Break/swim

[kj2mom]

I am reading alot about breaks during the afternoon/ no breaks. I will have two children who will turn 5 during the trip. I have not planned in any breaks during the afternoon for the first two park days we are not going completely commando style but we do have some ADR's which coincide with right after a parade meaning we will be in the park all day. On these days I don't see us going back to the resort for a swim or anything. Not only that but I don't really think swimming is relaxing. I think swimming takes alot out of you. After I spend a couple hours at the pool I am done, never mind wanting to return to the parks for the evening. I am thinking (I may be completely naive which is why I am posting this) that a nice rest on a bench or meal/snack or whatever will be just as relaxing as busing back to the resort, getting ready for the pool, swimming, going back to the room to change, busing back to the park. Am I totally off base here? The idea of a swim as a break really doesn't seem like a break to me.

 

[crisi]

When are you going - because I think that makes a big difference....The heat and humidity of August can send you needing the pool, where in January you may want to avoid it since you are wearing sweatshirts anyway in the parks.

We never napped, but we do go back now for a swim - more because the kids need a change of pace than they need to rest, and the pool is just as exciting as anything else at WDW to kids.

But we commando the first few days - because that is what the kids want and they have the energy to do it.

 

[Showe]

having been to WDW the last six years I can tell you that we have learned our lesson regarding break time. DD was 2 and DS was 5 the first year we went and we went commando - BIG MISTAKE. We learned our lesson in the following years. I guess becuase we didn't feel the need to go commando the following years we had the mentality that if we got to ssee it great if we didnt' well maybe next time. anyway back to your question - even now with the kids 11 and 8 we always find time to go back to the resort and chill out. Whether that means pool or not we will find it so refreshing and recharging to just lay low for an hour or two. then back at it.

whatever you decide to do for you and your family just relax and enjoy.

 

[dyjama]

we are going in July and will be taking breaks. My boys are 8,6 and 5. The only days we are not taking breaks are the ak and mgm days, since we can get out of there sooner. It is possible to "break" at MGM b/c they have air conditioned shows. When are you going? If it is during the heat season then i say you may enjoy the breaks, but if it is cooler maybe you would not need them. 13 days to we are at disney!! -KIm

 

[debbi801]

We took breaks, even if it was to go back to the hotel and relax with A/C for a little while. I planned for breaks, but not a specific break time. Each day, we'd hit someplace air conditioned (in the parks) for lunch around noon. If we felt re-charged after lunch, we might stay a while longer and see/do more stuff. If we still felt tired afterwards, we'd head back to the hotel. My kids are 4, 11, and 13.

Our previous trip, we didn't do breaks, and it just wasn't a relaxing vacation. By the 3rd day, we were cranky and not having as much fun as we should have.

 

[belle&beast]

When we went in January with DD4.5 and DS turned 2 on the trip, we did not take breaks because DS would fall asleep in the stroller if he was tired, it was too chilly to swim most days and the parks closed earlier. My kids were in bed just a little later than at home, but they slept a little later, too. We did not have a set rule, we followed their lead and it worked out great for us. In the heat of the summer, I think even I might need a break, so it would probably be different if we went during the summer.

 

[tmt martins]

Nothing more relaxing then the LAZY rivers at the waterparks to cool you off and rest you down.

 

[sameyeyam]

We have done Disney both ways. My family prefers getting to park when they first open. Riding lots of rides with virtually no lines. Around 2pm we have lunch and then head back to hotel (the lines are getting long and it's getting hot!). We swim, rest, walk around resort, check out gift shop, take a shower, whatever.

We leave the hotel again around 7pm and head back to the same park. Our dinner ressies are usually between 8-9pm. (Restaurants are less crowded, buffets are cleaned up, servers are less busy, character dinners are less crowded). After dinner we usually watch fireworks and then go on a few more rides after the park starts clearing out.

So essentially we are just splitting up our sleep into 2 smaller segements. Saves us from the heat of the midday, as well as the long lines. We get to ride just as many rides as people that stay all day, we just don't have to wait in the hot, long lines.

My kids are 14 & 7 and even though they aren't little kids, they love this arrangement.

 

[mommiepoppins]

it seems like every time I go back to the resort around 12 my kids fall asleep on the way and do not need a rest however I do...it dose not happen so we swim

 

[lisaross]

but, i'm planning on shorter days - we'll be in late August so i'm planning on getting to the parks at opening, and doing a sit down lunch and then staying at the parks till about 4pm then going back for swim dnr by pool sleep.

Then last couple of days we'll do reverse stay by pool till aabout 3p then hit the parks and stay for fireworks.

my kids are 4 & 6 and I know i will not get back to the parks if we were to go back to the resort.

lisa

 

[LBKMAMA]

My husband likes the idea of going back to the hotel and taking a nap so we plan with that in mind, BUT the only problem with that is that our 7 yr. old doesn't need a nap so it's not like we can all hang out in the room. We have done both break/ not break. I tend to make dinner reservations for around 6 that way if the nap doesn't happen we can always be back at hotel at a decent time or if we are having a great day and don't leave park dinner is early enough and again we can leave right after. If we are well rested we have hung out as well. I've learned that even the best laid plans change and you have to go with the flow!!!