Anyone done the parks with no noon breaks?

[marshallandcartersmo]

Hi guys!! We'll be traveling the last week of April, staying offsite at Marriotts Grand Vista, and will only have one day at each park. Traveling with my parents, DH, 2 DS's (5 and 2), my brother and his girlfriend, and her son (3). Every book I've read, and most posts say it's so important to take afternoon breaks. But with so little time at the parks, and staying offsite, I think we'll have to just do it all in one day. Has anyone done this with little ones and "lived to tell about it?" Any suggestions as to how to make it easier?? I am hoping the Spring Breakers will be gone by the last week of April and the crowds will be easier to handle...........Thanks!!

 

[mara61]

Plan your day with a break built in. If the kiddos nap in the strollers great you can do something unplanned, but for your sake and the kids....plan them into the day. Highlight what you really want to do and go from there.

Mara

 

[jann1033]

our kids were a little older, 5 and7 first time we went (in a hot crowded July none the less, what were we thinking) but we have never taken an
"afternoon break" any trip

...we have however always taken a nice sit down lunch break which we find as refreshing without the waste of time. it's always air conditioned, relaxing and revives us plus is cheaper than a big dinner. occasionally we will eat at a resort but usually eat in the park

now we go off season so we don't have the crowd stress as busy times do.

 

[MandM-Mom]

We did the parks from open to close with our DD4 and no breaks, she did well, but she is not an average child! She for some reason needs very little rest to function, I don't think she can be mine I like the occasional afternoon nap. She had no meltdowns other than on the stitch ride because she was scared. But it all depends on the individual child.

 

[justlikeeyore]

When I was younger I would stay from opening to closing

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

We went in Jan 04 with a 5 year old and 19 months, we didnt take breaks, we got to the park around 9-10am, took our time, and even made it to Epcot most nights since MK closed early.

It should be fine, my youngest napped in the stroller

 

[nbandfour]

We never take mid-day breaks, but we also never go in the summer. I recommend a nice sit down lunch and a stroller nap or two as they naturally occur. Also, keep in mind that they will be tired and, therefore, less reasonable. That means YOU must be more reasonable and more indulgent. I also might try to juggle the schedule so that AK is the second or third day. Finish up a little early and head back to the hotel to rest up.

NB

 

[SplashLover93]

we never ever take breaks and my brother was 3 last time we rented a stroller a double for him to sleep in(and for me to ride in ) and when he falls asleep he sleeps in the stroller while we take on the rides he wouldn't like or couldn't go on but once he wakes up its back to fun and he always has alot of fun he fell asleep on my dads head in epcot and when he is asleep is nice time to relax and not have a 3 year old say i want buzz! so really we never take a break to go back cuz for us it kind of ruins it. so we always rent a double stroller and let him sleep in the stroller.

 

[bdcp]

My DS' were 3 1/2 and almost 6 the first time we went in Nov of '89. We never went back for naps. With the exception of the night we were at Epcot (open til 9), they were in bed asleep at 8:30 pm every night while DH and I talked and watched tv. I had great sleepers. We were there at each park opening (MK, Epcot and MGM) and each closing and no one was cranky or complained. My oldest quit taking naps at 3 and my youngest still took one or two a week at 3 1/2, but was easily able to do the parks without them. They walked everywhere (always have since about 2) and we didn't even consider a stroller. The reality is, those little legs can carry them much farther than our adult legs can. A child who rides in a stroller everywhere will be more tired than one who walks a lot. A younger child can get a decent nap in a stroller without running back and putting them to bed for a few days. I also agree with sitting in the shade and eating a mid-day meal as well as a snack break while sitting. Makes a big difference.

 

[grinningghost]

Make a PS at a nice sit-down restaurant midday. That will get you out of the heat, off your feet and the food will fortify you and the little ones for another several hours of park touring.

 

[dougsmom98]

We did not take afternoon breaks our first trip when my kids were 4, 2, 2. We were at the parks at opening and left between 4-6 pm each day. We stayed off site and it was December. It was warm, but not hot and humid like the summer months. We never ate at a sit down restaurant that requires priority seating either. In my opinion it isn't worth the money when you have small children and it really restricts your schedule. When people started to get cranky we would eat lunch at a counter service restaurant in the park. If we weren't really hungry we would just split some french fries and get a cold drink. If was wonderful just to sit and rest our feet. There are some good counter service restaurants that are indoors and have AC. After lunch we usually do another hour or two of attractions and then stake out a spot for the afternoon parades or shows. We would leave the park to go eat dinner, have a swim and then go to bed.
The second trip my kids were 5, 3, 3 and we did take breaks because it was June and the heat and humidity was horrible. I needed the break more than them. We left by 1 each day, went back to the hotel for a swim and break and our goal was to be back in the park by 5. I hadn't planned on doing this, but we had to. I would say if the weather isn't too hot you can do it, otherwise you may need to consider a break.
-Amy

 

[sydprincess]

Never take breaks! Too much to see and do! When we took DD2, she napped in the stroller and was able to do an entire day from 6:30am until 9:30/10:00 at night every day all week. She was such a trooper and didn't get crabby or complain. You can certainly do it. If you need a short rest, do as another poster suggested and eat somewhere indoors for lunch or supper to get off your feet. But it won't be necessary to go back to your room to nap or swim. Have fun!

 

[wld]

No breaks here either, but our youngest was 7 and she walked all day long...We did go one time with my sister and her youngest was 4. He did have a stroller, but I don't think he napped, just kept going like the enegizer bunny and when we got back to the hotel he swam for a couple of hours! It was in December so not really humid with highs in the low 80s. When someone got a little cranky we had a mickey ear or some popcorn. Had lunch some place quick. No PS's for us either. Too much to do.....

 

[KimR]

Ditto to what sydprincess said. Even though we stay on-site, we never take afternoon breaks. When the kids are little, they just nap in the stroller, no problem. We will take mini-breaks in the parks to sit down with a drink or some snacks for a while, but we don't go back to the resort to nap or swim.

If the little ones will nap in the stroller I think you'll be fine. And as for the older child, my DD was 5 when she did WDW sans-stroller for the first time and I could not believe her stamina. We went from early morning untill around 10:00 at night, no breaks, and at the end of the day she was still going strong. And this was in the heat of June - she did better than DH! The weather will most likely still be cool when you are going so the heat and humidity won't be an issue for you. Have fun!

 

[disneymom727]

We've never taken a break. We usually go and stay there until we're ready to go for the day. My son is 3 and has been twice already. He has always taken naps in the stroller, he's just the kind of kid that can sleep anywhere.

 

[WDW LOVR]

We never took breaks when our kids were young, but we always made sure to take a long relaxing lunch and we never pushed the kids to do the commando tour of the parks. We just went at their pace. If they wanted to sit on a bench for a 1/2 hour, we did. And we never really had a problem.

We also never worried about being at the park terribly early in the mornings. Don't get me wrong, we were there early, but we weren't the waiting at the ropes for opening kind of people. The extra sleep in the mornings did both the parents and kids a world of good.

 

[mommi97]

We went in August 2003, with no breaks. We are commando style family, my children were 5, 3, and 6 months. We also had my mother with us. The 5 yr old walked the whole time but we had strollers for the 6 mo and 3 yr and when they were tired they just napped. If I began to see meltdown and yes be prepared you will have meltdown we stopped and ate or sat for a parade or went to see a show so they had some time to rest. They went til park closing though and then of course as soon as we got back to our room wanted to go swimming and jumped on the bed for about an hour!

 

[Stitch1962]

I can do any of the parks without a noon break, with the exception of Magic Kingdom. By midday, the stroller wars start to get on my nerves, and we have to jump on the monorail for some liquid relief at the Contemporary.... thank goodness for the Outer Rim....ahhhhh!

 

[MandM-Mom]

I think the relaxing lunch at a place where you can cool off is very important if you plan on not taking the break. It recharges you! We did 2 sit down meals the day we did MK in May and it was perfect for our family. We did lunch at the Plaza and a late dinner at CRT. It gave us the time to chill out and go back into the park and have fun without going back to our rooms.

 

[patsal]

As long as the April week you are going isn't Easter your plan should work out fine. I have done it many times in the cooler, less crowded times with smaller children. I always got to the park at opening did as much as the kids could handle quickly--usually you can get through Fantasyland quickly at opening. Next we would relax and cool down with some drinks and a visit to some shops, head to toontown, take our time with the characters, (usually I'd have a fastpass for another area like Tomorrowland) I'd plan to have lunch at Crystal Palace--leisurely, large variety and gives you the chance to refresh and get out of the sun. I found that working with the kids rather than a schedule usually worked out better after the first three hours.