Back to resort during day vs break at the park

[jvz82]

I know this topic comes up a lot but I'm really torn! My kids are 1, 3, 5, and 7. We're going to Disney the week before Christmas (19-22). 2 days at MK, 1 day at Epcot, 1 "off" day at our resort. I would like to avoid my kids getting totally overstimulated and exhausted (some is unavoidable I know!) so I'm trying to decide what will work best for us.

Many people suggest going back to the resort during the afternoon and coming back by dinnertime. But if anyone else has 4+ children, you know that sometimes just herding them somewhere is exhausting (we have to get out of the park, in line for the bus, bus ride, into hotel, then back on the bus and into the park again). So yes the afternoon out of the park might be nice, but is it worth the hassle? My 1 year old is the only child I have who still naps, although the 3 year old sometimes does if we're in the car. I also considered going to the baby care center and just resting there in the AC for a while. They usually have videos playing if I remember correctly so the big kids could just sit and watch and we could all chill. Maybe go to a show where the baby could fall asleep.

If we were really intentional about taking a break, does that seem like it would be enough? I really dread the thought of dragging everyone in and out of the park and I feel like possibly we could rest just as much at the park if we really tried. BUT I also would like to possibly keep the older kids at least late at the park to see fireworks so I don't want to push it either.

 

[AshleeH]

With kids that young, it would be a no-brainer for me to take a midday break. No matter the exhaustion of getting them anywhere, you're going to have to herd them through the park anyway, so why not make the trip back to the hotel using that same energy?

And I would plan on naps for just about everybody. Our first family trip to Disney, my sons were 7 and 4 - the 4 year old had stopped all naps at age 2 on his own - he napped every single day of that trip. And did the same the following year at age 5.

No matter how much you're able to "rest" in the parks, you're still not going to feel rested. We still take a midday break and my kids are older now (although we do have a third child now, but she could nap in the stroller if she chose to). My husband and I are going by ourselves next year and odds are that even when it's just the two of us, we'll still take a midday break. It's just a better plan for us all the way around to be more rested and avoid the peak times for both heat and crowds.

 

[tami82]

I think this is the type of thing you have to figure out for yourself and see how each day goes. We stay monorail so it's easy and do half days but not sure where you are staying. If the first day goes well just stay for as long as you can, if everyone starts getting cranky they may just need to eat to refuel or go on ac rides when they get overheated or a show. If they are just plain cranky then leave at that point. As the days go on they may get more and more tired easily so then maybe cut down your hours at that point also. Eventually no matter how much you rest at the park your feet start to get tired and in my case I need to lie down and elevate them & take a good rest for an hour or two. Can you and your husband break up the kids to go back to,resort while the others stay. We do that sometimes especially after lunch my hubby will go back with one of our kids and if someone else wants to stay with me they can as I like to stay just a bit longer

 

[Minniemoo15]

My 2.5 year old took epic stroller naps at WDW, even though she doesn't nap as well at home. So she would conk out for 3 hours, we would do some adult rides, shopping and wandering around. When she woke up we would do some calm indoor attractions. (Carasoul of Progress, Living with the land, etc). For us it was better to stay in the park.

However when the kids are older and not in a stroller anymore to nap I can see how it might be better to head back to the hotel to decompress.

 

[aretha30]

When our boys were that little (we only have 2 though) they napped in the stroller. During that time of year the parks are open shorter hours so it might be better to nap in a stroller and not go back to your resort. This way you don't lose park time going back and forth. We go in August and always take breaks but the parks are open late. If we were to go in December we wouldn't take a break. We wouldn't want to lose the park time.

 

[jvz82]

Thanks for the feedback! I think I'm going to play it by ear. I'm not going to plan anything between 1-3 and we'll either go back to the hotel or we'll take it easy around the park. Part of me loves the idea of just hanging out somewhere around the park in the shade and people watching. I feel like going back to the hotel will mean rushing, and rushing stresses me out.

Our second day at MK we will have checked out of our hotel that morning, so we won't even have an option of going back to the hotel that day! But my guess is we also won't stay as late since we have to drive to my grandparent's house that night after we leave.

 

[roseaster]

I've got 6. The midday hotel break thing never worked for us. We found that the kids fell asleep on the bus and then were awake when we got to the hotel, and it just took too long to get there.

My kids that were still napping napped in the stroller. We would take a towel or blanket and throw it over the stroller to block out extra sun. They slept well.

We used nap time as a chance to let the bigger kids ride things that the smaller ones couldn't

Also remember that during the time you are there the parks won't be open as late and it shouldn't be horribly hot.

In MK Tom sawyer Island is a good downtime place where the non nappers can run around and play while the nappers and adults rest.

In Epcot Innoventions was good for us for the same thing.

 

[monorailsilver]

I only have 3 so a mid day break away from the park, noise, heat and stimulation is a must, even for dh and I.

I have always taken a break, even when I was a kid.

We typically leave our room between 7-7:15 to get to which ever park opens at 8. Have lip inch and leave. We nap, shower and return at about 5.

My kids were out of naps the last time we went but they all fell asleep, even my 12 yo.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Am I reading right? You are going in December?

You won't be out in the hot sun all day long. And depending on when you are there, in December, the hours won't be as long. A break may just be a waste of time.