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

[Planogirl]

We have always taken a break but we don't necessarily go back to the resort every time. We might just go to a nearby resort and get a drink at their food court or café and relax for a little while. I personally need to get out of the crowds for a while.

We don't have a problem with this being a momentum killer. We always feel ready to go after a bit of rest rather than dragging through the evening like we otherwise would.

 

[momof2n2]

No.
I know my attitude isn't shared by all, but any minute I'm not on the park is money I'm giving them for nothing in return.

 

[Nancyg56]

We have been traveling as an all-adult group for a while now, we don't take afternoon breaks per se but we sometimes chill at the resort for an hour or two before dinner (maybe that is a break!) We have a summer trip coming with small children and there's just no way they are going to be able to tolerate the heat and the crowds for long periods of time, so we're definitely planning on breaks based on their "fuses."

Ideally you're staying for a long enough period of time such that you don't fret losing park time. It's tough to justify bailing on the parks for 4 hours at a time if you're only staying 4 or 5 nights, much easier at the 7-10 night level. I'm aware that a number of our UK friends stay for longer periods, and I think that's a great way to see "the world."

We can go longer with adults than we can with kids too. The girls needed that break in the afternoon last Summer, and thankfully I had planned one evey day.

Normally we last until after lunch sometime, head back to swim, rest and shower, and then go back somewhere in the evening.

No.
I know my attitude isn't shared by all, but any minute I'm not on the park is money I'm giving them for nothing in return.

LOL! We all are different aren't we? I look at the completed trip as vacation. If I isolate any component after I pay then I would cry.

 

[Amunet]

People staying at Coronado Springs should say they're taking a siesta!

 

[Chrelaine]

We took a break midday every day of our trip the first week of May last year. The buses ran fine at that time of day. We found with DD4, it was a nice break to hit the pool or nap before we headed back out around dinner time.

 

[gorkt]

When the kids were younger, we tended to do 3/4 days instead, either going at rope drop and leaving the parks at 2-3 pm or going in later and staying for the fireworks. Using the transportation with strollers was a hassle and I didn't want to do it twice. Since the kids are older now and can stay up, we will likely do more mid day breaks with park hopping. My son in particular loves to swim so on our last trip, we did rope drops, then my husband would nap while I hung out at the pool with DS and DD.

 

[Robertfam08]

We typically do rope drop, book a TS lunch around noon, then decide if we want to hit one last thing before leaving for a break. We have never found it to me a momentum killer. We get SO MUCH done in the first few hours at any park. We go in September, so the afternoon is either rainy or HOT anyway. It's the perfect time to use the pool or just decompress. We have a quick dinner around 5:00 before heading back into the park for the night. It's perfect for us. Our kids are the ones who need the rest most, but as an adult, I appreciate the refresh of being able to change clothes or whatever I need after a humid morning or swim before starting fresh for the evening.

The difference for us is that we drive ourselves. Coming and going takes very little time...no waiting around.

 

[snowwhite84]

We are definitely break people, though we don't have little ones yet. I find I am ready to leave after about 4 hours, so we typically leave after lunch. Enjoying dining reservations at other resorts is a big part of our Disney vacations. For instance, next week one of our days will be: Morning in MK, BOG lunch, swim/nap at our resort, head to Poly for drinks at Trader Sams followed by dinner at California Grill. MK is open late that night so we'll go in if we're up to it, or head back to the resort.

That's a perfect Disney day for us. Guess it just depends on what you enjoy! If I spent 13 straight hours at MK I would be cranky, lol, don't know how toddlers handle it!

 

[AllieBoo]

We go in June, so we always take a midday break. We swim, nap, eat lunch, etc. and then head back to the parks in the evening. A lot of times, it seems like most people are starting to arrive for the day as we are taking our break, so it works well for us!

 

[snowwhite84]

Wanted to add, I think it is important if you are doing a break to get out early. If you exit the park at 3, I think that's a bit too late. The sweet spot is around 1pm. If you do rope drop, that is plenty of time to get a lot done. And 1 pm gives you enough time so you don't feel rushed trying to get back somewhere by 6 or 7 pm.

 

[lugnut33]

My kids always looked forward to a break during the day. First, it's really nice to get away from the crowds of the park. Second, they really loved swimming in the pools and doing other resort stuff.

 

[KimDisFan]

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.

We (DD21 and me 48)had this same dilemma on our trip the week of 3/13. We literately had a 30 min debate on how to fit in the parade, we are RD, afternoon break people, return to park later. Wait times by 10 am were way too crazy and we were done with our last FP by 1:00 pm. If we left we wouldn't make it back in time, we just decided to hang out for the 3 pm parade, we grabbed a seat in the shade on Main Street about 1:45pm, took turns checking the stores out (ended up buying a Pandora ring), getting popcorn, people watched for a while and meet some great people sitting by us and the time went really fast. The other plus, my DD high school marching band was there that day and we got to cheer them on. We left after the parade and made our return time to HS later in the evening that original plan, we were going to the fireworks and EMH.

 

[bjscheel]

We didn't do breaks until we started going in June. It's hot! We take it day by day. I plan FP for 10am-1pm, then we can decide whether to get more for right away and stay, or to get another one for evening and go back for a break instead. Or we might stick it out till supper and leave then for the day. I think on our AK days we will sleep in and stay till we're done.

We're staying at Wilderness Lodge for the first time, so I would like to have time to enjoy the resort and pool there.

 

[Sevey13]

I've gone in May every time I've visited as an adult and never found it so hot that we had to leave. This is coming from a Seattle-ite, and we wither in the sunlight! It's warm, don't get me wrong, but not sweltering. If it's temperature you are worried about, that's my take.

 

[OFF2NVRLAND]

No.
I know my attitude isn't shared by all, but any minute I'm not on the park is money I'm giving them for nothing in return

This is exactly how I feel, lol. We didn't break at all our last trip. We made rope drop and closed the parks most nights. One of our MK nights we had to leave at 7:00 for a party night. I hope we can do the same with our upcoming trip in 6 weeks. This will be our first summer trip so hopefully we can handle the heat since we are from southeast Alabama.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We always leave mid-day. We do the parks from about 9 -1 and then head back for pool and maybe nap time. We then head out again around 5 for nighttime fun!

 

[tj6285]

We (DD21 and me 48)had this same dilemma on our trip the week of 3/13. We literately had a 30 min debate on how to fit in the parade, we are RD, afternoon break people, return to park later. Wait times by 10 am were way too crazy and we were done with our last FP by 1:00 pm. If we left we wouldn't make it back in time, we just decided to hang out for the 3 pm parade, we grabbed a seat in the shade on Main Street about 1:45pm, took turns checking the stores out (ended up buying a Pandora ring), getting popcorn, people watched for a while and meet some great people sitting by us and the time went really fast. The other plus, my DD high school marching band was there that day and we got to cheer them on. We left after the parade and made our return time to HS later in the evening that original plan, we were going to the fireworks and EMH.

HA! My "must-have souvenier" will be something Disney Pandora! I love Pandora!

 

[sweetcarolinamoma]

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

We have on occasion but usually no. Of course we havent been when it was super hot. Only in Nov.

 

[tj6285]

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.

Oh, I wasn't saying we would go back to the resort, I was saying if we even made the Parade after our 11:20 ADR. We might end up too tired with a full tummy!

 

[Tomh]

I have done mid day breaks a few times. Generally, I don't, as it is nearly impossible to get everyone to settle down for any kind of rest, so there is little point in it. This year, we are staying off site, so that is one more reason not to try for a mid day break. Instead, in the middle of the day, we have a long lunch, and concentrate on long, cool, less crowded attractions like Philharmagic, Country Bear Jamboree, Carousel of Progress, and wandering the shops etc.