS is Toy Story Pizza Planet.

And strike me down now, but there is a very good chance that we will skip DHS this trip again. I know, I know, how can I call myself a Disney addict if I skip something.

We just really don't enjoy that park that much. There are a couple of rides/shows that we like, but it's not worth the trouble to go all the way there. We usually just do TSM, Little Mermaid, and Muppets. That's it.

I'll go sit in my corner of shame now.

We had no intention of going to HS, then got the word that Phineas and Ferb would be there. So now we must go. But that is our half day.

 

[jbmom]

I was wondering maybe it would be better to do it OOP and use DDP for breakfast that day?? So shakes are not included on the plan...just main course, dessert and drink per usual? I thought maybe because it was cheaper it might be included?

Shakes have always been included in the DDP as a drink for us anyway. We have always been able to get shakes and smoothies for drinks at the places that have them. Thats one reason I upgrade my youngest ds to an adult for DDP, plus he doesn't really like the kids meals and I can't blame him!

 

[SydandPaige'sMom]

7 months from today and I'll be on my way to WDW!!

DD just read my countdown on the screen and she was so excited. That time is going to fly by!

We had no intention of going to HS, then got the word that Phineas and Ferb would be there. So now we must go. But that is our half day.

I wasn't sure if we were going to do HS for any more than Fantasmic, but the girls love Phineas and Ferb, so it's a must go for us too

 

[L-Harper]

I wanted to ask your opinions about HS for us. How long do you think I should allow for HS for a touring plan like this:

-Get to DHS by 8:30
-Get to Toy Story Mania ASAP (FP if needed)
-Voyage of the Little Mermaid
-Disney Junior - Live on Stage (check daily schedule)
-Muppet*Vision 3-D
-Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
-Use Toy Story Mania FPes
-lunch- on Sunset Blvd.

I really don't think there is anything else we want to do, especially with our two little ones. Is there anything else I should make sure we do?! Planning is stressing me out!

 

[MissLiz]

Good morning, everyone!

I hope nobody minds if I vent for a minute because I am just sick to my stomach this morning.

Last year, our school board voted to change the school calendar to a balanced calendar for the next three years which gives breaks in Sept and Feb as well as the normal winter and spring breaks. We have planned our vacations around that break: we have WDW this year and Germany next year.

So, last night, at the school board meeting (despite a lot of public outcry), the board voted to go back to the traditional calendar starting next year.

That means, NO September break.

I'm almost in tears because we use that time to go to WDW and now, if we go, we have to take my DD out of school. She will be in 4th grade next year and I'm going to have a hard time convincing DH that it will be okay to take her out for a week.

I have always said that I refuse to go to WDW in the summer or on spring or holiday breaks. DH said last night when we were discussing it that we can always take a few weekend trips during the year, but that's just not the same.

Sorry this is so long, but I'm just so stinking upset. At this point, I refuse to cancel my booking because, if I have any fight in me, we ARE going in September!

Thanks for listening.

 

[L-Harper]

Good morning, everyone!

I hope nobody minds if I vent for a minute because I am just sick to my stomach this morning.

Last year, our school board voted to change the school calendar to a balanced calendar for the next three years which gives breaks in Sept and Feb as well as the normal winter and spring breaks. We have planned our vacations around that break: we have WDW this year and Germany next year.

So, last night, at the school board meeting (despite a lot of public outcry), the board voted to go back to the traditional calendar starting next year.

That means, NO September break.

I'm almost in tears because we use that time to go to WDW and now, if we go, we have to take my DD out of school. She will be in 4th grade next year and I'm going to have a hard time convincing DH that it will be okay to take her out for a week.

I have always said that I refuse to go to WDW in the summer or on spring or holiday breaks. DH said last night when we were discussing it that we can always take a few weekend trips during the year, but that's just not the same.

Sorry this is so long, but I'm just so stinking upset. At this point, I refuse to cancel my booking because, if I have any fight in me, we ARE going in September!

Thanks for listening.

Oh no! That is terrible! I'd be very angry too! I think we're the type that in your situation, we'd just pull them out of school. I know how hard it is to convince a hubby though. My thoughts with September is that they haven't been in school for too long so they haven't really gotten deep into the study yet. Good luck with your decision! We are here if you need to talk or vent.

 

[jbmom]

Good morning, everyone!

I hope nobody minds if I vent for a minute because I am just sick to my stomach this morning.

Last year, our school board voted to change the school calendar to a balanced calendar for the next three years which gives breaks in Sept and Feb as well as the normal winter and spring breaks. We have planned our vacations around that break: we have WDW this year and Germany next year.

So, last night, at the school board meeting (despite a lot of public outcry), the board voted to go back to the traditional calendar starting next year.

That means, NO September break.

I'm almost in tears because we use that time to go to WDW and now, if we go, we have to take my DD out of school. She will be in 4th grade next year and I'm going to have a hard time convincing DH that it will be okay to take her out for a week.

I have always said that I refuse to go to WDW in the summer or on spring or holiday breaks. DH said last night when we were discussing it that we can always take a few weekend trips during the year, but that's just not the same.

Sorry this is so long, but I'm just so stinking upset. At this point, I refuse to cancel my booking because, if I have any fight in me, we ARE going in September!

Thanks for listening.

Thats stinks! Until my oldest son reached middle school I had no problems taking them out for vacations. Our school is really easy to work with and they always had their homework before we went and they each had to keep a journal of the trip to share with the class. They are both good students and had no problems. I know some people are dead set against taking kids out of school for vacations. I would be very upset too!

 

[MissLiz]

We took DD out when she was in Kindergarten and 1st grade. In 1st grade, she kept a journal and brought back the animal viewing sheets from AKL to share with the class.

Since she is a very good student, I'm not too worried about her having a problem keeping up. She's always been ahead of most of her classmates and she's in the gifted program. I just have to convince DH that it will be okay.

I'm really peeved about next year, though, because airfare and hotels in Germany are so much better in September than in the summer months. We were already planning on taking her out extra days for that trip, but we'll have to see now.

I'm always willing to work with the teachers to make sure everything gets done and that she has some sort of projects to do while we are there.

 

[MamaJessie]

You made your reservations when there was still a school break so I wouldn't feel guilty at all. Then again I pull my kids out of school so I really don't feel guilty anyway

But I say, go for it!!! It is not your family's fault they changed the schedule on you!!

 

[MissLiz]

Thanks, everyone!

I'm all for taking DD out of school for a week. I just have to convince DH.


I'm pretty sure he enjoys going just as much as the rest of us, so I'm hoping it won't be too difficult.

Okay, back to the planning!!!


On a good note, about 2 weeks ago, one of my co-workers mentioned going out of town during the Sept break this year and I about flipped because it's too early to put in my vacation request, so I was hoping it was just a thought to her and not a plan. Now, if we don't have the break, that means she won't be trying to get the same week off! Yay!

Positive thinking.

 

[JoBird]

MissLiz-
Bless your heart, I know you are just beside yourself.

I am one who yanks kids out of school so fast it will make your head spin.

Growing up my Mom would sometimes wake me up on Fridays and say "Let's just go to Myrtle Beach today- you don't have to go to school". I LIVED for those days. It was time with my Mom and I treasure every time we did it.

That being said, I know that every family has to do what is best for them. This year our kids will be missing a week at school. It's gonna be a lot to make up but they will get it done and still do well in school.

Here's a thought for you-
when does your school yr start?
Could you move your dates to encompass Labor Day, b/c that way she would only miss 4 days. That's what we are doing- leaving on Thurs, coming back the next Sat.
I know it would stink to have to change everything, but you're still ahead of the game-- I don't make ADR's until Sunday March 6th.

I feel like it is so early in the school yr that they still have all year to play catch up if need be.

Hope it works out for you--

 

[L-Harper]

Honestly, here are my thoughts....

-You only live once!
-Missing a week of 4th grade is not going to mess up her educational career. It's 4th grade! It's not like you are taking her out of college for a week during finals.
-When she is older, she will look back on the memories that you guys are going to make on these vacations and say, "thank you."

 

[JoBird]

LH!! Did you get a binder????

 

[Iwant2BAprincess]

Good morning, everyone!

I hope nobody minds if I vent for a minute because I am just sick to my stomach this morning.

Last year, our school board voted to change the school calendar to a balanced calendar for the next three years which gives breaks in Sept and Feb as well as the normal winter and spring breaks. We have planned our vacations around that break: we have WDW this year and Germany next year.

So, last night, at the school board meeting (despite a lot of public outcry), the board voted to go back to the traditional calendar starting next year.

That means, NO September break.

I'm almost in tears because we use that time to go to WDW and now, if we go, we have to take my DD out of school. She will be in 4th grade next year and I'm going to have a hard time convincing DH that it will be okay to take her out for a week.

I have always said that I refuse to go to WDW in the summer or on spring or holiday breaks. DH said last night when we were discussing it that we can always take a few weekend trips during the year, but that's just not the same.

Sorry this is so long, but I'm just so stinking upset. At this point, I refuse to cancel my booking because, if I have any fight in me, we ARE going in September!

Thanks for listening.

I heard this on the news this morning (we are south of Atlanta) and wondered how many people this just shafted. We also use that Sept break for our vacation week and would hate to lose it. I started thinking that if our county decided to revert the kids would just have to miss school. DH's time off options are very limited but we can ususally get that week off work but most of the other times everyone else with more seniority beat him to it.

 

[L-Harper]

LH!! Did you get a binder????

YES!!! We went to Walmart last night. Ugh, that's always a treat... at least everything was cheaper. I got the binder, the plastic sleeves, and these tabs that are stickers to stick on the plastic sleeves so I can quickly flip to whatever section I need. I already have a few things in it.

 

[MissLiz]

Hugs to all of your for your support! Thank you, thank you!!!

I did think about Labor Day weekend, but that would mean missing the first Tennessee football game of the season and there is no way DD or DH will allow that to happen!!! That is probably the one thing that would trump WDW for them.

I'm just going to go with it. Like you all said, it's not like she's not going to get into a good college because she missed a week of school in 4th grade. Shoot, we just took her out of school for a day this week to go to WDW.


We may just leave a little later on Friday so that she is considered "present" for that day instead of having her miss 6 days.



Back to the matter at hand: have any of you eaten at Grand Floridian Cafe? I'm trying to find one more dinner for us and I've narrowed it down to:
Ohana
Boma
Crystal Palace
Grand Floridian Cafe

We've eaten at the first three, so we know how they are. I was trying to stay around MK that day, but we love Boma so I added it to the list.

 

[MissLiz]

I heard this on the news this morning (we are south of Atlanta) and wondered how many people this just shafted. We also use that Sept break for our vacation week and would hate to lose it. I started thinking that if our county decided to revert the kids would just have to miss school. DH's time off options are very limited but we can ususally get that week off work but most of the other times everyone else with more seniority beat him to it.

I even checked the results of the survey that was posted last week last night and I saw that the majority of the people were voting to keep the balanced calendar. I said to DH "There is no way they'll change it with that many people wanting the balanced calendar."

Imagine my surprise when I looked this morning.

Oh well, we are planning on moving in the next couple of years anyway, so maybe we'll choose a county that has that break. lol

 

[L-Harper]

So, I think I've narrowed it down to these places and I would LOVE to hear your guys' opinions on all of them. Please!

Breakfast:
Tusker House

Lunch:
Le Cellier (only if they don't change the menu)

Dinner:
Ohana
Crystal Palace
Coral Reef
Garden Grill
Cape May Cafe
Boma
Planet Hollywood

 

[MissLiz]

L-Harper:

We've only done Tusker House for lunch, but I think the breakfast would be fun!

We really like Ohana, Crystal Palace, and Boma! Good choices!

We tried Le Cellier for dinner once and we weren't very impressed. DH's steak came out well done when he had ordered medium rare and the manager was the first one to realize that he wasn't eating. We lost our server to a high-maintenance table (not his fault, but it was still a pain) and the food was okay. I don't know if I went in with high expectations because of all the hype, but we probably wouldn't go again.

I would love to try Cape May Cafe and Garden Grill, but we just haven't fit those in.

 

[JoBird]

YES!!! We went to Walmart last night. Ugh, that's always a treat... at least everything was cheaper. I got the binder, the plastic sleeves, and these tabs that are stickers to stick on the plastic sleeves so I can quickly flip to whatever section I need. I already have a few things in it.

Yay!!! It will be filled to the brim shortly I'm sure with all kinds of fun stuff!!

I did think about Labor Day weekend, but that would mean missing the first Tennessee football game of the season and there is no way DD or DH will allow that to happen!!! That is probably the one thing that would trump WDW for them.

I'm just going to go with it. Like you all said, it's not like she's not going to get into a good college because she missed a week of school in 4th grade. Shoot, we just took her out of school for a day this week to go to WDW.


We may just leave a little later on Friday so that she is considered "present" for that day instead of having her miss 6 days.



Back to the matter at hand: have any of you eaten at Grand Floridian Cafe? I'm trying to find one more dinner for us and I've narrowed it down to:
Ohana
Boma
Crystal Palace
Grand Floridian Cafe

We've eaten at the first three, so we know how they are. I was trying to stay around MK that day, but we love Boma so I added it to the list.

Oh my mercy.

*sigh*

I might as well go on and admit here and now that the whole REAL reason we are going to Florida on LD weekend is that we just HAVE to head to Gainesville on that Saturday...

DH is a Univeristy of Florida Alum and we just have to go to the first game.

We can still be friends though.
Well, at least until Sept 17th. Then all bets are off, since y'all are comin' to the Swamp....

On the 18th we'll go back to bein' all friendly-like.