Speaking of teacher discounts at the Swan and Dolphin...

[mamalle]

I had no idea about the firefighters getting a discount. dh works for the county fire rescue down here didnt think he qualified as a govt employee though. I am a RN and could use the discount but it still higher than what Im paying for our stay at the AKL. we stayed there in Feb with a DIS code and it was cheeper than the nurse discount also.

as far as teacher's discount- they deserve it for what they give to the community and as far as their pay- at least down here it isnt the greatest.

 

[maxsmom]

For all of the support. Dh and I are both teachers. Yeah, are pay isn't too bad but when you compare to any other job that requires the education that we have it doesn't come close. Part of the reason is b/c we only get paid for the days we are there. It's just spread out over the year. If we have to take a day w/o pay it is rather costly. And there is no over time pay. None the less I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I can't afford to stay home w/ my one yr/ but I'm so thankful of the time I have off.

 

[Kapp]

only give government workers (state, Federal) discounts for stays related to work/travel.

 

[Poohlovr]

only give government workers (state, Federal) discounts for stays related to work/travel.

While that is usually the case, the gov discount at the S/D doesn't work that way any longer (although a few yrs back, it did). Now it's for any one who is a gov employee, no matter whether they are traveling for business or pleasure.

 

[Keokagal]

Hey all, I didn't think anyone was flaming. I was making a statement/response to the post and was happy doing so. Firefighters, policeofficers, and military are included in the discount w teachers and ME the school nurse! I love that discount. It's not avail this mo for me but in July 149. I'm lovin it!

 

[disneyobessed]

How about police officers/fireman? They were only rewarded after 9/11...how about the daily sacrifices they make....their lives are on the line...a teacher's isn't.

If you are going to give discounts to professions, I am sure this thread can go on and on...but it should be fair and across the board. MY OPINION ONLY>

I am a teacher in MA. and just last week we had a note posted on the front door of our high school saying that on that particular day death would conquer our school and he would be in with a gun if not two. THEN THE VERY NEXT DAY in the town next door, a student came to school with a gun. AND THIS IS IN THE QUIET LITTLE SUBURBS OF SOUTHERN MA. Dont tell me in todays world teachers dont risk there lives.

 

[kjs1976]

Disneyobsessed- I AGREE I AGREE! I'm a teacher and not only do we have fire and tornado drills, we now have mock lockdowns and are taught how to best protect our students should there be armed intruders....and you know what, we are taught how to best secure our classroom and stay safe, but darn it if I wouldn't put myself before any one of my students should some sort of incident occur. I have a glass window by my door and how did the student in Red Lake fire and kill/injure some students? By punching out the glass and shooting in the classroom. I'm from MN and we are just three weeks past the Red Lake shootings where 7 were shot at a high school by a student who brought a gun to school. A gun was just brought to school by a student 1/2 hr. away from our town. I agree...don't tell me in today's world that teacher's don't risk their lives because you obviously have not spent any time in a school recently.

If you're going to make a statement about discounts being fair across the board, then say that without lowering the serious professionalism of any other job.

 

[tripplanner2]

Thank you for mentioning the dangers associated with the teaching profession. I wanted to mention that but was afraid I was taking it too far. I am very glad that someone else mentioned it and highly agree that the job is under appreciated, under paid, and risky.

 

[2princessintraining]

Not going to dignify these response or justify my feelings.

I do know my husband puts his life on the line every day as a police officer, lost friends during 9/11 and IS NOT entitled to a discount at the S/D as a police officer. Nor are firemen according to the rep I spoke with today.

Is it a different world today yes. Have lockdowns, threats and guns become commonplace...unfortunately. But TRADITIONALLY teaching is not a life-on-the-line position.

We have soldiers in Iraq fighting for our country...putting their life on the line for us, that is pretty amazing. They deserve to go to Disney for free in my opinion....but to say, teachers deserve it more than any other profession...I don't think I can agree.

Do I speak for everyone, of course not....but this is MY life, and what I see. Again, I come from an educational work backround, I am a librarian, why does that make me entitled to a discount??? I am not sure, but it is nice. I have also never taken advantage of it....I also have never felt my life to be in danger....and hopefully never will....NOR DO I WISH THAT ON ANYONE ELSE.

Try seeing what my husband sees on a daily basis, that is pretty scary stuff.

 

[Poohlovr]

I do know my husband puts his life on the line every day as a police officer, lost friends during 9/11 and IS NOT entitled to a discount at the S/D as a police officer. Nor are firemen according to the rep I spoke with today.

Then you need to call back again and make sure that you are talking to an employee at the Swan/Dolphin reservations line as opposed to the Starwood reservations line.
At some point in the evening, (Sorry, I don't remember the time, but it is rather early) the reservations line switches over to the Starwood general reservations line as the S/D do not have their own reservations agents working in the evenings.

I assure you, both police officers and fire fighters qualify for the gov. discount. This is a S/D discount and the agents at Starwood are probably not aware of it as it is not chain wide.

If you talked to an agent at the S/D, then you need to call back and talk to someone else.

 

[dudspizza]

Have I ever felt my life was in danger when I am teaching, never. Would I say that my life is in more danger than a police officer or firefighter, never.

Do I feel we teachers deserve a discount more than others, never.

But, I do feel that teachers are HIGHLY under-paid and HIGHLY under-appreciated. We are molding today's leaders of the world. We are creating the scientists, doctors, teachers, firefighters, police officers, etc of the future. Yet, the lack of respect many teachers get today is ridiculous.

My wife actually had a dad of a boy in her class tell her that if his son didn't succeed in school, well then he could become a teacher. What an insult.

I dare anyone to go through the schooling I (and every teacher) have had to go through, then get paid very little compared to the private sector. I am a 9th year teacher who makes $41,000 a year. I have to work full time in the summer to suppliment my income. I am paying $6000 a year to earn my masters degree (on top of working full time). Private sector companies pay for their employees schooling. I have to pay for my own, just so I can get a decent raise. I am not poor by any means, but teachers are not over-paid.

I also dare anyone to step in to a classrom for a day and try to control the behaviors that teachers do. Most people couldn't last an hour.

Again, teachers don't deserve a discount any more than anyone else, but how about a little respect, something that is lacking in today's society.

Totally off the original topic, but I get tired of hearing people bash teachers.......

Have a nice day.

Duds

 

[disneyobessed]

Very Well Said. As much as i love my job as a teacher I hope my own children choose different paths in life where they will receive they respect they deserve. NOW BACK TO PLANNING MY DISNEY VACATION FOR NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2princessintraining]

I am not meaning to insult anyone. My 3rd grade daughter has a teacher this year that I had over 28 years ago....making a quite decent 6 figure salary. She has had very little homework, and when she does it is the basics. I can honestly say she hasn't had to write one book report this year. Next year when it is time for the ELA's she is not going to be prepared because of the things she has learned this year, but because she has two parents at home who are teaching her what she is missing. These are the teachers I am referring to, the ones who don't want to give up their salary, yet don't want to teach. My daughter comes home w/spelling words that she did in first grade...c'mon they need to be challenged a little. The three days before Easter they watched a movie in class for two days (lion,witch & the wardrobe) had a spring party that included painting eater eggs and made puppets, no homework at all that week, plus their regular specials.

My kindegarrtner on the other hand, has a fresh, vibrant teacher, who has been teaching about 10 years. She is already reading, whereas my other daughter wasn't at this time. It is all about the teacher and how they make the children want to learn. I believe they deserve respect, just like everyone deserves respect, no matter what the position in life they hold.

I work with children everyday as a librarian, and believe me, it is hard on some days, yet rewarding.

Again, if I was insulting anyone, I apologize. I just know plenty of people, who are teachers, as a lot of my friends are, are doing it for the money they can make here on Long Island. And my house didn't cost $400,000.

My husband hasn't had a contract or a raise in over 3 1/2 years. I think that's a little underappreciation for you...an NYPD officer for 11 years.

 

[tripplanner2]

Not going to dignify these response or justify my feelings.

I do know my husband puts his life on the line every day as a police officer, lost friends during 9/11 and IS NOT entitled to a discount at the S/D as a police officer. Nor are firemen according to the rep I spoke with today.

Is it a different world today yes. Have lockdowns, threats and guns become commonplace...unfortunately. But TRADITIONALLY teaching is not a life-on-the-line position.

We have soldiers in Iraq fighting for our country...putting their life on the line for us, that is pretty amazing. They deserve to go to Disney for free in my opinion....but to say, teachers deserve it more than any other profession...I don't think I can agree.

My point was not which professions deserve a discount over the other. I was simply pointing out that teachers on Long Island and elsewhere are NOT overpaid considering all that is involved yet overlooked in their job.

Do I speak for everyone, of course not....but this is MY life, and what I see. Again, I come from an educational work backround, I am a librarian, why does that make me entitled to a discount??? I am not sure, but it is nice. I have also never taken advantage of it....I also have never felt my life to be in danger....and hopefully never will....NOR DO I WISH THAT ON ANYONE ELSE.

Try seeing what my husband sees on a daily basis, that is pretty scary stuff.

My point was not which professions deserve a discount over the other. My point was that teachers on Long Island and elsewhere are NOT overpaid as you stated in an earlier post. I think a lot of people do not realize all that goes into the job between the education required and the hours beyond the classroom. I was just looking to open some eyes to the fact that it is not a job without sacrifice.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I am not meaning to insult anyone. My 3rd grade daughter has a teacher this year that I had over 28 years ago....making a quite decent 6 figure salary... These are the teachers I am referring to, the ones who don't want to give up their salary, yet don't want to teach.

This complete lack of professionalism among my colleagues drives me nuts, not just because it hurts children's education and runs counter to every reason why I am a teacher, but because those rotten apples spoil the rest of us by association.

My husband hasn't had a contract or a raise in over 3 1/2 years.

The teachers in my district recently negotiated a contract after teaching four of the last five years without one. Among the issues that held up negotiations: the school board had tried to give us a 2% raise over the five years, using statistics from the local factory workers' paychecks to support their position. They still don't understand why the comparison angered the faculty. The lack of respect for our positions - as teachers, firefighters, soldiers, *insert underappreciated career here* is a very sad reflection on our society. I certainly don't feel like I *deserve* a discount simply because I'm a teacher (and can't afford S/D even with it anyway!!), but it is nice to have the gesture made.

 

[fiveforall]

Wow! A teacher can make six figures in Long Island? Here I am in Alabama making 33,000 a year. I'm paying for my own graduate school so my salary can increase to 42,000. I've taught eleven years, and I can't even afford the teacher discount of $149 for our next trip! We have to stay at AllStars!

 

[disneyobessed]

Yeah here in Ma. teachers salaries are not as bad as they are in the South but the cost of living is also different than in the South. A 30 yr. vet. teacher doesnt make more than 65k in the town in which i work. And in Ma. masters degree is required now unless you were teaching before 93. a course at a state school costs nearly $1000. So yeah i can see why they offer teachers those discounts but i just wish they did in other resorts down there as well. or maby designate a few weeks in the summer for teachers to be able to go at a lower rate. Firemen,police, nurses all deserve the same but im here to represent teachers. My brother and brother inlaw are both policemen i know how dangerous there jobs are. My brother actully went down to Ground Zero on Sept 13, 2001 for 3 days to try to help in anyway possible.

 

[dudspizza]

I am not meaning to insult anyone.

No offense taken here. It steams me when there are teachers that do not do their job. It is people like your daughter's teacher that makes us all look bad. I bust my butt everyday. Most teachers I know do, but those who are on auto pilot should retire or be fired. Kids cannot afford to be behind in this era of high stakes testing and NCLB. Every teacher has to do their job and do it well.

I think lack of respect for others is a trend we are seeing in society as a whole. So many people only worry about themselves, with no regard for anyone else. It doesn't matter if you pick up trash for a living or are President of the US, you should be respected. Our society as a whole has lost that respect factor.

Have a great Tuesday, everyone! As stated by someone else above, now back to your regularilly scheduled Disney planning routine!

Only 60 days to go for me...... gotta love the AP discount.... even better than the S/D discount that I can't afford anyway! The AP allows me to stay at a Deluxe (WL) for a few days before moving to POR.

Duds

 

[corrinna]

This is exactly why at the campground I work at part time (my real job is of course a teacher), we do not give any discounts. The owner believes that everyone should pay the same, and does not raise the rates in order to give a discount. After all, how many people pay full rate for anything, we all have some way of getting what we think is a discount. If all the hotels, groceries, etc. stopped requiring special cards for discount or sales, they wouldn't have to raise the prices!!!!

AND...... by the way I have to have a part time job outside of teaching to pay for my travel, students school pics, school supplies, and I am even chipping in to help a student pay for his lunch b/c he comes to school too hungry for the lousy free lunch he is given each day........ sorry had to put in my 2 cents worth.

 

[BrianMonk]

But, I do feel that teachers are HIGHLY under-paid and HIGHLY under-appreciated.

Aren't we all....Aren't we all.