Taking kids out of school for FREE DINING???

[Vijoge]

We took our granddaughters out of school a couple of years ago. They were in KDG and second grade at the time. Their school didn't have an issue with it-one of their teachers asked them if she could go too.

Our son, who was in high school didn't go. His school would have given him all zero's for the entire time he was gone.

 

[dunbarfamily]

Be prepared for lots of debate, name-calling, bickering, debating, and people picking posts apart! This comes up a lot here.

We're all for taking our kids out of school for Disney trips, free dining or not. And I'm not going to argue about it, debate it, defend it, explain it, back it up with a crapload of made-up research, or anything else. That's what we do and that's that!

Have a super fabulous day! Going to get my popcorn!

 

[Sacha_L]

We won't be there for free dining but I'm pulling our boys out...they will miss 4 days and I am not worried about it at all....In fact I think that school districts need to remember that these are MY CHILDREN. The only reason schools even CARE if kids miss days is because they are funded by how many kids are in school each day. Total #$@# if you ask me

 

[jjnv]

We live in Northern Virginia. I took my kids (4th and 6th) grade out of school for one extra day in January after the two day teacher's working day. We felt the pain afterwards. We are lucky this year we have supportive teachers. But they both got project assignment for the long weekend. We worked very hard to get as much done before going. They are very tired after the vacation. It took a while to get back. You might be ok since you are going at the beginning of school year.

That is why we are got on FD this year. We have never gone to WDW in the summer. But I think it is about time for us to stop going during the school year.

 

[ktink]

Our school system has forms that you fill out for a "preauthorized trip" it goes to all of the teachers that the child has and then before the principal. We have never had an issue w/ taking our children out of school. DH's job is very demanding in the summertime and his industry just so happens to be the main source of economy for our town. So the teachers are very understanding of this. Our school even shuts down for the last 2 weeks of August to support this industry's main event. It's a 10 day horseshow and several locals use this time to go on vacation. Since we don't have that opportunity they have always been nothing but understanding.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We won't be there for free dining but I'm pulling our boys out...they will miss 4 days and I am not worried about it at all....In fact I think that school districts need to remember that these are MY CHILDREN. The only reason schools even CARE if kids miss days is because they are funded by how many kids are in school each day. Total #$@# if you ask me

not everywhere...
Our schools are funded by our ridiculously high property taxes (highest in the country) so it doesn't matter if we're there or not, financially speaking. We've pulled our kids out at least once per year. We went 3x this school year but not a full week every time- They've missed 1 day in Sept., 4 in Nov. and 3 in Jan.)
(This was an usual year of great airfares and credits with SWA but that's another story.)
I actually believe it's our school's policy to not say anything bad to parents about vacations. For our Disney cruise last year (which would have been double $$ if school were closed) ds was in 4th grade and I think his teacher was miffed. She gave him tons of school work to punish him and it took the class 2 weeks to catch up to where he was after the trip. Even now in 5th grade, he didn't get half the work she gave him in 4th grade but whatever. I have no regrets and neither does ds.
I always tell him if it gets to be too much to make up the work, we'll go when schools' out. He insists it's okay. He got 5 A's and a B+ on his last report card with very little prodding from me so I don't mind.
they're only little once and I will never regret a single trip we've done together. Unlike some of his classmates, we have lots of happy memories!!

I'd go for it!!!

 

[donaldndaisy]

I have done this many, many times and I am doing it, again, this year. My son is in elementary and yes, education is very important. But, family time, is important, also. We have had many, wonderful and memorable vacations to Disney. In fact, I keep a wall collage of pictures from our Disney Vacations, in my office- I own a Pre-school, so this type of decor is appropriate , luckily. It's these pics that my dh, ds, employees, other parents and of course, my little ones at the school look at and somehow, makes the day a little easier, when we're struggling.

When I have a little one or two that is having a little more of a struggle, with separation anxiety, I like to bring them into my office. Of all the toys, books and stuffed animals, they all seem to become fixated on my Disney Family Vacation Collage, on the wall. I, strongly, believe it's not just because of the photos of Disney characters- which they notice, but don't seem to linger on- but, the photos of happiness and family bonding. They all comment on how happy the boy looks or how much fun he is having or they'll ask "Are you his mommy?", "Do you like having fun with your little boy?" They all have some question about the actions and the feelings of the photos and that's what always calms them down....it never fails They, somehow, seem to feel the memories....how magical

This is one of many reasons, I have never had any problems taking my son out of school. In fact, I have a famous chef whose daughter attends my pre-school and we were talking a few weeks, ago, about he and his wife's hesitant about taking their two children- one in pre-school and the other in 1st grade- out of school, to go to Disney World, later this year. I found they were only conflicted because they thought they would "look" like bad or uncaring parents. I gave them my opinion and why, then showed him my collage and what calmed his daughter down, the first 2 weeks, she started school, so- of course, I said, GO!!! He, finally, agreed and I felt great to help bring the magic of Disney vacation memories, to another family

If these pictures of someone else's family is this powerful, to toddlers and pre-schoolers, imagine how powerful the actual memory will be to your own child. My son remembers every vacation we have ever taken, to Disney World and continues to look forward to them, to this day

 

[hlane]

We took our sons (K & 1st grade) out for a week this past Jan and since FD was released they will now be missing 4 days this coming Sept (1&2nd grade)! Yes they both had a ton of make up work to do but didn't mind since we were at Disney To us family time is just as important as education!

 

[Kmygrl73]

We didn't take them out of school last year and went the first day free dining started 8/26 maybe and stayed for seven days. I found it to be really crowded so this year we are taking them out of school and going later in September and hope crowds will be lighter. They are only 7 and 5 so hopefully they won't miss much at school but mom and dad need less crowds!!

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

We won't be there for free dining but I'm pulling our boys out...they will miss 4 days and I am not worried about it at all....In fact I think that school districts need to remember that these are MY CHILDREN. The only reason schools even CARE if kids miss days is because they are funded by how many kids are in school each day. Total #$@# if you ask me

That is so true!!!! All about the $$$!!!!

 

[lclark0621]

We are taking my DS out of K for a Sept Disney trip. We were planning on doing it anyway, so free dining is just a perk to us.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

We will be taking our son out of school in October for our vacation. I dont see that missing a week of 1st grade is going to hurt him any.

 

[pigletto]

I will be this year. DS will be in kindergarten, DD in sixth grade. I will ask for work, what chapters to study, and cover all that I can ahead of time and hope that the teacher is helpful.
This is not something we do every year.. and frankly I feel strongly about my time with my children.
We spend the majority of our lives working around the timetable of our school system and then our employers. I will not be made to feel guilty about a week away with my children.

 

[bcuinohio]

My older boy will be in 7th grade when we go. I am afraid that it would be too hard on him to make up a week of school. Our school system only has school on Monday of Thanksgiving week. We are going to go that week.

 

[ginnibobb]

We are taking our DS7 and DS12 out of school from 9/24 - 10/1, and I do not feel guilty at all. The way I see it is my childrens school does not pay my bills nor are they going to hand me some cash so that I can afford to take a vacation over the summer, I can afford to take my boys to DW when FD is being offered, so that is when I am going. In the grand scheme of my childrens lives, the one week they missed because they went to DW is really not going to ruin their educations. If anything, it will give them wonderful memories

 

[SGMCO]

My DS will be going into the 7th Grade and his BFF will be coming with us
and he's going into 8th Grade. We have no problems with them missing school.
The work will get done. My DS usually misses 4-5 days depending if they
have a Teachers day in that week (last trip he only had to miss 4 days).
We use full weekends so our trip last for 9 days. This will be our 3rd year
taking him out of school. I hope we will be able to keep it up.
Also, DH isn't able to take off of work during the times DS is out of school
even during the holidays. Sept. is the slowest month with his job and he can
get off. Plus, with FD we are able to afford to go to WDW and stay at a MOD.

 

[Crisgw]

We were already taking them out of school without knowing about FD, but we're taking our (then) 4yo out of preschool and our (then) 6yo out of Kindergarten. I also work for the public school system as the Director of Federal Programs and have been in the schools for about 6 years and don't think it's a negative thing as long as the kids are keeping up, things will be okay.

 

[Xanthe]

My youngest will be 9 (Gr 4) and my oldest will be 14 (Gr 9) this September when they'll miss 6 (maybe 7) days for our 10 day Disney trip with free dining. We haven't had a family vacation in 4 years and we've NEVER had a family vacation with just the 4 of us so this is very special to us.

I say go for it!

Xanthe

 

[sunnyday123]

I am taking my daughter out for our trip. ( obviously, it's in September!) She is a very good student ( all a's ) and I feel as long as she can make up the work and has a firm grasp of what is going on in school, she can miss. If she didn't do well, I wouldn't take her out.

 

[a82allison]

I just had to add my 2 cents to this. LOL.

I am an elementary school teacher and my daughter attends the school I teach at.

I am taking off work (getting a sub) and taking my daughter out of school for 4 days to go to Disney.. LOL

Allison