Afternoon Breaks

[haydeecm]

What times tend to work best for afternoon breaks for a 4 year old? What times are best to get out in order to avoid crowds? Is it better to grab lunch at the park and leave or grab something on the way out? And dinner, before coming in or in the park? And should afternoon breaks still be taken when parks are only open 10am to 7-8pm?

We are getting 5 day hoppers. Need to plan leisure to keep my comando side in check!

 

[geekypeach]

We went last year with a 5.5 yo and an 18 mo. We took a break around noon or 1 for at least an hour. It seems like we came back to reasonable crowds. All of our days were park opening at 8 though. If you think your kid can handle a whole day and is happy, go for it. Even with our breaks though, our little ones would be out cold for the fireworks nightly.

As for meals, we had all of our lunches in our room last time. I'll be interested to see how others answer this since we'll be doing lunch in park this trip. I have been planning to do lunch around 11 and then breaking though.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Last year with a 1yr old and a 3.5 yr old, we did lunch around 11:30 in the parks and then the 1yr old went back to the hotel for a nap and the 3.5 yr old stayed in the parks. The 1yr old was up around 4:00 and we'd meet up again around 4:30, do dinner around 5:30/6, and then take the kids back to the hotel by about 7pm. The 3.5 yr old would always conk out quickly since she hadn't had a nap and slept soundly through the night, and the 1yr old would fall asleep around 8/8:30pm.

We were staying at the Camelot Inn, just across Harbor Blvd, so it was always easy to get back and forth for naps as needed.

This year we're at Best Western Park Place Inn, even closer to the entrance, and the plan will be similar, although the now 2yr old naps a little less. But we'll still do lunch & dinner in the parks, just on the early side.

 

[femommy]

That sounds like what we are planning. Thanks for the information.

 

[azdisneylover]

I would first suggest to plan your time to your regular routine. If your 4 year old takes a nap at a certain time of the day, or has quiet time, try and keep it at the same time. If not, I would suggest around 12:30 or so, depending if you have eaten in the park, or if there is somewhere you want to eat, then head back to your room to swim, or nap, etc. for a couple of hours. We stopped a few times at White Water Snacks in GC and picked up nachos and pizza on the way back to our room at PPH.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

With park hours being 10-8 we don't take breaks, there are opportunities for breaks in the parks. Shows, slow rides, the train. Just take it as it comes, if you need a hotel break take one, if not don't.

 

[94bruin]

I would first suggest to plan your time to your regular routine. If your 4 year old takes a nap at a certain time of the day, or has quiet time, try and keep it at the same time. If not, I would suggest around 12:30 or so, depending if you have eaten in the park, or if there is somewhere you want to eat, then head back to your room to swim, or nap, etc. for a couple of hours. We stopped a few times at White Water Snacks in GC and picked up nachos and pizza on the way back to our room at PPH.

I agree. Every 4 year old is different. When we went in Sept, my 4 year old NEEDED her naps. She's always been a great napper, so there was no way that I'd sacrifice her need for naps for a few rides. Anyways, without naps, she's turn into a really cranky child - who really wants one of those on vacation?!

I think eating something small for lunch makes it easier. If you sit down for lunch, it takes longer.

We were there for 5 days as well. It's a lot to take in for a 4 year old. I had to keep my commando style in check, too. I don't know how close you live, but hopefully you can say to yourself that if you miss something, you'll just have to come back to see it. (We went in Sept and are going back in May.)

 

[PoohBearFriends]

We have found that if you are there on the 8am to 12pm days. It doesn't matter how old your kids are you will need a break and/or nap from the park to survive 5 days. All of us went to the hotel after 1 as the parks were getting busy. We would then rest or go to the pool and eat dinner and hit the park again for the evening shows/parades and use our FP for some more rides. We just found it so much more efficient to go light on evening sleep and get up early am and then crash for a few hours during the afternoon busy time.

 

[DLtorgo]

My DD doesn't nap but we still take a break. We have lunch in the park then head back to the hotel around 1pm then put on a Disney movie or cartoons in the room and relax or go swim. Then we are back in the park by 4pm and have plenty of time to eat dinner/parade/rides whatever. We do this even on days the park closes early, especially if we are going to be there multiple days. If I were there only for a day I would push it and not come back, but with all the walking and stimulation she needs that downtime! We probably do too!