How long do you stay in parks with kids?

[JenDisneylandlver]

Another reason we leave for breaks is so that we can eat outside of the parks. Too pricey if we did them all there, and honestly I like the variety! A lot of the time we'll pick up something and take it back to our hotel room. Eat, watch a little tv, nap, swim ect.. Then were refreshed to spend the whole evening at DL. We also get there at opening.

Kudos to those of you who can do it opening to closing without a break! I would be so tired if we did that!

 

[hookem81]

Last time we were there the kids were 6, 7 and 9. We got in line around 7:30 every morning (slept in an extra hour on day 3 of 5)and were back in the hotel for the night between 8:30 and 9:15, except the one night we stayed for the fireworks. We usually just find some place for a LONG sit down lunch. The evenings we played by ear. It was more important for us to get to the parks at opening, than to stay and see the fireworks. The kids were sound asleep usually within 15 minutes of getting to the hotel. The kids were exhausted at the end

We just back from a 5 day trip with DD9, DS6, and DS1, and we follow a similar strategy. We have gone on several trips with this crew over the past 3 years and have never taken a mid-day break. There are some times where the kids get upset or overtired, but we can usually find a slow-down opportunity in the parks somewhere or usually that means they need to eat. My wife and I just hate the thought of leaving the parks when we are out-of-staters and can't get to Anaheim on a weekend easily.

This last trip, we found we could open the parks and stay until 9 or so with one day of sleeping in. In our summer trips, we have been able to stay even longer, but coming from a vicious Chicago winter, we think everyone tired out a little more quickly this time - it was so nice in SoCal, it was like visiting another planet last week.

 

[mindylovesmickey]

Another reason we leave for breaks is so that we can eat outside of the parks. Too pricey if we did them all there, and honestly I like the variety! A lot of the time we'll pick up something and take it back to our hotel room. Eat, watch a little tv, nap, swim ect.. Then were refreshed to spend the whole evening at DL. We also get there at opening.

Kudos to those of you who can do it opening to closing without a break! I would be so tired if we did that!

I'm with you on that! We just did 5 days and there was no way we could have done opening to closing every day! But, at the same time we did eat all of our meals in the DLR, whether it was at the hotel, DTD, or in the parks. We didn't want to drive anywhere and walking in those three areas was enough for us.

But, being there for opening or any MM you get is very important, you definitely get the most done in those first few hours.

 

[disneychrista]

What does gate closing mean? Does this mean we won't get back in if we leave?

Yes that's what it means. This only happens when the park is very very busy like on Christmas and New Years. Most times they do reopen the gates and allow reentry.

There are many steps to them closing the gates. The first step is they stop selling tickets to the park. Next they stop allowing new entries (those who have not been in the park that day). The last step is to stop allow all entries to the park.

 

[Vacation Dad]

We always stay at the Best Western PPI which is right across the street, and we always have gone to the park during school breaks when it has long hours. We get to the park before opening, and we go like crazy people until early afternoon when we go back to the hotel for lunch and a break. When the kids were little they took naps or played in the pool, but now that they are all teenagers they watch TV for a while and we take the naps. We then go back to the park late in the afternoon to use all the fastpasses we got earlier in the day. On our last trip we were in the parks for about 13 hours each day, and we walked about 14 miles a day according to my wife’s pedometer.

One thing we do is go on one of the “get wet” rides right before we head back to the hotel for lunch. That way if you get soaked, and Grizzly River Rapids gets us every time, you can change into dry clothes

 

[Hound 109]

We always stay at the Best Western PPI which is right across the street, and we always have gone to the park during school breaks when it has long hours. We get to the park before opening, and we go like crazy people until early afternoon when we go back to the hotel for lunch and a break. When the kids were little they took naps or played in the pool, but now that they are all teenagers they watch TV for a while and we take the naps. We then go back to the park late in the afternoon to use all the fastpasses we got earlier in the day. On our last trip we were in the parks for about 13 hours each day, and we walked about 14 miles a day according to my wife’s pedometer.

One thing we do is go on one of the “get wet” rides right before we head back to the hotel for lunch. That way if you get soaked, and Grizzly River Rapids gets us every time, you can change into dry clothes

This exactly describes us. We could (& have) stay at the park ALL day, but then it's harder to get up the next day.

Going early is SO important for optimum touring, & the mid day break (if even for a couple hours) is great for downtime even if we don't "nap". It's also nice hop in the pool for 5 - 30 min. & to change socks & shirt if needed.

OP, if i remember correctly, you are staying at the PP. It's SO easy to hop to the PP thru the GCH (from GRIZ rapids in DCA) for a break, I HIGHLY recommend it if you plan on starting your day early & enjoying DLR in the evening.