going back to the hotel for a swim or a nap

[buteraa]

We don't have any kids but we get up, hit the parks and love to come back for an afternoon nap. We wake up and either go back out to the parks or head to DTD for dinner and shopping. It really helps to get away from the parks and relax for a bit.

 

[Toadlover]

Dripping. We always swim or shower, change and go out fresh for the evening.

Sitting in Michigan right now that sounds so wonderful! Freshly swimmed or showered with wet hair and ready to take on the parks for the night!

 

[I<3Dopey]

i find taking a break in the middle of the day re-energizes us and we have less melt downs. Plus it doesn't over whelm the kids with lines. It also makes them and us less moody. who wants to be moody at WDW.

 

[Toadlover]

i find taking a break in the middle of the day re-energizes us and we have less melt downs. Plus it doesn't over whelm the kids with lines. It also makes them and us less moody. who wants to be moody at WDW.

I do! I want that smile on my face.

 

[aretha30]

We always go in August (this year it's the 4-12) and we PH so we take a break mid day between parks. We go back to our resort swim or nap, and this will sometimes help us avoid the afternoon storms in the parks. Being on property definitely has its perks and our boys don't overload going from RD to park close.

 

[AndreaA]

Our last two trips have been on-site with our two kids. Even though we went in Sept & Oct (when the hours are shorter) we still went back to the hotel (Wilderness Lodge) every afternoon.

September is still HOT, so it was almost a necessity then. But the thing is, even though the hours were shorter, the crowds were so low that we got everything we wanted to do done in the morning! And that included a LOT of rides (everything in NewFantasyland, most twice, plus BTMRR, Space, Buzz and Speedway were our usual targets!) and were basically ready to leave.

We'd hang out at the pool, take a shower and head out to our ADR.

One of the boys still puts "The Hotel!" at the top of his favorite DW things, so it was time well spent.

 

[jennc27]

When we went in Aug 2009 and stayed at All Star Movies. We scheduled the afternoon breaks because our boys was 8 and 3. It ended up being a live saver for my DH and I as well. One afternoon all four of us was so tired that we took off our shoes and actually fell on to the beds and passed out on top of the covers! We slept for 4 hours and then had great showers and were ready to eat dinner!

Afternoon breaks are wonderful!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We typically take an afternoon break on about half of our park days on a trip. The hotter the weather, the more sense the break makes. This time around our kids are 17 and 14. DW and I are thinking we may let them decide for themselves if they want to take a break back at the resort or not

 

[JimmyV]

We used to in the 1970s when there was less to do. Now we don't. We rarely if ever hop, so we plan our days accordingly. AK is a short day (8:00-4:00 or so), so there is no need there for a break. DHS is a fairly short day (9:00-7:00 and then dinner) so we plan our day so that Beauty and the Beast and maybe Indy are mid-afternoon and that serves as our break. At Epcot, we find ourselves in World Showcase at the time when a break would make sense and leisurely shopping coupled with movies (China, France) serve as our break along with some gelato. No need to leave the park to beat the heat. At the MK, frankly we just tough it out. CoP, a circuit on the train and a wet drop on Splash serve as our cool down.

 

[LoverDisney]

My kids are 10 and 12 and for this trip we took a midday break. We are staying 10 days and needed a midday break. It gave us a chance to recharge. Today we just hung out at the resort and just relaxed and swam. The kids loved it and it makes the trip more enjoyable and everyone less cranky.

 

[travelbug]

I don't remember ever NOT taking an afternoon break when staying onsite. It feels so good to unwind for a while before heading back out for the evening. At times of the year when the parks aren't open as late, the afternoon breaks tend to be shorter.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

For an August visitor it is a must. Best feeling in the world is doing Rope Drop, enjoying so much of a park in 5 hours, being a hot sweaty mess, getting back to the hotel, taking the greatest feeling shower in the world, wrapping a robe on, calling for a wake up call for 2 hours later, waking up feeling amazing and ready to conquer the evening.

Every time we claim we are going back for a swim, every time the above happens.

 

[momto3boysillbe]

We have done it but it's not a strategy of ours. It will take up at least 3-4 hours of the day if you plan to nap. In the "off season" when the hours are shorter, I have a hard time leaving for that long. We have learned on our last couple of trips that we kind of just have to go with the flow and do what is needed though. If everyone is exhausted on day 4 and we've already been to the MK twice then a break is easier to take. I've not been in the middle of summer though since I was 12 so I'm betting I would be demanding a break if I was there in the summer months!

 

[Avery's mom]

For an August visitor it is a must. Best feeling in the world is doing Rope Drop, enjoying so much of a park in 5 hours, being a hot sweaty mess, getting back to the hotel, taking the greatest feeling shower in the world, wrapping a robe on, calling for a wake up call for 2 hours later, waking up feeling amazing and ready to conquer the evening.

Every time we claim we are going back for a swim, every time the above happens.

YES! YES! YES! Even in the off-season, in the winter, every time we go - we take a break and it is the best feeling in the world to get to that AC cooled room and pass out!

We have a baby who will nap in a stroller - but hey - we adults need naps, too! I am no spring chicken who can go from Rope Drop to close without that heavenly, mid-day break. It's the most wonderful thing about staying on-site IMHO.

 

[Yahweh]

Disney Resorts are very much a theme park in and of themselves to my kids. They love going back to the resorts in the afternoon and swimming and playing pool games with the cast members.

We have never been all that successful at napping them in the afternoon, but by simply getting them out of the afternoon crowds and heat, is enough change of pace to keep all of us refreshed. Plus it gives us an opportunity to freshen up for our 5:00pm dinner reservation... do a couple of rides after dinner, and call it a night and prepare for rope drop again tomorrow.

 

[laurenvittoria]

We always take a mid afternoon break and park hop! Some of my favorite Disney memories are in the resorts. Except for our very first visit 20+ years ago have never done a full day at the park! Now going with my own kids (babies) for the first time I am guessing the break will be even more necessary!

 

[CanadianPaco]

For every single park day visit for each trip (WDW and DL), we have stayed on site (Good Neighbor at DL) and have taken a break...except for one day. Dec 24 2010 where we spent Christmas Eve at MK. We opened and closed the park that day and we all remember how utterly exhausted we were. But it was Christmas Eve at MK!! That's our plan for this year as well!

 

[Kristie911]

We are going at the end of September but I'm figuring it will still be hot, hot, hot, so we are planning breaks even with the shorter park hours. The kids will need a break and I know when I get hot my temper gets short and I don't want to be that parent who is b!tching at her kids in Disney World. LOL

I planned mostly lunch ADR's so we can go for a few hours, sit down in a nice cool restaurant and enjoy a character lunch then decide if we want to nap, swim or hit a few more rides. I'm really trying to plan without overplanning...not an easy feat. We are a go with the flow family and Disney doesn't make it easy for families like us anymore!!

 

[jiminy.cricket]

We always used to go commando as well, and have always stayed off-site. However, my parents would find breaks during the day. They were always on the lookout for air-conditioning: Haunted Mansion, TTA, Carousel of Progress, Spaceship Earth, really almost any ride and restaurant could offer bursts of respite during the day, which I agree is almost mandatory (for your own safety and well-being) in August. You could also take the monorail resort hopping at the lounges for a bit if you're staying off-site. I imagine the pools and resorts may be a bit crowded too, but probably not as much as the parks. I've been in August and the combination of heat, crowds, tempers from children and adults, and waiting can be brutal, especially if you want to see it all. Remember to constantly hydrate and wear protection from the sun! The sun is strong for most of the day, while humidity and temperature can climb not far from 100%.

 

[RysMomma]

Ever since we were little, my parents always had that method of doing the parks. When we first took our son 5 years ago, we did the same thing. This year, when we go, it's part of our plans. I think in August it's so important. Everyone is hot and sweaty and the crowds get worse around that that time. We love going back and napping or swimming (although usually it's napping!)