Just back--Tip I'm glad I followed

[pasofan]

I planned for a break/nap each afternoon since we were taking our DD4 for 7 days to the World. That was the greatest thing ever!! We didn't have any meltdowns from being too tired/hot and my DH and I felt refreshed and ready to go each evening as well. We got to the park, usually the one with the early EMH, got in the big rides, a couple of shows, ate lunch, then headed to the hotel. Spent a couple of hours there and returned to a park or resort where we had the ADR for dinner and went back to a park each night. We missed the large crowds, heat, rain showers, and the max time we waited in line for a ride was 15 minutes.
I am such a believer in this strategy, that I would do it even if I were going without a child.

 

[briarberry]

I agree with you! The first two trips it was just myself and my DD7&8 (at the time of the trips). Last year we went with family who had older kids so they didn't want to get up so early and didn't need that break. It was okay and my DD had fun with her cousins but when we started to plan our next trip my DD mentioned that she liked visiting Disney with her cousins but she was glad it was just going to be the two of us again this time. We both are early risers and we both need that break time to recharge. I think this strategy was the best advice I ever got off any Disney board.
I am glad it worked for you too.

 

[Minnie_me]

Same here! My DDs are 6 and 9, and we're all early risers. So we would hit the parks at opening, do everything we wanted, and then around 1:30 - 2:30, the girls would tell us that they were DONE. We'd go back to the hotel, eat some PB&Js, swim in the hotel pool, relax and go back in the evenings.

We saw so many parents pushing their kids when the kids were clearly past their breaking points. We decided before we went, that the girls would decide their schedule. Nobody has fun when they're exhausted.

 

[kdkbrebel]

I couldn't agree more. We did this in 03 and it worked wonderfull and the kids were 10 and 5 then. This time they are 14 and 9 and we still plan on doing the break. Besides the rest it feels so good to get a shower and put on clean dry clothes to head out for dinner. Only 3 days and a wake up left.

 

[luvdisney00]

We just got back on Mon and this worked well for us too. We would be going back to the parks around 5pm after swimming , resting and showering feeling refreshed and see all of those hot sweaty uncomfortable people who had been there all day.

 

[Amyg]

That is what we did last summer. My DH is not a theme park person so the daily afternoon break back at the resort really helped in that he didn't feel pressured to go commando all day long. Instead we were refreshed for an evening of more fun and adventure!