So frustrated right now - school start date change

[Disneylover99]

Really, you don't know that your kids will be off the entire month of July and most of August? The OP took a chance planning her vacation, she said that the school has started before Labor Day before. It was her choice to book then instead of wait. Yes, it would be very convenient for the school to have put out the schedule but it isn't needed to plan a vacation in the summer.

But we are talking about a Disney vacation here. We are talking about a Bounceback offer that was booked a year in advance, dining that gets booked six months in advance, airfare that gets booked six months in advance (for us anyways) because the price just goes up and up and up. So yeah, it is necessary to know when school starts for us. If we waited for our school calendar to come out, we wouldn't be able to afford a Disney vacation.

 

[Kayabee]

But we are talking about a Disney vacation here. We are talking about a Bounceback offer that was booked a year in advance, dining that gets booked six months in advance, airfare that gets booked six months in advance (for us anyways) because the price just goes up and up and up. So yeah, it is necessary to know when school starts for us. If we waited for our school calendar to come out, we wouldn't be able to afford a Disney vacation.

No, your finances are a personal issue. If you can only afford to go at a certain time, is it going to matter what the calender says? Do you just not go and save your money so that you can go any time the following year?
A calender that comes out in July has no bearing on whether you can afford to go any of the weeks available to you.

 

[Disneylover99]

No, your finances are a personal issue. If you can only afford to go at a certain time, is it going to matter what the calender says? Do you just not go and save your money so that you can go any time the following year?
A calender that comes out in July has no bearing on whether you can afford to go any of the weeks available to you.

My point is, it's not unreasonable to need to know the school calendar at least six months in advance in order to book airfare to go anywhere. Sure, I can book last minute and pay an arm and a leg. But who wants to do that regardless of finances? So yeah, it matters what the calendar says, because I don't want my kids to miss school.

 

[Kayabee]

My point is, it's not unreasonable to need to know the school calendar at least six months in advance in order to book airfare to go anywhere. Sure, I can book last minute and pay an arm and a leg. But who wants to do that regardless of finances? So yeah, it matters what the calendar says, because I don't want my kids to miss school.

And I get that but you (general you) can still manage to plan a vacation that you can afford if your school calender comes out in July. If your kids aren't missing school then (I assume) the first long break they have is Thanksgiving or Christmas, so you could still plan a vacation then if you get your schedule as late as July.

 

[Disneylover99]

And I get that but you (general you) can still manage to plan a vacation that you can afford if your school calender comes out in July. If your kids aren't missing school then (I assume) the first long break they have is Thanksgiving or Christmas, so you could still plan a vacation then if you get your schedule as late as July.

Everything hinges on when your school calendar comes out and when you want to go away though.

My problem is similar to the OP's.

Our school year runs Sept. - June. I won't know exact start dates in Sept. until late April. We travel late August because it's best for my schedule and husband's schedule. Right now, airfare is already booked. I am not concerned about any other time of year, because Christmas is far enough in advance for me to be able to book my airfare knowing the dates.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

What isn't so simple about planning a vacation for when you know when you'll be able to go?

If your window of available "off" time is small, it can be quite difficult.

Yes, I know my kids will be off for a big chunk of the middle of the Summer. Those fringe "maybe" weeks at either end of the Summer may be the only time available to the "low man".

Or take my situation. DW works at the school & has "Summers" off. She also reports to work 3 weeks prior to the kids. We also have obligations through July 11th. Not knowing her start date (which may be in July or maybe August) is a giant pain.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

No, your finances are a personal issue. If you can only afford to go at a certain time, is it going to matter what the calender says? Do you just not go and save your money so that you can go any time the following year?
A calender that comes out in July has no bearing on whether you can afford to go any of the weeks available to you.

Getting the calendar out early costs the school NOTHING. Getting the calendar out late costs us money. How it is that you don't consider this worthy of a rant on a discussion board is a mystery to me.

Edit: just checked our favorite beach destination & the first week of August is $85 per night cheaper than the 3rd week of July. Personally, if the latter date is a date we CAN be off, I would like to know. As is, I'm stuck paying the $85/night "insurance policy" by booking the earlier date so I can avoid an issue with the school. I can't speak for you, but I find no value in just giving money away that I may or may not need to spend.

 

[Kayabee]

Everything hinges on when your school calendar comes out and when you want to go away though.

My problem is similar to the OP's.

Our school year runs Sept. - June. I won't know exact start dates in Sept. until late April. We travel late August because it's best for my schedule and husband's schedule. Right now, airfare is already booked. I am not concerned about any other time of year, because Christmas is far enough in advance for me to be able to book my airfare knowing the dates.

That is the same as us, we usually start the Tuesday after Labor Day but one year we started the following week after Labor Day. We get our schedules in April, and that I year I planned our WDW vacation in May for the end of August/beginning of Sept. There was plenty of time but I can understand that it would be hard if you didn't get the schedule in July but in that case one could just plan for a week in summer that isn't so close to when the start date will be. Or just wait and plan for a week during the school year.

The OP planned a year in advance because she wanted to take advantage of the bounceback. If she was just planning a vacation, the 5 months she got would have been enough time too do that.

 

[Kayabee]

Getting the calendar out early costs the school NOTHING. Getting the calendar out late costs us money. How it is that you don't consider this worthy of a rant on a discussion board is a mystery to me.

Please point out where I said that nobody here should be ranting.
I can play the lets put words in other people's mouth too. I can't believe you think its the school's responsibility to make sure you save money on your vacation.

Clearly this thread is turning because some can't keep their emotions at bay.


I'm out, Have fun planning everyone whenever you trip is!

 

[LBIJim]

But we are talking about a Disney vacation here. We are talking about a Bounceback offer that was booked a year in advance, dining that gets booked six months in advance, airfare that gets booked six months in advance (for us anyways) because the price just goes up and up and up. So yeah, it is necessary to know when school starts for us. If we waited for our school calendar to come out, we wouldn't be able to afford a Disney vacation.

Sounds like way too many posters here count their chickens before they're hatched.

And that a Disney vacation is higher priority than their kids' educations.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Please point out where I said that nobody here should be ranting.
I can play the lets put words in other people's mouth too. I can't believe you think its the school's responsibility to make sure you save money on your vacation.

Clearly this thread is turning because some can't keep their emotions at bay.


I'm out, Have fun planning everyone whenever you trip is!

For a lot of people, this is a big deal & all you've done is try to tell them it is not.

As for responsibility, I go out of my way to make sure my kids are in school when school is in session. Part of the reason I do that is I know they lose funding when kids are absent. So, them extending the same courtesy to me by getting a schedule out a year in advance would be nice.

After all, it's a lot easier for me to make sure my kids are at school if I actually KNOW when school will be.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Sounds like way too many posters here count their chickens before they're hatched.

And that a Disney vacation is higher priority than their kids' educations.

Really? I would say if that second line applies to anyone, it is not those who are TRYING to vacation when school is out

 

[Wishing on a star]

OMG....
Not even believing some of these latest posts...
Wow......

I do not see anyone here who would like the schedule to come out sooner so that can plan to travel when their child is supposed to be in school.

I do know where some posters here are coming from.
I do know why some people do think that what many might consider to be common courtesy and good-faith practices are too much to expect from the school systems.

 

[tasha99]

There is nothing to manage, you plan vacations in the summer during a time when you know school won't be in session. Millions of families manage to do that every year. Then once you have your schedule you can plan any vacations that fall during the breaks you get. Our first break in Thanksgiving, if I get the schedule in July that is 4 months, plenty of time to plan. Only on the DIS would it be an atrocity that you can't plan your WDW an entire year out.

Well, to be fair, this is a Disney board and a Disney vacation takes a lot of planning. DVC rooms are usually booked somewhere around 11 months out, or 7 months for a shot at a non-home resort. My vacation is in 6 months or so and the types of rooms I booked are no longer available. If I waited for the school to get its calendar out, there would be nothing left.

 

[Disneylover99]

Please point out where I said that nobody here should be ranting.
I can play the lets put words in other people's mouth too. I can't believe you think its the school's responsibility to make sure you save money on your vacation.

Clearly this thread is turning because some can't keep their emotions at bay.


I'm out, Have fun planning everyone whenever you trip is!

Maybe you're right. But It was this condescending comment from you that prompted me to respond to you.

"Only on the DIS would it be an atrocity that you can't plan your WDW an entire year out."

 

[morgan98]

I don't think it is all that different an issue because for most people traveling depends on both time off and affordability. I know this is the DIS, where most everyone has professional jobs with a great deal of autonomy and flexibility, but out here in the real world a lot of people work jobs that don't allow for time off at certain times of year. Marine services, construction, and agriculture are all major industries in my community and most of those people can't simply take off in the six-week peak summer window that is "safe" from changes in the school schedule. Knowing the other breaks, and knowing them far enough in advance to get savings where they can be found, is essential for many families to be able to travel at all.

Honestly, the tone I get from some of these posts is basically that people who can't afford rack rate vacations at peak season or last minute pricing should simply accept not traveling because it is unreasonable to expect the schools should have their calendar in place early enough to find deals. "Shoulder seasons" like the early part of June and late part of August are how a LOT of middle class families are able to afford travel. It isn't ridiculous to think the schools could have a bit of courtesy/understanding for that reality.

Well, I really don't visit Disney anymore much and have never paid a rack rate. Some of us with professional jobs are in the real world and have plenty of black out periods for vacation. In addition, my husband in on the road 3 weeks of every month. We work 50-55 hour weeks very regularly. We also have to answer email while away. Sometimes other responsibilities do come in the way of planning a vacation. While I do think schools should come out with schedules earlier, I still do not think missing the first week of school is in anyone's best interest.

Scheduling vacations for everyone can be a challenge.

 

[Disneylover99]

Sounds like way too many posters here count their chickens before they're hatched.

And that a Disney vacation is higher priority than their kids' educations.

I'm fairly certain that most posters would prefer to keep their children in school. I just don't think it's unreasonable to expect a school year calendar at least six months in advance.

 

[canadiandisneynut]

In my experience when you try to work around a school schedule, your vacation will always be more expensive. There is a reason why travel is more affordable when school is back in, it is to encourage travel. We always go in September, DD is 7 and in a Montessori school where she spends 3 years in the same room so familiarity is there, but I can see how later on we may not pull her at that time. But flights are more affordable, Disney is more affordable in the form of free dining, our timeshare becomes available at DVC as well. I think you have to have a mindset when travelling on a budget at Disney that it will not work into your school schedule and be okay with that.

 

[tasha99]

Sounds like way too many posters here count their chickens before they're hatched.

And that a Disney vacation is higher priority than their kids' educations.

I have a problem with the idea that a few days off defines a kid's education. Maybe for some, perfect attendance is more important than anything. I think it's the overall trend of attendance, not a few days, that matter. (and for the record--I'd rather have a calendar. I wouldn't schedule our trip during known school times, but I'm not willing to change dates just because our school decided to be different at the last minute.)

 

[sam_gordon]

No one NEEDS to plan a vacation a year out. After all, you can go online right now, book a hotel room, transportation, and what ever tickets you want/need and leave tomorrow.

However, there are benefits to more time to plan...
1) More options
2) Possible cost savings
3) Possible perks
4) Scheduling vacation time from work
5) Coordinating multiple people's schedule

These all apply whether it's a trip to Disney, Europe, a cruise, or even just to a state park.

Anyone who says there is no benefit to planning 6 months - 1 year (if not more) out is either naive or out of touch.

If someone could explain how a school board benefits by waiting until March, April, or even July, before deciding on the following year's calendar, I would appreciate it.