Anyone done the parks with no noon breaks?

[Beachangel]

If we arrive at a park in the AM (which is rare since we swim in the AM and park in the PM) we never take an afternoon break. My extended family just went altogether in May and we didn't take any breaks and this time it included a 70 yo grandmother, a 9 month old and 5 yo. We just pace ourselves, drink plenty of water & gatorade.

 

[tiggersthebest]

When DD was 2 there was a day or two with no breaks because she fell asleep in her stroller and we just walked around. However, if it is really hot, we break to get out of the heat.

5 1
Proud to be a Christian
Too many times to list as a kid
Once I “grew” up:
1997 Fort Wilderness (summer); Coronado Springs Christmas
1999 Wilderness Lodge (Spring); Fort Wilderness Christmas/New Years
2002 Polynesian
2003 Caribbean Beach
2004 Took a break after having a baby
2005 Going to Port Orleans Riverside
2006 Back to Poly!!!

 

[minnie61650]

Besides eating lunch or dinner in an air conditioned restarant we took afternoon breaks at airconditioned attractions. When I felt the kids needed a little down time we would go to Hall Of Presidents in the MK sometimes they even took a quick nap. In Epcot we would go to American Adventure.There also are play areas in the MK, Donald's Boat is lots of fun for little ones. Pooh's Playful Spot is being built right now.
AK has Boneyard in Dinoland. MGM has a Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground and Epcot has the fountians and Kidcot centers. A change in activies gives everyone a little breather. Then you will be ready for your next adventures.
Have fun!
Linda

 

[milmore104]

My little one doesn't sleep much so afternoon breaks for a nap or a NO for us but I do make it a point to "stop and smell the roses!!!" I make sure we take a little bit of a break from the hussle and bussle of WDW. I do it in the parks though. It's the time where DD and I will sit under a tree and look at her autograph book or have a little snack. While DH rides the "thrill" rides I don't want too!
Here are some of our favorite resting spots...
MK
Outside of the Main St Bakery at the tables down by the water.
In the court yard by the statue of Walt & Mickey you'd be suprised how nice and quite it is in there.
EPCOT
DD favorite place is to play in the fountains along the bridge to the WS
Mine is out front of LS nice place to sit on the grass and watch the water.
MGM
At the exit to ToT there is a wonderful cobble stone path w/ benches on it. It is build under a trellis so it's nice and cool there

 

[purplepixie]

When we took our girls for the first time we went with friends. We had five girls ages 1,2,3,4,5. We had stroller room for each one. We hit the parks at opening and most nights moved to EPCOT to close it. The two youngest napped throughout the day. The older three were pretty tired by the last day that they napped too. We tried to space out stops in air conditioning and sitting down. They all did really good and we didn't have any meltdowns. I think it helped that they were all kids who wanted to sleep when they were tired. They weren't real concerned with missing anything at that point. It can be done. You just need to read the kids. There are some out of the way places that may make it easier for them to fall asleep. Doing your homework before you go will help you a lot.

Have fun on you vacation whatever you decide to do.

 

[Minky]

It can TOTALLY be done, but I REALLY dont recommend it.....it takes away from the relaxing part of the vacation, we were commandos for a long time, however our last trip we took breaks and what a huge difference, so much more fun and peaceful and relaxing, and we still got to do every attraction a bunch of times. It depends on the person ultimately, but its no fun going home burnt out from your vacation

 

[shafke]

We went last week or April, DS 6 and DD 2 and did not take any breaks except for the day when we went to MK for EMH evening. On that day we did BB in the morning then DW and DD napped back at the room. DD made it til 12:30 with hardly a complaint.

On the other days if DD was tired she napped in the stroller. On the days she did not nap she was carwling into bed at the room and sleeping in 5-10 minutes.

 

[WaltD4Me]

When we went with our parents and kids in December we only took an afternoon break one day and that was out of a six day trip!

I think breaks are most important in the summer, with the heat and everything, but it should be quite a bit cooler in early April and easier to do a whole day at the parks with no break. Take your time walking around, enjoy a nice afternoon lunch and you should be fine!

I took my five year old niece for a short trip in May and one day we left the hotel at 8:30am and didn't get back to it until midnight. She fell asleep in her stroller finally on the way out of the park, but she was going strong until then. -- I was pretty exhausted, but I was up and out again the next day raring to go! Being at Disney will do that to you!

 

[Mainebound]

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!!

Well, you can't predict how tired your kids will get (no place on earth is exactly like WDW), and each child is different, but here's our experience...

My kids are now 5 and 3, we've been to WDW several times with them. We always get to parks at or before opening. We usually either (a) leave the park for a break after lunch, returning again later for several hours, or (b) have a sit down lunch and leave the parks for good around 3:00. Very occasionally, we have ended up staying from opening to dinner time, but then the next day we would take it easy.

By the way, we stayed off 192 for part of our last trip (then at WL) and it was no more difficult to leave and return than when we have stayed onsite. In some cases it was easier and faster than WDW transportation.

At the very least, have a sit down meal and take sit down rests (with ice water or a snack). And when the kids seem really tired, even if they protest, abandon ship. Otherwise you will pay for overtiring them the next day (i.e. they will be cranky blobs)!

 

[surfgirl]

I guess I'm the contrarian... we go to Disney almost annually to visit family... so we *don't* try to do it all... for my family, less is more! We leave early afternoon and head back to our villa (off-site) to swim and play.

Of course, I'm typically ready to leave by then, also!

In general, we are not a commando-touring type of family. If you are and are comfortable doing it, by all means go for it!

Everyone seems to agree that you should take breaks whether it be at lunch (sit-down or otherwise), finding a shady, quiet place to chill, Hall of Presidents, etc...

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

I guess my neice is "special". My mother and i had only one day left on our 3 day play pass so we decided to use it to take my neice to MK...(this was in May)....the air was cool and the park was not crowded but I guess my neice just had TOO much fun (she rode absolutly everthingshe was tall enough to including Splash 2X!!) ....by 1:30 or so she started getting cranky...this time when we go we are def. going to schedule in time to go beck to the room for her to take a nap then shower....hopefully that wiil improve her mood

 

[monarchsfan16]

Um, don't count on there being no crowds. The last week in April, while not nearly as crowded as Spring break is still "spring break" time in the northeast. The state of NH floods WDW then (better learn the proper meaning of wicked ) and this year NY had the same break. We were there this year the last week in April, and we did just fine, but it was definitely more crowded then when we've been during our February vacation break (not Presidents week). The weather then is typically great though.
The no break thing is hard with a little one. Definitely get a stroller, and be willing to cut the day short. I found that I needed breaks this year, at 18. But then again I was completely worn out before we even got there. Go to some of the shows, you all may be able to get a nap in (Hall of Presidents comes to mind). They're a good way to break up the day if it's not easy to get back to the hotel. Even just leaving the park and taking the monorail for a long ride (they won't kick you off) can be enough of a break to relax you all.