Everyone Says to Take an Afternoon Break....

[SLPKim]

We always go early and stay til just after lunch and then head back. We like to make it low key but I also wouldn't do that for 1 day.

 

[ammag]

It really depends on the family. We stayed off property so we had a slightly longer trek back to the resort for a midday rest. It turned out to be horribl,e everyone was grumpy did not sleep and we never did it again! I did have north kids Ina. Double stroller though they napped just fine and we never had a meltdown. If you stay all day it is good to give yourself an in park break..let kids play in a play area, take the monorail to a resort and explore. Try rides like carousel of progress, people mover, ride to conservation station to relax a bit more. Every resort is welcoming to non guests with lots of seating to rest in and good food options.

 

[brockash]

No way would I take a break if you're only doing 1 day. Personally, I find it iffy to do a mid day break during our week long stays. -We only do it if it's convenient etc. One day, especially in September you'll be just fine staying the whole day. We go every September with kids from a few months old up through 12.

 

[usagibuffy]

We are DLR veterans and regularly do a single full day in the parks. My toddler will generally pass out around 3-4, much later than his usual nap time of 12:30, but at least he's getting a nap. I like to take him on the train when he seems ready to pass out and ride it until he's out. Then we can get off and put him in the stroller. My oldest stopped taking naps at 2.5. We recently did a long day, 8am to 10pm, and my oldest was perfectly pleasant until around 9pm. (And we have to leave the house at 6 to get there for opening at 8, so she was up by then.) For one day, I wouldn't bother with a mid-day break.

 

[starsweeper]

My older two kids (both 7) were horrible toddlers if they didn't get a nap. We tried not returning to the room a couple times and it was a nightmare with them. However, my young two kids (3 & 2) just get fussy, we pop them in the stroller and they fall asleep. It really depends on your kids' temperament. That said, if I were going for 1 day, I'd plan to stay in the park and be prepared with special snacks or other items to please any fussy kids and get through the day.

 

[navyblue8]

Never ever taken a break outside of a sit down lunch and have never regretted it or even considered it. We take short trips and do not have time for a break. We also are not rope drop people but are there almost until the end most nights. ETA that my oldest has been 3 times and my youngest has been twice. He is 2.

 

[Disneylover99]

We've taken a break a few times when my children were younger. It never worked out for us though because we never made it back to the parks. I could never get them to nap at Disney, so we would go back to the resort, hit the pools, eat an early dinner and then one or the other would fall asleep for the night.

 

[alicat8]

For 1 day, I'd tough it out. I've only been with my nephew and we did breaks, but we stayed longer. It's day after day that can get to you (especially in the heat) without breaks. He did take some naps in the stroller.

 

[tinktinktink]

I think it depends on your child. The break for us was just wasn't worth it to go all the way back to the hotel. If you were staying at a monorail resort maybe.

 

[DopeyDame]

We are big believers in the afternoon break, but it doesn't have to be back at your hotel. We've done breaks on the boat that goes back and forth between the TTC and the MK, in the lobby of the Contemporary, on the beach at the polynesian. Just anywhere to get out of the crush and craziness of the park for an hour or two.
We haven't had much luck on the monorail - I think it's just too exciting and there's too much commotion for my kids to really settle down. The big boat seems to work much better. In the middle of the day there's hardly anyone on it and not much coming and going if you find a quiet corner.

 

[Haley]

No just for 1 day - I wouldn't leave the park.

Most of the people you'll hear saying they take a break - they are staying onsite for a week. So it's easy to go back to the hotel/swim/nap and go back to the parks in the evening- that's what we do.

That said- I don't think your kids would just fall asleep in the monorail- it does make stops/announcements/doors opening & closing, people talking etc. I would probably just find a shady spot in the MK where you and DH can sit on a bench or walk around and have a snack or something.

 

[harrisb1964]

We don't actually take official breaks. We may stop and sit in the shade and get a Mickey Bar, ride the Steamboat, take the boat to Epcot, hang out at the Honey Who Shrunk the Kids playground at Hollywood Studios, take the train around Animal Kingdom and not get off at the affection station then just stay on the train back to the station, take a break and browse in the shops. Overall, we pretty much stay all day and ride what we want to ride. Not commando, but don't want to miss any of the parks either. We have done this since my son was 5 and he has always been fine. Actually usually I'm the one who tires out first, my son and his dad can go nonstop into the night. Several times after dinner, I'd head back to the hotel and they would stay in the parks to ride more rides.

 

[pumpkinpatchquilter]

but I want to hear from people who didn't do this. Did your kids nap in the stroller and do okay through the evening hours?

Here's the situation: We can only afford one day at the parks, and we are going to the Magic Kingdom. Because we are only doing one day, I can't stand the thought of leaving for 3-4 hours in the afternoon. I feel like it's wasting so much of the day. Our kids will be 4.5 and almost 2 when we go in September. We are staying offsite, so to leave after lunch and go back to the resort, it's probably an hour or more round trip. Not to mention, when my kids are tired they conk out in the car and if woken up to be taken to their room, they typically won't go back to sleep. SO with that being said, my preliminary plan is to hopefully get them to sleep in their double stroller while we ride around the monorail. Do you think this is a doable plan? They could snag about a 1.5 hour nap, DH and I can relax, and it avoids the hassle of driving in and out of the park.

I would love to hear from BTDT parents who didn't take the afternoon break at their resort, whether it was a success or failure, and any additional tips.

Thank you!!!

We take a break back at the resort mid-day not just for the kids...but I for one needed the break! I'm sure if you have stroller age kids you could probably make it with small breaks within the park...but truly, if you haven't been before don't underestimate how exhausted YOU will be. Disney is the most amazing park I've ever been to, but it can be a nightmare when you are tired and trying to soothe cranky kiddos. Not to say it can't be done, but for me, I know I'd be just as miserable as the kids.

BTW - a break at the resort doesn't mean you must be confined to your room sitting and being quiet. My Husband needed the nap so he'd stay in the hotel room with our then 18 month old and I'd take the older two swimming. It felt great to cool off in the pool after all that walking and after a swim we were geared up for the rest of the day in the park and would usually stay later into the night after the kids were conked out in their strollers (and the weather is cooler too).

 

[scrapquitler]

We never leave the park.

When we went and our son was a toddler, he napped in the following places: in his stroller while we enjoyed the park. He also slept while we rode (multiple times) on the TTA. He also slept on the train (which might be a better option than the monorail) and in the Hall of Presidents.

 

[MandiC]

For one day, no way! I personally didn't even like taking a break and we stayed a week. Even onsite you have long travel times and I just feel like it wastes so much park time. Granted we were not there during a hot month so afternoon was some of the most enjoyable weather (mornings and evenings were a little chilly), coming from somewhere that was below freezing most days and getting 70s and 80s, the very last thing I wanted to do was go sit in a hotel room There is a nice quiet path behind tomorrowland that would be perfect to walk up and down until they are asleep in the stroller. Be aware that the spot with benches on this path is a designated smoking area if that bothers you (people may or may not be using it when you are there) Liberty Square seemed pretty quiet when we were there also.

 

[DCbride]

We take a break every afternoon because we are there for 7-12 days. If I was only going for 1 day there is no way I would lose time in the afternoon. Your kids might not even need a nap if you are not busy the day before. If we were out for the day, I would definitely find a quiet area, maybe take the boat to Ft Wilderness and just stroll around the area between Space Mountain and Goofy coaster.

 

[JanBlessed]

I'm going to the parks just one day and one water park. My youngest is 1 yr old and I'm not planning a break out of the park. I'm taking my stroller, which is pretty comfy (bugaboo chameleon) and she will hopefully nap there, as she does when we go out here or there. My son was 3 his first parks visit and he napped in his (it was the Bee) stroller

From reading some prior responses, I'm convinced that neither you nor I need to leave the parks - fingers crossed

 

[ericstac]

i would never consider leaving the park if it was a one day vacation. they will sleep in the stroller when they get to that point. Some parks have calming areas, I think MK is out between Crystal Palace and Casey's Corner. if the little ones get too overwhelmed with everything..

perhaps take some swim suits and pay in the splash area outside of Barnstormer. My kids love it and can play there for hours if we allowed.

there is a big steam boat you could ride as well to take a nice break on that takes you through the park.. also a train that goes around the entire park that i find myself even napping on lol..

best thing is just go with the flow and pay attention to the kids, they will let you know what is needed.. if its time to leave its time to leave. we generally do rope drop and the kids are done by 2-3pm.

 

[Bronxgirl]

DD has never been a big napper so this wasn't a big deal for us. She was about 3.5 when we went and we stayed at the parks all day, between 10-12 hours each day. She did really well. I don't think she took any stroller naps, although sometimes she relaxed in the stroller. She was in really good spirits and excited to be there so she had enough energy without getting overtired. Personally I liked being able to go straight through without having to schlep back and forth to the hotel. There's so much to see and do, even being there 10 hours a day wasn't enough to do everything.

 

[ammag]

Didn't work for us, we did on our first day everyone got crabby and nobody slept. Bbt everyone's different, I know people who do this and their daughter is 7. All you can do is try it one day, if you find nobody is resting then head back? My kids napped in the stroller even my six year odl got into the stroller and napped last fall. Which makes for nice relaxing adult time