Disney in the Off-Season

Less Crowds, More Time for Fun

By Sandra Timmons

Honestly, though, by 8:00 p.m. our entire family was completely worn out. The kids were falling asleep at the Main Street Parade. We wouldn't have stayed any longer even if we could have.

Missing school is perhaps the biggest con to vacationing in the off-season. Only parents can evaluate whether or not they think their children can handle missing school and catching up when they return. Talk to teachers beforehand and see what work you can take along.

My child was in kindergarten at the time of our trip, and missing school was not extremely detrimental for him. I made him a workbook that we took with us and worked on whenever time permitted. He had to draw pictures of relatives, wildlife he saw on the drive and write simple sentences of what his days entailed. He enjoyed sending his class postcards from his journey and seeing them on the wall when he returned.

Vacationing in the off-season may be a plus for your employer. Many employees want to take vacation time during the summer and vie for days with fellow workers. Often seniority rules and you may not get the perfect week you desire. In the off-season, you can often leave your office without putting anyone in a bind or leaving your employer short-handed.

There are many things to consider when vacationing in the off-season, but I encourage you to give it a try. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you find!

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