Your schedule looks great! You seem to have everything worked out.
You're spreadsheet looks almost identical to mine! Great minds think alike!
Thank you- yes, definitely great minds!
For those of you with young kids who take breaks during the day.... what do you do for your break? And how late to you stay out at night? I know everyone is different, but I'm just curious.
Last time we went to WDW, DS was 2 (almost 3) and DD was 5. We took a break every day, except one. The day we didn't take a break, DS fell asleep during dinner. When we did take a break, it would take 3 to 4 hours out of our day. By the time we left the park, got back to the resort, got the kids down for nap, let them sleep for 2 hours, woke them up, and got back to the park, 3 to 4 hours had passed.
This year when we go DS will be 4 (almost 5) and DD will be 7. They both stopped taking naps this past year so I'm not sure I could even get them down for a nap, and if I did, it would take forever. I don't want to lose that much time from the parks this year, but I definitely don't want to deal with tired, cranky children. We won't have a stroller like we did last time.
Any suggestions?
So we've been 3x at WDW since having my son. We took him in Dec 2009 at 2yo, Dec 2010 at 3yo and then most recently in Oct 2011 at 4yo. We still take the midday breaks and plan to take them in November, not only for him, but my DH likes the downtime too. We will have my parents along and both are not in great health and tire easily, so the break will be needed for them too.
Typically we hit the parks at opening and do whatever morning EMHs we can, so we are often out the door to a park (for a 9am opening) by 8am. So we are up by 7am most mornings. We typically will tour a park until about 2pm. We usually leave by 2 at the latest, just depends on plans. WE have stayed at BLT the last two trips, so it was easy to get back to in most cases. We did WL before that. We do rent a car, so that means we aren't waiting on buses, which is great in the mornings. Because we arrive at opening, we always get a front parking spot and it makes it easier getting out. We walk to MK from BLT, so that is easy. So we only spend 15 minutes max on transportation and usually much less (each way). We usually get to the room and try and get DS to nap for at least an hour. He does still nap at his school currently from 12-2 each day.
He will be 5 this trip, so while we may not nap, we will at least make him rest. Just a break from all the energy of the parks can help, even if not a full on nap. Usually I don't nap, but DH will set on the balcony and read while DS naps. I watch tv, take trip notes, or even go shop at the BLT shops or ride the monorail loop and shop.
We try not to break for longer than 2 hours. So including transportation, we are looking at 2.5 hours total. So if we broke at 2pm, we try and be ready to leave again by 4pm.
I do a daily itinerary and we laminate them on notecards and attach to a keychain. Everyone in our party gets one. While I don't list out which ride we do when, we do list out times for when we need to leave the hotel- for example- leave BLT at 8:30am for MK at 9am. Then break at 2pm. Head to Epcot by 4pm. That sort of helps us all know our goal for the break- everyone knows we plan to walk out the door by 4pm. Of course that is flexible, but it helps when everyone knows and can be freshened up, awake and ready after the break.
We usually head back to another park anywhere between 4pm-5pm. Of course in the fall, you have the earlier closing hours for the off season, so staying late isn't too bad. For Epcot, they close at 9pm. AK closes at 5pm typically in Nov (not counting holiday week here), MK can close anywhere from 7pm on party nights to 10pm on weekends. DHS is usually 8pm or so. So it isn't like he is up super late. However, he does like staying up late and we haven't had a problem with him staying up until 11pm for
MVMCP and
MNSSHP. We typically avoid evening EMH, i just know he won't make it til midnight etc. and it is always so crowded. We can tell he is tiring out a lot by 11pm, so we only keep him out that late for the party.
Otherwise, we are usually back in room by 10pm and asleep by 11. He seems to do okay. I think the midday break helps. We do at least one sit down meal a day too, so that is sort of relaxing as well.
Even before we had our son, when we traveled with my family to WDW, we always took the midday break- we all just felt better and then could stay out late. Sort of the best of both worlds- doing rope drop and being able to stay late enough for the fireworks etc.
The most it takes away from our park time is like 3 hours. But we find because we do rope drop, use fastpass and stay late, we tend to still do all that we want to. If we were staying off site, i might reconsider taking a break, but it works well for us. Especially with the quick walk to MK from BLT.
ya'll have inspired me - I should be working but no I'm attempting a park/food/firework plan.
woo hoo- can't wait to see it!!!!!
I stashed a tote bag in the stroller, but it had diapers, wipes, etc. I'm thinking (and hoping) that I can fit everything I want to bring into a hipster. Oh! and the stroller rental is NOT in my budget so I will NOT be paying for it! 
My bad.
