need scheduling help: how does the shorter hours affect timing of your mid-day break?

[disneyberry]

dbf and i normally go to WDW during off-peak times when the weather is much cooler and crowds are non-existent.
now we're trying to plan a last-minute weekend trip some time in the next 2 weeks.

we've never been before in June, and it looks like the weather is HOT (90s) already. and i'm assuming the crowds are pretty big since it's summer now.

because we usually go off-peak, we've always been lazy: we sleep in, relax, go to the parks from noon until closing, eat a late dinner after we get out from the parks.
anyway, we realize that if we do pull this trip together, we're going to have to completely change our schedule around:
we'll need to go at park opening (or earlier for EE), head out as soon as the park starts getting crowded + the weather starts heating up.
take a mid-day break.
then head back to the parks later? eat dinner earlier, and get back to the resort early, so we can wind down and get to bed early. (as you can see, i am definitely a late-night owl. bed early is a foreign concept to me we'll still have to try though, 'cause even though i can deal w/ not-enough-sleep at home, a day at WDW makes me so exhausted, i really need to actually get 8hrs there!)

the problem is, because all the parks close so early, we can't figure out what the right timing should be.

what time is the best time to go in the morning until? 10am? 11am? noon?

how long should the mid-day break be?
it seems like the hottest part of the day is from 1pm to 5pm? is that correct?

but if we wait until 5pm to go back, then that leaves very little time before the park closes? when do we eat dinner?

also, if we'll be waking up by 6:30-7am to have breakfast and do EE, then we'll be too tired to stay out at the parks until 9pm.

what times did you and your family find to work the best considering Disney's much shorter operating hours?
i still can't believe these June hours are so short... this is what i'd expect for Oct hours, but for June?

anyway, sorry for the long post, i ramble at this time of night. if anyone can help out w/ some WDW timing advice, that'd be great!
we've never done the EE + mid-day break thing before, but it looks like we'll definitely need to learn how!

 

[goofy4tink]

Since we've only been in late Oct/early Nov we haven't had the heat problem. We just stayed in the parks all day. But, you already know that!! I guess I would leave the park at lunchtime, eat at my resort and swim for a bit. Just relax THen I'd head back around 3ish. You wouldn't see the parades but if you've already seen them then it's no big deal. You could then do rides while people are watching the parade.

 

[Gillian]

June hours look pretty good to me! MK open until 8 or 9 or even 10 some days. Epcot still at 9, MGM at 9 or 10. AK some days until 6 (instead of 5).

With the heat I'd go for early entry and then switch parks or go back for a break when it gets busy. I think you need to be a little flexible about this, as not all parks will fill up at the same rate.

I have found that 11-2 is the hottest time, when the sun is directly overhead. We stay until the crowds or heat bother us. Or have an airconditioned lunch at the park and then leave.

It's likely that everything you do will be earlier, including your meals. You'll get tired and hungry sooner! We like to have an early dinner so that we have time to do stuff in the evening.

Of course, on your AK day, I'd plan to go all day, if possible, with a long lunch break.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Its not the 9pm and 10pm closing nights for MK that are so dreadful, but the 7pm and 8pm nights are just depressing. Can you just imagine how bad its gonna feel to get pushed out of MK at 7pm -broad daylight? But anyway, back to the main topic....

I know my family is in the vast minority, but we have always found it easier to stay on the parks throughout the day. There are so many ways to rest and renew one's strength that it just hasn't been necessary for us. That may change in June -our rule number 1 on all WDW adventures is to "be flexible".

 

[Gillian]

Since we like to visit in the off season, I sure can imagine it! Try a 6 pm MK closing! But it's nice to have the rest of the evening free.

 

[DISNEYBIGGDOGG]

I agree with Zippa, we never leave the parks either, and we have 3 small children. Enjoy your days at the parks and maybe go to the pool at night when parks close early.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Disclaimer: I'm a big believer in the mid-day break. I think that the human brain has a DSL (Disney Stimulation Limit) that, when exceeded, turns a person into a staggering zombie.

That said, on an EE day, leaving between 10-11 has already given you 3-4 prime hours. The park will be crowding up and you'll be feeling a little fuzzy after the 6AM wake up. Go to your room. Shower. Relax. We even take a short cat nap. Head back to the park around 2-3; you've had a 4 or 5 hours break, the heat of the day has broken, many families with younger children will soon be on their way out after meltdowns and you'll still have 4-9 hours of even park touring.
What we usually do for dining is to catch a quick breakfast (food court/snack shop at resort), do enough of a lunch to take us through the evening and either eat at a park (longer hours) or at a resort/DD after the park closes (early close).
Finally, although I'm an early bird, don't forget that Pleasure Island is open late enough for most night owls.

Hope this helps,
Erick

 

[CuteKatCar]

We are leaving in 2 days and yes, MK closing at 7 pm is a thorn in my side. I have emailed WDW and told them. The reason I pay to stay on the monorail is to be at MK. And with small children - and the heat - you do need to take a break.

Because of the short hours, I have only planned 1 evening in MK - Sat 5/31 to see Spectro and Fireworks. I have also planned an e-ticket night. Every other night is planned for either Epcot or MGM (which I really don't need to spend 6 half-days in those parks). We are a park family and do 2 parks every day. Maybe now we won't? Being flexible, that's what it's all about.

We only do EE at MK because of the rides that our children want to do. We always hit the parks at opening (because of the heat). Stay until 1 and then head back to hotel. We usually head out again around 5:00. I rarely nap, DH naps and usually one child naps. My DD10 and I hit the pool. It all depends on how tired we are. Some days we all nap.

You may want to get up early one day - go to MK - take a break and go to MGM that night. They are open til 9.
I agree with the OP that when you go to AK, you should stay until you are done because they close so early. Even I am doing that. I am only planning on one day at AK, so we will stay til we're done, with a nice leisurely lunch.

Plan a nice breakfast somewhere another day - hit a park around 1:00. Since you don't have kids, you should be able to handle the heat. Make sure you hit a lot of attractions that have AC so you are not dying all day long. Then take a nice late lunch/early dinner around 4:00 and then keep going!!

You'll manage fine. You have to play with your itinerary a bit, that's all.

Have fun.

Anna

 

[susy]

You said you are going over a weekend. The weekend hours are typically a little longer (an hour more?)

Anyway, here is a way to maximize your touring hours ...get to the parks (EE park) ridiculously early. Eat breakfast in your room to save time.

Tour from 8-11:30- doing all the MAJOR attractions (for MK that would be the mountains, buzz, fantasyland...)

at 11:30- do a nice sit-down lunch (make your PS's now). The crowds are picking up anyway, so you aren't missing prime park time .The restaurants open at 11 or 11:30, so you shouldn't have to wait long.

at 12:30 -after lunch head out.... we do this regardless of how we feel...trust me (I live in FL), by 8am you will be sweating.

SWIMMMMMMMM.... get a drink from the pool bar.......don't forget the sunscreen -being cool in the water will fool you into believing you are okay. A bad sunburn can RUIN your trip.

by 2:00 or 2:30 the thunderstorms should be rolling in.... count on this every day! It's already happening and it's not even June yet! Use this rainy time to drift off for a while.

4:00 wake up, shower and head out!!!! Since you had a sit-down lunch you can utilize your time to ride attractions, see parades, fireworks, fantasmic, etc. Do a counter service dinner when you get to the park. The last of the "I'll make it all dayers" will be dragging themselves out.

This strategy always works for us in the off-season (with a 5yo!). We usually to Epcot at night, but MK and MGM do stay open a little later on the weekends. Have fun!