Do you do Half Days or Full Days at the Parks?

[devotedchristian]

Especially if you have young children. I know how expensive the parks are but if you have babies/toddlers do you "plan on" half days or do you plan on full days at the parks.

I am taking DS (3 when we go) to Epcot and I have read how large it is, twice the size of MK. I plan on half day, because I will only do the PreSchooler Attractions and a couple of Kid Masks in the Countries. We might leave the parks by 1pm (depending on his fatigue) and we can spend the rest of the time at the resort (Beach Club Villas I'm told is an attraction in itself).

I wouldn't consider it a waste of money though.

So what do you do?

 

[Stiff]

half day

then to the resort to rest/nap/swim

then back to the park for the evening

 

[saffymom]

We do full days in the park. Not because we think it would be a waste of money, it's just what we like to do. I think a lot depends on your child. DS2 is pretty flexible with his schedule and is a good stroller napper, so we usually used his nap time as time to do "Mommy & Daddy" things like walk through World Showcase or take turns riding Mission Space and Test Track.
However, my 4 year old niece was not as flexible, so her family took afternoon breaks to go back to the hotel for lunch and to swim. Again, I think it all depends on how your child is.

 

[ep4244]

We do a little of both. We usually alternate going all day one day and half the next or sometimes going in the am then hit the hotel pool and return in the evening. Best to take it on a daily basis. I'm on vacation and don't want to be totally wiped out.

 

[newholidayx2]

DS13 & I are planning 1/2 days in Aug
We're going for 2 wks - wont be activating our APs until our 3rd full day at WDW
Planning each of the parks once at their regular openings and then the rest will be late afternoons/nights

 

[mouseketeerwannabe]

We usually get to the park when it opens and stay until after lunch. We return to the resort to nap, swim, relax, and then return to a park for dinner and fireworks etc. We've done this since our daughter was little. It's just habit now, but it works well for us. We never become exhausted, so nobody gets crabby or grouchy.

 

[DebbieB]

When I take my mom, we do half day at one park, go back and rest, then another park in the evening. I think it makes the trip seem longer because we are in 2 different parks each day.

 

[devotedchristian]

bump

 

[Briarmom]

We do a bit of both as well. If you had a half day in AK the day before (for example), your ds may not be too tired to have a full day of Epcot. There really is a lot to see there, and it is a lot of walking around and looking as well. It completely depends on how your ds is taking it. I think the Epcot parade and Illuminations is a must see at night, but if he is screaming tired, then it won't be any fun for anyone.
My ds was a good stroller napper, so we always did full days with him. We would ride the 'big kid' rides while he napped (or at Epcot, we'd sit and have a half yard of beer). DD is another story. She has never slept in her stroller no matter how tired she is. So she is not as fun at WDW as her big brother was.
Good luck and have fun on VACATION!!

 

[MomofKatie]

I agree with DebbieB- we like to hit one park early, go through an early lunch, then head back to the resort to swim, rest, and freshen up. Then, it's back out to a different park for an early dinner and evening touring and the nighttime show/fireworks. We get to experience each park in the AM and evening, and we aren't wiped by the end of the day.

On a weeklong trip, we also schedule a couple of 1/2 days away from the parks to just relax, swim, have DD do the Pirate Cruise, or explore the resorts. Aaaaaah... Disney CAN be relaxing!

 

[hezreck]

My DD quit taking naps when she was 2 1/2, so when we were there when she was 3 1/2 we spent the whole day everyday in the parks. We only got a stroller in Epcot, and the rest of the parks she walked herself. (With Dad carrying her a little....) We would stop and sit down when she wanted to and after she rested for a few minutes, we would go again. I know most kids probably couldn't do this, but it worked for us. She's just happier to stroll along herself rather than ride in a stroller. Plus at the end of the day when we got back to the room, she always fell right to sleep, and was ready to go again the nest day. Just for info, we were only there 3 days that trip. This past trip she was 7 and we were on the go all day everyday for 7 days.
I personally do not like to take time to swim when we are at Disney. I feel like I can swim anytime, so why waste my time doing it there when there is SO MUCH to see in the parks.

 

[Kaitysmom]

As Briarmom says, it depends on the child. DD joined us for full days and went nonstop, no problem. We went during Feb. though and the park hours are shorter, so a break during the day seemed like a waste of money to us. Now we do half days much of the time. We've been there, done that and we have decided to stay deluxe and hang out at the resort more. I love BC and you're right - the resort and SAB are awesome and an attraction in themselves.

 

[tjkraz]

Our kids are 4 and 2, and we do the break. Usually 9-12am, back to the room for lunch and a nap, then 4pm to the end of the day.

A lot of it depends on how your kids are. Our son (the 4yo) needs his nap or he's not much fun to be around later in the day. Our daughter will just sleep in the stroller on her own schedule.

Still it's worth taking the break. We like to hit two different parks in a day, and the nap time is just a natural break in the flow.

 

[tae1218]

half day

then to the resort to rest/nap/swim

then back to the park for the evening

That is our plan too. The rest makes a big difference. It gives everyone a break from all the walking and the hot Flordia sun. DD loves to come back to the resort to take a swim.