Do you leave the parks for a rest every day?

[lntsmom]

My boys are 7 and 12 and on our last two Disney trips we haven't taken any breaks. The statement "smart visitors know that the way to do the parks is to take a break each day around 1, returning to the park several hours later" seems to be everywhere these days. I was rewatching the latest Samantha Brown special on Disney and started thinking, "Really?"

Our most recent trip was from May 29 - June 4th. We had one day in that stretch that we only spent 8 hours in a park, but that was the only day we weren't there from open to close. We even included one marathon 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. day.

My kids weren't snarly, didn't melt down, and in fact, would have turned on me had I suggesting leaving a park mid-day to go rest.

The comment on the special made me wonder, do the majority of Disney visitors leave every day? Has this become an urban myth? Out of curiosity I thought I'd post a poll and ask!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

We will be going for the first time in December with our girls - they will be 2 & 3. We are going to have strollers with us, and we don't have to worry about the heat, because it will be December, but I do think we will be taking breaks - maybe not every day, but most days.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I voted -- Never. We're there from opening to closing. That being said though, the last three trips were November, January and February. I'm not so sure I'll be able to vote that way after our late August trip. I'm thinking the fact that my mom is going, who has asthma and foot issues, and the fact that it'll probably be hotter than Hades, is going to make me change my vote!

 

[nessz79]

We take breaks for now, but only because we have young children. As they get older, we will probably go to a longer stay.

When I was a pre-teen and teenager, we would go for short vacations to WDW, but we'd go from open to close. It was exhausting, but exhilarating at the same time.

 

[Doc CW]

We sometimes go back for naps with my babysister sometimes she doesnt nap so it depends if she falls asleep or not

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I voted for it depends. We usually switch parks in the pm, so we go to the room and drop off or pick up stuff we have lugged around! Also, sometimes we may need to grab a jacket or whatever. If we've done a long day and plan on being there late, we definitely come back & we ALL are glad for a rest!!

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

We almost always go back for a rest. Our DDs are 9 and 7. We usually rest and swim - then we can do rope drop and closing each day without going home needing a vacation!

 

[rt2dz]

We tried it once when DS#1 was 4yo, DS#2 was 1yo, and I was 6 months pg with DS#3. It was a disaster (the only time we've had meltdowns). We never really have good days when we try to leave the park for a break. Instead, we take in-park breaks, arrive late or leave early. We have been there open to close. I feel it is one of those one size fits all piece of advice that fits about 75%.

 

[donac]

We are planning to do it even though the guys are 23 and 18. They want to be up early for some things and out late for others. I like to cool off and swim in the pool.

 

[imthatgirl]

we dont go back to rest, but we do go back to spend some time swimming at the pool.
we love the parks and love spending time there, but i dont think i could spend 7 full days there. i would run out of things to do.
so we park hop. we spend the morning in a park. then when the parks start to get overly crowded qwe head to the pool, we see no reason to fight crowds, it is after all a vacation. then after weve had some fun at the pool we head to a different park in the evening. generally we will go to mk everyday. as it is everyones favorite. so we will hit another park in the morning and that at night. or vice versa.

 

[srwarden1928]

I answered no but we sometimes get to the parks late or leave before closing.

We NEVER get to the parks late. We are rope drop people. I was wondering how I would convince DW who had never been to Disney before to make rope drop. She suggested it to me. Of course I am usually the one who likes to sleep in. Disney gives me the incentive to get up.

But we always leave when we feel that we have seen and done everything. It does not ever keep us all the way until closing.

 

[sbakersub]

We used the mid-day break plan on our first trip to Disneyland when the kids were 9 and 6, and we still do it because DD is a wimp . We are almost always at the park before opening, leave about 2 or 3 for a nap or swim, then come back at 5 or 6 for the rest of the night. The only time I wouldn't do a break would be if I had only one or two days to visit, and plenty of time to rest up afterwards.

 

[AngelBabyJana]

We are newbies to Disney (planning our first trip), but our family is used to going to amusement parks. We used to always get a annual pass to Astroworld here in Houston (that is where I met hubby at) - now that has closed down, so we get annual passes to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. Yes, I know it's not Disney ...... but it is all that we have close to us. Can't wait for Disney though!!!!!!!

With that being said, we usually always stay in the parks from open to close. My son has no problem sleeping in the stroller when he is tired. When the girls get tired, then we just take time to relax and see a show or something. That has always worked for us.

But we are thinking of doing things different at Disney. I want to try to plan a little "down time" so that we can enjoy swimming at the hotel pool. It is just going to be hard to slow down - we only have 8 days to be there, and already have so much that we want to do/see.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

We do because we all need a bit of downtime. DS is 4 and could honestly go all day if it were up to him, but DH and I need a bit of a reprieve. It gets us out of the sun or at least by the pool. We also always do hoppers so that we can go to another park later in the day if we choose. So it's a good excuse for us. Plus we pretty much do Epcot and MK on our trips anyhow and when you're there for 7 or 8 days that's plenty of time to get everything done and then some.

 

[Kim1964]

I answered always have and always will. We typically go in August and we need a break from the heat. We don't go back to the room to nap, but we do go for a swim, which we all consider restful after the heat and chaos of the parks.

 

[pooh4evr]

For us it is more trouble than it is worth we (in the past ) have always rented a double stroller from BBF so the girls can relax , lay back and sleep when they want to-- we'll just be getting a single next time though so we'll play it by ear!

 

[Aliceacc]

We're planning to do so. It will be August, my kids' first trip, and we're a monorail ride away from the 2 parks we'll be spending most time at.

I think comments like the one the OP quoted are aimed at first time park visitors. The people making the comments know that seasoned travelers have their own system; they know about rope drop and commando and make their choices based on what works well for their family.

But the first time visitor is probably one who thinks Disney is a glorified Six Flags Park.

Take a family like mine, with 3 kids, in the middle of August and no planning, and staying at anyplace in Orlando with a great pool but don't use it because you're at the parks, and I can almost promise several meltdowns.

So, for people trying to get their bearings and looking for advice, I think it's very good advice.

 

[bzzymom]

We are usually in the parks all day, everyday we are there. However, we mostly go in late Nov/early Dec or Jan/Feb. During those months, the parks close earlier, and more comfortable weather so we don't really take breaks. Our last couple visits have been during free dining in Aug and Sept. DD was 19 months, and 2.5 years and I did take her back to the room almost everyday for a nap. DS was 8 and 9 at the time, and he and DH usually stayed in the park, and we met up with them later. They went to the pool once or twice, during DD's nap but usually not.

 

[In a hurry]

We always go early, and leave when we've had enough. Bydoing so, we see everything we want, so it isn't a disappointment if someone gets tired, or would rather swim.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I voted "No, but sometimes leave early or go late."

It depends on the length of the trip, though. - Last time we just went for the day (when already visiting relatives in Florida) so it was MK, rope-drop to close!!! But the time before that, we stayed on property a while, so it was less rushed. - We were usually at a park early, but only stayed late some of the nights. (And one of those times, we did have a lazy resort-stuff morning the next day.)

For us, it feels like "wasting" time for us to do 4 bus trips in one day instead of 2. (But DS would sleep in the stroller when he was little!) I've never really understood why the advice is quite so adamant about mid-day breaks. I think the best pattern is different for everyone.