Which school vacation week?

[moxiecola]

We have never traveled to Disney during a school vaca week. Unfortunately with my oldest son in middle school now we have no choice but to go during this time. I would NEVER go durning the summer. Which vacation is a better choice February or April in terms of crowds? I was thinking Februaury but I could be way off. It is killing me to have to limit our trip down to a choice of these two weeks but also we usually spend 2 weeks there, now we'll only be able to do 1. Any one have any suggestions on how to sneak by a couple of extra days w/o the school knowing?? (I know....bad, bad parent)

 

[debster812]

I'd probably go with April vacation, as long as it did not also coincide with Easter.

February School Vacation is also President's Weekend, and it gets CROWDED at WDW then, as well as all of us New Englanders are dying to get out of the cold and the snow. Flights over Feb vacation are also crazy expensive. April is a little pricey too, but not as much.

 

[Darcy03231]

Historically I've found April is better than February for crowds, unless your April vacation falls over Easter. Also, you can be assured of better (warmer) weather in April. February can be cold.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

February. Last year we went the first week of February. Be careful, because that's cheerleader weekend. However, other than cheerleaders at DHS, the crowds at WDW were very low.

I wore shorts all week... it was a little cool in the mornings, but by the afternoons, it warmed up. Cool for Florida.... but warm compared to other parts of the US.

 

[rbork]

been there done that. Have a middle schooler too. We've gone during Spring Break for 10 days. It was crowded but we knew what to expect and it was still alot of fun. This year, we are trying February for 8 days. Hoping it won't be as crowded as Easter. Florida summer heat and humidity definately out for us. I carefully looked over the calander and am taking vacation during conferance days and 1 professional planning day. This will cut down on time out of school. (I've already strategically met w/ the teachers this past fall Made sure no major testing was planned either. I will apply for 3 discretionary days the school offers parents and then use another reason for the last day
I don't like the fact that the kid's schedules interfere w/ MY vacations now
Good Luck and do what's right for you.

 

[GOLFDISNEY72]

We have never traveled to Disney during a school vaca week. Unfortunately with my oldest son in middle school now we have no choice but to go during this time. I would NEVER go durning the summer. Which vacation is a better choice February or April in terms of crowds? I was thinking Februaury but I could be way off. It is killing me to have to limit our trip down to a choice of these two weeks but also we usually spend 2 weeks there, now we'll only be able to do 1. Any one have any suggestions on how to sneak by a couple of extra days w/o the school knowing?? (I know....bad, bad parent)

Are you worried about the summer because of crowds or because of the heat? If your kids are out the 1st or second week of June the crowds are not that bad. We went last June the first week and was shocked at how easily we got around. Our kids get out the last week of May so we can do this. I believe the FL schools are still in the first and second week.

 

[HeatherC]

I agree with you on the summer. We went in June one year and it was so humid, sticky, rainy that I said never again.

We usually go over February break which is President's Week here in Massachusetts.

I am a bad mommy, but I yank my kids out for a few days prior to the vacation week and we go. This year they will miss 3 1/2 days of school...including my middle schooler. But oh well. We will be in Orlando for 12 days!!! And the kids are all doing great in school so that's not a problem.

I just sent a note to all 3 teachers and told them yesterday. Two of them said they would send a couple things home for over this weekend that can be turned in on Monday. One said...don't worry about it.

It is crowded President's week, but we usually hit most of the parks the week before. For example...we'll be there next week Wed, Thurs and Fri...before the crowds arrive. The second week we can be more leisurely.

Hope this helps!!

 

[bradisgoofy]

We haven't gone in February but have always gone the end of March or early April. The weather has always been great at this time of year, BUT, the closer you are to Easter the larger the crowds will be. Easter is second only to Christmas in crowd sizes.

 

[MichelleVW]

I would never go over spring break. Why not the summer? I went in June once and it wasn't that bad.

 

[dznygurl]

We'll be going in just 14 days!!! My youngest two are out of school for a week for Mardi Gras. My oldest child goes to a different school and will miss 2 days of school. I'm a teacher, and I am using my 2 personal days as well. It's so worth it! The only other option we had was going at the end of July...and we really didn't want to do that b/c of the heat and crowds. We did a February trip in 2006 and the weather was beautiful. Cool in the mornings, and warmed up in the afternoons.

 

[jodifla]

February is better than April most years. The two weeks around Easter are as crowded as Christmas/New Year's.

This year, we went MLK week...We had the Monday and Friday off, so just too the 3 days off in between.

I'd look for weeks where you already have a couple of days off, then just add a few.

 

[saratogadreamin09]

Did you ever consider last august???I know you said you would never go in the summer but by this point the crowdsare down and the weather isn't toobad.

I've heard easter/spring break is the worst time to go so I'd pick February over April. Another plus with February is that most schools down south don't have a ful week's vacation.

 

[PollyannaMom]

....I am a bad mommy, but I yank my kids out for a few days prior to the vacation week and we go. This year they will miss 3 1/2 days of school...

You are NOT a bad mommy. - I'm a substitute teacher and I do the same thing! (Last year DS missed 2 1/2 days before February break, and this year he'll miss 2 days before April.) If they are going to miss a couple of days, those are the ones to miss. -Teachers don't like to start big new material right before a vacation, 1/2 a day is probably the Valentine's party, etc. Just check that there is not state testing then, and offer to take any work that happens to already be set up (don't make the teacher feel like he/she has to do extra prep for you.) Having your child keep a journal of the trip is usually well-received, too.

 

[3kidsfordis]

Also from MA. I have gone April vacation in 05, 07 & 08. It is somewhat busy but I only have one other trip in Nov. to compare it too. I have not gone when it has been the week before or after Easter. This year is OK as Easter is a full week before our vacation starts. I never plan early enough so Iusually go Tuesday through Tuesday to avoid the jacked up flight costs for April vacation.

I have read many surveys on these boards regarding when people's spring breaks are. It seems that most coincide with Easter or are in March or early April. MA, CT and sometimes part of NY have our April 19th week off-maybe RI too. However, many states get a least a long weekend if not longer on Presidents Day.
The plus side is that the weather is beautiful. Shorts and t-shirts plus a light sweater at night, very little rain, lots of Red Sox hats!

 

[karen l]

We have never traveled to Disney during a school vaca week. Unfortunately with my oldest son in middle school now we have no choice but to go during this time. I would NEVER go durning the summer. Which vacation is a better choice February or April in terms of crowds? I was thinking Februaury but I could be way off. It is killing me to have to limit our trip down to a choice of these two weeks but also we usually spend 2 weeks there, now we'll only be able to do 1. Any one have any suggestions on how to sneak by a couple of extra days w/o the school knowing?? (I know....bad, bad parent)

Hi moxiecola,
I had to respond - I'm in Saugus too. We've been going in April for the past several years because of school. The weather is great - can use the pools, etc. I never wanted to chance Feb because I was afraid of a snowstorm
on our departure date & the Florida weather doesn't seem to be as good. I take my DS out the Friday before school vacation for the extra time. The only year it was really crazy was the year it was also Easter week. Other than that time, it can be crowded but manageable. Make sure you have adrs for the meals you really want & you should be fine. Have fun!

 

[Tink-aholic]

We are going MA February school vacation week this year and went during April's vacation last year. My kids go to school in NH, so they get out of school for a week and then have a week off at home to do all of their makeup work. I have to take them out because I am a teacher and cannot take their weeks off and my husband doesn't get any time off in the summer or during Christmas. It can be hard to schedule a vacation, lemme tell you!

Last year, it was almost $700 per person to fly in April, and nearly $600 pp this year (I snagged those the MINUTE SW released their fares). I know that President's Day week is busy, so we'll have to see which is better. I'll let you know when we get back which we preferred.

 

[miprender]

I would never go over spring break. Why not the summer? I went in June once and it wasn't that bad.

I see you are from TX where it probably is hot alot more than in New England. We will most likely never be going in the summer anymore either because the heat/humidity is to much for us too take.

We are trying April this year and with GoodFriday giving us an extra day of vacation because DH is a teacher and we have to work around his scedule.

 

[Cars2006]

Hi Neighbors there are a lot of New Englander's. We are also from MA (North Shore). We usually go in September right before preschool starts which is our anniversary. This fall our oldest is going to be in kindergardern and our middle child will be starting preschool. So we decided to try the April vacation this year. We are driving down to NC to visit some friends then off to Disney. We are actually going during April vacation week and pulling him out of school the following week. We figured it will be warmer so they can swim and can wear shorts. Hopefully it wont be to crowded but who can complain it is the Happiest Place to Be on Earth.

 

[michael's mom]

Fellow MA person here...I can say that April will be your better choice. February break here is peak time for Disney, which means more money, which means more people...April is great as long as it is not the same week as Easter (as many pp's have already said). I have been in Disney many, many times during April, and while it is busy...it's not nearly as busy as it was when we were there in late June 07. The weather has typically been high 70's, low 80's!

If you have to go during school vacation (as do I being a teacher) I'd definitely go with April.