Teachers, how do you deal with it?

[dizcrazee]

I'm a college professor and my last day of the semester is May 9...great, huh? The only trouble is...my DD doesn't get out of school until May 26! So we are going to take her out the last week of school (they only have half days that week, anyway...and the teacher told me all they do is review and play). That way, we can leave on Fri., May 19 and we will be leaving WDW on Sat., May 27. Hopefully, we will avoid the worst of the Memorial Day crowd. We plan to go to Sea World on our last day since we are afraid the WDW parks are going to be pretty badly crowded by then.

I wish that we could go as soon as I get out on May 9...but I just would feel bad taking my daughter out of school before that last week with the half-day schedule. Oh, well...I am thankful that we get to go at all! I would go in mid-July despite the heat and crowds if that was the only time we could work it out to go!

 

[d4est]

I teach and my husband works construction...I get the summer off and his busiest time is the summer....so....it is always a difficult decision as to when to take vacation. My district, like so many others, will not let us take our personal days next to any scheduled days off....if they did, half the teachers would be out on vacation on those days

We are allowed to take days off without pay, but that is really not an option for me, so it is off to disney in June. We try to schedule our trips AS SOON as school lets out in June to avoid too much of the heat. The great thing about teaching is I can take a very long vacation in the summer (if I can find the funds )

Helen

Same boat here. My DH does road construction & can never get time off beginning April-December, his busy months. We were always tied to President's week for a vacation.

This year, I quit my job. I am taking advantage of it & leaving in 3 days...before the mad Pres. week vacation! I am so excited to vacation during a relatively quiet week.

**I am not suggesting that any other educators quit their jobs, lol. I did it for reasons unrelated to vacation.

 

[shelby_36]

About the coment of not tacking on days to breaks. We don't have that restriction although the principal technically is only supposed to call/allow so many subs a day..so if he hears rumor that lots of people are taking a day before or after break he makes the call...he goes by first come first serve as well as reason. We had our break changed after some people had made flight and cruise reservations a year prior so he let them go and talked to some of the others to see who could possibly take a half day etc.

I agree with this b.c they are YOUR personal days. We only get 3. Now I don't understand and it ticks me off when people get mysteriously sick the day before of after break.

 

[PattiPB]

Year-round school has been grea for taking vacations! On their track, DH and the kids have been off from Thanksgiving to New Year's every year. Those early December trips have been awesome.

Where on earth are there 500 projected openings in Florida??? If anybody wants to relocate, we anticipate 1600 new teaching openings this August! The growth out here is downright scary!!!!!

 

[Cupmom]

We always go at the end of August since school on Long Island doesn't go back till after Labor Day.

Yes its hot
yes it rains
Yes most school down south are already back so the crowds are down.
Yes it's value season for WL
Yes it really feels like a vacation beacuse I have tons of time home in July to prepare and a week home to regroup before the school year begins.

I would not want to go during a school recess like xmas or Pres. Week
Too crowded.
Too rushed.
Too expensive

Going back WL Aug 15-23, 2006

 

[CindyT]

We are both teachers. For now, we go in summer and pace ourselves. We drink lots of water and visit air conditioned areas often. Someday, when we are retired we hope to go when it is not hot and crowded; but now we just adjust.

 

[dizcrazee]

I know what you mean, one of the things I look forward to in retirement is the ability to travel during the school year! For example, I've always wanted to travel to New England in the fall to see the changing leaves...but I can't do it, because school is in session! But I love teaching, and I guess it's a small price to pay to be able to do something with my life that is worthwhile and that I enjoy.

 

[Pinnie]

I am a teacher and in our district we are NOT allowed to use PBDs before or after a holiday break. If we call in sick on those days, our contract requires a written Dr's note.

I do use my 2 PBD in December to create a LONG weekend. We fly out after work on a Wednesday evening, do MVMCP on Thursday and CP on Friday and fly home on Sunday afternoon. This year we had a Snow Day on Friday, so I ended up burning only one PBD!

We also go for the week over Easter.. Yes, it is crowded, but the weather is incredible and the parks are open late. During this visit we usually enjoy our resort pool a lot more. We are also going down for our 30th wedding anniversary in June and again for week in August with our DS. Yep, it's HOT, but going early, leaving during the heat of the day and returning in the evening makes it doable.

pinnie

 

[pongo&perdita]

We went in 2002 when the kids were 4 & 6 the last week in Sept. I took 3 personal days and we flew out on a Sat morning early. We were checked into AKL and touring AK by 10AM. Then did MK on SUN. MGM on tues and back to MK on WED. We flew home Wed night around 7 and were home in bed by 11pm. It was a fun, crazy, commando whirlwind trip but we did everything we wanted. Low crowds! (At the time the kids were too little or afraid to do many things.

We tried to do the same thing Sept 2004 and got hurricaned out at the last minute. We rescheduled for first week in Dec. 2004 Tue- Sun. Did all four parks and MVMCP on arrival day. Again, it was great, weather was fabulous but we were pretty darn commando! The kids & I missed 4 days of school.

I would do it again, but I feel bad about the kids missing school now. (I don't mine missing! So we are going to try the 2nd week in June this year. Hopefully, the crowds won't bother us too much since we have already done it all and are going to just try for our favorites this time. Also this time we are driving and staying 8 days!!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

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!

I like Christmastime! I had to take one day off, and it worked beautifully. (still crowded though) I am also going in August. I am prepared to go slower and take lots of time for the pool, water parks and spa and do a lot of afternoons/night in the parks instead of all day.

Good luck!

 

[sajetto]

Another teacher here I love my profession and truly enjoy teaching so I guess its a small price to pay to be restricted to the school schedule, but sometimes I get a little frustrated b/c I would love to go in October for the food and wine festival.

 

[dgaston]

DH is completing his 35th year! However we still have a DS17 who is a junior. DH plans to teach another 2 1/2 years which will be absolute max on pension. I am really, really looking forward to being able to take time for our DVC in Oct and early Dec so we can do MNSSHP and MVMCP. I have been lucky enough to have been at 3 MNSSHP in part due to a convention in Orlando at that time. Until then it's Christmas weeks and Feb/ April vacation for us!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I have to agree that it is very frustrating. We are in the midst of planning our first Disney XMas and it kills me to hear how quiet the parks are just two to three weeks before our scheduled arrival date. Ugh!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Hi!!

apparently I work for a leanient district...

we have 3 personal days but I took 4 unpaid days off this year to go to WDW and I know several teachers that take some vacation days (unpaid) during the year.

This year we are going to combine my personal days with Thanksgiving and go...

I figure this will be less crowded than Christmas...

We also have Spring Break very early in March, I suppose that would work too!

 

[Kteacher]

Sajetto- I'm going during the Food and Wine Festival in October by doing just a short trip- friday through monday. i'm using one persona; day, and for us in Ma., Columbus Day is a holiday.

 

[kennezgirl]

I live in West Virginia, and we can request time off without pay, anytime we need it. The request goes through our county board office. I don't know anyone that has ever been denied.
To me, a week w/out pay was worth getting to go the 2nd week of November. It was awesome. We walked on to just about everything!

 

[daisyduck123]

In answer to the OP's question...I just do it.

We always go in the "off" season. I will not go when it's super crowded.

We just pick a time & go...pull myself, DD11, & DS7 all out of school.
I have a 1st grade class & we get an awesome sub. for them (the school's retired reading specialist).

We went for 8 days in January & had an awesome time.

No, it does not affect my kids grades(as some people will believe)....What's funny was....DD11 (7th grade) didn't make Principal's Honor Roll the 1st marking period because she had 1 "B" on her report card.

The 2nd marking period was during our 8 day trip & we just learned she did get all "A"s this 2nd marking period...A colleague of mine said, "Maybe the break from school helped her." Of course it did!

As for time off from school, I use sick days...& combine them with personal days if I have any.

We are going for 8 days again in May. CBR here we come!!!

 

[daisyduck123]

To me, a week w/out pay was worth getting to go the 2nd week of November. It was awesome. We walked on to just about everything!

I've never had to take "leave without pay" yet, but I would if I had to. Most definitely!

 

[bslowry]

My husband is a teacher and we usually go as soon as school gets out in June. It's not too hot yet and and not super crowded. My husband teaches at a different school than our kids, so breaks don't usually match up. Also he coaches and has practice over christmas break. I just get upset because it is sooo much more expensive when he can go. We've been wanting to take a disney cruise but it's always twice the amount when we can go.

 

[jeff968]

My wife is a teacher so we go every February but i have to say, as the kids get older i would never take them out of school for a week as they would miss too much. So we plan very early. we leave Friday, after school gets out!!!