Graduation trip - planning for 2018

[sydney]

So I know it's a long way off, but I want to plan a graduation celebration trip for Jared. We did Taylor's graduation trip the fall before he graduated in 2013 and stayed at AKL and he missed four days of school. For Jared's trip I want to avoid taking him out of school his senior year since he will most likely be taking college dual credit classes like his brother for English and math or govt./econ., but he may be also taking dual credit classes for culinary school. Taylor was able to do make up work ahead of time for his classes that year but that may not be possible for Jared. I'm thinking possible Aug. before his freshman fall semester starts. We have never been in the summer mainly because I always said we'd hate to go when it's busy and hot.

So for those that have been in early to mid Aug.- how bad are the crowds? According to resort pricing the first few weeks of Aug. are Value and Value 2. The heat and humidity can't be much worse than here in the Charleston area. It would give us the chance to finally do a water park day (as long as no one breaks any bones!) and we could do mid day breaks as well and enjoy the resort pool. I would book Wilderness Lodge since I know the boys want to stay there and I'd do a woods view.

Since this is over two years away I know a lot could happen by then. Taylor will hopefully still be stationed in Florida so it will be an easy drive for him to meet us. His girlfriend will be graduating college the same year- and who knows, they may be engaged by then! If she ended up joining us on the trip (she's a Disney freak too) we may do two rooms or a suite, and Jared may want to bring a friend as well.

I'm thinking driving down on a Sat. getting to WL in the afternoon and having a nice dinner that evening. Then two park days, a down day, two more park days, a water park day in between two of the park days, then driving back on Sat. and having a day to recover at home Sun. Hopefully they are still offering the four day military salute tickets and the military room discount. Otherwise I'd try to get a package deal or maybe free dining (though after last trip I'd prefer to pay oop for food).

Any feedback from anyone?

[Dave]

The only time we've been in mid-August was many years ago when we took our grandchildren. We stayed at the Contemporary resort and headed back to the room and pool every afternoon. The weather was hot, muggy and rainy (we live in Florida so we're sort of used to it. Be sure to take your ponchos). The crowds weren't too bad. I guess it was because everyone was getting ready to go back to school. The kids didn't want to go to the water parks, so we used the pool at the resort. The "down days" is a really good idea.

In my opinion there is never a bad time to go to Disney World. I don't mind sweating, getting rained on or standing in lines. It's all part of the experience.

[ilovdisney]

Last time I went in Aug. I said never again. Used too NC best and humidity but nothing prepared me for that. It was the end of Aug so that may have had dome thing too do with it.. If you go take a break in the middle of the day.

[sydney]

Yea, I was thinking the mid-day break would be a must. It's also something we have never done, even when the boys were little, so it would give us more time to enjoy the resort as well. Plus since we've been so much we wouldn't feel the need to do everything, just our favs and the new things at each park.

Jared just informed me that their band may be going next April! I am so there as a chaperone! I asked Ron if we could go and he said he may not be able to get off work, but I should go. Taylor even said he'd volunteer to chaperone- any excuse for him!

[ilovdisney]

I'm with you I would so volunteer to be a chaperone. When my kids were little we never took the mid day break. Learned to really like it though. Thought we would nap but the pools just kept calling our name. Felt good.