WWYD? Help!!!!

[Alexsmommy]

Please help us decide what to do with these 2 reservations. We are going back and forth and are getting extremely confused and are almost ready to just cancel everything and just go next year.

These are our 2 situations:

A)trip confirmed for GF 10/22-11/1-04 ($3167 room only)
*We have flights booked
*DD will miss 6 days of school which is frowned upon so that's why we have this reservation that follows...
*flight change fee is $100 total

B) 12/25-1/2/05 GF ($2363 room only)
*Flights are ASTRONOMICAL-about $2100 for all of us.
*DD does not miss school.
*with our flight change credit, we would have to pay an extra $1300 for the new flights

We are worried that if we go with opt. B that if we drive (we have in the past)
it may be snowing or sleeting most of the drive down from NY.

Opt A. almost seems out because DD school does not like the idea of her missing so many days.

or should I just wait until next year and book during her Feb. break?

We've always wanted to go for NYEve but the idea of driving in possibly bad weather seems daunting. My DH is also worried people will have been partying and we'll have drunks on the road (He may be getting a little carried away here

The price for December just seems too good to pass up which is why I really don't want to let it go. Have any of you drove from NYC around that time?

Thanks so much in advance!!
Maria

 

[swilphil]

I would go with option B and drive. If you can get a cheap flight back, rent a car to drive there and then return it in Orlando. As far as the weather and drunk drivers, I would plan on driving mainly during the day. Spend at least one night at a hotel while you're on the road.

I think Christmas and New Years at the GF would be wonderful. You don't need to worry about drunks at Disney on New Years Eve. Just use Disney transportation and stay at the parks or hotel.

 

[ReneeDisney]

I vote for option B (even thought I don't have kids)
We drove last year for New Years 2003 Trip - left NJ on 12/26 and returned home on 1/4. We stopped overnight on the way to Florida and on the way home. Being at WDW for NYE was fantastic -- and the only reason we drove was because we refused to pay $700 per person for a coach ticket to FL.
The drive goes fast and being at WDW for the holidays- decorations, etc. is great. The only caveat is that it is crowded, but if you use Fastpass and get in the parks early or stay later and do E-Ride nights, you will have a blast and not be affected by crowds. And besides everyone is in a festive mood!
Last NYE trip the weather was in the 80's every day and sunny! It was wonderful--
ENJOY!!

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

It seems that many schools are making it harder for kids to miss school for family vacations. What grade is your DD in?

If I were you here's what I'd do. First I'd try to work out something with DD's teacher about getting her work done either before or during your trip. (Much easier to do in elementary school - may not be an option for higher grades.)

If that didn't work, I'd seriously consider waiting until February for the trip. It's only a couple more months and since it's a slow time you should still be able to get good hotel and air rates.

Christmas/New Year's is a great time to go simply for the experience, but it is extremely crowded and a hard time to get a lot done as far as attractions and rides. It just depends on the main focus of your visit.

Good luck!

 

[cobbler]

I would go for option B and drive. We drive down everytime we go and we live in MI so I know about snow and all that junk.

It really isn't that bad once you get out of the main snowy-belt areas.

Besides, the weather could be nice that day, there is no predicting what it will do, esp here in MI.

 

[bubba's mom]

I also vote for B. do you really want to be in an airport at the holidays anyway?? you could be delayed and the crowds .......... i would go, enjoy the holiday and drive. like the other poster said, once you get past d.c. area, snow should not be an issue. besides, how many white christmases/holidays can you remember? i would also like to think that the main highways get cleared first and quicker than the back roads. GO FOR IT!! drive and enjoy the family time!!!
have fun!!

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I would ask to setup a meeting with the school principle. I would bring to this meeting a copy of the "Why WDW is educational” form letter, which has been floating around the boards lately as this is a "hot topic" lately (you can find this on allears.net). In our local school district you are allowed up to 9 "excused" absences in a semester so the 6 days would be fine if they approved this as "excused", educational and beneficial to the child. If approved by the school go with plan A. if the school will not bend and your child will have repercussions for attending this trip then obviously go with plan B.

 

[laceemouse]

What kind of break do you get in February? We have 2 weeks at Christmas but no break in February. Christmas is a beautiful time to go, but I would not take my kids out for such a long time. In lower elementary it is okay, but by 4th or 5th grade it gets iffy, by Jr. High there is just too much work IMHO.....Lacee

 

[gigi1313]

i would go w/option B but fly down, using the money you save on hotel bill towards difference in flight costs... and i would keep watching the airlines for specials and reduced fares... i think you waste too much time driving, but that's just my $.02!

where are you flying from? could you maybe fly cheaper into another florida airport or leave from a smaller regional airport (on a lesser-known carrier) to save some $?

i, personally, do not believe in taking kids out of school for vacation, regardless of how educational i know disney is... it's just one of my pet peeves... they get enough vacation time and if you cannot fit family vacations into the time they have off (2+ months in summer, five days at thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas, a week in february, a week at Easter) then it's an extreme case (i.e. parent in the military) and the school should work with you... but for the average-joe family, you should be able to fit it in... sure, it's more crowded and maybe more expensive, but that's the price you pay for having your children enrolled in school (there's always homeschooling)

good luck with your decision, and enjoy your vacation whenever you take it

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by BostonDisneyKid
I would ask to setup a meeting with the school principle.

But be sure to spell Principal correctly if you request the meeting in writing, since I'm thinking he or she would be less disposed to granting the absence otherwise!!!

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I have no kids so I wont be requesting any meetings with any school officials. Just trying to help...

 

[Rajah]

If it were me, I'd be doing everything possible to get the vacation approved and go with opt A.

Personally, if I couldn't get A to work, I'd reschedule in Feb. But then again, I REALLY don't like crowds.

 

[lovelykccat]

I would go with option A. She's your daughter after all, not the school's.

I'm taking my daughter out of school for 6 days also, and as far as I'm concerned the school is just going to have to accept it. As a single parent, I cannot afford to go during the summer, it's just too expensive.

Besides, family time with young ones is to-o-o-o-o-o-o precious! The memories we will make will far outweigh what she is going to miss at school.

OK, I'll climb off my soap box now! This subject always gets me going.

 

[NoodlesTheRabbit]

As a teacher, I too think I would go with Option A!

 

[ckret01]

I really am not sure which option I would choose. In my own opinion having your child miss six days of school isn't the end of the world. She has plenty of more years to make it up. Like another post said....life is to short and precious, if you want to go at that time then go for it school will still be there when you get back. For the driving part, we actually drove to Virginia last year from upstate NY the week before x-mas and it was snowing and sleeting and to be honest with you the highways are really taken care of with the salt and sanders and especially with all the cars on the road, it did not cause a problem at all. Unfortunately we drove down at that time of year b/c my parents were vacationing there and my mother (Thankfully is ok now) had a heart attack and was hospitalized. So going back to what i said earlier ...Life is to short so ENJOY every minute of it. Go when you want to go.

 

[Disney Spaz]

My family and I are driving down from MD and although there is sometimes snow usually the 95 corridor is pretty clear. If you can leave late at night and drive through the middle of the night. I know this sounds crazy but we do it every trip we drive and never have gotten stuck in traffic. and if you work it right you won't get off schedule. If your DD is in H.S. I would suggest you not pull her out. I am a teacher in MD and most of the schools around me have a zero tolerance policy on absentee's. In fact in my county if a student misses more then 9 days of high school without a egal absence from a doctor or a court that student is almost always denied credit despite their grades. Granted there are alwaysspecial cases btu I have never seen parents successfully appeal and succeed at getting credit when the absences are vacation related. That being said if it is an E.S. or M.S. I would keep trying as there is no lose of credit issues at these grade levels. Good Luck

 

[Alexsmommy]

Thank you all for all your responses!
I got some really good advice from everyone. I think I will get in touch with her principal this week about opt A and try pulling her out for 6 days, hopefully the teacher doesn't get upset with me for going over her head.
I agree, WDW is extremely educational, especially EPCOT!
If she absolutely gives me a hard time then it would be deciding to go in Dec with the crowds, although they don't bother me (I live in NYC lol) or pushing it back to February. I think she has only a week but that should be good enough.

Thank you all for everything and I will print this out and show it to my DH and go over it. I'll let you know!

Thanks again!!

Maria

 

[disneychrista]

How old is your DD? What grade is she is? How does she do in school? Is she struggling? These are all questions that you need to ask.

Now in my experience, I have found that if you DD is over grade 3 (meaning grade 4 & above) I would opt for not missing school, no matter how well she does. If she is struggling I would not miss regardless. I took my girls when they were in grades 4 & 6 and if did effect their schooling, even though they both were in the GIFTed program.

 

[wilso]

If you're concerned about whether your daughter can catch up or not, that's a reason to consider not pulling her out.

Otherwise, she is your daughter. You tell the school what she's going to be doing...not the other way around.

Let 'em frown.

 

[kaylajr]

Just my two cents worth here ...
so long as your DD isn't struggling inschool I say she's your DD so do what you thinkis tight we are taking our two DD"S 8 and 11 and our nephew 10 out of school the begining of Oct for a family vacation to WDW they will miss 6 days Thank fully both schools have been wonderful we however din't start with te teachers we spoke with the principal and then the teachers

also we drove from update NY in Feb one year the weather down was OK coming home we hit a snow storm kinda liek welcome home

i would probably stick with option A

JMTCW