Have you ever taken your kids out of school to go to WDW?

[Sunshineglow68]

We took our DD(10) 5th grade, out of school two weeks ago to go to WDW. We had an awesome time and I don't regret a minute of it. She has made up all of her work and from what I can tell it didn't hurt her at all to miss that time (4 days). I am seriously cosidering booking another trip in 2 years but would prefer not to go during the summer or a holiday due to the crowds. I'd much rather go during the off season, Sept. or Oct. My dilemma is by then she will be in middle school and to I risk taking her out of school and her missing classes and possible getting behind?

 

[captainkidd]

I have and I would again. Teachers will say no, and I think it's so judgmental. If I had the amount of vacation time they had, I'd be free to go whenever I wanted as well.

 

[coleandrachel]

You only live once... As long as your DD made up the work then what's the big deal? They spend so much of their time at school anyways. Take your vacation whenever you want and make those memories

 

[chipndale76]

We're taking our kids out of school in November. They will miss 5 days. We have also taken them out many times in the past as well. On any given year they only miss somewhere between 5-8 days a year and that's including any "Disney" days as well. Our kids are 15, 12, and 3.

 

[JillC LI]

You're opening up a can of worms with this post, but I will say that we have done it many times and plan to do it again soon. When the kids were in elementary school, I had no qualms about pulling them out for a few days to a week. Now that DS is in 8th grade and DD is in 6th grade, though, there is more work to make up and not all tests are allowed to be made up, so we will only be pulling them out of school for 2 days on our upcoming holiday trip.

 

[Irie]

We took our DD(10) 5th grade, out of school two weeks ago to go to WDW. We had an awesome time and I don't regret a minute of it. She has made up all of her work and from what I can tell it didn't hurt her at all to miss that time (4 days). I am seriously cosidering booking another trip in 2 years but would prefer not to go during the summer or a holiday due to the crowds. I'd much rather go during the off season, Sept. or Oct. My dilemma is by then she will be in middle school and to I risk taking her out of school and her missing classes and possible getting behind?

Only you can answer that one. Ask some parents who have kids that go to that middle school to see how tough it would be to make up the work. I don't know what your school system policy is regarding make up work. Check into that as well. Personally, I wouldn't take them out of school for more than a day, but that is my preference. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer on this. Everyone's situation and beliefs are different.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[zurgandfriend]

That question is always a hot topic here. that said we did but not after 2nd grade as we felt he had too much work to make up when he got back. His grammar school always gave everyone a very hard time and sent a nasty letter home when they heard about a Disney trip during the school year stating that's what school vacations are for. I always replied with a letter stating that some of us don't get 15 weeks vacation a year.

 

[JIMINYCR]

When our son was in grammar school he always was an A student, so we took him out of school with the teachers understanding that he would take assignments with him to be completed. He was always able to keep up with his lessons and didnt fall behind the others in his class. My wife was able to make sure we took time out of the Disney day so things were completed every day. This worked well for us, but once he entered High School we didnt take him out of school and we didnt go to disney during those years... We had a hard enough time getting him to do anything because his focus had changed and he wasnt very enthused about doing his work. thankfully he did graduate in 4 years.

 

[MagicMike]

Did it. Will most likely do it again.

Communicate it with the teacher in advance. If you ask them for make up work before the trip, most will provide it. You can review, complete, and help your child feel like he or she didn't miss a beat. We bring the missed homework with us on the plane/car so that it can be completed during the travel downtime.

However, we typically only stay a week at a time and the kids are younger ages.

 

[wiigirl]

Yes...no regrets.

 

[luv]

Sure did. I don't care to run around outside during the Orlando summers.

Aside from mild amusement, I wouldn't actually care if the school sent home nasty notes, but they didn't. If the teachers didn't like it, they wisely kept that to themselves. But I doubt the teachers really care much about who is going on vacation when.

 

[MagicMegan]

My parents always took me out of school for trips and it was never a problem, I always got my work done and everything was fine. I think as long as you have them do their homework and go over stuff with them at times on the trip then it should be fine.

 

[miles1]

We did it when the kids were younger, like first or second grade. As my son got older he worried about missing school for that long; he hated to stay home even when he was sick. (This probably explains why he's on a free ride to the Univ. of Notre Dame). My daughter, on the other hand, would have her bag packed before I could finish the question about going.

In the end I think it depends on the individual kid. If they're doing well in school, are willing to make up the work, and aren't absent a lot for other reasons, I say go for it. Otherwise, I would think twice.

 

[mickeysbrother]

My parents always took me out of school for trips and it was never a problem, I always got my work done and everything was fine. I think as long as you have them do their homework and go over stuff with them at times on the trip then it should be fine.

Same here... Teachers gave me work on what was being teached that week. My mom or dad would help me along if i needed it.. It was always done on the 3 hour flight so no disney time was lost on BS... I mean important school work

 

[graphite1326]

We did it from the time my kids were in grade school all the way up until they graduated. Didn't hurt them a bit. We got with the teachers and got enough work ahead that they could work on it it the room an on the plane.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I haven't done it to my kids but I will once they are old enough. Our son is 18 months old, so no worries yet. When I was in school my parents took me out of school twice (1995 and 1997) and I was in high school both times. In Canada our version of spring break is always in March. We'd go two weeks at that time and have the first week off anyway and then miss one week of school. No big deal. Honestly, the way the public schools are going nowadays what are they going to miss? Nothing that will ruin them for life.

I survived missing a week of school every two years and still consider myself rather booksmart. Sadly, I underacheived as it was in high school and getting behind was normal as it was since I did the bare minimum I had to.

 

[IDreamOfDisney]

Yup. Almost everytime!!!!

 

[psukardi]

Parents took me out of school numerous times doing it. Their logic was, it's too hot in the middle of summer and it's full of tour groups. Plus why dictate your vacation around the school district? Nothing worse than going to the world in the middle of July when it's as hot as Vietnam , full of Brazilians and the queues are out the door.

Teachers never liked it - didn't want to give me my assignments in advance and the whole bit. Considering I'm a college graduate I'd say it didn't really impact my studies. And if I'm ever fortunate enough to be blessed with a kid or two, I'll do the same darn thing.

 

[tracyandalex]

I think it depends on the kid. My parents took me out of school for things and I made up all the work and was a great student. That might be more difficult for other kids though. We plan on taking our daughter out as long as she can handle it. I think if you let the teachers know in advance and get the work then it should be fine. let your kids dictate your decision.

 

[KCheatle]

When I was a kid I missed the last week of school every year from Kindergarten through 6th grade to go to Disney World. My daughter just started Kindergarten last year and we took her out for 5 days in early May to go. I plan to take her out again for a few days, possibly in February. Although, I try to line up our trips with days she has off. THe problem is that the times she typically ahs off are also the times that other schools have off and so it ends up being total chaos there. I'd rather have an enjoyable vacation. Plus, she's only 7. Yes, she has homework occasionally and a spelling test every week, but I dont' think the work is crucial enough that if she missed a week she'd be way behind. I've also been blessed with a very intelligent daughter, so it's pretty easy for her to get right back on track. If we go in February, I'm going to ask her teacher to give her her assignments beforehand so that she doesn't get slammed when she returns.