When do teachers go to WDW?

[CrystalCarrington]

Someone on here needs to help me!
We have been to Florida 4 times before.... before children/maternity leave.
I am a teacher and both of my children are now in full time education.

Is it possible for us to go to Disney World at all. I'm at a loose end trying to work this out and I don't think it's possible!

As a teacher I CAN NOT go away during term time so already I'm only down to a few holiday dates.
APPROX
8-15TH FEBRUARY (We would like to go for 2 weeks, we always go for 2 and it never feels like enough!)
1-17TH APRIL (Spring Break... out of the question?)
23-30TH MAY (1 WEEK)
14TH JULY - 30TH AUGUST (Possibly thinking the last 2 weeks in Aug but the prices I could cry))
23-30TH OCT (1 WEEK)
20TH DEC - 2ND JAN (Too busy?)

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated, I am at my wit's end and ready to give up and just book Paris... and kid myself that the children won't notice the difference.

 

[Kath2003]

Teachers and families with school aged children go at all of those times. All are expensive, all are crowded (though Xmas & Easter much more so) - just pick which one suits.

 

[scoobydooby]

This isn't really a teachers question most of us with school aged children are subject to exactly the same restrictions. We have been at Easter (2 weeks off school in school holidays available), Christmas (2 weeks as previous), and August (6, sometimes 7 weeks school holidays available). They are all more crowded and more expensive. That's life I suppose.

 

[BudgieMama]

We went for 1 week from August 17th last year, and will be going 15th to 29th August next year. There's only the two of us though, which helps with cost because we only need two seats on the plane! And sometimes I daydream about finding a job somewhere else so we could go when it's cheaper and quieter!

 

[dixonsontour]

I'd go last 2 weeks of August out of your list.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I'm a teacher, and I went at spring break this year. It wasn't too bad. We got Park Hoppers and took a mid-day break every day.
I can't go at Christmas due to family obligations. I can't go at Thanksgiving for the same reason. I could go in the summer, but man it is hot! By the time Spring Break rolls around I am ready to be in a warm climate, so that has worked for us the past two years.

 

[BudgieMama]

I'm a teacher, and I went at spring break this year. It wasn't too bad. We got Park Hoppers and took a mid-day break every day.
I can't go at Christmas due to family obligations. I can't go at Thanksgiving for the same reason. I could go in the summer, but man it is hot! By the time Spring Break rolls around I am ready to be in a warm climate, so that has worked for us the past two years.

I thought Thanksgiving was during November? We don't get a holiday then. The October half term break is only a week- doesn't give very long to get over your jet lag!

 

[mackay_j]

you think its hard now wait until your kids are in exam years - that can also rule out easter and for some schools xmas as those are important study times. We have been lucky and as both girls got into uni their 5th school year so their 6th was a spare year so we only missed 2 xmas hols -1 for each to study over. Both chose glasgow uni so exams are before xmas there (thankfully).

We love it over xmas but also have enjoyed it in July and August (august flights were not to bad through orbitz and I got 27th dec for 13 nights this year for just over £500 direct delta (virgin form man including pre booking seats)

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I might pick a week in February or October rather than 2 weeks in August. With the cooler temperatures and lighter crowds, you might be able to get almost as much done.

 

[DLPDreams]

Yep, not a teacher, but am a Mother to two school age children and won't take them out of school for holidays! So, we too are stuck to paying a hefty premium, melting in the heat and battling the crowds! We are going early to end of August this year - don't think we've picked such a good year to go though as I think it will be busier this year for at least another week into August as Labor Day is later. As a result, I think we may benefit from 3 'quieter' days at the end of our trip (we fly back 27/8 in time to get back for school and work!).

Friends of ours go every Easter and say it's OK. I think you just have to plan, plan and plan. But then, if you read about crowd levels at WDW, they are increasing overall, so it's becoming more important to plan at any time of year. One thing WDW are good at is marketing events to increase crowd levels all year round - think Star Wars weekends, Food & Wine etc. They all significantly increase crowd levels at times which were traditionally quieter in earlier years!

 

[NatalieMT]

I'd say October is a nice time to go or last 2 weeks of August - prices for last 2 weeks of August better than the rest of the Summer in that respect and October is quite reasonable.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

I'm a teacher and we are subject to the hefty summer prices. You can't do anything about it until somehow the Gvt regulates the companies to stop them hiking prices at premium times.... But they are companies out to make money. Can't do anything about it unfortunately! Plus, generally, you can't really complain about our holidays (13 weeks a year ain't bad, even though we get no say in when they are!!)

To get back on topic: we are going this year at the end of July, beginning of August, but only because it coincides with my son's birthday, otherwise we'd be tempted to go end of August. A lovely American couple once told us (while waiting in line at Haunted Mansion) that the end of August is really quiet! We also only go every two-three years to save up to make it really special!!!! I'd love to go at Christmas but be worried I'd be too tired to return to work rested.

 

[scoobydooby]

^ the year we did Xmas we had to go back to work the day after we got home. I have to tell you I was a wreck for a full two weeks afterwards....... Zero recovery time didn't work out too well because we had hammered it the two weeks we were there touring dawn till dusk for 13 days......

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I thought Thanksgiving was during November? We don't get a holiday then. The October half term break is only a week- doesn't give very long to get over your jet lag!

Yes, it is in November. My school is closed that entire week, but DH will never give up his tradition of watching football with his family, so that is out for us. Luckily we do not have to worry about jet lag. If I lived overseas I would stay in FL for 2'weeks, also!

 

[BudgieMama]

Ahhh, didn't twig you weren't a Brit, @My2Qtz0205

I miss that bit on the old board- you could see under the avatar where people were from. Welcome to the UK Forum!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Oops, sorry. I didn't realize I was on UK forum! I just responded to the New Posts page.

 

[dixonsontour]

No problem My2Qtz0205, problem is the same whether you are US or UK based

Some schools do have 2 weeks in October (my dd's) does or May. If your schools do I'd opt for then. Some others have an out of step late Easter which is good as it misses the peak Easter crowds.

 

[scoobydooby]

Oops, sorry. I didn't realize I was on UK forum! I just responded to the New Posts page.

You're very welcome. Actually we bite less over here

 

[cheryl.UK]

Another teacher here. We've been at easter, Xmas and the long summer holiday. It's pricy but of the 3 it's cheapest to go in the summer, even July is usually cheaper than easter and Xmas, especially when you factor in hotel prices and the price hikes at signature restaurants. One thing to look out for if you are thinkning of a half term hop is that sometimes schools take twilight insets and you get an additional holiday day(!!??) which is ofter the last friday of a half term.

Otherwise you can get some good deals on summer flights if you go indirect.

The other problem some teachers have is that the October and Feb half terms are not at the same time in all schools, so if you teach in a different LA to your kids' school, you may have a problem.

 

[Rach78]

To be honest here in Scotland it's even worse as our kids go back mid august so we don't even have the option of last two weeks in august!
We were tied to Easter hols last year and having previously been in October I was so worried about the crowds. Easter was late last year so our two week holiday was the two weeks before Easter. I honestly needn't have worried, it was fairly quiet! Disney was pretty busy but not uncomfortably so, SeaWorld, universal etc were dead! I couldn't believe it but I think with Easter being late most of the spring break crowds were finished and the easter crowds hadn't quite kicked off. I think easter is late again next year so maybe worth investigating! Weather was also total perfection! It was amazing!