Would it be awful to take kids our of school twice in a school year to go to WDW??

[knationk]

We just got back from our family trip Sept. 18-25th. DH is now hooked!! He's even checking into moving to Florida and getting a engineering job with Disney!! DH and I are planning to take a short 4 day trip back in late Jan or Feb. I have been looking forward to it, but I'm afraid it just won't be the same without the kids!! Believe me I would LOVE some adult time because I'm a stay at home Mom. But... the best part of Disney to me was seeing them excited and their reactions.

What do you think? They missed four days of school for our first trip. (They were already scheduled out one day for parent teacher conference.) IF they went it would probably mean another 3 days out. Our school has been wonderful about making up the work, etc.

Kayla

 

[Magic2000]

If the kids are good students, then I'd say go for it! Especially if the school doesn't have a problem with make up work. Enjoy your trip!!!

We're taking my DD out of school for three days in Dec - she's a very good student and hasn't had a problem making up the work.

 

[pinkpiglettlover]

It is a tough decision not to take the children. I would have to say do the adult trip. It is completely different from being with the kids, you enjoy adult dinners/adult time. I have taken my children out of school twice in a year to go to disney and as mentioned above as long as they are good students it shouldnt really matter. But, I say stick with the get away time with your DH!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

How old are the kids? If they are still in elementry, and are good students I would go for it. Those trips are pretty far apart.

WE do take trips alone as a couple, but WDW is off limits for those trips. We have a rule that we only do it as a family. Not right for everyone but works for us.


Jordan's mom

 

[crazelion]

I really don't understand the whole take your kids out school for a vacation.

Our school system have plenty time to take vacations in the school year without missing school. Our school system is having a 2 week fall break right now that's plenty time to take a vacation.


In our school system miss certain amount days in a semester. You will fail the semester.

Just something to think about.

 

[april riddle]

I think it would depend on their age and grade. I am a huge advocate for taking the kiddos out of school for family vacation. We will be out 7 full school days in November - I would love to go to Disney just DH and myself. Why? would love to stay at the GF, would love to spend an evening at Epcot roaming around. My kids are 9 and 11 both of these things would seem so boring to them. We always make short time of the world showcase because they want to get back to the action. I would love to take a horse and carriage - there are alot of things you could do by yourselves. I would feel really guilty but boy would it be fun!

 

[lemondog]

DH and I have discussed this. We decided that their education was more important than a vacation, so we won't pull them out of class once they start elementary school for a trip to Disney.

I would take the opportunity to enjoy Disney in a completely different (and wonderful) way with just you two. You can enjoy some nice evenings out, more of the "adult" attractions that you may not have had the chance to check out with the kids, etc. Have fun!

Angela

 

[Kimmielee]

Originally posted by crazelion


Our school system have plenty time to take vacations in the school year without missing school. Our school system is having a 2 week fall break right now that's plenty time to take a vacation.

Crazelion - is your school a year round school? One of the problems with planning vacatins during the breaks is that they aren't announced until the beginning of the year and then EVERYONE books trips, flights, etc... it's a madhouse trying to get out of town when the entire school system is on break.

With that said, I have two nieces that are teachers and they bless vacations IF you plan ahead, take homework and complete it while gone. Otherwise, the kids can miss a critical lesson plan that they will be behind everyone else on!

 

[Blondiex46]

I never take my kids out of school for vacation and never have. I just don't. I could get some really cheap prices if I did too. I always for during spring break.

 

[F1Julie]

I fall in the middle on whether or not to take kids out of school, of course depending on their ages and grades. Assuming the children are still young and do well in school, I would take them out for 2 days and tie the trip in with a weekend. Even better would be to extend that with a teacher work day or conference day.

 

[Kimmielee]

My son is missing 2 days of "young fives" which is pre-K for children born after Sept. 1 in our district. The rest of the week is teacher "in session" days, accompanied by conferences. Being this young, then I felt ok... as he gets older, I may change my mind. It really depends on how he is doing and the type of teacher that he has!

 

[pattyc721]

I believe it is absolutely OK to take your kids out of school for 2 Disney vacations in one year. The time that they will spend with you as a family is so much more important and so much more educational than school. I take my kids out of school every year at least once for a vacation and NEVER feel guilty. I tell my kids they have to maintain a certain average (nothing less than a B+) if they want to go on vacation. They usually work much harder during the year knowing that.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

I believe taking children out of school for vacations, particularly if you do it several times a year, is sending the WRONG message to children. School and education is vital today. Not going to school for something as minor as a vacation, I just do not get why people do that! Although my family and I travel extensively, my children are NEVER taken from school. We do weekend and holiday jaunts, and save our big vacations for longer school holiday periods and the summer. I think that is why all of my children are honor role students; we have imparted the importance of education to them, and making their education and attending school their number 1 priority...

 

[njcarita]

as a mother of 3 i sat GO FOR IT?????

they will only be small for a short time and you never know how long you have in this world - so enjoy every minute you have with them.

i take my kids out once or twice a yr for disney - and plan to continue it evey year- the memories we have as a family at disney are irreplaceable- we they grow up they will remember the trips they took with grandma and grandpa- with their close friends- and with their family-

to me that is more important than a few days of school!!!!

my neightbor died at age 39 complications from an elective surgery leaving 2 little girls behind. (kindergarten and 3rd). she had had her surgery while my family was on one of our disney trips- and she was rushed to the hospital the day after we got back.
she died the following day


one of the things i remember most in the months following her death was the oldest daughter
talking about going to disney- because their mom said they they could go at a certain time - so they wanted dad to take them

my other nieghbor planned a family trip with her dying mother and all the grand kids and kids - they went a few months before grand ma died- she told me those memories and time they spent together were priceless.

all i'm saying that in my opinion education - a job - a career etc-
is not more inportant than time spending time withmy family
and what better place to spend it than at disney!!!!!!!!!!

 

[voodooboy]

Go for it, I have a DD and I would not hesitate unless there was a signifigant problem with her schooling or if it was the beginning or very end of the school year. My wife and I value the family time we spend together so go have fun.

 

[cathy59]

We just had parent/teacher conferences and let our DS7's teacher know that we would be taking him out for 3 days at Thanksgiving to go to Disney, and she said "How wonderful!" She had no problem with it at all.

Of course, he is only in second grade and a good student. He is rarely sick or tardy. These will probably be the only days he misses all year.

Imho, there is more to learn that just what is taught in school. I don't think he feels school isn't important if we take him out to go on a trip. We reinforce the importance of school every day in our attitude about homework, doing your best, being on time, etc.

Take them out and enjoy it!

 

[chesirekate]

Personally, yes, I would take my child out of school for a trip to WDW (or anywhere else for that matter). Of course, I wil be homeschooling so it's not really an issue for me. But, I believe family trips are very important and as long as your children do not suffer academically, it should be just fine.

 

[lou7401]

Interesting - the different opinions!! In the past we've NEVER taken the kids out of school for a vacation, this year is the first time we will and it's only 1 day. I guess I don't see what the big deal is really, I feel that school is a top priority but family time is equally a top priority. There is so much more to life than school. My kids are A students BTW.

Now our school district only gives us two days at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and the Summer vacation so we are really limited when we can go. And hubby won't go during any of those busy times so I was so happy this year when they gave us two teacher in-service days attached to a weekend that I booked a 5 day trip!

 

[Brian Noble]

We don't pull our kids out of school. We save Disney Trips for school vacations (and yes, it is more crowded and expensive then), and do "closer-to-home" things on weekends (especially long weekends) when we can.

For example, we are going to Halloweekends next weekend, an easy two hour drive for us. Now that DD6 is 48", she and I get to ride some of the bigguns!

http://halloweekends.cedarpoint.com/

 

[Gillian]

I wouldn't hesitate to take preschoolers out for a week, but it's a very personal decision.

My district does not have a lot of vacation time other than the summer (which is too hot and crowded for me - medical issues). The spring breaks are always tied to Easter, making them a really bad travel time!

When my kids are older we'll have to reevaluate this issue, but for now we go when we will enjoy ourseleves the most.