Do you leave the parks in the middle of the day? tips?

[dkbnyc]

we are going to WDW the last week of april for spring break. We usually stay at the parks open to close. This time I am worried about the heat (we always go in the winter) and the NE spring break crowds.

I think we might want to leave in the heat of the day and return in the evening, but afraid once we leave we might not make it back.

We are staying at POR- sounds like Epcot might be the best park to leave and return to, or maybe MK. Epcot would be the shortest bus ride. How difficult is it to just pick up a taxi at POR- will we have to call for one? I thought a taxi to Contemporary Resort would be the quickest way to get back to MK.

Also, DH isn't coming on this trip. its me and 11yo, 8yo.
thanks
D

 

[Pembo]

Just back from a Mom and 13 you dd trip. We left the parks every day, doesn't matter which park. We are rope drop people so we get a lot done in the morning and by 2 or 3 we are tired. We head back to the resort, relax a little, usually eat dinner and go back to the park for the evening.

We always took the bus and never have to wait very long. We've stayed at POR many times, bus service was always good.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We left every day last trip for DS2 to nap. Buses during the day seemed less efficient. They did not arrive as often. We had some days with 40 min waits. If you need to get back to a park at a certain time for an ADR or FP, leave yourself lots of extra time. Other than that, it's certainly doable.

We are RD people too but I think if we didn't have kids who need to nap, we wouldn't leave, just do shows or people watch or other low key afternoon stuff. But I think I'm a bit of a commando at heart.

 

[tj6285]

WOW! This is my exact dilemma for my trip with DD (10yo) in June. Such a full schedule that we both will need some down time. I booked Character breakfast late (11:20am) to be more of a brunch to get out of the heat and the crowds for a bit while at MK. Not sure if we will make it back to afternoon parade. I also booked a TS lunch at Epcot (1:00pm) to do the same. I think we might hang all day at Epcot though. I really depends on how we both feel.

 

[DisneyMommy9]

I go just my and my 9 year old. We always take a mid day break. We get to the park before park opening, eat lunch in park and head to the resort and then back to parks around 4-5 or after dinner. We love it, pool and relax.

 

[Alesia]

We never leave mid-day. We tried it (mostly because everyone here says it's a must) and found that we end up more tired and cranky than if we just stay all day. For us it's just a massive momentum killer

 

[100acreHiker]

We are going the same week as you, and I, too, am concerned about the heat (didn't expect it to be 90 degrees in April!). We usually do leave for a mid day break because my boys like to swim, but we've always stayed at either the GF or CR, so it was easy to get back from MK and EP (via monorail). This year we are staying at BC for a short visit (3-4 days) and we plan to do one park in the morning, go back to the resort, then go to EP for dinner and the rest of the evening. I think if you have to rely on busses only, it may take a bit more time to get back and forth mid-day, but if avoiding the heat is key, then just maybe come to terms with losing a bit more of time. If you find you're too tired after the break to manage heading back to the same park, maybe you can just take the boat to Disney Springs for the evening since you'll be closer to that?

 

[gtpoohbear]

We usually have a dinner ADR in the park, so we have no choice but to go back, lol! Although we've never really needed the incentive. After a few hours of hanging out at the resort, we are getting restless to go back. But it does probably help to have a concrete time that we need to leave.

A few years ago, we went in late April. Of our 9 days, 3 were cold and rainy, the other 6 were HOT and humid. Like, summer hot. But apparently sometimes it's just nice and pleasant that time of year, you never know.

 

[uccats97]

It's good to take a break. Bus isn't usually a problem but uber is a great alternative. We usually plan an hour for travel time each way just to manage our expectations. If it takes less time, which it usually does, that's great. If it takes the whole hour, we aren't upset.

 

[nilla]

We used to do open-to-close as well, but in recent years, started taking mid-day breaks. We get to the park early (often at rope drop), then head back to the resort either after lunch or before it, depending on the QS dining options in that particular park. Then, we return to the park before dinner, if dinner is in a park, or go to dinner and then to the park. We do it all using Disney transportation.

 

[nilla]

After a few hours of hanging out at the resort, we are getting restless to go back. But it does probably help to have a concrete time that we need to leave.

This!

 

[Hootch]

We have always bought park hoppers. Leaving midday is like hopping between parks. Most of the time in the evening we are going to another park.

The heat can be rough. We get there early and leave around lunch. A dip in the pool, maybe a short nap and a change of clothes makes the evening more enjoyable.

 

[scrappinginontario]

WOW! This is my exact dilemma for my trip with DD (10yo) in June. Such a full schedule that we both will need some down time. I booked Character breakfast late (11:20am) to be more of a brunch to get out of the heat and the crowds for a bit while at MK. Not sure if we will make it back to afternoon parade.

If you're going to your ADR at 11:20 then hoping to go back to your resort for a rest and/or swim and then get back for the afternoon parade I think you will be hard pressed for time and I'm not sure how relaxing your break will be. We normally budget at least and hour for an ADR which takes you to close to 12:30. By the time you leave the park, take a bus back to your resort, walk to your room, possibly change, swim, change back and then make your way back to the MK, it would be calling it close to get back to the MK. You could do it, I'm just not sure it would be much of a rest.

 

[dkbnyc]

We left every day last trip for DS2 to nap. Buses during the day seemed less efficient. They did not arrive as often. We had some days with 40 min waits. If you need to get back to a park at a certain time for an ADR or FP, leave yourself lots of extra time. Other than that, it's certainly doable.

We are RD people too but I think if we didn't have kids who need to nap, we wouldn't leave, just do shows or people watch or other low key afternoon stuff. But I think I'm a bit of a commando at heart.

Im total commando, too, which is probably why DH opted out of this trip It may be just as well- he wouldn't do well standing around in the heat.

 

[Slapshot1188]

Yup... we always leave midday, head to the hotel (usually POR) and then head back (usually to a different park). As a matter of fact we usually just Fastpass the late park attractions and stay at the first one until the lines start to be come prohibitive. Lunch at the hotel is soooo much easier than the parks.

 

[dkbnyc]

We used to do open-to-close as well, but in recent years, started taking mid-day breaks. We get to the park early (often at rope drop), then head back to the resort either after lunch or before it, depending on the QS dining options in that particular park. Then, we return to the park before dinner, if dinner is in a park, or go to dinner and then to the park. We do it all using Disney transportation.

maybe we should try it this year- it really depends on the weather I guess. It currently looks to be trending warmer than I had expected.

 

[dkbnyc]

We never leave mid-day. We tried it (mostly because everyone here says it's a must) and found that we end up more tired and cranky than if we just stay all day. For us it's just a massive momentum killer

that's what I am afraid of. We did it once and after everyone was in the pool they didn't want to leave. I had a mutiny on my hands!

 

[redsbe]

Only if long days, late nights/early mornings, and the heat/humidity cause us wear and tear a few days into our vacation. We find current situation with HS, makes for a perfect park, to take mid day break for resort rest/pool, and then return for evening including Fantasmic show. But keep in mind getting out of a park, to a resort, rest time, then back to park can take 2 hrs or more out of your day. Which is reason we tend not to do for MK and Epcot which we view as full day parks. With young kids, combination of excitement, early mornings/late nights, travel, and heat/humidity can wear them out pretty fast. But you know you kids best as to how they can handle it, if not leaving the park, perhaps take a quiet hour or so in a shaded less busy place in the park for a break for everyone.

 

[AshleeH]

In general, we go back to swim. It's a feeling of accomplishment to get every single thing done on our list before lunch - we earned that break lol!

 

[mkla2015]

We take a break every single day! We hit the parks 9am-2pm, go back to the resort for naps or swimming, head out again to the parks around 6-7pm. It works great for us. My kids would be monsters if we stayed out all day... Especially in the heat.

Transportation has never been an issue... If anything busses, monorails, and ferries seem less crowded midday.