Planning the perfect family vacation has enough stress, dealing with the hassle of school absence excuses shouldn’t be one of them. We here at Disney Addicts know just how important your Disney vacation is to you and want to help you enjoy every minute of it. More and more, school districts are becoming sticklers for travel being educational in order to be excused. Sadly, this means many people put off their Disney vacations until the Christmas, Spring or Summer breaks to avoid unexcused absences but that is when the parks are most busy and if avoiding the crowds are important to you then you may want to consider taking the kids out of school. Disney Addict that you are, you know that a Disney vacation is truly an educational experience. Putting that into words to convince the school principal, however, can seem like a daunting task. That’s why we’ve compiled template letters for you, taking the worry out of the equation completely! We invite you to copy and paste and fill in details specific to your family’s next journey.
Walt Disney World Resort:
(Not much will need to be altered since WDW is a pretty static destination, however, if you are doing any special tours or events, you’ll want to include those)
Letter Template:
Dear Mr./Mrs. (School Principals Name)
My son/daughter (your child’s name) will be absent from (schools name) between (vacation dates) for an educational family trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida.
Please know that I hold my child’s education in the highest regard and take my child’s well being very seriously. The decision to make this trip during the school year was not one that was made lightly. I have planned a careful itinerary that will be both enriching and enlightening for (your child’s name). Every facet of the trip will bring an experience that will further his/her education and personal development.
On (insert date) we will be visiting the Magic Kingdom. We believe that play is the work of childhood and while at the Magic Kingdom (your child’s name) will have the opportunity to visit a world of fantasy and expand their mind beyond the tactile and finite, to foster creative thinking- a crucial skill in problem-solving. This will also be a day of exploring endless possibilities and seeing dreams become reality- after which, filled with new confidence from the day we will tie the experience into a discussion about their own personal dreams and aspirations and discuss ways in which they may be able to pursue those dreams.
On (insert date) we will visit EPCOT. The well of knowledge to be gleaned here is nearly endless. We have planned a day that will immerse (your child’s name) in various science and multicultural activities. In Future World we will explore the ocean and marine life- (optional educational opportunity you can add to this letter if you choose to participate: we will even attend a question and answer session with marine biologists and will have a list of questions prepared). We will also explore the history of communication and why it is vital to society, space exploration and sustainable farming. In the World Showcase, we will meet with and ask questions to representatives from Eleven (11) different countries spanning 4 continents in an immersive setting that will allow our child to not only hear but see what life is like in each locale. We will sample international cuisines and explore the various ways that ours are both alike and different. This will empower them to be a truly global citizen which, we are sure you’ll agree, will be a boon to them in future endeavors.
On (insert date) we will be visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There we will immerse ourselves in creative worlds built around some of his/her favorite movies giving (your child’s name) the opportunity to test the limits of his/her imagination and think about the world in ways he/she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to here at home. “What if” will be the theme of the day which we hope will spark a passion for innovation and ingenuity.
On (Insert date) we will visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Here we will discover animal care and botany. We will go on a Safari and there (your child’s name) will have the ability to observe the animals of Africa up close and personally, in an environment very similar to their natural habitat. This is a valuable experience he/she could not obtain from books, documentaries or even the local zoo. We will have the ability to talk with various animal experts and learn about their habits, habitats and the care required for each. We will also learn about conservation and why it is important to be good stewards to the Earth.
During the course of our trip, he/she will also be able to relax and unwind. In a world where more and more responsibilities are put on children at increasingly younger ages, I am sure you’ll agree that caring for their mental health is vital to educational success.
Thank you for your time and careful consideration of this matter,
(Your Name)
Disney Cruise Line:
(Youll want to do a bit of research on your ports of call. Since each itinerary is different you’ll need to tailor it to your specific sailing. For example, on our last cruise, we visited Chichen Itza- one of the seven wonders of the world. I would discuss the historical significance of the site and benefits to a first-hand visit).
Letter template:
Dear Mr./Mrs. (School Principals Name)
My son/daughter (your child’s name) will be absent from (schools name) between (vacation dates) for an educational family trip on (Insert a cruise ship) sailing from (insert cruise port).
Please know that I hold my child’s education in the highest regard and take my child’s well being very seriously. The decision to make this trip during the school year was not one that was made lightly. I have planned a careful itinerary that will be both enriching and enlightening for (your child’s name). Every facet of the trip will bring an experience that will further his/her education and personal development.
We will be making several stops at enriching ports of call. Here (your child’s name) will have the opportunity to experience history in a hands-on setting that will give them a more in-depth understanding than they could glean in a classroom setting. We will be visiting (insert port of call) and while there plan to see (insert point of interest). This will be both an unforgettable and valuable learning experience for (your child’s name). Of the many enriching experiences, he/she will have, (insert historical or educational benefit to the above-mentioned point of interest) is one of the most valuable. These excursions will provide lessons that will be of lifelong benefit. Additionally, travel outside of one’s home country allows for a greater worldview and will enable (your child’s name) to be a more empathetic global citizen. I firmly believe that learning by doing is important and will be making every effort to point out teachable moments as they happen.
While at sea, we will engage in many enriching activities. We plan to bring several educational books including (insert age/reading level appropriate book) and will spend (insert however long you’re willing to devote to reading) reading and discussing what he/she has read. As I am sure you are aware, cruise ships employ people from all over the world. While on the ship we will engage with and be inquisitive about each cast members country of origin which will also help expand (your child’s name)’s worldview.
During the course of our trip, he/she will also be able to relax and unwind. In a world where more and more responsibilities are put on children at increasingly younger ages, I am sure you’ll agree that caring for their mental health is vital to educational success.
Thank you for your time and careful consideration of this matter,
(Your Name)
Disneyland:
(This one will read much the same as the WDW sections for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. However, if you plan to visit any other locations while on your trip, you’ll want to be sure to include those.)
Letter Template:
Dear Mr./Mrs. (School Principals Name)
My son/daughter (your child’s name) will be absent from (schools name) between (vacation dates) for an educational family trip to Disneyland in Anaheim California.
Please know that we hold our child’s education in the highest regard and take our child’s well being very seriously. The decision to make this trip during the school year was not one that was made lightly. We have planned a careful itinerary that will be both enriching and enlightening for (your child’s name). Every facet of the trip will bring an experience that will further his/her education and personal development.
On (insert date) we will be visiting the Magic Kingdom. We believe that play is the work of childhood and while at Disneyland (your child’s name) will have the opportunity to visit a world of fantasy and expand their mind beyond the tactile and finite, to foster creative thinking- a crucial skill in problem-solving. There we will immerse ourselves in creative worlds built around some of his/her favorite movies giving (your child’s name) the opportunity to test the limits of his/her imagination and think about the world in ways he/she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to here at home. “What if” will be the theme of the day which we hope will spark a passion for innovation and ingenuity.
This will also be a day of exploring endless possibilities and seeing dreams become reality- after which, filled with new confidence from the day we will tie the experience into a discussion about their own personal dreams and aspirations and discuss ways in which they may be able to pursue those dreams.
Along that same vein, while there we will also discuss Walt Disney and how from humble beginnings he was able to achieve so much. We will discuss failure and how perseverance despite all odds can lead to unimaginable triumph. While this is a lesson that can be taught in many places, I believe Disneyland where (your child’s name) can look around and see for him/her self just what can come of perseverance is the ideal location for such a lesson.
During the course of our trip, he/she will also be able to relax and unwind. In a world where more and more responsibilities are put on children at increasingly younger ages, I am sure you’ll agree that caring for their mental health is vital to educational success.
Thank you for your time and careful consideration of this matter,
(Your Name)
If you are ready to book a magical getaway for your family, contact me today at Jill@pixiedusteddreams.com and let me help you plan the perfect family vacation. My services are completely free and I can’t wait to help you turn your Disney Dreams into Disney Plans!
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