When would you go to WDW w/ school kids?

[stanamy]

We really don't like traveling during peak season, but my son is in school now. We don't believe in pulling him out of school to go on vacation, so we can only go to WDW during school breaks. Would you recommend President's week in February, 3rd or 4th week of June, or 2nd or 3rd week of August? Are one of these times a little less crowded compared to the others? The cooler weather and less rain in February sounds good, but if it's less crowded in August compared to President's week then maybe we can endure the hot, humid weather and rain. Help! Thanks.

 

[disneymarie]

I have always gone in the end of Sept early Oct before full swing of assignments start. We take assignments to work on, like reading chapter to keep up and voc words. I do not take text books but will copy pages.
Generally our teachers are pretty easy going. Thre are a few familys that go about his time too.
Also, Hurrican season is winding down, heat is less, crowds not as bad, and lines shorter....but now they have the halloween party, the wone and chees, free food, etc to build up the traffic.
Happy travels
dianne

 

[lemondog]

3rd week of August. I think it has pretty well died down by then.

We also don't believe in taking our DD out of school for a Disney vacation, so we are going in July for her birthday. (She goes back to school August 13th). Lord help us!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We don't take our kids out of school for vacations, either. In December, 2006the winter break fell on the perfect dates for us to go to WDW. We left on the 15 and flew back on the 25th. This gave us a nice 10 day trip and also allowed us to be back to have Christmas dinner with my family. We also left WDW before the serious after-Christmas crowds were there and we still had almost a week at home before school started again.

We'll probably go again in a couple of years. I'm thinking of doing a trip right after school gets out in mid-June. I'd want to go as early as we can in the summer. Personally, we avoid doing major trips during President's week and spring break. We like to do 10-day trips and have some time afterward to rest before going back to work and school. A single week off doesn't give us enough time to do that.

 

[PelletierBears]

When my kids were young we would take them out of school for 10 days or so in the spring. We did this instead of fighting the crowds during vacation weeks. At the elementary level the teachers are usually fine with it as long as you stay away from testing dates (MCAS here in MA). BUT at the middle and high school level I would never even concider taking them out. They miss way two much work and it's so hard to catch up, not to mention the schools have such tough absentee policies, more strict than my workplace
So we've been doing Disney right after school lets out in June which is usually by the 16th depending on snow days to make up. It's worked out well for us but my husband can't wait until we can go in the fall /winter since he hates the heat and humidity (6 more years to go!)
Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[eliza61]

We also don't take our kids out of school for play time. We love, love the 3rd &4th week in August. The crowds are much lighter because usually the southern schools have started. It is hot though. I'm a NJerysian so last year we went during Jersey week in November. Of course, the way my lluck runs it was unseasonable cold that week.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

I would never argue with anyone regarding their beliefs in raising their kids, and I would hope that no one would argue mine. I have a SERIOUS AVERSION to the heat, therefore, Florida is good for me from about November-February. I have 3 kids, with only 1 in school (her last day of Kinder is Wednesday ). I am taking my kids with my inlaws and BIL and SIL in January 09 and will be taking her out of school for the week. She will have to be done with her work before we leave. I suppose if that is not an option for you, then I personally would go with your February option.

I must say again that every family is different, so please no bashing.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We also don't take our kids out of school for play time.

Wow a little judgemental aren't we?

To each their own, but because I pull my straight A student for a weeks vacation is my choice so I feel its really rude for you to judge those of us who do "take our kids out for play time." Gees!


To the OP, anytime the kids are out of school is going to be a really crowded time at WDW. We went last year the end of May beginning of June for Star Wars weekend, and by noon every popular ride was an hour wait, plus it was hot and humid on top of it.

It may be less crowded in August, but it will be very very hot. February will be a crap shoot with the weather. it may be nice, it may be cold.

 

[chattyann]

We went when our boys were 5 and 8, during Feb. 2006. We took our 8 yr old out for a week but we talked to his 2nd grade teacher and got all his work and we even printed out disney pages of the parks that had questions and things my son had to fill out and was able to give a report to his class of his trip. It worked out really well for us. My ds actually had fun filling out the pages and being able to tell his friends all about it. Like bunkkinsmom I can not handle extreme heat so Feb. worked out perfect and there wasn't any crowds to worry about at all.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Welcome to the DIS!
As you can see, to pull or not to pull kids out of school is a hot topic on these boards and I could probably fill pages with all the reasons why it is such a bad idea and pages about why it is such a good idea!

Anyway.....

I am a teacher and I CAN'T take my kids out, so I always travel on school vacations. Personally, I would avoid June. Everyone I know who has gone in June (personal aquaintances, not DISers) have come back saying never again. It is hot AND crowded. The later you can go in August, the better. We have gone several times the last week in August and the crowds are what I consider moderate. However, the heat is brutal! We are going in August again this year and then we are going to think about if we want to try a winter/ spring trip instead or brave the heat again. Anyway, I went President's week in 2006 and it was packed. Woe to the fool who thinks they can walk into Fantasyland at noon time and actually do something. However, with a good touring plan we were able to get done almost everthing we wanted.
Ugh! I'm probably no help at all after all this rambling.
Guess it all depends what is the lesser of 2 evils for you.

 

[stanamy]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Hum, February's weather would be more comfortable, but it could be too cool for the pool. Plus the vacation would be shorter. If we go in August, the weather is HOT. We could go for a longer vacation if we went in August. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

 

[disneymarie]

The heat is a major factor with me too. I have asthma and one trip in early May 93 ended up with plourasy from the inflamation.
My daughter gets heat related sickness. She will get feverish and throw up. Certainly not worth puting health risk over school. Kids end up sick and miss school and make it up all the time. My daughter was to get a booster for chicken pox her next well visit at 11 yrs old, instead she got the chick pox and missed a week last month. Along with me getting them and son. We must not have had therm severe when we were younger and got them.

In late Oct 2006 we went down and hit record high temps around 99* and 100's. She throw up before we got into the first attraction. spent most of the day in the bathroom or aid stations having gator aid. Between her and I we could end up in the ER from weather related illness from the summer heat.We are from the Pocono's. Just the ehat wave we are having now is a real problem.

Most school work is a chapter a week, vocabulary, history, science and few Language assignments. With doing it as homework before they leave or photocopying some chapter reading, they really do not lose anything in our family.

Another thing is the valuable Educational learning, just going through the Countries at Epcot, the stations you work at there, the clues to discover hidden facts around Disney attractions.
My daughter was in Animal Kingdom and did the stations there for eco friendly and prepared a power point to show the class. Nothing amusement park about her vacation it is always about learning.
She loves the animals not the rides, never did a fast amusment ride, but would have loved to bottle feed a goat. Brushed them, had pictures posed in Buddah manner at AK and in Epcot Morocco. She litterialy was shown the World, that is what Disney means to her.

Whenever you go, do some off the norm stuff, check out the educational stations they have in Epcot and the animal center wen you get off the train in Animal Kingdom. THe Hall of Presidents and in Tomorrow land the carosoul of life are great too. A real piece of yesterday.
Dianne

 

[stanamy]

Grandma might come with us. She doesn't do well in extreme heat. I'd better take that into consideration also. Vacation planning was so much easier before my son entered school.

I wonder if I could come up with a good sales pitch to convince my son's principal that WDW is an education trip just like going to Washington, D.C.? I don't think that the conversation would go well.

 

[eliza61]

Wow a little judgemental aren't we?

To each their own, but because I pull my straight A student for a weeks vacation is my choice so I feel its really rude for you to judge those of us who do "take our kids out for play time." Gees!


To the OP, anytime the kids are out of school is going to be a really crowded time at WDW. We went last year the end of May beginning of June for Star Wars weekend, and by noon every popular ride was an hour wait, plus it was hot and humid on top of it.

It may be less crowded in August, but it will be very very hot. February will be a crap shoot with the weather. it may be nice, it may be cold.

No not at all, I could care less what other folks do with there kids. I did say "I" and "my". what's judgemental about that? I didn't say anyone was wrong for doing it or reference any body elses post?

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I've been all seasons and October really does seem to be the best time weather/crowds. July/August is really hot/humid. April is very crowded. February can be very chilly. My kids are young, so maybe we might run into more of a problem as they get older with schools and such...but in terms of the debate of in school/ vs out of school for a week....seriously A vacation is what you make it. If you put the effort in to make it more educational...then it will be. I think Disney does a good job of adding extras that parents can use as teaching material. If you don't want to put the effort in to find educational opportunties then yeah..Its just play.. Nothing wrong with that either...they are kids by the way.

I'd love to see some sort of study done on the educational damage caused by a week of family vacation

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

We're travelling first 2 weeks of august- because we're British so school vacation only runs last week of July through first couple of days of September and mostly we're travelling as a large party so although my kids could be taken out of school my sister HAS to be back in time as she's the teacher!! LOL

My eldest daughters school is very strict on vacation time, we sign an agreement about vacation time in term time and being a heavily over-subscribed school we might risk forfeiting her place if we took her out and they decided to take action against us... drastic but a possibility.

We travel in school vacations if we're going for more than a few days, the prices can be a bit higher (although I was surprised to see when we're going isn't classed as peak in disney as it is at home that time) and places can be more crowded but my kids don't have catch up work to do, don't get left behind by their peers, don't miss any try-outs for teams etc- saves alot of hassle in the long run. Also my eldest son has alot of physio & occupational therapy and work related to his individual special needs during term time so not only would he miss school he'd fall behind in those too (they seem to slow down over the school vacation time- his group physio work only runs in term time, his OT reports are mostly done in term time etc) - that plays a big factor for us too.

Next time we go I'm planning on aiming for the vacation UK kids get in October- it'll be my eldest daughters birthday during that time too which will be pretty cool. We're aiming for later in the year next time to avoid the overly hot weather and hopefully catch the halloween party too!

 

[frtchr]

Looking at your post and when you said you would like to go, I would personally choose February. It might be "colder" (though that's such a relative term) and potentially more crowded, but I think beating the summer heat is worth it. It's no fun if you or members of your party are too hot and loggy to do anything.

If you choose to take your son out, October sounds like a great time. We had planned on going this October until I found out I was pregnant and due Sept. 11. Doh! No matter when you go, I hope you have a great time!

 

[stanamy]

I live in California and only some of the school districts have President's week off as vacation. Our school district's long vacations are Christmas week, New Year's week, President's week, Spring Break in April. Is President's week a common school vacation in other States?

It would be more bearable for my son and Grandma to stand in a long line in 70 degree weather in February than 90 degree weather in August. Of course one can never tell about the weather, and February weather could be 50 degrees. It wouldn't be fun to stand in line in 50 degree weather either.

Hey, maybe Mom should go on vacation by herself!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

After working the college program last year, I will ALWAYS go back to Disney in January and February! The weather is clear and beeeeeeeeeautiful! The crowds are low and to be able to be comfortable walking around the parks is the best thing ever!!!!!!!

 

[Sarilas]

We've pulled our children from school for a week in the past to visit family in Puerto Rico; our daughter was in 3rd grade and son in 6th. The teachers are always very cooperative and only ask that the kids be there for state mandated test times.

That being said, we're debating about when to take the kids as well, but it's entirely weather related; we're leaning toward mid-January right now but I'm worried about torrential downpours!