Is sleeping in on a disney vacation wasting time?

[Suellen]

Figure a week at WDW with dining and tickets and travel costs a family of 4 like the op has at least $4k - that's over $570 per day, or $24 per hour.

For me, that's expensive sleep. I can sleep at home for free without sacrificing park time.

Plus, as others have mentioned, Rope drop am park time is by far the best park time.

If I have to account for every penny for every second of my vacation...I am not going. This sounds like the least amount of fun a person can have on vacation to me.

Really? Are bathroom breaks allowed?? I mean do you know if it takes you five minutes in and out that is worth $2.00?????? Plus multiply that by say 5 times a day and 7 days?

 

[kohlby]

It wouldn't wouldn't work with our touring style. With young kids who don't nap, the only thing I can count on is a good night's sleep. But for them, that doesn't mean sleeping in. They're not going to do that. So it means getting to bed on time. If they got to bed late, we would pay for it. Likewise, I think if they were capable of sleeping in and we woke them too early, we would pay for it.

So, we adjust accordingly and always, always make rope drop. For our last trip, we were a bit sneaky. It was in Nov, a week after daylight savings time had ended. We didn't tell the kids about the time change nor change the clocks back. So, once we got to Disney, they naturally woke up an hour earlier and we went right into the time change.

*We're pretty hardcore with the rides. There are things we consider a waste of time which I'm sure others don't. We think waiting in lines to meet characters are a waste of time. We think sit-down meals are a waste of time. We only make 1 parade each trip - and skipped them before we had kids since too many of those can be a waste of time for us. We think not eating breakfast in your hotel room wastes time. We go-go-go until someone acts like it's time to go back - which isn't usually until around the dinner hour. (We made it past dinner twice last trip - for Illuminations and Fantasmic). I'm sure most families can't tour like that or simply don't want to, but it works for us - and we get max rides per our visit.

 

[iamadisneynut]

We usually do a little of both!! Some mornings we're up with the sun and at rope drop, and some we take it easy and do what we do and don't worry about what time it is...balance!

 

[Carnator]

I like to split it up also. Give the kids a couple of days to sleep in. Every is happy.

 

[two*little*birds]

We have been going for 5 years and not once have we been to rope drop, nor do we follow any plans (well not really).

We take each day as it comes and goes, some days we wake up earlier and some days not. Not a big issue. I'd rather have everyone happy and going at their own pace, then miserable and tired.

It's your vacation, only you can say what's right or wrong for your family.

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

WDW is for family and we go with our 2 DD and their families. We all agree that sleeping in is for Sat. & Sun. at home. Three rooms so everyone can do as they choose. If you want to sleep in go to Myrtle Beach.

First of all you can't do WDW without park hoppers.

We plan our days but then go with how are mood swings us. Never, never follow the script to the letter.

AK because of it's size is a RD day and due to it's early close is always our short day and we plan this for the middle of the week.

MK is one day RD and one day till late close.

DHS is RD only for Star Wars.

Epcot is never RD but may be several evenings.

We always get up and get going and if we choose at any time do some resort time. If it is going to be a late night we get there when we do and have some down time that day to get ready for that night.

We have taken a resort day when we have pushed it to much but that is rare for there is DTD and resort hopping and meals here and there. So rest at home but don't overdo so much that it won't be fun.

 

[saffsmom]

If I have to account for every penny for every second of my vacation...I am not going. This sounds like the least amount of fun a person can have on vacation to me.

Really? Are bathroom breaks allowed?? I mean do you know if it takes you five minutes in and out that is worth $2.00?????? Plus multiply that by say 5 times a day and 7 days?

oh i was so thinking almost the exact same thing!

counting every penny, clocking every minute, squeezing the "value" (which is fairly subjective anyhow) out of every second is not my idea of a vacation.
in actual fact i am paying far more for airfare,resort,food and drinks than i am for park tickets!

to each their own!

 

[lurkernj]

I prefer rope drop, but it doesn't have to be every morning. If it keeps peace, there might be one or two sleep in mornings. Very excited for this year, the kids are both teens, so DH and I can head to the parks and if the kids want to sleep, they can meet us later. Then everyone is happy.

 

[Suellen]

you mean if YOU wanted to sleep in you would go to Myrtle Beach right? and that YOUR family CAN'T do WDW without park hoppers.

Of course many people who sleep late still go to WDW AND many people don't get Park Hoppers and do just fine.

Everyone tours Disney differently and the way they do it is right for THEIR family.

Just saying.... your post was very subjective without clarifying that it was.

 

[chmurf]

Figure a week at WDW with dining and tickets and travel costs a family of 4 like the op has at least $4k - that's over $570 per day, or $24 per hour.
For me, that's expensive sleep. I can sleep at home for free without sacrificing park time.

And what about evening and night hours ? Don't they share the same price ?
Because I doubt lots of people are able to do night EMH and RD everyday of their vacations. I know I couldn't.

Parks and rides are sometimes better at night. Just look at the new Dumbo, it's amazing at night.
evening and night hours also have that $24 price tag attached.
And what about going to the pool at night ? I guess we pay enough money for the ammenities, let's use them and not waste a single second, 40 cents a minute ... I'm not even taking a shower before going to the pool, that's 4 dimes thrown down the drain ...

Trying to put an average price tag on sleeping hour does not make sense, because you'll never be able to go sleepless for the duration of your stay. And for everything you do in the morning, there's something you can't do in the evening.

Sleeping in also means staying up late.
Different vacation styles, equal enjoyment. But most of all I would hate being on vacation and always wondering how much something has cost me.
I've grown to realise that when I become aware of how much an item has cost me in a package, that's because I don't fully enjoy it and I need to calculate benefit over value.
And that would be a perfect waste of my vacations.

 

[cheerupem0kidx0x]

I *think* we are going to get up early most days to try and get through with shorter lines and not so sweltering temps since we are going in summer. That is the plan at least but none of us are morning people so we will see how it actually plays out. then I plan on trying to come back to our rental house for a little bit around lunch time, swim and cool off, and back to the parks to finish the evening.

 

[mjp12831]

If I have to account for every penny for every second of my vacation...I am not going. This sounds like the least amount of fun a person can have on vacation to me.

Really? Are bathroom breaks allowed?? I mean do you know if it takes you five minutes in and out that is worth $2.00?????? Plus multiply that by say 5 times a day and 7 days?

If you tour fast enough you dehydrate naturally and don't need the bathroom breaks.

My comment originally was a bit tongue and cheek - op asked if it was a waste of time so I quantified it for them in dollars. I don't exactly think of it that way, but I also don't enjoy sleeping when there are far more fun things I can be doing.

 

[mjp12831]

And what about evening and night hours ? Don't they share the same price ?
Because I doubt lots of people are able to do night EMH and RD everyday of their vacations. I know I couldn't.

Parks and rides are sometimes better at night. Just look at the new Dumbo, it's amazing at night.
evening and night hours also have that $24 price tag attached.
And what about going to the pool at night ? I guess we pay enough money for the ammenities, let's use them and not waste a single second, 40 cents a minute ... I'm not even taking a shower before going to the pool, that's 4 dimes thrown down the drain ...

Trying to put an average price tag on sleeping hour does not make sense, because you'll never be able to go sleepless for the duration of your stay. And for everything you do in the morning, there's something you can't do in the evening.

Sleeping in also means staying up late.
Different vacation styles, equal enjoyment. But most of all I would hate being on vacation and always wondering how much something has cost me.
I've grown to realise that when I become aware of how much an item has cost me in a package, that's because I don't fully enjoy it and I need to calculate benefit over value.
And that would be a perfect waste of my vacations.

Asking if something is a "waste" implies that you need to quantify it to provide an answer. I did this somewhat joking and can assure yout hat I don't make decisions at WDW based on pro-rated $$ value.

However, as previously stated, I don't really "enjoy" sleeping in or spending a ton of time in our room. I can see how some might, but that's not how we roll.

I can also assure you that getting up early for amemh does NOT necessarily imply that you are doing it at the sacrifice of pmemh or staying up late. It's rare that we don't do a 14 or 15 hour park day and we've even done an 8am to 2am day once.

Yes, we're tired when we get home, but we have tons of fun.

 

[Suellen]

Asking if something is a "waste" implies that you need to quantify it to provide an answer. I did this somewhat joking and can assure yout hat I don't make decisions at WDW based on pro-rated $$ value.

However, as previously stated, I don't really "enjoy" sleeping in or spending a ton of time in our room. I can see how some might, but that's not how we roll.

I can also assure you that getting up early for amemh does NOT necessarily imply that you are doing it at the sacrifice of pmemh or staying up late. It's rare that we don't do a 14 or 15 hour park day and we've even done an 8am to 2am day once.

Yes, we're tired when we get home, but we have tons of fun.

Some of our memorable times are from times in the room... so I don't discount that much. The girls love picking a DVD to watch each night all together. They actually really look forward to it. So sometimes that keeps us up until 1:30 or 2:00 but they really like it. Who am I to judge how everyone in our family should enjoy their time at WDW.

ALL that being said.... we go several times a year so I am sure we tour much different then a lot of folks. No big deal....every family has to figure out what works best for them!

 

[TandLMommy28]

I guess it's a personal decision but for me, Disney isn't the place to sleep in. We are up and dressed and on a early bus to beat the lines every day, as well as beating the heat. I'd rather an afternoon nap when the crowds are heavy and the sun is strong. To me that is a better use of our time--sleep during the times of day that you'd rather be inside! Florida is great in the morning and at night but midday can be pretty horrible!

 

[TandLMommy28]

you mean if YOU wanted to sleep in you would go to Myrtle Beach right? and that YOUR family CAN'T do WDW without park hoppers.

Of course many people who sleep late still go to WDW AND many people don't get Park Hoppers and do just fine.

Everyone tours Disney differently and the way they do it is right for THEIR family.

Just saying.... your post was very subjective without clarifying that it was.

Yup! I've never had park hoppers and personally don't quite grasp the point. It would be a waste for my family. I can barely take in all that one park has to offer on any given day, I could never try to soak in two. Even if it didn't cost extra, I could never see us going into more than one park a day. But that's just me. I tend to get lost in the details and absorbed in all of it. To try to change gears halfway through the day would just make me crazy and probably edgy.

But I know other people, especially people who do a lot of ADRs rely on hoppers to make it work and worthwhile. I'm just glad it's optional so I don't have to pay for something I don't use!

 

[LucyBC80]

First of all you can't do WDW without park hoppers.

Actually you can. Even without hoppers you are allowed to leave the park and come back whenever you please, as long you are going back to the same park.

I don't see hoppers as being a necessity, at least for my family.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Another yes it is a waste of time here too.

My kids are the exact ages of yours DS6 and DD9 and we don't have any issues getting them up for the parks. Didn't when they were younger too. They get up much much earlier than park time for school everyday. Actually earlier on summer vacation to go to the babysitters. Even though our trip is in May they will be out of school a week or two before the trip and will still be used to getting up that early. I rarely have to yank them out as well, DS and I are usually up around or before 7, if he slept till 11am I'd take him to the Dr. DD and DH I do have to wake up but let them get ever minute they can before then. We do things like take showers at night (who wants to get in bed theme park FL sweaty dirty anyway), lay out clothes for the day, and have our park bag packed and ready to go so that I just need DH and DD up long enough to wash faces, brush teeth and change clothes before I shuffle them out the door. Breakfast is cereal bars, granola, fruit, crackers or pop tarts on the way to the bus stop or while waiting in line for the park to open.

But it's your vacation if you want to sleep to noon everyday do it.

 

[P00H1010]

Everyone has their own opinions as to what a vacation is and how to go about one. There is no right or wrong way so to speak. Here is my 2 cents for what its worth .

I am not a morning person whatsoever, I look at vacation is my chance to relax, sleep in and get away from reality. I have to get up everyday for work; vacation is my time to be on my schedule and I deserve to be able to sleep in . DH and I have done 8 and 10 day trips in July. We generally get to the parks anywhere between 10 and 11:30. We were able to do what we wanted at a semi-relaxed pace and did not wait in extremely long lines.

Here are things to consider:
*How long is your WDW trip?....If you are going for a longer period of time, you can accomplish a lot and you can be more relaxed instead of "running" from attraction to attraction so to speak.
* What are the park hours during your trip?....If you are going during a time with later park hours and evening EMH you have more options. We have found that evening EMH are a great time to do things. If your family is all for staying up later I suggest trying this. For example, we rode Splash Mountain 3times in a row without even getting off the ride on our last trip during a 3am EMH. However if you are going during a time where parks generally close earlier in the evening you might need to get up early to be able to accomplish everything you want.
* Do you have parkhoppers? Park hopping does take time to do but we feel it is worth it. You have a lot more options on what you can do in a day. For example we wanted to ride EE for a second time but did not want to go back to AK for the whole day. We hopped over to AK, grabbed FPs then enjoyed another park for a while and then went back and rode EE. We then went to another park for the rest of the evening. If you do not have parkhoppers you are at the mercy of whatever park you are at for the day. If the ride you just have to ride is at 120 min wait with no FP return times that don't work for you or FPs are all gone then you must either stand in a long line "wasting" time or don't ride it if you aren't up for standing in line and only have that day in that park.
* Another thing to consider is this....do your children get cranky when they are tired? If so, this might be a reason to sleep in. You don't have to sleep in until noon, but sleep in a little. If your kids are energized in the morning from a good nights sleep they might not be as cranky throughout the day. And if the kids are happy, mom and dad are happy !

 

[Moodyzblu]

We have been going for 5 years and not once have we been to rope drop, nor do we follow any plans (well not really).

We take each day as it comes and goes, some days we wake up earlier and some days not. Not a big issue. I'd rather have everyone happy and going at their own pace, then miserable and tired.

It's your vacation, only you can say what's right or wrong for your family.

Ditto .. this is how we roll ! Some days we don't even get to the parks until lunchtime. My kids would rather sleep in and then eat breakfast by the pool. After swimming most of the morning .. then we head out and finish the day off at the park.

First of all you can't do WDW without park hoppers.

.

That's silly .. we're living proof that hoppers are NOT a must. We have no reason to visit more than one park each day .. never have.