Commando Convert would love advice

[southernfriedmom]

Our family of 6 has been to WDW 10-12 times in the last 2-3 years. We very rarely take breaks except for TS meals and just go as long as our kids are up for it. This trip (mid/late July), we really want to enjoy the resort more (staying CL at BWI for 7 nights) and take it at a slower pace because of crowds & heat but this is a new touring territory for us (me, DH, DS 7 & 9, and DD 4 & 4). I can't decide whether a better plan would be to RD a park stay there until after lunch and then enjoy the resort for a few hours and return to another park w/ FP+ that evening OR just stay at one park until late afternoon/early evening and enjoy the resort for the evening. I know the first option would get us out of the park when it's hottest/most crowded but I'm worried it will be a hassle to get everybody going again after a break. Right now I have my days planned half & half of the options I described above but would love to her opinions/experiences from others of how they tour during the summer season.

 

[AmyB2006]

We've done that, but still felt too rushed for my DH. He likes one day where he doesn't have to do anything. So we get up, have breakfast, spend the morning/early afternoon at the resort/pool, then go into a park around 3 or 4. Usually picking a park with evening EMH to maximize our time there. Really good to do at MK or Epcot when they're open late till midnight or so.

I used to be the commando, and he is a "take it easy" kind of guy. I had to adjust.

 

[abidale]

Our family is kind of 50% commando and 50% laid back, so a typical day would look like this:

-Parks at Rope Drop
-Stay until after lunch
-Head back to resort to swim, nap, monorail hop, etc.
-Dinner
-Park for the evening (this is also when we like to use our FP+)
-Once it gets semi-late, sometimes some of us will head back to the resort and some will stay in the park to finish up some things that we wanted to do

Hope this helps!

 

[southernfriedmom]

Thanks guys!! I thought I'd come up with a good plan but then when they changed up EMH, I went in to adjust things a little and began rethinking everything. I think I just enjoy the "torture" of planning continuously for months for a week long trip.

 

[marissamayhem]

I find that doing the RD in the morning, midday resort break, then another park in the evening strategy only works during busy times when the parks can be open late. You can spend a good amount of time in the resort during the day and get back into the parks without feeling like you're wasting time. When I went in January that kind of touring style just wasn't as efficient or nice, so you're definitely going during the right time.

It's also unbelievably nice to miss out on the worst of the heat and the bulk of the heavy crowds.

 

[hsmamainva]

We've done that, but still felt too rushed for my DH. He likes one day where he doesn't have to do anything. So we get up, have breakfast, spend the morning/early afternoon at the resort/pool, then go into a park around 3 or 4. Usually picking a park with evening EMH to maximize our time there. Really good to do at MK or Epcot when they're open late till midnight or so.

I used to be the commando, and he is a "take it easy" kind of guy. I had to adjust.

We use a similar strategy!

I'm the one who would be at the Magic Kingdom at rope drop and leave when they're sweeping Main Street behind me!

My hubby likes to sit and people watch...swim in the pool...and linger at table service meals.

So we compromise as well. If I'm hitting rope drop, he wants to be out of the park by 3 at the latest. If it's a park where we want to see fireworks, then we don't arrive until around 3 at the earliest.

I've also learned to drop him at Rose & Crown with a friendly bartender while I explore the rest of Epcot with the kids!

If I really want a commando trip, I leave him home. I have one of those trips coming up in 40 days!

So looking at your schedule as half-park days and half-resort / rest days might do the trick!

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Ive only done park breaks when I went with my parents. The oldest kids were over 12. I don't know if it would be difficult or a hassle to re-wrangle all of the little kids... we don't like to take mid-day breaks and instead opt for a larger TS meal mid-afternoon. We also only have one child, that could be a factor as well, its easier for us to stay in the park. I'm loving going in the fall, oddly enough, because there aren't EMH till 3am, it helps to sort of force us to go to bed around 9 or 10pm and it should make it easier to hit rope drops and spend our whole days at the parks

 

[Sweettears]

I agree with the plan to split the day in to two parks with a break in the middle. We have used this strategy for years and the break seems to give everyone a renewed energy. We also take advantage of EMH when possible. Visiting in the summer should not create any early closing hours at any of the parks.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Our family of 6 has been to WDW 10-12 times in the last 2-3 years. We very rarely take breaks except for TS meals and just go as long as our kids are up for it. This trip (mid/late July), we really want to enjoy the resort more (staying CL at BWI for 7 nights) and take it at a slower pace because of crowds & heat but this is a new touring territory for us (me, DH, DS 7 & 9, and DD 4 & 4).The heat in July made it easy to take a mid day break every day. We would hit rope drop or morning EMH, take a break and then park hop to a non EMH park that night.
I can't decide whether a better plan would be to RD a park stay there until after lunch and then enjoy the resort for a few hours and return to another park w/ FP+ that evening OR just stay at one park until late afternoon/early evening and enjoy the resort for the evening. Rope drop, break and then non-EMH park with FP+. We use this strategy every day and makes for better resting touring and get out of the heat.

I know the first option would get us out of the park when it's hottest/most crowded but I'm worried it will be a hassle to get everybody going again after a break. Right now I have my days planned half & half of the options I described above but would love to her opinions/experiences from others of how they tour during the summer season.

Taking a mid day break is essential for our family. We enjoy exploring the resort during the worst of the heat and crowds. BW is fun at night so don't forget to spend some time there.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We used to be go-go-go, but now our kids are older (ok and maybe DH and I are little older too) - we much prefer to slow our pace down. We all love our down time, relaxing and swimming. We mix up our days.
Some days we get up early for rope drop. In the heat we ALWAYS need a mid day break. We may grab lunch in the Park or maybe at the resort. Then we spend a good part of the afternoon swimming and relaxing. Then we head back out. Sometimes it's to another Park. Sometimes it's DTD, mini golfing or dinner at another resort. Depends on the mood.
Other days we sleep in, start our day at the pool, have breakfast at the resort, then head out for the day.

 

[itchin2go]

We do rope drop, break after lunch, and then usually do an ADR for dinner - whether in the parks or at a resort.

For this next trip, I have a few late nights planned (dinner/fireworks), with a few easier nights in between (just dinner, no nighttime shows, etc.). I try not to have a late night followed by an early morning, but sometimes that can't be helped.

We also usually take one whole day off to just lounge, swim, etc. We may go to a park or resort for dinner that night, or maybe not.

So for our next trip, we'll do Epcot on the first day, take a midday break and go back for Le Cellier and Illuminations. The next day, we'll do MK, probably take a midday break and then have dinner at Sanaa (no evening park). A couple of days later, we'll go back to MK and do Wishes that night (dessert party). We don't really need to see the fireworks at each park more than one night, and we accomplish so much at rope drop that we don't need the evening time to do more rides/attractions.

 

[Wendybird55]

If you have Park Hoppers here's my suggestion...
We've stayed at BWV many times (it's our favorite area) and I like going to park at RD and enjoying it until we're ready to go... (usually after lunch sometime). Then we head back to BWV and relax - be it pool, strolling around, whatever..and then, the part I love - we spend evenings in EPCOT WS....it's nice because you don't have to rush to get to EPCOT - you can walk or boat from BW. And with 2 young ones you don't have to fold stroller to get on bus you can wheel right onto boat. We sometimes have dinner ADRS in WS and stroll around and enjoy ourselves. If you decide to stay for Illuminations pick a spot around France then you can easily head for International Gateway when done.

Also, you can easily head to DHS for Fanstamic in evening or maybe go to Fantasia mini golf or just enjoy the arcade games and entertainment on the BW. Or there's a nice arcade at the BC (by Beaches and Cream) my son really likes. There's ice cream at Beaches and Cream and Pizza the BW pizza window.

I really love that area because you can spend your mornings / afternoon at a park seeing and doing a lot..then later afternoon and evening you can enjoy a slower pace and there's so much to do right so close at BW that you don't feel like you're rushing to get anywhere. Plus when the day is done and it's time to head back to resort you're not that far away and not as many crowds to deal with.

Again, this plan only works if you have PHs, but it is one of my favorite ways to slow down the pace and relax while at Disney.

 

[lroger01]

Since you're spending less time in the parks it might be wise to decide in advance which attractions you can skip. Creating a "skip list" takes some of the pressure off to do it all in less time.

For example, do you REALLY need to see the living seas pavilion this trip? Or pick two parades/fireworks and save the others for next time. Or, when touring World Showcase, only visit every other country (or one side) this trip. Ect...

Avoid just doing the headliners in each park, instead skip those you can live without and replace them with a few minor attractions/shows/fun instead.