late riser in Disney

[Simba's Mom]

You late risers, what time of year do you go? I was wondering because I went with a late riser last May, so we never got to the parks until 11:00-11:30. By then it's getting HOT! Fortunately, she's not going with me this year (sorry, Mom!) because I want to get up and out early, then get back to the air conditioning by 1:00 or so, when it's getting hot.

 

[abaldacci]

to each his own. We just get up early sleeping in is 830am to us. Now dd is a horse of a different color. she would sleep all day if left to her own devices but If I get her up she does well and we have a great time. She also like my way of touring so that help get her out of bed.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We're with Deb & Bill - we'd rather get up early (we're early risers at home, anyway) and "relax" in the low-crowd, no-line, cool(er) temp parks than show up around noon. Heck, by 11AM we're usually back at the room, grabbing a cold beverage and heading out to the pool!

As a note: getting up early does NOT have to mean "commando". In fact, it can be a lot easier to be "laid back" in the early hours than at 2 in the afternoon....

ETA: oops, how about the OP's question. If you can, plan for the time of year where the parks are open later, and take advantage of EMH-PM opportunities to get those extra 3 park hours.

 

[OurDogCisco]

We went last May and decided one day to sleep in and go to the parks whenever. Well, we ended up at Epcot around 11 am. What a BIG mistake!!! Yikes, we couldn't believe the crowds and this was May (the middle of May). We wanted to go on Spaceship Earth and the line for the ride was 45 minutes. It was impossible to see Crush. For us it wasn't a good experience for us. However, I would do with what works for your family. Personally, we like the EMH in the morning especially at MK but our kids are younger and like the Fantasyland rides. I think, you need to figure out what works for your family and what rides they like to go on and plan from there. Also, we aren't doing commando touring when we arrive at the parks early. We are just not waiting in line. However, I did plan a day where we just went to see the shows at night and slept in that day and hung out at the resort. That really did work for us because my kids are young and it was easier for them to stay up later since they slept in that morning. However, we didn't do the popular rides that evening just some of the low key ones and shopping at MK.

 

[DISUNC]

I am normally a late sleeper.........However I find this a HUGE disadvantage at WDW. You do miss a lot this way.
I always LOVINGLY tell my brood..."You aint sleeping on my dime!"

On the days we do sleep late (a few) that is reserved for the pool, or DTD!

 

[nluvwithmickey]

I am a morning person, the only one in my family (me, dh, dd 17 and ds 12). If I want to have a good time, then I let them sleep in or the early part of the day will be with some really grumpy faces.

I usually get up, dressed, slip out to the refillable mug station and have my coffee by the pool, if we are at POFQ I get some beignets (my dirty little secret). There is something special about the resorts early in the morning when very few people are milling around.

By the time I have enjoyed my coffee, and filled all the other mugs to take back to the room, they are usually falling out of bed. We always have breakfast stuff in the room so I don't have to do the breakfast PS thing. It works for us.

I do this also! I love to get up before everyone, get ready, sneak out of the room with my refillable mug and watch the Disney employees clean the pool area while I write my travel journal.

I then bring some breakfast back to the room and slowly wake the rest of the family. We always make it to the to the parks for opening and prefer taking breaks at a restaurant for a nice relaxing lunch.

 

[lucas]

I would like to sleep in late but -
#1 - When at Disney I am usually too excited to sleep
#2 - noises from neighbors and slamming doors usually wakes me up

 

[mking624]

DH & I always sleep in late. Since we rarely get to do it any other time at home, vacation is our chance to sleep in. We're never out of the hotel any earlier than 11am. But it makes it nice in the sense that we're not worn out and exhausted by the time night comes...we're fine through closing and any EMHs.

 

[nurseypoo5]

I agree your on vacation, but everything i've read shows that you can do 75% of the park attractions by noon (that are really WORTH doing) before the heat and people set in...

I too work nights, and am also used to getting limited sleep...but the afternoon naps sound yummy also..a power nap for an hour can do me up just right!

Actually our plans are to hit the Parks at opening, or before...run to the best of the best rides and hop on, then get fast passes and ride them again. We will most likely skip breakfast, its just what we do, but we will eat lunch around 11:30. Ride a couple more rides or catch a show or two as the crowds get heavy (if you notice most people dont rush to watch a show first thing...they rush to the best stuff...) then retire back to our hotel POR, and catch a quick swim and power nap/shower for a 2 hours...get dressed, eat dinner (which we will do before 6 pm (probaby 5) at which ever park we wish to enjoy that evening.

The only day we wont do this is the MGM day due to all the neat shows being at odd times, but its a more liesurly day anyway. AK just closes early and the most important thing for us is the lion king and eating at Rainforest cafe

The good thing with us is that after we are done with 8 days at disney, we are renting a beachfront condo on a private beach in ClearWater FL for another week (bellairre beach)...no rush no muss, no frantic paces should be just what the Dr ordered to put us in a relaxed mood for our journey home.


Now...think no hurricanes please!

 

[1-AlterEgo]

I love to sleep in a bit

 

[Deb & Bill]

When we go to MK, my husband and son head for Space Mt while I go to Buzz. I get all of us FPs for Buzz, then I ride. I can usually ride about three or four times before my husband and son get over to Buzz. Then we'll do the FP and I'll have five times under my belt before 10AM. I'm a big Buzz fan.

 

[brer rabbit 28]

we split it half and half,some early starts when we have character breakfasts booked,some days we do something more relaxing in the morning then head to the parks after lunch and stay till closing.
However,whatever kind of day we have,i always wake up to see mum in the opposite bed,all wide eyed and excited about the coming day!I swear she never goes to sleep in Florida!!!