How long to rest?

[Slartibartfast]

Now that August hours are out, the real planning begins. This will be my first in a series of questions for Disney experts:

For those of you who go back to you who go back to the resorts in the afternoon to take a break, how much time do you allocate in you schedule for this? Particulars - DS6 & DD5 are entering 1st grade and Kindergarten, repectfully, and don't take a true "nap" anymore. We will be staying 5 nights at CYM DD and will be driving (I've heard this is much faster than waiting on the Hotel Plaza transportation). Our evening parks are open until 9, 9:30, or 10. We have lunch ressie's one day at WCC at 12:30 and at 50's at 1:00 on another.

Also, since we are staying at a DD hotel, we are avoiding EE days.

So, in general, when should we go to the hotel, and when should we go back to a park?

 

[cleo]

I have found it's better for my son when we play it by ear rather than having a fixed time to return to the resort. On your first day you might make it to 3 or 4pm, but by the 3rd day the children may need a break right after lunch.

Depending on how long you are staying and how many chances you'll have at the afternoon parades (if they are important to you), I'd figure on taking a few hours at some point between 2 and 5. That way you can get a sizable chunk of touring in, have a nice lunch, see the parade or a show, then head out for a rest. You'll be all set for dinner and some evening touring, and everyone will have had a good 'attitude adjustment' by then!

Enjoy, and let the magic take you where it will.

 

[disneyag]

I also think you have to play it by ear. My kids don't nap anymore, either, but we have always found that a 1-2 hour swim in the hotel pool really gives everyone a little more energy. Depending on what your plans are for the day, a good 3 hour break might be helpful. Also, the parks are so hot and crowded during the afternoons, it's nice to get away.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

We take a 2 hour break. The first half hour we all relax in the room, then we take DS to the pool. We usually break from 2:00 until 4:00 or so, but we do play it by ear. There are days we choose to stay out and head back to the resort earlier (7ish) so on those days we pace ourselves a little better than usual.

 

[lentesta]

Hi Slartibartfast,

Loved your work with the fjords. Too bad it didn't work out with the mice.

A break immediately after lunch would probably be a good idea. As Disneyag noted, it'll be hot and crowded when you leave, and cooler and less crowded when you return.

I think it'd take you around 30 minutes to get to and from the park to your hotel if driving. Allowing for a decent nap or pool break, I think three hours is a lower limit for a mid-day break. In the Unofficial Guide, I believe we figured on a 3.5 or 4-hour break for the touring plans for families with children. No need to feel rushed.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[iluvdisnee]

We usually leave the parks by 12:30-1:00 and return by 4:30-5:00 unless its a parade day, than we do the parade, leave the park for the day and have a free evening of swimming or downtown disney or whatever.

 

[Ms. WDW]

We don't have "little ones" anymore but still head back to the resort after lunch. I do EE and just when the parks are getting a little hard to handle is when we head back. We average anywhere between 3-4 hours of either swimming, napping or just doing what we want before heading back in.

 

[dvc guy]

DS 7 & DD 10 don't nap anymore. When I know they need a short break ( nap) a drive in the car usually does the trick. I have used this trick in WDW before. Staying on site, it does not work for the bus.

DS & DD now like to stay up real late with the adults. I am begging to go home, DS says SM just one more time.

 

[Jackie824]

I think it will vary among families. I have a son who is almost 9 and a daughter who is almost 4, we were just there in March. We usually break around 1 or 2pm is when we start heading out of the park. We usually head to the pool(we dont stay on disney property)for a few hrs, then get dressed and head back to a dift park. Usually we stop for some fastfood for dinner, its cheap and quick, on the way back. Then we usually stay until right before closing. We find it easier, to leave about 30 minutes before closing, to avoid some of the bigger crowds trying to get out, expecially at MK.

 

[geffric]

We usually leave before lunch, since meals at the park are very expensive and have lunch and some TV at the resort, then some swimming and back about 3 or 4. Best to play it loose and se how the kids are doing. Mine are real troopers , the first few days they only want a small break but by the end of the week they get tired and a longer breaks helps to keep them going. Another point is to plan your day which ones are fireworks and fantasmic, i.e. late night vs the ones that are not. Longer breaks on the late nights to keep them going.