Do your kids need midday breaks at the parks?

[texasroni75]

No "back to the resort" breaks; we've tried and they just don't work for us. The kids and I could never seem to unwind enough middle of the day to nap back in the room. DH is the opposite, and can easily nap - but we would have a hard time waking him to go back to the parks with us.

Leisurely mealtimes tend to give us adults and the older kids enough time to recharge and relax. Typically, when our younger ones look like they need a nap - DH and I take turns and split the group up. The older kids go with one parent to the attractions, and the other will sit with or push the stroller in a quieter area of the parks to try to get them to rest.

 

[rizzo0904]

Mine are 5 and 6. No breaks, no strollers. We get there at rope drop and leave early...they go to bed at 730. It's not worth it to screw up their schedules.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our son was four on our first trip. He's now 21. We always go back to the resort for an afternoon break. Still. We'll head out earlier in the morning, spend a few hours in the park, go back to the resort and swim or nap, head back out again around four or five. We can stay until late if we like. Only one trip did we spend one entire day in the park and we were so tired the next day we didn't go back to the park like we had planned and just headed home since it was our last day.

 

[hcox31]

My son is 5 1/2 and did just fine with no stroller and no breaks. We just went for rope drop, stayed s few hours and went to the resort for dinner and a swim before bed. He would be asleep by 7/730. We just took lots of rest breaks during the day for meals, snacks and parades and he was fine.

 

[AndiB83]

Our group includes a 6 yo, a pregnant woman and two seniors, so we'll definitely be taking a mid-day breaks, trying for the hottest and most crowded part of the day (staying @ the Boardwalk). Can anyone tell me a bit about the mid-day pool activities they do at the on-site resorts? Are they good for kids of all ages, or older or younger kids? They list the activities on 'the mouse for less' and elsewhere, but I'd like to hear about anyone who knows what's up. Thanks!

 

[George4]

We also go for an extended period (11+ days), so we aren't worried about getting everything done in one day. That being said, we always plan on going back to the room each day, but usually end up doing it every other day. It is just so much excitement that the kids burn themselves out, and we actually had kids getting so exhausted that they were falling asleep in lines. Once we started going back for "pool time" in the sun, and then "watching a Disney movie" from bed, the naps took care of themselves. It also allowed us to see all of the nighttime stuff with no meltdowns, and still make rope drop on some mornings. Creating the opportunity for a nap was important for us, so that we really were enjoying just about every moment, and pretty much avoided any sort of meltdown.

 

[adrienne21snow]

We go back to the room for a midday break whenever we can. There's sometimes a day or two per trip where we don't do it and that always ends up being our worst day. It's not just the kids that need a break, my husband and I also welcome being away from the crowds! and the noise! and the colors! and the people! and the songs! and the stuff! and the so much of everything in every direction! My littlest will usually actually nap and my older child is usually happy to watch something Disney or swim or play with one of the toys we've bought in the shops. I'm usually happy to get in a(nother) shower.

 

[sullyfam]

Our most recent trips: our kids were 3 and 6 the first time and 4 and 7 the second time ... we DEFINITELY needed mid day breaks (parents and kids included). We are rope drop people and tend to pack our schedule up until lunch time. We always do TS for lunch and then head back to the resort to do pool time and relax time. Then we head back to the parks for dinner and night time activities. For young kids especially (at least my kids), a lot of the "fun" for them is the pool (as sad as that is with all the entertainment at the parks). But my kids would start pestering each day by lunch time about wanting to go swimming.

 

[luvmy2babies]

We have done breaks; but only a couple of times like when my daughter had an afternoon BBB appointment. We went to MK that morning, took a break and had some pool time then went back to MK. We also have done a park, a break with or without pool time, then gone back out for dinner at another resort. Most of the time though we don’t do breaks. I learned the hard way that especially with my daughter at least for now it’s not ideal going back out after returning to the resort. We have to have something specific we are going back out for and even then it isn’t easy. Otherwise, once we have gone back, it’s just too hard to get her back out there. No one naps. Once I took them back just to rest before dinner and couldn’t even get them to wind down until…you guessed it, we were back on the bus headed to our dinner. My children can do 3 hours in the pool and still not have enough; so for us pool time works better after a short day in the parks.

So now, we generally do one of three types of days:

Rope drop to around 3-4pm (MK, AK or DHS) then pool time and relax the rest of the day.
10am to 5pm (Epcot) then dinner and relax the rest of the day.
Sleep in and tour from 11am (or later) to close (MK if we want to see the night time parade and Wishes)

Now this is our summer plan because out of 4 trips, we have done 3 in the summer.
We have pretty much stuck with those 3 and they work for us. We’re not exhausted by the end.

 

[Hawkeyegirls]

With my 3 year old, we took the stroller (and Needed it!!) but only took an afternoon break on the day we were staying for late MK fireworks. The other days it worked best for us to go at park open and stay until we were tired (after dinner). Leaving for a "break" with busses and strollers is more work than it would've been worth, lol.

 

[Ava]

My little one is not a good stroller napper, so we took breaks almost every day. The couple days we didn't go back to the room for her to nap, she'd only nap for maybe 30 minutes in the stroller or carrier and then be done by 5-6pm. My older one could probably handle being at the parks all day, but its nice to get out of the heat for a few hours (and escape the afternoon rainstorms when they happen).

 

[pinkprincess30]

Yes, yes, yes! If you are there long hours then you will all have a much better time if you all have a break to recharge for the evening.

If it is a short day and the park closes at 8 or 9, and being that you have a stroller, I think you can make it all day especially if you make strategic stops at low key attractions.
I've attached a pic of two of my boys at 1pm our first day. They were OVER it! But they were rearing to go after lunch, a swim and a nap.

 

[HotMama]

No breaks for us! We have been traveling with the kids every year since they were 18months old. When they were younger they would nap in the stroller and I would find a shaddy spot to sit, while daddy and the other would continue to ride rides. We personally think it's a waste of time to do a lot of traveling back and forth to the resort. We plan resort swim days between busy park days, and they could go to the room and nap on those days.