For many families with kids, the start of the new school year doesn't mean the end of their vacation opportunities for the year, but the beginning. They have no problem pulling their children from class to go on a theme park vacation, whether it's just for the day or for an entire week. Sometimes, families have to do it because the school year is the only time that Mom or Dad can get time off their jobs. But other families make a more strategic choice and decide to vacation during the school year in the hope of finding smaller crowds at their destination.
In my Orange County Register column this week, I write about the decision whether or not to pull the kids from school to head to Disneyland. Ultimately, it's a parent's decision, but judging from the number of children I see in the park whenever I visit on a school year weekday, it's a decision to which many parents appear to be saying 'yes.'
FWIW, I never pulled my kids from school to go to a theme park, even though I cover parks for a living. That said, my kids' birthdays both fall during summer vacation, so that's never been an issue. (Especially for that one year when Disney admitted people for free on their birthdays - and children all over Southern California and Central Florida ditched class, which is one reason why we won't see that promotion return for a long, long time.) Thanks to my job, my children got more than their fill of theme parks during their vacations, so I think they would have seen another day at Disneyland as more an obligation that a treat. (First world problems, I know.)
So the lesson is... I'm a freak who is in no way representative of a "normal" parent. But what about the rest of you? What do you think about kids skipping school to visit the parks?
Support the writers of Theme Park Insider by becoming an Insider! We will thank you with some great benefits, including ad-free viewing on the website, early access to our weekly show, an "Insider" designation on your posts, and access to our real-time attraction rankings. Learn more.
Tweet
I'm disappointed so many people have said its appropriate to take their kids out of school any time they want for a trip to Disneyland. Trips to a theme park do not take precedence over a kids education.
My kids are 7 and 5, so missing some days of school after an extended weekend makes sense, since the discount is very big and they will not lose enough subject to make any difference in their learning process.
But here is the Problem - Your title say's “Disney” ... Can't it be Universal, SeaWorld, Bush Gardens, Discover Cove, Cedar Point…Just Saying…. (Got ya Robert).
Anyway we do every single year. In May when the Prices are cheaper and the Parks are less crowed. If a family is going to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation, why not go when the parks are less busy.
We went in April Once and the Hotels, rental cars and Airfare were all very high during school vacation.
Just think about how much a child will learn about travelling, hospitality even the engineering aspects of the rides. You can influence a child to think about the whole world and not just about their local community by travelling once a year. Plus, you get to interact with folks from all over the place.
But it may also depend on the student, of you have a child that is a ‘C’ student you have to give it more thought that a child that is in an ‘A’ or ‘B’ student…
209.64.115.161 - This is not skipping school or skipping a class, this is a planned family event.... And really, how much do you learn in a few days of skool? (oops looks like a lot)...
Looking back, my teacher was probably right. It messed up my entire life! I'm addicted to theme parks and often cannot concentrate on anything because of them. STAY IN SCHOOL KIDS!
And someone else commented about teachers preparing assignments is difficult. I teach high school and when kids leave for extended periods, if you are well organized, it's not a big deal.
Of course, your mileage may vary. A different family with different students and different teachers might not fare as well. It's up to parents to gauge their specific situation.
But I certainly would not dismiss the concept out of hand. Telling others to only vacation during the summer or other breaks is not a feasible solution for all families.
I think it's OK, but not to be overdone.
I think the tendency of parents to do this is an example of the continuing demise of appreciation for scholarship in the United States, with the exception of certain minority groups who value education and see it as crucial for future advancement.
20 or more years ago it was clear that placement in jobs and pay for work was going to be dependent upon one and only one thing: Education, and not just testing scores, but UNDERSTANDING. And, moreover, I'd say the key subjects are MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS, and SCIENCE.
Moreover, the idea of taking time off of school to go to WDW or anywhere sends a really bad signal to kids, that the parents just don't think school is that important.
So, I'd ask: If you knew that taking a child to WDW even once meant that there was as a consequence a 50% chance that their median annual earnings over their lives just dropped by $20k per year, would you still do it? I'm making those numbers up, of course, just to be specific. If your answer is yes, well, then, you have your answer. If it is "No", how much loss in earnings at 50% chance would you accept? $10000? $5000?
Wolf Wolf I see a wolf... Oh never mind - it was just a dog...
You cannot put a price tag on experience. Travel is an experience..
And, mind you, I think I have a little street creds on this. Proudly, I have one son who graduated from Harvard with a double degree in Physics and Maths, and a Master's in Applied Math (done in 4 years), and who is now head of Jane Street Capital's operations in London, at the age of 30. The other son has a doctorate in Maths from UC Berkley and is currently on dual post-docs paid for by the National Science Foundation.
@Timothy Hoster Epcot? Seriously? I'm a big Disney fan and DVC owner, and Epcot is my favorite place, but as an educational venue Epcot has seriously deteriorated over the decades. Why? Because people don't want to be educated: They want to be entertained and excited. Ergo, @Brian Emery, _that_, the lack of a sense of history (*The History of the Peloponnesian War*: http://classics.mit.edu/Thucydides/pelopwar.html), and no rhetorical skills is _why_ we have the unqualified Donald Trump in the running.
That being said I believe it is up to each family. You know your child best.
I think people overestimate the efficiency of schools.
Failing all that - Life is way too short to worry about a week of schooling when you could be eating German sausage, Japanese katsu or experience some of mankind's most amazing entertainment creations.
Go overseas, learn stuff about different cultures from the source, rather than the Disneyfied version. I love Disney and Universal parks, and they're great for a holiday, but you're missing so much more if that's what you always do.
Holidaying internationally on a budget isn't that hard, once you've passed the airfair hurdle, often the rest of the holiday can be remarkably cheap. And kids will get 5 times as much from a holiday to Europe, Asia or South America than they will to Disney, and they can even stop for a quick Disney or Universal (or Efteling) break on the way through.
By the way, what kind of work ethic are kids learning when you periodically yank them out of school to go on vacation?
The world needs well rounded children with many experiences. Theme Parks open a child mind to creativity. Life lessons are not learned form a book in a school.
106.69.89.46 – Great comment – “Personally, I believe the stimulation of neural activity and the relationship between vivacity and memory would mean the amount of information learned at school would pale in comparison to the amount of retained information from an exciting vacation”.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
