Break Question

[MomOfWesAndNorah]

On Tuesday, we have a long day so I think a nap break is necessary. We have 8:05 Ressies for CP, then we have Chef Mickey's @ 6:30 followed by PP firework voyage at 8:35- after wishes.

I think my kids need a nap away from MK to make it that long. We are staying at Pop. How long of a break should I plan on so we have time to bus back to pop, nap a couple hours and bus back (either to MK or MK then walk to CM).

If bussing back to Pop is a bad idea, what would you suggest? Kids are 1 & 4.

 

[mrsp1030]

Will they nap in the stroller? We also used a sit down lunch as a break when we didn't want to leave the park.

 

[MandiC]

In my guide book it says POP to MK is ~25 minutes. That is JUST the bus ride, not the wait for the bus at the resort or the park which can be up to 20 minutes long each way (max, but possible).The walk from MK to the Contemporary is ~10 minutes. So to be safe plan 45 min to get back to your resort and an hour to get to Chef Mickeys (really though I would leave at least an hour and a half before your dinner reservations).
You could do a rental car or cab (I thought I heard a cab ride from the resorts to the parks is usually about $10 but don't quote me on it). Or as the PP said, you could try to find a shaded, quiet spot to rest. MK does have a few areas that are really very peaceful and quiet.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would leave the park no later than two. Do your best to keep them awake to you get back to the resort and put them right down for a nap. Try to encourage them to sleep to 5ish and leave no later than 5:15, taking bus to MK and walk or monorail to CM. I agree that a extra late night with really little ones requires a good room nap.

 

[amym2]

I agree that a nap is a good idea (for the adults as well!). I'd leave the park by 12:30 or 1 and try to keep the kids awake on the bus ride back, unless you're pretty sure that if they fall asleep on the bus they will still take a nap in the room. Our kids were never stroller nappers, so that option would never have worked for us. They needed a decent nap in a bed at least every other day at those ages. And if we didn't leave the park until 2, they would have been past the window of being willing to nap. I agree that you need at least an hour each way for transportation, just in case.

 

[MandiC]

One thing I wanted to point out just in case, if you decide to take the monorail from MK to Chef Mickey's that will actually be longer than walking (~20 minutes) because leaving MK the resort monorail actually goes the opposite direction and stops at each resort

 

[hpsalb]

We did breaks last year with DS (2.5). We stayed offsite and drove back to our condo, but we stayed onsite before and I think the timing is similar (walk to car and drive v. wait on bus and ride back to hotel).

We hit the parks early and would head out around 1ish. We would rest and head back around 4ish, which put us in the park closer to 5. DS will stroller nap if he is super tired, but DH needs his rest too and is too big for the stroller Plus this put us out of the park during the hottest and most crowded part of the day, so it worked well for us.

 

[CarlaLovesDisney]

If renting a car is possible for your trip, I would go for that. Not having to use Disney transportation will give you so much more extra time and much more comfort!

If you don't want to leave the park for a break, there is Tom Sawyer's Island. It's out of the way of the Magic Kingdom craziness and there's lots of shade for stroller nap

 

[branv]

I always assume an hour each way, and that's from when you get in line for transport, not from when you start heading out of the park or your room.

One thing I wanted to point out just in case, if you decide to take the monorail from MK to Chef Mickey's that will actually be longer than walking (~20 minutes) because leaving MK the resort monorail actually goes the opposite direction and stops at each resort

When did they start doing that? We've been about every 2 years since 2004, last trip was 2012, with a 2011 stay at CR. And I have no recollection of it ever going the route of MK-GF-Poly, etc. I remember it always being MK-CR-TTC-etc. Am I going senile?

 

[LovesTimone]

Nap time is not only for the little kids it for the big kids too.

I would head out around 12:00 to 12:30 - Maybe a quick dip in the pool to cool off, then lay down for a couple of hours, then head back out around 4:30 - 5:00 ish, even if you are a bit late they will still seat you. Nothing worse than having a child have a full on meltdown.. except an Grown up having a full on meltdown.

 

[PartOfYourWDWorld]

I would plan on four hours. It'll be worth it. I love taking breaks. Getting out of the heat, putting my feet up and/or napping or swimming in the middle of the day is heaven. The kids enjoy it too. And it allows us to keep them out later, which is nice.

 

[MomOfWesAndNorah]

Thanks for the tips. This gives me a better picture. Daughter will stroller nap, I doubt son will- he will be using a stroller at wdw hit hasn't for over a year.

 

[PlutoFan10]

One thing I wanted to point out just in case, if you decide to take the monorail from MK to Chef Mickey's that will actually be longer than walking (~20 minutes) because leaving MK the resort monorail actually goes the opposite direction and stops at each resort

This is incorrect. It's actually the reverse. The Contemporary Resort is the FIRST stop after MK. The LONG monorail trip is going from the Contemporary to the MK. That stops at each resort and TTC before finally getting to the MK. If you are at the Contemporary, the fastest way to the MK is walking.

Also, I agree with the PP who recommended leaving MK at 12:30 for nap time/break at your hotel. To get to Chef Mickey's, the best way, in my opinion, is to take the bus to the MK and walk to The Contemporary. Since the MK bus stop is about halfway between the MK gate and the resort entrance, you can probably get to the resort in 10-12 minutes. If you wanted to take the monorail, the walk may take just as long from the bus depot, then you have to wait for the monorail to arrive, etc. Note if you walk to the Contemporary: you have to go up the escalator or elevator to get to the concourse where Chef Mickey's is. With the monorail, you have to go down the escalator or elevator to the concourse.

If you left just an hour to get to Chef Mickey's you may feel rushed, as sometimes it takes long to use the bus system.

 

[MandiC]

Sorry, I must be wrong I could have sworn it took that way to the Contemporary but two people say I'm wrong so I must be. Either way, I would definitely leave some extra time to get there so you are not late.