How long do you take a break during the summer?

[w8ting4pooh]

How long after you leave do you stay on break? Is it 11-4 or 12-3 or 1-3? No matter how I do my schedule taking a 11-4 break every day, I don't seem to be getting more than 20 hours at MK!!
Am I taking too long of a break every day? Should it just be pizza by the pool and a swim or a legit. nap too (which would take the 11-4).

We are spending 7/3-7/10 at WDW and 7/11-7/13 at US/IOA. I'm trying to get a schedule together. We fly in late on 7/3. We're sleeping in on 7/4 (which with our kids means 8 a.m.LOL) then going to the waterparks. On all the other days, we're getting up early and going the EE parks until 11 or so then switching to a non EE park after break.

 

[disneyjunkie]

How old are your kids? Do you plan to watch the parades at MK, MGM and AK?

 

[BrianD]

We usually take a break from about 2-4 in the afternoon.

 

[w8ting4pooh]

Sorry. The kids are 11, 10, 7, and 3. They can open and close parks like BGardens without a back to the room break but I've heard that Disney is a whole different 'world.'

We plan to FP and EE and try to see Fantasmic, Illuminations, and Spectro if we can. Maybe see the MGM parade once and the MK afternoon parade also but not mandatory. We're more concerned with meeting the characters and riding the rides.

 

[CamColt]

On our last trip my DSs were 2 1/2 & 5 1/2 and my nieces were 9 & 12. We usually left the morning park around 12:30-1:00 and then returned to a park around 4:00. This gave us just enough time for lunch, a swim in the pool, showers and getting ready for the evening. As for naps, my kids wont sleep on demand so I dont think my oldest napped at all, and the youngest would just fall asleep in the carriage or in a show when he needed to. Obviuosly my nieces didnt need naps at their ages.

 

[grinningghost]

I don't have young kids, but I'm the one that usually needs the nap. I have MS, which is a major pain, requires a few zzzz's in the afternoon. We usually do EE then have lunch around 11:30, head back for the hotel for a swim and a rest. We usually head back to the parks about 4:00 - depending how late they're open. This year is going to be alot more relaxed for DH and I. DD and her friend are old enough to do their own thing, so us "old people" can move at a more leisurely pace. It will be nice on my neurologically challenged body.

 

[cindyfan]

My DD now 11yro, never took a nap, not since she was 2.

BUT.....we always have "quiet time". A 10 minute "power nap" does me wonders!!

So for us, once it started to get unbearabley HOT, usually around 1pm, head back and a little quiet time and swim for 1-2 hours. Then by 4pm we were getting cleaned up and ready for the evening.

Going in July, you will be able to take full advantage of EE and the extended summer hours. Even though the hours has been an issue lately, it will be July and you should be able to expect the parks to be open late......MK til 11pm, MGM til 10:30.

Last year in June, we saw Illuminations at 9pm and took the boat to MGM and saw Fantasmic at 10:30. Granted they weren't the best seats, but we were close to the exit and made it out really fast.

With later park closings.....the MGM parade will be later, like around 5:30. So it works well to do the break and head to MGM for the parade.

Where are you staying? You might be able to see the July 4th fireworks from your resort!

 

[Piper]

I always nap during the day, too. I have Lupus and NF1,, so I wear out pretty quick. I have gone with a 9 year old and he napped right along with me. We went again when he was 10 and 14 and every time he napped. The last time his 24 year old brother was along...and yes, he napped, too!

I leave the parks around 12 (can't take the sun) and return around 4--except for the days when I want to see the MK afternoon parade--then I leave a little earlier and return a little earlier.

We are usually able to do most of what we want to do--at least ride all the important rides and see shows that we want. Just take advantage of fastpass and early entry and you'll be surprised at how much you get accomplished!

 

[ColetteN]

I took my 4 yr DD & 6 yr DNephew last August. We left around 1 or so every afternoon and returned anywhere from 4-6 or so. We did get to the parks for opening and we closed each of them - seeing spectro, illuminations and fantasmic. We didn't however catch any afternoon parades.

My SIL said her son quit taking naps around 3 yrs old and that he wouldn't need one, but he slept every afternoon! I guess I ran them ragged! They had such great fun though meeting all the characters and hitting the rides without a long wait (early am).

It all depends on what you want to see. You can take smaller breaks (the heat really requires some type of break in the summer). Just work in your priorities and leave the other stuff "for next time"

Colette

 

[eeyore0062]

A lot will depend on your kids. We were there last August and the only break we took (we were staying at the Courtyard Marriott in LBV) was to go back from 4-5:30 for the Manager's party (we had our own car). DH and I could have a complimentary beer, and DD could have free sodas and play with the Tipsy Parrot character there. It was a highlight in her day.

We haven't done real sleep or pool breaks from the park since May of 2001, when DD just turned 7. We find that they take too much time away from the parks, once you catch the bus, get to the resort, lie down or swim, and then take the bus back... it just isn't worth it. If we want to swim, we plan a day where we do the parks in the morning and swim that afternoon... then we hang around the resort that night. Our breaks work best by planning a non park day in the middle of our vacation.

If we find we do need a break, we find an airconditioned restaurant, have a drink and chill out for an hour... then we are raring to go again.

Really, it is whatever works best for you. Also, make sure of the park hours, because if they aren't open at night, you really cut alot out of your day by taking long breaks.