School schedule and going to Disney

DS turns 3 next April and I really want to take him to Disney again before then, while he's still free. (It would be our second trip; the first was when he was too young to really know what was going on.)

I'm a teacher and have to stick to the school schedule. If you're in the same boat, how do you cope with the restrictions? I feel like the only options are melting in the summer heat or paying astronomical prices during school breaks.

I know a lot of people just take their kids out of school but that is not really an option for me as a teacher. I am thinking the most I could take off is one day.

I was looking at maybe a long weekend in October (I would like to go during Food and Wine.) But even Columbus Day is $$$ to fly.

So what does everybody do? Drive? Melt in the summer? S*ck it up and take a second mortgage on their house?

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

Jenn, I feel for you.

Most of our teacher clients look for times they're off that the rest of the world isn't (like GA's fall break or Jersey week) or rely on our itinerary planning to make sure they get the best vacation out of a regular school break like spring break or over Christmas.

Summer vacation temps and crowds can be managed with getting to the parks when they open, taking advantage of air conditioned attractions and restaurants, going back to your resort room midday for a swim/nap/shower, and then heading back to the parks after the sun goes down.

Let me know if I can help you!
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008

Did you book your vacation through Disney and now you’re overwhelmed? We can help!

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

I cant speak specifically for Disney but when I went on my honeymoon I took a week unpaid leave so I could go to Aruba in November and I use 4 sick days to go to Colorado for my BIL's Air Force graduation ceremony.

When I want to go somewhere, I go but there's always a price to pay- sick days, no pay OR higher travel $ or crowds.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

A friend of mine who is a teacher went on April break. She took 1 day off before break and drove down with her 2 DC. They stayed off site (not disney property) and loved it!

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

If I were in that boat I would go for the last 2 weeks of August. The downside is that it's VERY hot, but is better, to me, than having large crowds. My 2nd choices would be Columbus day weekend, or veteran's day, if you can swing the day off, or maybe Feb break.

In reality, with a good plan you can make ANY time work. Of course it's ideal if you can take off any time, but I have been there in the summer heat, on level 10 crowded days, and knowing what you're doing (getting up early, having a good plan, taking nap/swim breaks in the heat of the day), can make any vacation awesome. I have literally walked on rides on the top 10% of crowded days of the year. Whatever your constraints are, you can make it work.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

Thank you all!

For those of you who suggested Feb break, I would LOVE to do that but the airfare is outrageous. I'm talking well over $600 a person for the logical days.

I am just trying to figure out how to do it without driving, sweltering in the heat, or paying a bazillion dollars.

I will keep checking airfare for October.

I was also thinking about trying an alternative airport - maybe it's cheaper to fly into say Tampa?

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

I would pay the high prices and go during nice weather. That is what we will be doing once our kids are in school.

We just got back from DW and it was high 80's. It was already hot. I can't imagine going in the summer. I would melt and not have a good time.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

We're going in October 2012. Our rate on Delta just dropped to $200 RT pp, provided we fly out of LGA.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

I vote for taking an extra day off and going during an extended weekend break.

I went in the summer a few years ago and it was brutal! We had to stay in the shades most of the day 'cus the sun was so unbearable. And I'm usually tolerant of hot weather too!

And if the hot weather doesn't get you, the long wait in lines and high prices will...

If you can't swing October, there's always Spring break next year.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

We went at the end of August one year, and are going again this year, and there are virtually no lines! The weather is hot, but it's bearable since many attractions have A/C. The prices are also cheaper at the mid to end of August than the rest of the Summer.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

As a teacher, I feel your pain. My DH is a teacher as well. We plan on driving down and melting sometime this summer or next. We figure we can stop as much as we want and come and go as we please with the car. Plus, we can stuff it full of crap that I couldn't take on a plane.

I'm hoping DH makes up his mind ASAP. We went from going to not going to going again. Then he says while we are down there maybe do a three-four day cruise with them. He's nuts.

ETA: We went April break three years ago when DS was 3, but it was nuts. MK was FULL by 11am. We would never do it that time again unless the kids were old enough to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours until midnight or later.

Message edited 5/16/2012 10:31:13 AM.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

i feel you!! I'm in the same boat!
I would look for a long weekend that we have off that the rest of the world doesn't you could then just take a day off before or after that and go for a long weekend (which is plenty. I went for a 4 day weekend last year and got to see everything I wanted to)
I'm lucky that i work in NJ. In november, we have a long weekend for the NJ Teacher's convention ( which we're not required to go to). so thats when I usually go- I just call in sick the day before or after to get an extra day out of it LOL
not sure if NY has anything like that...

I have friends who go all the time like the last week of august. they say its amazing and you can just walk right on the rides. definitely HOT... but i think I would rather be hot than dealing with crowds! (you can always do inside stuff to cool down in the middle of the day)

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

Teacher here and I'm looking to go in Sept over the Jewish holidays (we have a four day weekend). Many teachers I work with go over Feb or Easter breaks, but the cost is very high.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

Thanks again everyone!

It sounds like the answers vary although lean towards going in the heat.

Lots of thinking and planning to do!

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

My cousin goes the last week in August every year. She says there is one day where the heat gets to her, but other than that they all adjust.

My sister is trying this year at that time as well. I'm definitely not ready to try, but we're not huge disney people

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

I am almost laughing at what I wrote.

We just got back from Dutch Wonderland.

We had a lovely time (review in another post) but the heat KILLED me.

I have never had a high tolerance for heat so I knew going in that would be a challenge. However, it was worse than I thought. I am sure hell is not as hot as it was in Lancaster. I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel for the midday nap.

I could NEVER go to Disney in the summer. I would DIE.

I will either do a long weekend during off peak winter times or pay jetblue $874,623 to go Feb break.

Another poster recently posted about a local trip causing her to rethink Disney plans. Live and learn.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

Posted by JennP

I am almost laughing at what I wrote.

We just got back from Dutch Wonderland.

We had a lovely time (review in another post) but the heat KILLED me.

I have never had a high tolerance for heat so I knew going in that would be a challenge. However, it was worse than I thought. I am sure hell is not as hot as it was in Lancaster. I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel for the midday nap.

I could NEVER go to Disney in the summer. I would DIE.

I will either do a long weekend during off peak winter times or pay jetblue $874,623 to go Feb break.

Another poster recently posted about a local trip causing her to rethink Disney plans. Live and learn.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

I could be wrong about this (this is coming from my friend's father who moved down to florida), but florida doesn't have as bad of summers as NY. Like it rarely gets over 90. Yes it is humid though.

Lancaster must have been close to 100 last week.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

We don't want to pull DD from school so we have a similar situation. I also would like a nicer trip for my money. The prices for school breaks are high and the parks sometimes close to capacity if you are off site you might get closed out. We are considering going the week before labor day next year. Cheaper rates, some resorts get 30% off room rate or free dining which is a nice deal. I think the school breaks often fall under holiday rates and discount blackout dates. Yes temps are hot mid 90s - but we went Sept one year and it was low 90s and managable. We have friends who go that week and love it. They take afternoon breaks which we would do anyway. Remember in WDWunlike most other parks many rides are indoors and lines are air conditioned and lots of shows. Many people have mister fans. I don't do well in heat either so I understand. But I think it was several hundred to a thousand more to go holiday weeks and lines are ridiculous. So it is a trade off.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

if you book as soon as jetblue released the fares for Feb break, you might not be in as bad shape as you think. They usually have x seats and 1 price, then the price bumps up for the next y seats. If you can plan in the future and book right away, it doesn't have to be so bad

School schedule and going to Disney

My sister is a teacher And we all went to Disney this past January. We did Martin luther weekend And she took one additionally day. Weather ranged from 50s in the morning to 80s in the afternoon. Hardly any lines.

Re: School schedule and going to Disney

I am a teacher and taking an extra day is just not an option for me - I don't want to be looked negatively on (and I will - my district doesn't look kindly on even taking a friday off) in light of APPR coming up. While I am not going to disney because I can't afford it, I am flying to florida for the first time in December. My father literally stalked the airfare and the minute a good deal came up, we all booked. The next day, it was sold out. If you know when you want to go, I would plan far in advance and then watch the airfare every single day. When there is a good deal, book it - because it is not there for long.