Disney in term time

[beansontoastfortea]

After 12 years with no holiday we are finally in a position to be able to take our 3 DC 12 10 and 6 to Disney World.

We would like to go in November as the weather will be tolerable and the parks won't be so busy then, not to mention the cost is a good few grands cheaper.

My kids have close to 100%, if not 100% attendance at school every year and I'm prepared for the inevitable fine but am I exposing myself to any other risks or detriment of them in any way removing them from school for 2 weeks late November.

What would you do?

*detriment TO them

I'd do it as a one off.

I took mine out twice for Disney once just after mil died we got permission for our holiday second time was week before end of term wgich was unauthorised do what you want but I don't think trying to justify 100% attendance will go in your favour.

I'd do it as a one off.

But a word of warning - thanksgiving week is one of the busiest of the whole year at Disney. The last week of Nov and first week of Dec is a much better bet for the parks being quiet.

What sort of risks? I am a teacher on maternity leave and I am taking my DS on a term time holiday this year. I only wouldn't do it from Y9 and above due to GCSEs

Personally I think I'd do it for one week, but two seems quite a long time. It is of course up to you though!

Dds are adults I don't think a fortnight in Florida was a detriment they go to work never skive etc etc

I'm worried I'll be taken to court I guess. dd 10 would be beginning year 6 in September.. she's a good student though I'm pretty sure there isn't anything there she couldn't catch up on.

Who is going to help her catch up OP?

Wel I would do all I could

2 weeks seems a long time to me. Could you not do half term end of Oct and a week after?

Y6 is the worst year to take them out. Schools get hysterical over SATs and it's a really busy term. Presumably your 12 yo will be in Y8?

You didn't react to Ginas very valid comment about how busy the parks will be Thanksgiving week. Advice from TouringPlans below:

Jersey Week
WHEN/WHAT IS IT? 1ST OR 2ND WEEK OF NOVEMBER NEW JERSEY STATE SCHOOLS OFF THURSDAY & FRIDAY
Impact on wait times Waits are double the norm for that season
Impact on the park(s)/resort Though schools are off Thursday and Friday, many Jersey visitors start arriving the previous Saturday and Sunday
Tips & Tricks Touring plans are suggested. The impact of Jersey Week usually fades the following Tuesday
Veterans Day
WHEN IS IT? NOVEMBER 11
Impact on wait times Modest increase in waits, more significant increase if it overlaps with Jersey Week
Impact on the park(s)/resort Bump in attendance but still relatively low crowds unless it coincides with Jersey Week
Tips & Tricks Touring plans are suggested especially if Veteran's Day and Jersey Week overlap
Thanksgiving Day
WHEN IS IT? FOURTH THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER
Impact on wait times Extremely long lines everywhere
Impact on the park(s)/resort Third busiest week of the year behind Christmas and Easter. Parks, hotels, buses and parking lots overflow with guests
Tips & Tricks Touring plans are mandatory. Arrive early, follow them strictly and check Lines for updates. Crowds start building the preceding weekend and last until the following Tuesday. The further away from Thanksgiving Day, the lower the crowds

I’ve taken my kids out every year for Disney prettt much. They’ll be fine.

I'd just go. Missing a couple of weeks as a one off in non exam years will be fine ime.

Just don't ask the teacher to set work - it that you'd have time on a Disney break! We have enough to do without it.

Take into account the school fines and add it to your holiday cost. Avoid thanksgiving weekend. It'll be busy.

If you've never been before you need a fortnight. We do go for a week these days but we've been many times and we are happy to do 6 full days of a different theme park each day. It's financially better to go for a fortnight than a week too as many of the tickets are for the liger duration, or the same price for 2 weeks than 1.

If planning to stay at a hotel check out the dining plan, it's free at the moment again.

If they miss 2 weeks at the end of November, they will miss out on good parts in schools plays/concerts etc. This may or may not be a big deal for them.
Presuming the younger 2 are in Y2 and Y6, these are SATs years. The school is unlikely to be happy.
Why not tag a week onto October half term as a PP suggested?

Presuming the younger 2 are in Y2 and Y6, these are SATs years. The school is unlikely to be happy.

Depends on the school and how obsessed they are with getting kids through them. We have children miss time in year 2 (only infants so no y6) and it's never an issue. We don't see SATs in year 2 as being anything to fuss over and treat them very lightly on the whole. Certainly we aren't making a fuss over them in November!

Yes for y6 some schools can be daft over SATs. But that wouldn't prevent me from allowing my child to miss a couple of weeks.

I agree re the primary school plays, if the school does them in that year group - let school know so they don't give your child a big part where it'll be an issue to miss rehearsals.

Presuming the younger 2 are in Y2 and Y6, these are SATs years. The school is unlikely to be happy.

Depends on the school and how obsessed they are with getting kids through them. We have children miss time in year 2 (only infants so no y6) and it's never an issue. We don't see SATs in year 2 as being anything to fuss over and treat them very lightly on the whole. Certainly we aren't making a fuss over them in November!

Yes for y6 some schools can be daft over SATs. But that wouldn't prevent me from allowing my child to miss a couple of weeks.

I agree re the primary school plays, if the school does them in that year group - let school know so they don't give your child a big part where it'll be an issue to miss rehearsals.

I would for a week in primary, I wouldn't take out of secondary. I wouldn't for two weeks at all.

I wouldn’t do it, your children will miss so much work. If they are being taught a new concept but have missed the beginning who will then catch them up? I know u mentioned that you would do what you can but who is going to prepare that work for you? That’s an additional workload for teachers. Your daughter is a good student, how will she feel slotting back in after 2 weeks off when the rest of the class know what is going on and she doesn’t? I can’t imagine it would be good for her confidence.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I may try and stagger it over a holiday and a week in term time so dd doesn't miss much of school.

I really don't think there is ever a quiet time there now. Just plan well and it will be fine.

I would do it without a second thought

You might be issued with a fine - £60 per working parent per child (I believe). Still cheaper than going in school holidays!

All they can do is fine you

I’d do take them out. Life’s too short.