Mid day break timing question

[wmpenguin]

For those who successfully take mid-day breaks, how do you time it if you are at a non-monorail resort? My kids don't really nap, but they could use some mid-day breaks in our touring plans. What time do you usually leave the parks? What time do you schedule your dinner ADRs for those days? I am trying to figure out what time we would need to leave in order to get back to our condo, have time to swim, and then what is a reasonable time to be back for a dinner ADR that is early enough for when kids would want to eat?

For example, one day I have planned for us to RD MK at 9am. QS meal for lunch around 12. If we left at 2, back at our condo by 3, then swim for 2 hours, then get ready for dinner and drive over to Beaches & Cream - what would be a reasonable ADR time for Beaches & Cream?

Adding to that example, if we RD MK at 9am and then had a CP ressie for 12pm, I figure we wouldn't get out of CP until 1pm. So I feel like leaving at 2pm would be too early? But if we left at 3, I just don't see having enough time to have a decent break but get back for a dinner ADR.

 

[Robo]

For those who successfully take mid-day breaks, how do you time it if you are at a non-monorail resort? My kids don't really nap, but they could use some mid-day breaks in our touring plans. What time do you usually leave the parks? What time do you schedule your dinner ADRs for those days? I am trying to figure out what time we would need to leave in order to get back to our condo, have time to swim, and then what is a reasonable time to be back for a dinner ADR that is early enough for when kids would want to eat?

For example, one day I have planned for us to RD MK at 9am. QS meal for lunch around 12. If we left at 2, back at our condo by 3, then swim for 2 hours, then get ready for dinner and drive over to Beaches & Cream - what would be a reasonable ADR time for Beaches & Cream?

Adding to that example, if we RD MK at 9am and then had a CP ressie for 12pm, I figure we wouldn't get out of CP until 1pm. So I feel like leaving at 2pm would be too early? But if we left at 3, I just don't see having enough time to have a decent break but get back for a dinner ADR.

12PM-4PM, give or take.

 

[pinkvol7]

We arrive at RD. We have lunch in the park we are at, 11:30-12, and leave after lunch. We then head back to resort and swim. Then we shower and change for dinner which is between 5:30-6:30. After dinner, we head back to a park. Two exceptions I have to this is one day we have an 'Ohana ADR for 6:50 so we can hang around after and watch the fireworks from the beach. We also have a later ADR for Trail's End so we can do the Chip and Dale Campfire after.

 

[Hootch]

a morning EMH, we'll probably head out around 11:30. The park is usually getting crowded by that time. If not EMH, then we may stay to around 1 PM. We usually return to the parks around 5 PM. We're usually there in the summer and that gives us six hours or so if we are at the MK.

 

[nkereina]

We are two adults, no kids, and stay on-site but usually at a moderate. Our timing may be a bit different than yours with kids, but we usually leave the park around 12pm or 1pm depending on if we eat lunch in the park or not. That puts us back at the resort by 12:30 or 1:30, give or take. We'll then either swim or nap, and try to get in the shower by 4pm. If all is going well, we should be ready by 5-5:30pm and then we'll leave to head to our evening park. I make dinner ADRs for 6pm at the earliest.

 

[lroger01]

If you have a week-long trip and want to rope-drop all the parks and see all but AK at night, consider the 3/4 day plan!

Day 1 - 3, get to park at RD, tour through lunch, TS lunch, tour until tired. Return to resort with no further plans. Do whatever feels right AT THAT TIME!

Day 4, get to park at RD, tour until lunch, QS lunch at park or resort. Take a break and return to the same park for a dinner ADR and nighttime fun.

Day 5-6, Sleep in! Then enjoy your resort, go to DQ or a water park or whatever feels like fun. Around 4,5 or 6, head to a park for a dinner ADR, nighttime rides (easy to do now with FP+), and enjoy the nighttime shows.

You get 6 full days with a 3/4 day in each park (you can see the parade!) and 3 3/4 nights in the 3 parks open late - essentially a day and half in each park but AK. Three evenings at the resort, two sleep in days with lazy mornings, and one mid-day break day. Plenty of time to do what feels right at the time, means you likely won't hit the wall of exhaustion too!

 

[wdw&sonny]

According to your signature, you are going in November. That should help with crowd levels and temperature so that the timing of the mid-day break isn't as critical...but it is still important with younger kids and I would stick to it. That being said, since you are off-site and driving, you should be able to get to/from parks in 30 min. Unless you are staying very far away...driving and off-site is quicker that Disney buses and on-site.

We always take mid-day breaks, even though my boys are now older. We have shifted dinner to a slightly later time ~ 6:30-7:30 depending on park hours/location etc. The later time lets us push the morning park a little later , if needed and also to relax more at the resort. If we are rejuvenated by 4-5pm, we head back to the park and hit a couple of attractions before dinner. If we are exhausted, we recuperate longer and head back just in time for dinner.

For your specific question about B&C time, I would suggest 7pm. If you are ready to head there early, walk the boardwalk area while waiting.