Help Me Convince My Wife To Take An Afternoon Off From The Parks

[Guzzi]

we are planning our third trip to disney Im very excited, but we have been the kind of folks to spend every minute at the parks while at disney. On our last trip we spent an evening at the resort after doing AK all day, hit the dig site pool at CSR and had a wonderful evening.

I'd like to spend an afternoon/evening at the resort again this year to take a real rest, I need help convincing my wife

 

[thptrek]

Maybe plan a spa treatment or a nice lunch at one of the resorts?

 

[Lilolvr]

Depending on when your going or if you have young ones, we will spend the morning at the pool/resort and then take a break/nap and head out to the parks at night and to take advantage of the EMH's. It's great to see the parks all lit up at night versus the day time.

 

[rie'smom]

Let her plan some of the days but you plan at least one that is away from the parks.

 

[disnut8]

You wouldn't have to convince me. Because we've found that taking a break from the parks is a great way to jump start the vacation haflway through. Otherwise, we jsut feel like we're cows just mooing along with the other cows. Or zombies like in Dawn of the Dead (the ones who just kept coming back to the mall because it was familiar).

A great way to kind of ease out of the park is to have a nice lunch somewhere either in the park but close to the exit or at a nearby resort. For example, you want to leave Epcot for the afternoon. Have lunch at the Yacht Club Galley. At Magic Kingdom, lunch at Tony's Town Square.

If you just want to laze around the pool, make sure your wife has a book or magazine or something to read. Or, go for a long walk around the resort. Maybe she just doesn't want to "do nothing". So do something quiet at the resort. Indulge in a couple of drinks by the pool - alcohol or virgin. And then maybe for the evening, top it off with a nigh time show back at the park. But just the show. Nothing else.

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

I think I'd be the wrong person to ask, as I could spend every minute of every day at the parks. It's MY wife that would like to take a rest. Usually our first day to disney always starts out with a 6:30 am flight to Orlando, get to hotel, unload and spend the entire day and evening at AK, then hit one of the other parks for magic hours.....usually makes for a 20 hour day from the time we wake-up till we hit the pillows.

Wouldn't have it any other way though!!!

 

[Got Quattro?]

We always take time away from the parks. In the past, if staying 7 days, we would only do 4 days at the parks. We'd take a day to shop, a day to golf, a day to sit by the pool.

Buy now since tickets have changed and a 4 day ticket is not realley cheaper than a 7 day ticket we change it up. We decide ahead of time, whatb parks we wont to see in the morning, and which one we want to see at night.

So, we know we want to see EPCOT at night for illuminations. we may sleep till 9:00am or so, get a bite to eat and hand by the pool all afternoon. then head to EPCOT at 5 or 6 for dinner and the show.

If we know we want to rides the rides at Mk before the crowds, we would get up early and ride till we get tired, then head back to the resort at 1 or 2 for some poolside naps.

Doing this type of vacation makes us appreciate the ammenities of a deluxe resort. Your hotel can be so much more than a room to sleep in if you let it.

Ofcourse, going to WDW so many times helps. If we miss something, we see it next time.

 

[Jaymie]

When we went in July 07 (we normally go in January) we stayed at POR. When we checked in our room wasn't ready. This was the first time our room wasn't ready right away. It was so hot, we decided to spend the afternoon by the pool. By the time our room was ready around 5 pm, we went to the room, unpacked, cleaned up and headed to EPCOT for dinner.

Turned out to be our best 1st day yet. I'm usually dying to get to the parks right away, but I think we've found a new way to spend our first day.

 

[bleeps]

If you plan a break for mid-way through your trip, you can pack less and plan to throw a load of laundry in (maybe best to promise your wife that YOU'LL be in charge of that ) while you hang out at the pool. You don't mention where you'll be staying, but chances are good that you could get lunch at the pool, or maybe plan for snacks/drinks after a relaxing swim and then a nice dinner near-by.... We're planning our 5th trip and it's our DS, 9, who's asking that we take it easier, have fewer ADRs to have to get to, and to spend more time at the pool! The other option (or not?) is to spend a little time separately during the trip.... But I'll tell ya, if MY DH promised to be Mr. Laundry Guy while I took an afternoon swim, I'd be all over it!

 

[Flametamr]

We took at least two afternoons off during out last visit. It's nice to catch a nap or just relax and recharge for the long evening ahead. Especially if you are doing the P&PP like we did.

 

[Brad Bishop]

Perhaps you could start the conversation with her by saying, "This is how it's gonna be..."

I can't see where that wouldn't work.

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

Buy her new sneakers.........that should do the trick

 

[fla4fun]

How about signing your wife up for one of the theme park tours, and you spend that time at the resort relaxing? Not everyone has the same energy levels, or wants the same things out of a vacation. It's OK to have some alone time, as long as the alone time is spent doing something each of you likes. I would rather be at the pool alone than have my travel companion complaining because they have to be there. I'm sure your wife feels the same way about the theme parks. On a tour, she wouldn't have to be going around the parks by herself (some people feel awkward alone in a theme park, but I think it's fun) - she would be with a group of people with similar interests. Some of the tours are half days and some are nearly full day tours.

 

[hallie615]

I feel your pain We just got back from our 5th trip, and this was the first time that I felt like we were not running around like mad people. We spent more time just wondering around, if we did not get to see something then oh well, and for the first time we did not run to a park at night just to see fireworks. We went to DTD one night just to wander for about 2 hours. So hats off to you if you can spend more time at your resort, than spending it at the parks.

 

[f7prez]

Two Words: "Blizzard Beach" or "Typhoon Lagoon". If you haven't spent a day at one of Disney's incredible water parks, here is your chance. YOU get to enjoy a day at the coolest pools in central Florida, and your wife gets to spend a day at a theme park... well sort of. I think Blizzard Beach is just as much fun as the other parks. Find a couple of chairs (We prefer the shade) and then hit the slopes. Head back to the chairs to relax, then hit the slopes again.

You can't beat the view from Mount Gushmore.

Or Melt-Away Bay

 

[pepe of ohio]

We really have no problems any more. We purchase AP's and taking a break every day from the parks refreshes both of us. We always stay deluxe and feel part of the price of our room, is spending time at the resort, the pool and in the AC'ed room. Our length of stays average 10 nights so seeing most everything and having a couple of days of no parks is grand. We hit the other resort lounges that have entertainment, we go to the CR, Outer Rim and have some drinks and gaze over Bay Lake, FW is another favorite place of ours, especially in the evenings, best pizza on property. I give her all the time in the parks to window shop and then when she knows whats she's after, we spend the day at DTD buying and shipping back to the resort then taking the boat to POFQ for dinner, Scats Cat Club and bus back to the Mk and then boat to WL. We do not even have time in the last 5 trips to do a water park. Relaxing is a vacation, commando is not, staying in parks in the heat is brutal, she likes lounging around and in the pool and I get some reading time in plus we pack a picnic, libations and all and have a ball. Past September we found the Hot Chocolate in our refill mugs at night taken back to the room and putting on some DVD movies enjoying.

 

[Marshypooh]

This is for "Mrs. Guzzi":

I love being in the parks and sometimes my family will spend an entire day from opening until closing. We have even hung around in the shops or sat on a bench watching the crowds leave, just to enjoy a few more minutes of "magic". However, I have found that after doing this for a few days, I am ready for a little down time. After a day of looping, spinning, whirling and twirling, I have actually done the same thing in my dreams. I have even woke up in the middle of the night, rolling out of bed because I "fell out of a ride". This is my signal that it's time for a change of pace. I find that a few hours spent at the resort relaxing around the pool, taking a walk around the grounds and gardens, or sitting on the balcony with my legs propped up, really relaxes me and helps me get a good night's sleep. The next day I feel refreshed and invigorated. Ready for more exciting and funfilled days at the parks.

 

[dbarker]

Have an alternate plan that she will agree to.

Examples:

Shopping at DTD
Water parks
Really nice late lunch or early dinner at one of the Resorts
Spa day
AKL has an African cuisine tour in the afternoons (don't remember what it is called). Anyone can do it--free.
Movie at DTD
Cirque du Soleil
Bum around FW
Carriage ride

My point is to give her an alternative that she would like. Do not suggest just sitting by the pool (she can do that when she gets home) Maybe plan a couple of things and ask her out for a "date".

Good Luck

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

Buy her new sneakers.........that should do the trick

that's funny......I'll have to keep that in mind for my wife when we go...lol

 

[newholidayx2]

take a morning (or 2) off and head to Off Kilter for the afternoon!