When to go in 2021

[Lindsey17]

I know 2021 packages typically come out soonish under normal circumstances and before the current state of the world we had decided to go again in 2021. My issue now is when to go... We've been in Sept and then Aug so we've seen the Halloween/Fall décor and were really hoping to see Christmas, but now I'm wondering if I should be taking my soon out of school. We were looking into going early Dec to avoid the Thanksgiving break, although I'm not sure with the 50th there will be a slow time. Hopefully he'll be going for the full year this upcoming school year, but with talk of a Fall/Winter resurgence no one really knows. Would you still book for early Dec or would you bite the bullet and go in Summer 2021 to ensure that more school isn't missed right now?

I realize there are much more important things going on in the world, but I desperately need to think about something positive happening in the future...

 

[RollTideinMD]

Well, I totally agree with the sentiment of focusing on positive things; I am doing the same myself.

I have taken my kids out of school for a Disney vacation. They missed 5 days. We did not get any pushback from the school, but it did count as an unexcused absence. For me it was a pretty simple decision, my kids do not have a lot of absences and do fairly well academically.

However, with the current state of the world and how their education has been compromised, I would be hesitant to pull them out of school later this year. Perhaps there is some wiggle room that would align a possible December trip with winter break or perhaps just going for a long weekend? How long of a trip were you planning?

I don't think that there are 'slow times' at Disney anymore and I think we will see that continue on after we move forward after this pandemic.

 

[Lindsey17]

Well, I totally agree with the sentiment of focusing on positive things; I am doing the same myself.

I have taken my kids out of school for a Disney vacation. They missed 5 days. We did not get any pushback from the school, but it did count as an unexcused absence. For me it was a pretty simple decision, my kids do not have a lot of absences and do fairly well academically.

However, with the current state of the world and how their education has been compromised, I would be hesitant to pull them out of school later this year. Perhaps there is some wiggle room that would align a possible December trip with winter break or perhaps just going for a long weekend? How long of a trip were you planning?

I don't think that there are 'slow times' at Disney anymore and I think we will see that continue on after we move forward after this pandemic.

We wouldn't be going until end of 2021 so not even this upcoming school year, but the following. So my son who's currently in Kindergarten would be in 2nd grade at the time. I just don't know the best answer right now. Realistically we can hold off and not book right when 2021 packages drop, but again I need something fun and light to hold onto.

 

[emcarle27]

I think it's definitely a personal choice. If you're comfortable taking your kid out of school, then I'd do it.

We're planning an adults to Disney for end of September 2021. We can't really fully begin to plan until the packages drop which is a good two months away at least. (I think historically they drop mid June)

In the meantime, I've been looking at different resorts and such as this is my first trip to Disney as an adult and I need something to look forward to as well.

 

[morrik5]

We just booked April 18-25, 2021 at Fort Wilderness. While we will be taking our grandkids (10 and 6) out of school for a week, we have to work around their mother's schedule as she teaches college and needs to consider the start and end of semesters as well as Reading Week. Have fun whenever you go, we're looking forward to seeing the 50th celebrations.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I would pull my kid out again. I said I wouldn’t after 3rd grade, but this ordeal confirms that she can handle doing most of her schoolwork on her own. She’s in 4th now.

That being said, we booked for May 2021. We plan to leave the day after school gets out. If they mess with the calendar I’ll have to make a backup plan, which probably means pulling her out.

 

[morrik5]

I would pull my kid out again. I said I wouldn’t after 3rd grade, but this ordeal confirms that she can handle doing most of her schoolwork on her own. She’s in 4th now.

That being said, we booked for May 2021. We plan to leave the day after school gets out. If they mess with the calendar I’ll have to make a backup plan, which probably means pulling her out.

With school being cancelled right now because of COVID-19, the kids have been made pros at learning online and/or being taught by their parents. We're optimistic that they will continue to do some studies while enjoying their vacation in the family's happy place.

 

[Summer2018]

I know 2021 packages typically come out soonish under normal circumstances and before the current state of the world we had decided to go again in 2021. My issue now is when to go... We've been in Sept and then Aug so we've seen the Halloween/Fall décor and were really hoping to see Christmas, but now I'm wondering if I should be taking my soon out of school. We were looking into going early Dec to avoid the Thanksgiving break, although I'm not sure with the 50th there will be a slow time. Hopefully he'll be going for the full year this upcoming school year, but with talk of a Fall/Winter resurgence no one really knows. Would you still book for early Dec or would you bite the bullet and go in Summer 2021 to ensure that more school isn't missed right now?

I realize there are much more important things going on in the world, but I desperately need to think about something positive happening in the future...

My June 2020 trip caused me stress this winter, because of snow days. We came close to having too many snow days which would lengthen the school year and interfere with our June 24th departure. I saved two personal days just in case. Once we got into March, I thought I was in the clear.

Then the pandemic happened. At first we were going to be out of school for two weeks. They were going back and forth with taking away April vacation or going until the end of June, and the powers that be decided to go to school until June 30th, our last day in WDW. I was so upset.

Then two weeks became six weeks, and six weeks has become ten weeks...and most likely will continue until summer vacation. My worries about snow days interfering with our June 2020 trip seem so silly now. Our June 2020 WDW vacation has been cancelled.

We thought about rebooking in April 2021, but that vacation could easily be taken away. The same with the end of June. So, we booked July 2021.

We will see if that trip actually materializes. I will believe it when I see the castle in person.

 

[focusondisney]

We just booked April 18-25, 2021 at Fort Wilderness. While we will be taking our grandkids (10 and 6) out of school for a week, we have to work around their mother's schedule as she teaches college and needs to consider the start and end of semesters as well as Reading Week. Have fun whenever you go, we're looking forward to seeing the 50th celebrations.

Just clarifying... are you expecting to see the 50th celebrations next April? The actual anniversary is October 1, 2021. Disney hasn’t announced when any anniversary events & celebrations will begin. But with other big events, like WDW‘s 25th or DL’s 50th & 60th, celebrations began just about 2 months before. Most people expect the anniversary celebration to kick off sometime between July & September. And considering many of the projects are currently halted, there’s very little chance of them being ready early. Just don’t want you to be disappointed.

 

[BellaBeast787]

Honestly I’ve been several times around Christmas and I will say there is nothing really magical than Disney at Christmas. Our whole family looks forward to it! If you pull the kiddos out of school you can book during more off times! That means less crowds and bigger discounts. It’s also perfect weather. We are looking at doing the same thing next year for the 50th.
and the best resorts for Christmas time are Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom. I give the edge to Animal kingdom. It’s our favorite

 

[kylenne]

I don't think that there are 'slow times' at Disney anymore and I think we will see that continue on after we move forward after this pandemic

I don’t agree with this at all. Part of what was driving those crowds was a booming economy. With job losses the way they are now I can’t see that happening. Luxury vacations are the first thing on the chopping block when people are hurting financially, and when you have entire industries on the brink and millions of people slamming the unemployment claim hotlines, going to Disney is the last thing on most people’s minds. There’s also the question of when international travel will resume, because a not insignificant number of WDW guests come from overseas, like the UK contingent. Even those who can still afford it may be wary about getting on planes.

This is going to be like the post 9/11 era, I think. Diehards like us will still go, but we don’t make up the majority of Disney guests by a long shot. It’s going to take some time to reach those kind of pre-pandemic numbers again.

 

[pooh2001]

We moved our November 2020 to April 24 to May 2, 2021 - hoping for a COVID-19 vaccine by then

 

[Farro]

We are going late April/early May 2021.

For purely selfish reasons, I hope all your children are back in the classroom by then!

 

[RollTideinMD]

I don’t agree with this at all. Part of what was driving those crowds was a booming economy. With job losses the way they are now I can’t see that happening. Luxury vacations are the first thing on the chopping block when people are hurting financially, and when you have entire industries on the brink and millions of people slamming the unemployment claim hotlines, going to Disney is the last thing on most people’s minds. There’s also the question of when international travel will resume, because a not insignificant number of WDW guests come from overseas, like the UK contingent. Even those who can still afford it may be wary about getting on planes.

This is going to be like the post 9/11 era, I think. Diehards like us will still go, but we don’t make up the majority of Disney guests by a long shot. It’s going to take some time to reach those kind of pre-pandemic numbers again.

You made a couple of really good points! I was just thinking of all of us diehards flocking to Orlando

 

[ajgardner]

This may be a really stupid question, but I thought 2021 was not open to book yet? I see many are saying that they’ve already booked. It’s not online, but if I call do they allow booking?

 

[Farro]

This may be a really stupid question, but I thought 2021 was not open to book yet? I see many are saying that they’ve already booked. It’s not online, but if I call do they allow booking?

At 499 days out you can call and book a room only.

 

[morrik5]

Just clarifying... are you expecting to see the 50th celebrations next April? The actual anniversary is October 1, 2021. Disney hasn’t announced when any anniversary events & celebrations will begin. But with other big events, like WDW‘s 25th or DL’s 50th & 60th, celebrations began just about 2 months before. Most people expect the anniversary celebration to kick off sometime between July & September. And considering many of the projects are currently halted, there’s very little chance of them being ready early. Just don’t want you to be disappointed.

Good to know, so I guess we won't be seeing special merch We always get dated/special Christmas ornaments while we're there.