Afternoon breaks

[KSR0330]

We are planning on going back to the Poly for afternoon breaks during our August trip. We have never done this before, so I'm wondering what the best timing would be. We aren't renting a car so will be relying on Disney transportation. Thanks for any tips you can give!

 

[loves to dive]

Are you staying at the Poly? From MK take the monorail or the boat. From Epcot the monorail. From HS take the bus. From AK take the bus.

 

[KSR0330]

Are you staying at the Poly? From MK take the monorail or the boat. From Epcot the monorail. From HS take the bus. From AK take the bus.

Yes, we're staying at the Poly. I was wondering about the timing of breaks and general tips. I would think we'd leave that day's park after lunch. I was wondering about when people typically go back. I would think it's still really hot at 3 or 4, but would hate to miss too much park time going back much later!

 

[Guyton dis lover]

Heat of the day.

 

[loves to dive]

Do you have little ones or is it all older kids or adults? When my son was little 2 1/2 to 7 or so, we stayed at MK resorts. As a toddler we would just take breaks when he needed it, no set time I'd just play it by ear and when he was obviously getting ready to melt down, we would leave for a break. As he got older, we would still just play it by ear and whenever one of us was hitting a wall, it was break time. Now, he is an adult and it's usually just by agreement that we need a break. We never planned out how much time we would take and still don't. Sometimes it's a dip in the pool for about a hour, sometimes it's a nap (that's usually me) and back. Sometimes it's both the pool and a nap and we don't go back until supper time.

 

[Simba07]

We had kids ages 4 to 7 at the Poly last summer. We would leave between noon and 1pm. Have rest and / or pool time. We tended to head back to a park for dinner around 5pm. It worked pretty well

 

[Barbydoll8]

I personally would try to avoid eating lunch in the parks and leave around 11-11:30. Unless you are doing a TS for lunch in the park so you'll be reserved a seat, in AC and it takes a bit of time to actually experience the lunch, I'd go to one of the hotels for lunch. If you are in MK or Epcot, it's easy to go to the surrounding hotels to the Poly for a good sit down meal. This can easily take up a good hour or so in the heat of the day and is very relaxing. If you are doing lunch in the park, head out as soon as you are done and go shopping, swimming, napping. Ride the monorail or go visit a hotel you've been wanting to see. It's worth a trip to AKL lodge to hang out a bit and maybe do lunch there as well. Sanna in Kidani is one of the best restaurants on propery IMO.

I also wouldn't plan on going back into the parks until at least 5 or 6 pm. It's still over 90 degrees here in August around that time. Plus we get afternoon T-storms just about daily. You can almost time them between 4-6 pm. If you wait closer to the 6 pm time frame, your chances of running into one of those storms diminishes greatly. It could still happen but it should be a lower risk.

 

[Dashzap]

We'd stay in the parks until we got too hot. Then we'd leave for a swim or cool shower, a nap, a meal, and head back to the parks around 4.

 

[Hootch]

I am a fan of midday breaks in the summer - the only time we can go.

There will be a notable increase in crowds around 11:00 - 11:30. We will usually leave in the 12:00 - 1:00 time period. The later part of that is for things like the Hall of Presidents, Philhamagic or Carousel of Progress - short lines and air conditioning.

Our return time is usually around 5:00 or 5:30. A swim and/or nap, shower and a change of clothes heartily improves my attitude.

 

[Aliceacc]

We normally leave the parks after lunch- somewhere around 1 pm.

We return for our dinner ADRs, ballpark 5-6 pm.

 

[AshleeH]

Play it day by day. We take midday breaks and they are great for us - but it's not a set time throughout the vacation. Sometimes our break is from 11-3, sometimes it's from 1-6. Depends on ADRs, FPs, heat, crowds, if we're in line, if we want a snack in the parks, etc. Poly is a great location for midday breaks if you're using Disney transportation (we drive), since you're near access to everything but AK.

 

[Winniebell10]

The Poly is the perfect location for an August trip. Convenient with the monorail to 2 parks. The last time we were there, we were close enough to walk to the TTC for the Epcot monorail. Just leave before the heat saps you too much. The pool is awesome. Enjoy!

 

[Aspenmarie82]

I've been wondering the same! My family will be staying at the Poly in July. We usually do one park in the morning, break, then another park in the late afternoon/evening. However that typically means we miss the MK 3 o'clock parade. Anyone have tips on taking breaks AND seeing the afternoon parade all in one day?? Thanks

 

[tobikaye]

Anyone have tips on taking breaks AND seeing the afternoon parade all in one day?? Thanks

Do this on an EMH morning if you are staying on-site and be there a little before EMH opening. Then stay until about 11-11:30 am. Leave and have lunch at your resort, rest/release and head back about 2 pm. That may not leave a lot of time for finding a spot, but if you walk straight down Main Street and head through to Liberty towards Frontierland, you should find a decent spot in Liberty or Frontierland with little wait for the parade.

Plan all FP+ for the second part of the day.

 

[Accident]

I only take breaks when we need it. When we're a little zombie like not enjoying the attractions as much or just going through the motions. Sometimes it's just so damn hot your dragging around or everyone is a little irritable. In my families case, when someone starts saying "whatever" for what we're going to do next it's time to take a break, recharge and come back when it's cooler.

 

[brooke789]

We arrived at RD every morning. Took breaks from 12-1 until 4-5. We did that 5 days and 3 days went straight through. It was so much hotter than our last trip (and we just live in SC...so we're used to the heat and humidity) that we really wanted to go get cooled off.

 

[999miles]

Our kids are early birds and we usually make it to the parks for rd or just after. We enjoy the low crowds and get in any short lines. We usually enjoy a lunch ts meal in the park or a near by resort then head back to our resort for a nap. We miss the heat of the day, rehydrate, and enjoy a qs dinner at our resort before we head back in for the evening. Our kids are able to enjoy the cooler temps, parades and fireworks that way. I try to schedule any fastpass+ stuff for 6 or later so we aren't in a rush.

 

[Aspenmarie82]

Do this on an EMH morning if you are staying on-site and be there a little before EMH opening. Then stay until about 11-11:30 am. Leave and have lunch at your resort, rest/release and head back about 2 pm. That may not leave a lot of time for finding a spot, but if you walk straight down Main Street and head through to Liberty towards Frontierland, you should find a decent spot in Liberty or Frontierland with little wait for the parade.

Plan all FP+ for the second part of the day.

Thanks for the tip!!

 

[KSR0330]

Thanks, everyone. This is exactly what I'm looking for! We will be traveling with out teenage boys, so I just have to convince them to get up early (not waiting around for them this trip. I will leave without them to make RD!) and that they can nap in the afternoon. We don't have ADRs for lunch, but have chosen places with plenty of indoor seating. My plan now is to head back to the parks for 4pm, but we will have to be flexible with that depending on heat and storms.

Thanks for all of the input!

 

[KristiKat]

We usually head back to the room at around noon and eat lunch there to save money. Then we try to get some rest or hang at the pool while the kids swim and head back to the park around 4:00.