Teachers, how do you deal with it?

[bunnysmum]

I have the "Just got back from Disney blues" in a big bad way. I'm trying to figure out how I can get back for a second visit but the problem is that I'm tied to a public school schedule.

This last trip was 8 days long, but we had a minor dental emergency that ate away about a day's worth of our trip, and a delayed flight that ate away at most of another day. It was a trip I had anticipated for over two years. My first trip ever, along with my dd5 and my mom (first trip for all three of us).

We had a wonderful time! Unfortunately, we didn't get to do even half of what I had planned, and I really did try to plan very flexibly, but heck, who can anticipate delayed flights and dental emergencies!?

I am dying to go back BUT, I would never make it in hot weather, and I just can't do huge crowds. Man, it's enough to make me consider changing jobs so I'm not tied to a school schedule!

My supervisors/superintendant/principal were kind enough to let me take 4 days off this time, but I doubt that they would look favorably upon such a request on an annual basis!

Any suggestions? I don't know what you can do if you hate the heat and crowds, and work for the schools! Waaaaahhhhh!

 

[pixieprincessmom]

I have taken off on the Friday before Thanksgiving and gone that week. It was really nice until the Wed. before Thanksgiving, then the crowds got there. This year we are going for Mardi Gras (being in South LA we can try that). I hope the crowds are not too bad.

I know what you mean. It's either heat or crowds. I am not typically a teacher who misses much school. I think it's easier to be there sick than to plan for a sub., but a few nice days at Disney are worth it for me. Thankfully my principal is really understanding.

 

[MinniMama]

Move to Florida my district gives me six personal days I can go whenever I want sorry couldn't resist I had this problem for 17 years in NH and now I love being 3 hours away with an AP and a quick car ride from the magic- Seriously I always went on my vacation time Feb/April and used fastpass and getting to the gate before opening to beat the crowds - the first hour is usually awesome also the last two hours if yous skip the parade- Good Luck have fun!

 

[dznygurl]

This is our first time going during Mardi Gras. Our school district allows 2 personal days that can be taken for whatever you want. We also get 8 sick days per year. Since we're off Monday-Wednesday during Mardi Gras week, I could use my 2 personal days for the Thursday and Friday.
However, my own kids are in a different district and are off the entire week, so we don't have to worry about any missed work.
This school year has been my toughest yet! I never knew how wild first graders could get. Definitely looking forward to my trip!
31 days to go!!!

 

[MickeyStars]

My DH is a teacher so now we go during the summer or during Pres. week. This year we are going in Feb. and driving down from NY so we are leaving right after school. Before that most of the time we would go in early January (there were no crowds then). Usually we parkhop and use FP's like two crazy people and we get almost everything done.

This time my DH was talking about going to Disney while we were in Hawaii on our homeymoon because he needed something to break-up the school year!

 

[hookedup]

DH is a teacher hence our 3 trips in July, and one at Christmas. I could not even imagine getting to go to WDW in February! For us to fly from CA we have to have at least a week so that is our only option.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We are from the UK and have to go in August as my wife is a teacher and son at school.

Could take my son out of school for a few days, but very difficult for my wife - after all she gets several weeks holiday already so it's not easy, hence we go to Florida in the UK Summer Holidays (when the fly-drive prices are very high).

 

[crs7568]

We always end up going in the summer because that is the easiest time due to the school calendar. Yes, it is incredibly hot in Floridia during the month of August but I find that teaching the month of June in a building lacking airconditioning really gets me prepared for the Florida heat.

 

[dixiedizfan]

How long do your schools have Christmas break ... ours in SC were off from December 22 til January 10, so this year we went to Disney January 1 thru 8.

 

[Quinn222]

My school disctrict is going to need 500 new teachers. It's the same in a lot of Florida. You could move here, help us out, and go to Disney every weekend!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

How long do your schools have Christmas break ... ours in SC were off from December 22 til January 10, so this year we went to Disney January 1 thru 8.

Ours are about the same, the only problem is the school my wife teaches at breaks up at different times to my son's school so there are always 3 or 4 days when they are not off together.

In the UK all schools have 6 weeks or so holiday in the summer, so for us it's just the best time to go.
We go mid-August for 3 weeks so at least then it's not as crowded, it is just the heat and expense, the flight prices from the UK are very steep in the summer.
So for us, it's best to go for longer.

 

[DisneyMim]

My husband is a HS teacher and we've been going to Disney forever. We always go in the summer, only time we can go for 2 weeks at a time. We also try to get another trip in and go whenever we can. Sometimes it's during April vacation, and yes we've been during Easter, very crowded time, sometimes March. We go whenever we can. We have always had to plan our vacations around hubby's schedule so for us we don't know anything else. We've always had a great time.

 

[lorik]

I'm not a teacher but I have kids so I am also stuck with school vacations. The first time we went was Pres Week but now that the kids are older, DS is in HS, there is too much schoolwork during vacation breaks to go then. Also, the crowds are pretty bad. This year we went the week before Labor Day. This week has become our annual vacation no matter where we go. The kids have finished camp for the summer, there are no school obligations hanging over our heads, and best of all, most of the country has already gone back to school. This means that the crowd level is low, and so are the hotel rates. DH was always afraid to go to Disney in the summer, but the kids really wanted to go and August/Sept was really the only time for us. The heat was not that bad, esp after the brutal summer we had in NY. We brought plenty of cold water and misting fans, as well as ponchos for the rain. We had a great time, got to see everything we wanted to in all 4 parks in the 8 days we were there and hope to return the same week again. We stayed at the Swan with the nurse's rate, same that week as the teacher's/gov't employee rate, for only $99/night. If you can go that week I highly recommend it.

 

[TAKitty]

I am lucky that my spring break is not at Easter and I used my two personal days in Dec to go for a long weekend (Thurs-Mon)! I don't think summer is that bad!

 

[lorli]

As a teacher in NY state, we tend to go in late August when the crowds are down but the heat is brutal. We could go for spring break or president's weekend come 2007. But we like the crowds of August so we tough out the heat and take lots of breaks.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We have the same problem. We have 2 teachers in the family and a high school daughter who plays on numerous sports teams so she can't even go on April or Feb break if we wanted. We go in July and once we went at Christmas when we had 2 weeks. We just go sloooooooooow in the summer months and so quite a few pool breaks. I am not allowed to take a day before or after a break off or we lose the weeks pay!!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

My district contract forbids teachers from "lengthening" any school holidays by taking days off immediately before or afterward. One year, my entire family caught the flu on New Year's Day and I had to submit a doctor's letter to the Superintendent to justify taking the next day off. (I do love the district, though).

We don't mind the heat and loved going to WDW in August. April is always great, too - though I prefer heat to crowds.

My school disctrict is going to need 500 new teachers. It's the same in a lot of Florida. You could move here, help us out, and go to Disney every weekend!

As much as I love my district - for myself and my children - I have seriously considered moving to Florida for the warmth and to have the Dkids near their dad in Gainesville. Where are you that has a need for 500 teachers (man, that's a lot!)?

 

[TMJR]

Wow...many of you are lucky to be able to lengthen breaks! I'd need a doctor's note to tack a day onto any break...if not I'd be docked. We have gone in August, and now Spring Break is our thing. Yes, it is crowded. But you know what? A crowded day at Disney is better than a day in the classroom, so I'll gladly take it!

 

[bobcat]

I feel your pain! Summers are our only option because we like the longer trips. The heat is brutal but I'd rather be hot at WDW than at home. Traveling during Christmas or spring break is way to expensive for me to consider just yet, but as my kids get older and have more commitments it is getting harder to find common vacation time. I may have to start doing spring breaks.

 

[dgaston]

DH also teaches HS in a system that does not allow sick days or personal days next to scheduled vacation days. I work at a college and have 20 vacation days per year. We tend to go Christmas (only 7 days this year -- DH had a full day on 12/23) and either in Feb or April depending on when Easter falls. I do not like to visit in April when it's also Easter. We have also visited (just the two of us) in July and August. August doesn't work as well for me as the College is getting busy, and I am involved with our Orientation program.