What to do?

[EyoreFANS12]

We have reservations for Sept. of 2008 at the Wilderness Lodge, our dilema is should we keep these and take older kids out of school at this time, or do we change and go in June?

 

[tinawv]

I know there are a lot of pros and cons on this issue, but we have always gone to WDW in September and taken our kids out of school. We get their homework assignments for the week, and have them do homework each night. It is also an "excused absence" by our schools if it can be documented as an educational experience. I also look at it from the aspect that we are spending quality time together as a family, and life goes by so fast that one week isn't going to destroy their education. I realize that some people would say that you can go during the summer and not have your children miss school, but the parks are much more crowded and that takes away some of the enjoyment of spending our time together. Also, it is less expensive for us to travel to WDW in the off-season, and when you have a big family like we do it could mean the difference of going and not going. I think each situation is unique, and you have to look at what is best for you and your family. Good luck with your decision.

 

[fla4fun]

I think it also depends on what you mean by older children. Elementary and Middle School kids usually have a much easier time making up work than High School kids do.

September is just as hot as summer, with the same rain patterns and an increased chance of hurricanes. But the parks are a lot less crowded and easier to enjoy. If you can compromise by coming in early June or late August, the crowds are a little less than the peak summer crowds.

 

[Destination Disney]

My little guy just started Kindergarten this year and we booked our vacation back in April for an Oct. 2007 ressie. So needless to say he will be taken out of school. I did request homework to be sent home so we can continue his work while we are in Disney.

However next year we are looking at a Disney cruise and looking to go in Sept. for the cost difference. I am just going to make it around the begining since his school starts late August. This way he'll only be about 2 weeks into school rather then like he was in Oct.

I would NOT go in June. You will not have the same experience as you would in Sept. Different crowd levels and weather all together. Still hot but with the chance of HURRICANES!

 

[EyoreFANS12]

We will be traveling with a 16 year old junior in High School, and a 13 year old that will be in the 8th grade in Middle School. I am more worried about my oldest because she takes a lot of the honors classes and she will need to make up a lot of work and i doubt that she would want to sit down at WDW and do homework every night

 

[cookesquad5]

Hi
We are booked for August 26th 2008 to September2nd. I researched different times to go, and I found that if you have to go while kids are out of school, go as close to the end of summer as possible. We went in September this past year. We also have a 15 year old who is a sophmore and an 11 year old in 6th grade. It was alot to make up for my high schooler. She is very responsible and an excellent student, however it was still al bit difficult to get caught up. That is why I didn't take them out of school for the 2008 trip. I think we are just going to take our chances with the very end of aug into sept. She will be a junior this time and my son will be starting middle school. I just don't want to take them out this time. Crowds were light, but with the free meal plan the restaurants were hopping and the buses were very crowded. By the way we have been there in Jan, mid aug., Sept, Oct and Nov. Never went in June, but I can tell you that friends of ours did go in June, and from the sounds of it, our mid August trip was much less crowded than their June trip. Good Luck!

 

[Destination Disney]

Being that one of your is in high school, that changes my opinion. I'd definatly go in June. OR maybe even like the prev. poster staed towrads the end of August.

I guess it is easier with Elem. school kids then high school. They get homework from day one!

 

[Colleen27]

It really depends on the school's policy, I think. I wouldn't hesitiate to take my kids out of school for vacation at any age (assuming they aren't struggling to being with), but our school system is very family-oriented and has a policy in place that allows family vacations without penalty to the student.

IME, there is less of the "everyday practice" kind of homework in high school, so while it is still the student's responsibility to keep up with the material being covered and complete any ongoing projects/assignments, it isn't as oerwhelming in terms of sheer volume. On the other hand, lecture and class discussion is more important in the higher grades, so it is important that the student be able to pick up the material from the textbook and have access to someone (parent, classmate or teacher) who is willing to help them learn the material they miss.

 

[Colleen27]

. Never went in June, but I can tell you that friends of ours did go in June, and from the sounds of it, our mid August trip was much less crowded than their June trip. Good Luck!

I think late August is a great time to go, if you can handle the heat. We were there just before free dining this year, and had low crowds, no super-long waits, and a great time. It really felt less crowded midweek in late August than on our weekend free dining trip in late September '05. We found the heat to be a much bigger issue than the crowds at that time of year, but we're Michiganders who think A/C is necessary up here in August - Florida in the summertime is just draining, overwhelming heat to us.

Statistically, the majority of Disney guests come from the Southeast, so the crowds in late August, after southern schools are back in session, are lower than the crowds in mid June, when those same schools (along with the rest of the country) are out for summer break. If you're in a post Labor Day start school system, just before school starts is a much better time to go than just after school ends.

 

[simonkodousek]

I wouldn't take a child out of school unless he/she is in 3rd grade or lower. Out school doesn't penalize kids who are out of school on vacation, but the teachers are less willing to help with make-up work if vacation is involved.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

I think this all depends on your kids. We have always taken our kids out of school for large family vacations. Our three boys were able to get assignments prior to leaving and/or complete any missed assignments shortly after returning.

Each grade, year and teacher is different imho i dont think you can just lump them all together in an after such & such a grade all teachers, schools etc.. are evil and "punish" your children.

DS#3 is a Jr in High School and two of our boys are now in college (DS#1 will graduate in May 09 ) and he actually took a WHOLE semester off from school to participate in the Disney CP. He did take a few online courses & received credits from the school for participating in the program.

Taking your kids out of school, has nothing to do with what others have done, it about how your child can handle missing school and how hard you are willing to work to ensure they are able to maintain thier grades and not fall behind the class.

 

[ccigliano]

With the ages of your kids - I highly recommend the end of August. If you are from the Northeast - this option can work just a well as September. In the last two weeks of August you experience low park attendance since the rest of the country is already back at school. In the Northeast, we don't go back until after Labor Day. I own DVC and have spoken to several DVCers that say the last two weeks are virtually empty. Good Luck.

 

[gardenia]

We will be traveling with a 16 year old junior in High School, and a 13 year old that will be in the 8th grade in Middle School. I am more worried about my oldest because she takes a lot of the honors classes and she will need to make up a lot of work and i doubt that she would want to sit down at WDW and do homework every night

We've been going since my sons were toddlers, but now that two of them are in high school, I do not take them out of school. We go for short weekend trips during quiet parts of the school year, and we go during school holidays. It's too easy to mess up their grades with just a few absences and missed assignments, and it can make a difference when they're ready to apply to college.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I would think it depends on what grades your kids are in.

I'll be taking my two kids out in Sept. 2008 but DS will be in 7th grade and DD will be in 3rd grade. Once the kids hit High School it's too difficult to make up the work.
We wanted to go in Oct. 2008 but there is just too much testing in GA that month.

This will probably be the final time we'll be able to take them out of school for a trip to WDW. After 2008, we'll probably be going in June.