Mid-day breaks during off-season?

[jcemom]

For those who have been with children in the winter (we're going in February) have you found it necessary to take mid-day breaks?

I know part of this answer will be dependent on if my DD (then 16 mos) will nap in her stroller, but otherwise, what has your experience been? Were you able to find a quiet spot to rest for a while without leaving the parks?

The weather should be much cooler, and the parks not so crowded, and the hours short. So do you find that you still need to take a break to avoid being worn out? If so, how do you manage it with the short hours? To get a long enough break to make it worth leaving at all, and still be back in time for Fantasmic, for example, we would need to leave the parks around 1:00. They don't open until 9:00. That just seems so short to me!

We will have 8 full days (not including flight days on each end), and plan to spend 5 or 6 days in the parks with 2 or 3 days off in between. Of those park days, we are only planning 3 evenings to see MK Fireworks, Illuminations, and Fantasmic.

All opinions welcome! Thanks in advance!

 

[GlennandAnn]

Our rule whether we go on or off season is that we let the kids dictate what we do. If they're cranky, it's back to the resort we go. If the baby won't nap in the stroller but desperately needs to sleep, we leave so that he can nap in the room.

Ann

 

[jcemom]

Thanks, that's pretty much what I figured. If you take a break when hours are shorter, do you find it a problem to make it back in time for whatever is going on...like fireworks, Fantasmic, etc?

 

[GlennandAnn]

We have been able to see just about whatever we want to see break or no break. We're AP holders and are lucky enough to go to WDW a few times a year, so there's nothing that we're desperate to see that we can't do another time.

Ann

 

[Barb D]

No "back to the resort" breaks for us. Takes WAY too much time, unless you're at a monorail resort. The park hours are so much shorter in the off season that you'd be missing too much park time.

Our strategy is to plan a sit-down lunch in an air-conditioned restaurant, and take our time. That way we're still in the park, still in the atmosphere, but getting an extended break. Also, there are lots of more "relaxing" things to do for a break (and even a small child nap) in the parks. We've done naps on the Liberty Belle, in the Hall of Presidents, etc.

 

[BevS97]

we don't take a break but rather than do 5 days in the parks and 3 days not, we would visit the parks every day, but for less time each day.
So if we get there early, then we might call it quits at 3 or 4 o'clock and have a relaxing evening.

Another day we may opt for a lie in, and a swim in the morning and head to the parks around lunchtime and stay until closing.

Bev

 

[crisi]

No heading back to the room for us. Tried it once and we wasted the rest of the day. The kids wouldn't sleep - and eventually we decided if they did sleep, we'd really blow the day.

We've napped in strollers (not very successfully). On boats (made the mistake of trying to transition to the room). In buses (good choice), the MK train (good choice). Give your kids some opportunities to nap during the day and let sleeping kids lie. Mine have always been carseat nappers - so buses (and I'd imagine the monorail) and trains worked well. This next time they will be a little older, and we will try a cat nap in the Hall of Presidents or the Riverboat.

When it isn't so DARN hot, they kids don't seem to get as cranky and tired.

I do think it depends on your kid. Mine were always the type to catch naps off any sort of schedule - if I needed them to nap so I could clean the house - forget it!

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by crisi
No heading back to the room for us. Tried it once and we wasted the rest of the day.

That's what I'm worried about!
The train and monorail sound like great ideas! We will definitely try those!

BevS97 -- we figured on leaving the parks early on a couple days, but also want to visit some other Orlando area attractions. DH and I lived there pre-kids and would like to show them our old "stomping grounds" so to speak...lol.

Barb D -- the sit-down lunch might be a good idea. We were thinking counter-service lunches and sit-down dinners. I'm now thinking the lunch may be better...cheaper, and if we did need to leave the park we wouldn't miss our dinner ps. Good idea, thanks.

GlennandAnn -- I wish we could go that often! As it is, it will probably be at least two years before we go again...maybe three.

 

[rlduvall]

I am 39 years old (ouch, that really hurts), in excellent shape and health, (there's a reason I am mentioning this) and the last three times (1996, 1997 and 2001) I have gone (no children yet at that time) it was absolutely necessary to take a break. We get too tired and cranky trying to do everything. Our rule is 4 hours in a park is plenty; take a 2 hour break and return for the rest of the day after freshening up. Now, I have a four year old that I am thrilled about taking and I am sticking with the same rule. I love to feel clean and refreshed for a return to the parks. But, this is my personal self.

 

[jcemom]

rlduvall...thanks for the reply. Do you find a two hour break sufficient, then? I was thinking that by the time we get kids to the car and packed up, then back out again at the hotel, and do it all over again in reverse...well, it seems like quite a "process" to say the least!

We've gone to "local" amusement parks for 10 hour days with no problem, but that's only for ONE day. Of course, they are also an hour's drive from home, whereas we will only be minutes away from Disney.

Can you tell I hate not knowing everything?!? I'm a definite Planaholic who can't stand not being able to plan!!!

 

[rlduvall]

I'm a plan-a-holic myself, too. That's part of the fun. Maybe they were 3 hour breaks, but I'm telling you, they were definitely worth it. Let's see, 30 minutes to get out of the park and back to the room, 1 hour to rest, 30 minutes to freshen up, and 30 minutes back. Yeah, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Seems wasteful, but I swear it makes it so much more enjoyable. You feel as rested as when you started first thing in the morning. That's why it's a good idea to stay onsite. Take advantage of the early morning park: so that would be 8:00 to noon. Return around 3:00 or 4:00 to a park that stays open later, even in the off-season, like MGM or Epcot. That's still another 5 - 6 hours of touring time; which is plenty. Like I said, my husband and I can get very grumpy with each other when we are hot and tired. I can only imagine now, with the aggravation, I mean joyfulness, of having a little one, lol.

 

[BevS97]

but also want to visit some other Orlando area attractions. DH and I lived there pre-kids and would like to show them our old "stomping grounds" so to speak...lol.

this is what we do. Well, not old stomping grounds, but we go shopping, check out Walmart (when you are from the UK, Walmart is a tourist attraction!), I try and get my dh to take me to yet another scrapbooking store, etc etc, we don't just sit in the hotel room watching tv, but we do something non-park related, and more than likely off-site.

Bev

 

[sln88]

We did not take any breaks last year, and this is why: If I tried to go back and take a nap, it would take me an hour to fall asleep(if I ever did), and I would feel more tired than before I left. I would probably end up deciding not to go back at all. Once I stop- I stop- that is why I would never consider a break.
Kind of like "an object at rest remains at rest"

 

[TammyC]

Here are my thoughts.. we will be there in off-season with shorter hours, travelling with DH, DS 2.5 and my parents, will have 5 full (non-travel) days, but plan to do parks 4 days, with a rest day in the middle. I think my toddler will be too excited to leave the park and nap, but may doze off in his stroller.

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by sln88
"an object at rest remains at rest"

LOL!! That would be my 10 year old DS!

BevS97 -- I can honestly say I've never though of Wal Mart as a tourist attraction! LOL You don't have those? We definitely take them for granted here.

TammyC -- good point about them being too excited to nap!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

We were there with shorter hours. Out of the four park days we went back once. That day was actually harder to get my DD (then 20 mos.) to sleep than when she took naps in her stroller. Then I had to wake her up so we could have some evening time in the park. The other three days she took a good nap in her stroller. It worked out great because my DH and I just alternated going on rides she would not like with my DS.

We found it best to sleep in a little and avoid early entry parks. Of course, sleeping in with little ones means 7:30, not 6:30 so we were still at most parks about 9:30. We had very little crowds until about 11:00 during the off season.

I was actually amazed how well my kids did going full steam ahead four days in a row. We did all three night shows, and my DS took one 30 minute nap during the four day time frame. He loves Disney as much as I do! Of course, he rode in a stroller in between rides and shows.

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by K and K's Mommy
sleeping in with little ones means 7:30, not 6:30

LOL How true!
DD wakes at 6:00 every morning...though if I put a few toys in her crib she will usually play quietly until close to 7:00.

I would LOVE to do EMH because DD and I are always awake anyway, but getting the rest of the family to go along with waking that early on vacation would be a losing battle, for sure! LOL

I suppose we have enough days to be flexible. Our first day is a Wednesday and will be for MK. We can see how she does that day, then plan the rest accordingly. It's just driving me a bit crazy to not be able to plan all the mornings and evenings NOW. (Drives DH nuts that I try to do that in the first place. )

 

[Oh Kay!]

I find that the boys might not need a nap but I do! When we went last December, we did EMH for MK and AK staying until 2. We would stay in our room until 5, and then head to Epcot. We went to MGM one late morning just to do Playhouse Disney and Muppet 3-D got back by 1, and went to Epcot at 4. By saving Epcot for the evening, we were able to extend the day. One downside is that we missed parages.

 

[tink2]

On our last trip, we traveled with my family including a 6 month old, 2 1/2 year old, 5 year old, and 8 year old. We went during Thanksgiving week- Monday-Friday in the parks. We arrived for EMH and left after the nighttime fireworks- closing. My children, the 6 month old and 2 1/2 year old, took naps in the strollers. We ate a sit down character lunch most days. After lunch, we found a shady spot to wait for the afternoon parade and the kids to nap in. We took turns riding rides and sitting with the napping children. I cannot imagine going back to the hotel with all 4 children. 1. They are way too excited 2. It takes DD- now 4- forever to actually fall asleep- would waste several hours with buses, making her lay down, etc. 3. The fuss and tears over leaving the park.
I don't know how my DD 4 will handle naps in the stroller. She hates naps now, so that will be a chore. Surely by the second and third day, she will be so wiped out she will crash when she gets still.
Anyway, every family has their own style. Everyone will not agree on this one. I think you have to pick what's best for you and your family! Have fun planning!!!

 

[jcemom]

Thanks to all for your tips and experiences!