Need tips for taking a break during the day

[coreyphall]

3 of us are going to Disney World for 6 days, July 12-18. Here's the general itinerary:
12th - Epcot: World Showcase 3PMto9PM (no break here)
13th - MK: Main Street, Adventureland, Frontierland, & Liberty Square 8AMto1AM
14th - DHS, 8AMto10PM
15th - Epcot: Future World, 8AMto9PM
16th - DAK, 8AMto8PM
17th - MK: Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, 8AMto12AM

As you see we are splitting Epcot and MK into 2 days. We will wander around World Showcase and watch Illuminations the first day so no break that day. We want a break from the heat and the busyness of the mid-day crowd. We have done Disney multiple times during Christmas and New Years so crowds aren't as much of a problem as getting away from the heat and humidity for a bit.

We will be staying at POR-FQ and will be driving to and from parks. We aren't doing park hopper. So is it a good idea to take a 2-3 hour break in the middle of the day? Or do you think we will run out of time for a few rides? Also, how is the heat and humidity during this time. We live in SC and know how tough it can be, but I just wanted to hear what you had to say about your Disney experience in July.

 

[LaurEm378]

It depends. Are we talking about 3 adults, or is there a kid involved? A lot depends on the ages and fitness levels of your party.

I'm a pretty fit, healthy 36 year old and that would be a LOT for me. I'd burn out by day 3 in normal weather, let alone in that July heat. It's just too much walking/standing/heat. The sun is unrelenting in FL. The parks are mostly concrete, so you get the sun burning down on you AND reflecting back up on you from the ground. The parks don't have a lot of shade. It can sap you pretty quickly.

I think you can take midday breaks and still accomplish just as much if you use FP+ wisely--and you'd have a happier trip overall.

I know a lot of people tour from morning til night and it works for them, but that's hard in July, period. 6 days is a good long trip, even if you plan in rest breaks. I think if you make a solid touring plan and use your time wisely, you can break each day (or leave the park before closing) and still accomplish all your must-dos and more

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've done 51 trips so far, with and without children, from 22 years of age to now at 65 and we " always " broke from the parks to relax, use the resort pool and have a pool picnic... Around noonish till 4 or 5..... plus we always scheduled a complete down day in the middle of our stay...

We never go to WDW for less than 7 nights... We get plenty of park time in, most always make rope drop or there abouts, visit in value season and usually have a plan in mind when vacationing in WDW...

There is just no way we could be opening to close people... The Florida sun is relentless, really no fun pushing the heat and sweat when I paid for a deluxe or moderate with a themed pool resort at my beck and call.... few hours refreshing at the pool, beverages, lunch and ready for an evening of more park time...

We're not commandos, not raiding some beach head...a vacation is to relax more than you normally do... Take the breaks, you won't regret them..

 

[Barbydoll8]

Your MK day is going to be a bit tough. If you want to "stay" in the parks and take heat breaks (and you will need them), plan things like the train ride all the way around the park for mid afternoon. Do all indoor shows (HoP, Bears, FH, Tiki Room etc). Go shopping on Main street. Or take the boat over to Wilderness Lodge & tour the hotel. Take another boat to the camp ground & tour the grounds (they are lovely & fairly shaded). Or, do a monorail tour of Poly, GR & the Contemporary. It's an easy way to spend at least 2 hours in AC & see some great stuff at these MK hotels. The monorail will bring you right back.
Eat a late lunch & linger.

DHS - do an animation class. Go see american idol experience before it closes.
Take the boat over to the board walk. Get ice cream either at B&C or the Fountain.

Epcot - take the Behind the Seeds tour in the Land. It's fairly cheap for an extra tour experience, interesting and all inside at the Land. It takes about an hour. Then ride the ride again & enjoy it from a new perspective.
Go back to the boardwalk (walk or boat) tour the BW, Y&BC hotels.

AK - hard to do here. You can do the indoor shows or you can take the bus over to the lodge & spend some time there. There are lots of things to do in the lodge & it's like a 5 min trip from the park to the lodge.

We live here & I can tell you we avoid the parks from mid June until Sept. They are just too hot for us. Drink, drink, drink water.

 

[Beer Me]

I've done Disney in July many times. Being in MK from open to close really isn't that bad. You'll have many little breaks in the course of a normal day. In shaded or air conditioned queues, attractions, shops and restaurants. You won't be marching around in the blazing sun all day.
That being said I prefer to take a pool break in the afternoon. It feels great and recharges the batteries. It's a vacation so relaxation should be part of it.

 

[rebelbuddhist]

My wife and I were there last July and never took mid day breaks. Well at least we never went back to our resort. We simply made late lunch/early dinner ADRs at a TS restaurant and had a leisurely meal. We spent as much as 90 minutes from appetizer to dessert. We also found sitting in the lobby and alcoves in the resorts was a relaxing break without having to spend the time to travel back to our resort. The Contemporary and Grand Floridian are nice get always when at MK or Epcot. Going over to the Swan or Dolphin can be a nice break from HS or Epcot. AK is a bit different but a long lunch in Yak and Yeti can be relaxing. We are not swimmers so using the pools doesn't appeal to us. Just sitting and people watching or even dozing off for a cat nap was just what we needed. Last July was hot but not unbearable. We also had those cooling towels advertised on TV and they were great! You might want to consider those. Have a great trip.

 

[rebelbuddhist]

My wife and I were there last July and never took mid day breaks. Well at least we never went back to our resort. We simply made late lunch/early dinner ADRs at a TS restaurant and had a leisurely meal. We spent as much as 90 minutes from appetizer to dessert. We also found sitting in the lobby and alcoves in the resorts was a relaxing break without having to spend the time to travel back to our resort. The Contemporary and Grand Floridian are nice get always when at MK or Epcot. Going over to the Swan or Dolphin can be a nice break from HS or Epcot. AK is a bit different but a long lunch in Yak and Yeti can be relaxing. We are not swimmers so using the pools doesn't appeal to us. Just sitting and people watching or even dozing off for a cat nap was just what we needed. Last July was hot but not unbearable. We also had those cooling towels advertised on TV and they were great! You might want to consider those. Have a great trip.

 

[Hootch]

midday breaks. I feel so much fresher after a swim, shower and change of clothes. It seems like a better use of my time with crowds heavier in the afternoon.

Side note - POFQ is our base resort now. It's so small that getting anywhere is quick. You noted that you would drive to the parks. The POFQ bus system is pretty good. We take the bus to the MK. It saves quite a bit of time and hassle between catching a tram and then the monorail or boat to get to the MK gate. We do drive to the other parks. Epcot and DHS are especially close to the resort.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Just to reinterate... While in Disney, ( we shower evenings at home) we shower mornings, mid day and evening just to refresh... I'm paying big bucks for the room, we're going to utilize the shower multiple times a day plus the pool mid day...

We also prefer our pool picnics with grocery bought sandwich makings over food court offerings ....salami and ham and cheese on a roll, pickles and chips plus some adult beverages.. Relaxing at the pool to hop in to cool off... Baby, we're on vacation...!