Afternoon Breaks

[Kevlar10]

we have all of our plans set and leave in 6 days but I still haven’t figured out if we’re going to do afternoon breaks. Our DD is 2, going on 3, and does not normally take naps until at least 5 or 6 in the afternoon. The other reason I’m not sure is that the transportation seems like it will take a long time just to get to and from the hotel therefore break time would not be enough to actually relax and refresh. We are staying at the AKL. Can anyone tell me how much time is actually needed for a decent 2 hour break back at any resort? I haven’t scheduled anything between 12:30 and 5 on any of our days in the hope that if we need it, we can do a break. From past trips, I estimate 1 hour to get back to the resort and one hour to return to the park so minimum 4 hours.

 

[yorkieteacher]

In our experience, we estimate 45 minutes for leaving the park and the same amount of time for getting back to the park when figuring the times for our breaks. When we leave between 1-2, there are not that many people returning to the hotel and it averages only about 30 minutes. When returning between 5-6, we allow extra to go through security again, and it has taken an hour at the most, usually about 45 minutes. These were not during holidays though. I know it is best to estimate an hour each way if reservations are involved, but these are usually liberal estimates, and if you are just going and coming for a break, and you don't plan fast passes for the exact time you want to get back into the park, a little less/more time shouldn't be crucial. What is crucial is that you TAKE THE BREAK! Mid day at the parks are so crowded, and unless you use that time for lunch and criss -crossing the park looking for low wait time attractions, you don't get that much in. And parents need the rest as well! But if you schedule four hours for breaks, you should have more than enough time. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Christine]

We never did the breaks many years ago. My daughter was 3 years old when we first went. She also was not much of a napper. We tried to do a mid-day break and when we got back to the hotel, she just got overstimulated by the pool and she WOULD NOT NAP. It also took a lot of time out of our day. She ended up just falling asleep in the stroller and that's how she got her rest later on in the trip. We also had our own car, some I remember one or two days, if it got particularly hot, we would leave and go drive around and she'd zonk out. We would then drive back and go back in the parks. I will say that with this plan, we really did not do any night time park visiting.

If I had to do the bus stuff, I'm not sure if I would do it.

Now, on my last trip (all my kids are old and grown), we actually left the parks around 1-2PM (it was over 100 degrees and crowded), went back to the hotel, sat around the pool, had some coffee, read a book, etc. then went back out for dinner and the park at night. But that was not with kids so I didn't have to deal with trying to get one down for a nap.

 

[Greenfield1984]

Id recomend a good stroller. Let the little one ride in it between rides and eventuslly youll see the telltale signs that its nap time.

Rather the nap in the park. Get as much done as possible then come back to room for an early bedtime.

 

[goodeats]

We all needed the break in last week. It will still be hot and humid when you go.

We stayed at WL so the transport back from MK was pretty quick. On our first MK day we were back in our hotel at 2:45 and napped, swam, showered, and then back to the MK for dinner by 6:00. We then stayed until 9 or so. Our second day at the MK we were there from opening until close with a 3 hour break in the middle.

We don't care about doing *everything* though. We missed out on some attractions (CBJ, Tom Sawyer, the carousel, Astro Orbiter, Tiki), but did do everything that was important to us and then some. If we didn't take a break there's no way we'd last until 9 or 10 and frankly I love the parks at dark.

Even when the weather is cooler I don't think I want to be at a park for more than 6 hours at a time. I like to stay at nicer resorts and use the amenities too. That's a WDW vacation to us.

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

If you just want a cool place to relax with her, go to one of the baby care centers.

 

[happymommy]

Id recomend a good stroller. Let the little one ride in it between rides and eventuslly youll see the telltale signs that its nap time.

Rather the nap in the park. Get as much done as possible then come back to room for an early bedtime.

That's what we always did. Spending time to go back to the room for a nap was always a waste of time. We'd find a nice shady spot, let the kids sleep in the stroller, we'd enjoy a cool beverage and just chill a bit.

We kept a fairly early bedtime then; they would be ready for bath and time to wind down by 7pm (and we were ready to relax then as well).

 

[Kingdome8]

We had 2 of our kids go at 12 Mo the and a year or two. We didn’t do breaks. We did some 3 quarter days. But the main parks
Hollywood studios and magic kingdom we stayed all day. Stroller is the key. At 2 and above we just rented the double stroller so they could nap if wanted to but have a fun place to sit

 

[Shanti]

we have all of our plans set and leave in 6 days but I still haven’t figured out if we’re going to do afternoon breaks. Our DD is 2, going on 3, and does not normally take naps until at least 5 or 6 in the afternoon. The other reason I’m not sure is that the transportation seems like it will take a long time just to get to and from the hotel therefore break time would not be enough to actually relax and refresh. We are staying at the AKL. Can anyone tell me how much time is actually needed for a decent 2 hour break back at any resort? I haven’t scheduled anything between 12:30 and 5 on any of our days in the hope that if we need it, we can do a break. From past trips, I estimate 1 hour to get back to the resort and one hour to return to the park so minimum 4 hours.

It won't typically take a full hour to get between MK & AKL. Minimum time including bus stop waiting would be 30 minutes, and maximum time would be 45 minutes unless there was some major & unusual transportation snafu. Between other the parks & AKL the commute will be shorter, as those parks are closer.

I recommend scheduling your breaks for closer to when your daughter really naps, btw. Don't leave at noon if she typically naps at 5. Leave at 2 or 3, so she'll be more tired when she gets to the resort.

Have a great trip! Midday breaks are worth it!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We usually leave around 12 and head back around 4-5. We hit the pool. My kids never napped during our breaks. I need a break from the crowds and stimulation. Pool time and relaxing is part of our vacation. We have done this on 6 day trips and 11 day trips. We don’t worry about the lost time and still do everything we want plus headliners multiple times. Waits at closing are just as good as RD waits. Very minimal.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I agree with the others to plan a break time in the Parks unless you want pool time and aren't going back to a Park until dinner. Let the little one zonk out in her stroller or whatever, you schedule a beverage time/snack for the adults, and just re-charge and soak in the ambiance. Honestly do not waste your time (and money) leaving the Parks, getting to your resort, having your kid wake up and get second wind when you are getting to the resort and being too stimulated to nap. That will frustrate everyone!

My DD napped on Spaceship Earth and People Mover and our laps on the concrete walls outside a washroom in MK. We did not want to deal with a repeat of the 1st day, where she fell asleep on the resort bus back from MK around 5pm, and then didn't want to go to sleep until 1 am!!! No resort break for us unless it was specifically to go to the pool and swim, which obviously is NOT a naptime.

 

[Spunky946]

We love taking breaks. I can’t stand how hot the parks get, so we take breaks and do a lot of late nights.

 

[anniemae]

I hate taking breaks. It is cumbersome going back and forth. We were there last week and sometimes the bus took a good 20 minutes to arrive. Unfortunately, it is so hot that sometimes breaks are necessary. It was so incredibly humid we were melting and needed a nap and shower. We were dripping sweat and oh so tired. Sometimes we were ready to head back to the park after resting and a thunderstorm would come through so we were stuck waiting in the hotel for it to pass. There were some really intense storms last week. You just have to kind of play it by ear I think and be flexible. If you are doing okay, and can get by with just sitting and resting for a bit go for it. If you need to go back to the hotel, go back.

 

[Jetta8300]

We went with our 4 year old last year, and we get there every day at park opening. But by 2:00 or so we were all very tired and had seen most of each park by that time anyway. (obviously not MK but we had another MK day anyway). And we were happy to head back to the hotel around then. By 6:00 or so we were happy to head back out to dinner. Some nights we went back to a park after dinner, some nights we went back to the hotel or downtown disney for a stroll, or to the hotel arcade, or to the pool. But we didn't feel the need to force ourselves to go back to the park even when we had accomplished so much in the morning. But we could have if we wanted to.

 

[StacyStrong]

I take breaks without kids. The days are too long otherwise.

I would give yourself 4 hours.

 

[cbyrne1174]

Take your breaks INSIDE the parks. I've lugged a 2 year old 8 hrs at every park. The restaurant across from haunted mansion (columbia harbor house) is ALWAYS dead on the 2nd level, just head there when she crashes (which she will, and you'll see it coming), let her sleep in her stroller, it also has the best fast service food in the whole park as well.

Epcot has a baby center next to Mexico that has Disney channel playing (doc mcstuffins/puppy pals)

At animal kingdom the area next to dinosaur is always dead.

HS is the only one that doesn't have a dead area at the park.

On the days you plan on seeing fireworks, just leave later in the day.

When you park hop, use the monorail between MK and Epcot or the boat between Epcot/HS. TO go from MK to HS or Animal Kingdom, walk to the Contemporary then take a bus.

 

[Magical2017]

I would try the break in the park and see how it goes. Try a day with a break and see how that goes.

We love the breaks if we go from park open to park close.

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

We have done the parks with infants 6 months or less, toddlers , etc. When they're little they nap everywhere. We don't take breaks from the parks. We do something calming in the park. When it's super humid - a longer lunch is also super awesome. My 3 year old will pass out anywhere or if she has enough steam she won't at all! I took my kids to the double feature at the drive in thinking I would have my eldest and myself for the second movie. My youngest was up until 1 am when the second film finished!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I’d budget 45min travel each way, and I would DEFINITELY advise especially those with young kids taking a midday break. Not only the kids, but mom & dad as well, all get to recharge a bit in the A/C and put up their feet or nap for a bit. Even if nobody sleeps, the rest and relative quiet are a great break IMO.

I would much prefer fewer hours in the parks if they’re HAPPIER hours, because everyone is refreshed. Different strokes and all, though! I am basing this on our experience over 13+ years, and those of people we know who tried to tough out days without breaks — often not pretty.

 

[Christine]

I’d budget 45min travel each way, and I would DEFINITELY advise especially those with young kids taking a midday break. Not only the kids, but mom & dad as well, all get to recharge a bit in the A/C and put up their feet or nap for a bit. Even if nobody sleeps, the rest and relative quiet are a great break IMO.

I would much prefer fewer hours in the parks if they’re HAPPIER hours, because everyone is refreshed. Different strokes and all, though! I am basing this on our experience over 13+ years, and those of people we know who tried to tough out days without breaks — often not pretty.

For the most part, I agree with you. I just think some people have kids that are terrible nappers (my oldest was that way) and it really backfired on us. If you've got good sleepers, it's is definitely good to get that break. We usually don't take breaks, but it was SO hot while we were there this past July that *I* was miserable by about 1:00 due to the heat. I never went back to take a nap, but it was so nice to get away from the crowds and the punishing sun and heat and just sit back and read and relax.