What should I do?

[bubba73]

I have found out that one of my kids really needs to go to summer school. It is a six week program that starts the first week of June. The deal is, with the school, that you have to go all or none. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem but this year is different. We have already got our ressies for POP and are heading down June 18th. Now, my daughter says that she is fine with missing the trip because she has been down there 4 times already in her young life. But I have a problem with it being her father and the fact that June 19 is Father's Day. I don't want to be away from my kids, if you know what I mean. I also don't want to have to pay for the extra ticket if she can't be there to use it. Am I too late to cancel her out? Should I take her anyway and forget about summer school? I have been struggling with this for a couple of weeks now so I thought I would go to the DIS members to get your opinion.

P.S. I did tell her that if she couldn't go because of summer school that we would take a weekend getaway later in the summer without my son so she could be the center of attention. She was very happy about that. Of course, the getaway won't be Disney but nonetheless, she was happy.

 

[minkydog]

I think it depends on why she needs summer school. If she is older and needs to make up HS credits, then I would absolutely let her take summer school. If she is younger and has fallen behind in reading skills, I might consider it as well. Everything else hinges on being able to read well and summer is a time when kids that are marginal can either fall behind or catch up with help.

Since she is fine with missing the WDW trip, I'd let her stay home and then reward her hard work with a Dad & DD trip later. What girl wouldn't love that?!

 

[patrenoe]

Usually when a child has to go to summer school they don't allow any absences. If you choose to take your dd anyway wouldn't she fail and have to repeat her prior school year? Maybe I'm crazy but I don't believe any trip is worth having a child fail a grade in school.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Unless your state is different than ours, the only children that get summer school are the ones that must attend in order to progress to the next level. It's a funding thing. If that is the situation, I still think you have to make a choice. Summer school is the right choice for children that simply did not do thier best and failed to meet the grade objectives for the year, somtimes it is the right choice for kids that need that extra time to master skills. HOWEVER, for many children, the negecting to progress has more to do with maturity, or the in ability to meet the objectives. For these children, sometimes repeating a grade is the best option, or for the kids that did there best and can not do better, they need a break during the summer before they start again. I would NOT base her needs on a WDW trip, but on what is best for her! Going with out her depends on her age and why she needs the program. A high school kid that just goofed off I might leave behind, but NOT a child that has done his or her best or a younger child for whatever reason.

Summer school is 6 weeks but the summer vaction is longer. Can you not reschedual for a different part of the summer.

No real answeres, but maybe some things to think about.

Jordans' mom

 

[Rachie0507]

I'm sorry you are faced with such a tough decision. I think it is a very personal one, in terms of the circumstances. Is there another session that she could attend? Does it determine whether she advances? My nephew attends summer school every summer because due to learning disabilities he would regress if he doesn't stay in a school situation year round. It makes it tough for their summer vacations, but I don't think his school system has an "all or nothing" policy for him either. Good luck with your decision.

 

[my3princes]

I would look at different summer school options. Perhaps a nearby town offers a similar program at a different time. If I couldn't find another program I would move the vacation. I would feel like I was punishing one of my kids if I left him behind while bringing the others. Even if they are ok with it in the discussion phase they may feel differently later. JMHO

 

[amyjo]

Not quite the same situation, but the summer after my junior year of HS, my parents and brothers went to WDW and I stayed home. I had a job I didn't want to take time off (it would have required my dad pulling strings with the personnel director and it could have worked, but I didn't want to do that AND I didn't want to lose the $). They could only go a certain date, because it was tied to a conference my dad had to go to. I actually enjoyed being "on my own" and had a great time. I didn't regret not going on the trip.

This is assuming, of course, that you dd is in highschool and not younger. If she truly doesn't care about going, I'd go ahead with plans and let her stay to do summer school.

 

[bubba73]

I really appreciate all the suggestions and I have given it a lot of thought. I have made a decision with some reservations. First, I have found out that we missed the deadline for summer school but the school believes they can still get her in. So, if she can go she is going too. But after finding that out I have also found out from my travel agent that we can not get a refund on her portion of the WDW trip (tickets). I know to a lot of the people on this message board $175 isn't a whole lot of money but that would cover the rent-a-car that we had to get for the trip. The travel agent suggested either my DS11 can take a friend with him or we could get the no expiration clause added to the whole party ($375 more). Otherwise, I am out of the money.

I believe my DD9 needs the schooling and if she can get in she is going to go. We have already told her we will make it up to her later in the summer when I get my bonus check from work. She was fine with that. That way she will be the center of attention (which is her favorite thing in the world to be).

I still have a hang up as this was supposed to be a late birthday present for her and we will be there during Father's Day. Even with that being said, she still says repeatedly that she is ok with it because she knows how much she needs the help. Our family has been under several emotional attacks for the last 9 months and she was hit the hardest by everything that has went on. I truly love my DD and I have to believe what she tells me so we are going to go on without her and see what I can do about the extra ticket. So right now, I have a 5 day park hopper ticket for a child for the week of June 18-25. If anybody needs ab extra one, you can pm me and we can talk.

Thanks for your help!!
Bubba73

 

[my3princes]

If you got a 5 day ticket and it hasn't been used it shouldn't be a problem. The tickets expire 14 days (if memory serves) from the date of first use. You should be able to use the ticket on another trip.

 

[bubba73]

That is true. The tickets do last for another 14 days but the class last another 4 weeks so that won't work. I am going to try to find a kid that can go with my son so he can have some company.

Thanks everyone!

 

[my3princes]

My understanding is that you will not be using that ticket at all so it won't expire until 14 days after you first use it thus it will be good on another trip.

 

[Matt'sMom]

My3princes is correct. Since your daughter would not be with you, you can simply keep her park ticket for another time.

The MYW tickets are not the same as the old 'length of stay' passes that WDW offered as an option in past years. Perhaps this is what is causing some confusion?

My understanding is this:

The expiration date for a MYW ticket is based upon the first date that someone actually uses that ticket to gain admission to a WDW park. Provided no one else activates her ticket this trip (by physically using it to gain admission to a park), then I see no reason why your daughter can not wait and use her ticket at a later time. The expiration on her ticket is not tied to the date that you activate your own ticket--again, expiration is based on the first date that that specific ticket is used for a park admission. So long as no one else uses her ticket for admission during your upcoming trip, it should remain unactivated (and thus will not expire until 14 days after your daughter first uses it, which could be on some future visit).

If you are unsure, check with a WDW cm. But I don't think you will have any problem just holding onto her park ticket until she is able to visit WDW and use it herself.