******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[maybethisyear]

Which is likely the least busy December time frame? I was totally out for this go around, but am reconsidering. We had to cancel last year after the plane tickets pushed us out.

 

[disorganizedchaos]

Actually, parents cant just say what is or isnt an excused absence. Longer absences need to be excused by a doctors note only in many states per the law. Rather than thinking that your childs principal is being unkind she likely has no choice. We all have boxes the check and rules to follow at our jobs. There are also many state mandates regarding the schools role and responsibility and even liability in maintaining attendance so many attendance offices must send out letters or other communications as a matter of course so that no one can accuse them of not doing there job and allowing educational neglect-an actual thing-to happen while they stand by and make no effort to help families struggling with issues that prevent attendance. I know in California at a school not to far from where I live there was a school that was sued for several million dollars for not doing much to follow up on a student with long term absences who turned out to be being abused and neglected and the courts ruled that the school had more responsibility to check on an absent students welfare. since that my school has to send out all kinds of absence notices and set up full fledged attendance plans with families whose students have missed school who we have no doubt are not being abused.

So rather than assuming the teacher, principals, and the like are all judgmental jerks with attitudes who dont value your child, your family or your vacation it might be helpful to see them simply as well meaning people who are just doing their jobs because they care and because some bureaucrat makes up a lot of rules for them that they are stuck following even when it doesnt make sense. If you think its dumb write your legislator-he is the one making the rules that bug you.

I feel like there is no profession that gets more judgement than teachers.

Really? I can think of quite a few, law enforcement, for example. I am a parent and I have my children's best interest in mind always. My point was merely to side with the OP in saying the world certainly will not end over a few days in disney.

 

[Confederate Scott]

Really? I can think of quite a few, law enforcement, for example. I am a parent and I have my children's best interest in mind always. My point was merely to side with the OP in saying the world certainly will not end over a few days in disney.

Completely agree regarding law enforcement. Also that as a parent we have the best interest of our children in mind always.

 

[pooch]

Of course as I try to work the plan in my head, the 3 TS meals I have planned will cost $750+. At $21 per adult & $4 per child (is that right?) to upgrade - 5 x 21 x 4 = $420 plus 3 x 4 x 4 = $48 so $468 gives us the same # of CS, 64 SC, 8 resort mugs & 4 TS each. Am I missing something?? I had this all figured out now I think maybe I don't. HELP!!!!

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Oh, and to fill in the gaps in the above scenario, we will be 5 adults & 3 kids in 2 rooms at CSR 11/14- 11/18 (assuming FD drops for 11/14.) We are coming down 11/11 and either getting room only or staying at Universal the first 3 nights

I think it's a great idea to try for free dining on one room and a room discount on the other. I would probably go the same route if we were still in two rooms at a mod. If it's not enough food, you can always buy another meal or two to split and pay out of pocket. The room discount for the second room will probably more than cover any of your oop meals and snacks, especially if you aren't all big eaters. You also shouldn't have to deal with much wasted food/drinks from there being too much.

 

[Disneylover99]

Of course as I try to work the plan in my head, the 3 TS meals I have planned will cost $750+. At $21 per adult & $4 per child (is that right?) to upgrade - 5 x 21 x 4 = $420 plus 3 x 4 x 4 = $48 so $468 gives us the same # of CS, 64 SC, 8 resort mugs & 4 TS each. Am I missing something?? I had this all figured out now I think maybe I don't. HELP!!!!

So are you going to get one room and upgrade to TS and still just do a room discount? That would work too.

 

[black562]

Are ya'll still here?

 

[Confederate Scott]

Are ya'll still here?

This thread has been so quiet. lol

 

[maybethisyear]

Are ya'll still here?

Of course we are. Are you?

 

[Disneylover99]

Are ya'll still here?

Can't you hear us?

 

[Ybeads]

Actually, parents cant just say what is or isnt an excused absence. Longer absences need to be excused by a doctors note only in many states per the law. Rather than thinking that your childs principal is being unkind she likely has no choice. We all have boxes the check and rules to follow at our jobs. There are also many state mandates regarding the schools role and responsibility and even liability in maintaining attendance so many attendance offices must send out letters or other communications as a matter of course so that no one can accuse them of not doing there job and allowing educational neglect-an actual thing-to happen while they stand by and make no effort to help families struggling with issues that prevent attendance. I know in California at a school not to far from where I live there was a school that was sued for several million dollars for not doing much to follow up on a student with long term absences who turned out to be being abused and neglected and the courts ruled that the school had more responsibility to check on an absent students welfare. since that my school has to send out all kinds of absence notices and set up full fledged attendance plans with families whose students have missed school who we have no doubt are not being abused.

So rather than assuming the teacher, principals, and the like are all judgmental jerks with attitudes who dont value your child, your family or your vacation it might be helpful to see them simply as well meaning people who are just doing their jobs because they care and because some bureaucrat makes up a lot of rules for them that they are stuck following even when it doesnt make sense. If you think its dumb write your legislator-he is the one making the rules that bug you.

I feel like there is no profession that gets more judgement than teachers.

I could not agree more with the bolded statement. As a parent and teacher, I see both side very clearly. I do take my kids out of school for 4-5 days for WDW, but I start the discussion with the teachers and principal in the beginning of the school year. We do all the work necessary before we leave, the kids journal their entire trip and then usually write a report about their trip upon their return, and I also write a detailed letter to the principal explaining why we are going, the educational aspects, etc. Communication is important and I totally agree with you.... the teachers and principals are following the laws imposed on them. It sucks to get yelled at for simply doing the job you were hired to do

 

[Kindermouse]

Really? I can think of quite a few, law enforcement, for example. I am a parent and I have my children's best interest in mind always. My point was merely to side with the OP in saying the world certainly will not end over a few days in disney.

OK youre right there are plenty of other jobs getting unnecessary judgment. My point was just that the school may not be out to be jerks-they have to make those calls and inquiries about unexcused absences. They are just doing what they are told to do and it isnt within there control. No one is questioning that you as the parent has your childs best interests at heart-they are just checking the boxes and following the rules rather than intentional unkindness or the sending of "nasty grams". Some of the hard feeling can be taken out of the equation.

 

[black562]

Can't you hear us?

Well you have dropped nearly 100 pages since my last post.

 

[Confederate Scott]

I could not agree more with the bolded statement. As a parent and teacher, I see both side very clearly. I do take my kids out of school for 4-5 days for WDW, but I start the discussion with the teachers and principal in the beginning of the school year. We do all the work necessary before we leave, the kids journal their entire trip and then usually write a report about their trip upon their return, and I also write a detailed letter to the principal explaining why we are going, the educational aspects, etc. Communication is important and I totally agree with you.... the teachers and principals are following the laws imposed on them. It sucks to get yelled at for simply doing the job you were hired to do

I could not agree more with the bolded statement. As a parent and teacher, I see both side very clearly. I do take my kids out of school for 4-5 days for WDW, but I start the discussion with the teachers and principal in the beginning of the school year. We do all the work necessary before we leave, the kids journal their entire trip and then usually write a report about their trip upon their return, and I also write a detailed letter to the principal explaining why we are going, the educational aspects, etc. Communication is important and I totally agree with you.... the teachers and principals are following the laws imposed on them. It sucks to get yelled at for simply doing the job you were hired to do

I don't think anyone meant any disrespect towards teachers and principals. I think most were merely saying that as parents we have the right to take our children out of school for vacation. I think all vacations can be educational.

I think schools are somewhat inconsistent though as often you see the sports teams, bands etc take time away from school and these aren't ever questioned. Not all of them are educational. How many bands go to Disney annually?

 

[pooch]

And we are waiting desperately for your next pronouncement!

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Of course as I try to work the plan in my head, the 3 TS meals I have planned will cost $750+. At $21 per adult & $4 per child (is that right?) to upgrade - 5 x 21 x 4 = $420 plus 3 x 4 x 4 = $48 so $468 gives us the same # of CS, 64 SC, 8 resort mugs & 4 TS each. Am I missing something?? I had this all figured out now I think maybe I don't. HELP!!!!

Your numbers look right to me. Another option to consider though is to still do room discount on one room and free dining on the other and upgrade to regular DDP. If you put 4 adults in free dining room and 1 adult and 3 kids in the other (just for reservation purposes), you would be paying 4 x 21 x 4= $336 and you would have 16 qs, 32 snacks, and 16 adult TS. You said you have 3 adrs so that would cover all of the adult's meals and you would have 1 left over. 2 kids could maybe split that remaining adult credit and you could pay for any other needed kids meals at table service out of pocket. This may or may not be a better idea depending on which restaurants you have booked (buffets or similar where you have to pay for each person) and the cost of kids meals.

Edited to add that you would still ha r the room discount for the second room in this scenario so the $200ish you would save with that would probably cover the kids meals that aren't covered under the first room's dining plan.

 

[Disneylover99]

Well you have dropped nearly 100 pages since my last post.

That's it? It feels like a million! And we're just talking in circles mostly.

 

[Katmat75]

Are ya'll still here?[/QU

This is all of us going crazy!

 

[cshell624]

Well you have dropped nearly 100 pages since my last post.

Looks like you've got some catching up to do.

 

[drock309]

I could not agree more with the bolded statement. As a parent and teacher, I see both side very clearly. I do take my kids out of school for 4-5 days for WDW, but I start the discussion with the teachers and principal in the beginning of the school year. We do all the work necessary before we leave, the kids journal their entire trip and then usually write a report about their trip upon their return, and I also write a detailed letter to the principal explaining why we are going, the educational aspects, etc. Communication is important and I totally agree with you.... the teachers and principals are following the laws imposed on them. It sucks to get yelled at for simply doing the job you were hired to do

While I understand the parent's point of view wanting to take their kids out for family vacation, you have to obey the laws/rules or suffer the consequences, pretty straight forward.

But seriously, i need some free dining