Off site guests and breaks

[jm106]

I am so unsure of how to plan our days/ADrs/FP+.

We last did off site in '09 but it was so rainy(tornado warnings with ride shut downs.) That trip we went to resort in afternoon, didn't return other then last night when Wishes was on.
Since then we were on site. We have to stay off this trip so I am not sure if we plan a break or not? We will be 30 min away at a condo style TS, nothing special. One day before and after we are at DTD Hiton.

My kids will be 6 and 8, have no issue with late nights in Disney. But we have not done RD to Park close. We go in October but last time was August 2012 so a few years older.
We will do US/IOA and we are close so early nights those days. We plan 4/5 days at WDW with one night being MNSSHP.

How do other off site guests handle the day? Just an ADR to relax? Leave parks midday? My kids did enjoy pool time mid day but the pool now isnt as cool as Disney's. Please share your experiences on staying off site and plans. Appreciate the help

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I am so unsure of how to plan our days/ADrs/FP+.

We last did off site in '09 but it was so rainy(tornado warnings with ride shut downs.) That trip we went to resort in afternoon, didn't return other then last night when Wishes was on.
Since then we were on site. We have to stay off this trip so I am not sure if we plan a break or not? We will be 30 min away at a condo style TS, nothing special. One day before and after we are at DTD Hiton.

My kids will be 6 and 8, have no issue with late nights in Disney. But we have not done RD to Park close. We go in October but last time was August 2012 so a few years older.
We will do US/IOA and we are close so early nights those days. We plan 4/5 days at WDW with one night being MNSSHP.

How do other off site guests handle the day? Just an ADR to relax? Leave parks midday? My kids did enjoy pool time mid day but the pool now isnt as cool as Disney's. Please share your experiences on staying off site and plans. Appreciate the help

We stay off site and have no problem taking a break in the middle of the day. Our hotel is close, right near Downtown Disney, and from what I hear, our break is quicker/easier than on-site people who have to take the buses.

 

[jm106]

Thanks. We are all the up near Universal.

 

[mike45248]

Last 2 times we stayed off site and did not have problems. First time we were close to WDW maybe 15 min away, we would get there close to RD and stay most of the day and take time out for a lite lunch and a sit down dinner. Last time we stayed off site far away (New Smyrna) and we got there close to RD and stayed till close (around 7:00 or 9:00)winter time We took it easy and planned our FPP accordingly.

 

[HM]

We will take midday break to use the pool, but often find even though we plan to go back to the parks for the evening, we get too comfortable and end up staying in. Just be aware that you might have to make yourself go back....

 

[rapunzels]

I am a fan of mid day breaks (when staying on property)... but found when staying off site, it's not worth it unless we REALLY need it. By the time you walk through the park, get to your car, If at MK take the monorail/boat to the TTC, drive to your resort/room (add in that driving time), rest for a fair amount of time, then do the exact thing in reverse, too many HOURS have passed. The last time we did it, I felt like we were in motion getting to and from the room longer than we actually even spent in the room. ...maybe we were really tired and moving slow.

 

[jm106]

We will take midday break to use the pool, but often find even though we plan to go back to the parks for the evening, we get too comfortable and end up staying in. Just be aware that you might have to make yourself go back....

I could see dh and kids doing that. I'm the opposite, I can't relax knowing we need to go back so I watch the clock and think about how to get everyone moving.
It's so hard, can't imagine missing the evenings in the parks.

 

[sarkell]

I could see dh and kids doing that. I'm the opposite, I can't relax knowing we need to go back so I watch the clock and think about how to get everyone moving.
It's so hard, can't imagine missing the evenings in the parks.

Well be staying offsite have 4 kids July 2015 we are doing a legoland day but I think our plan is rd stay until 1ish then go back rest swim through dinner head back for eveining probably 6-9pm animal kingdom day well do all day finish earlier. well well do at least 2 evenings maybe 3. Still in works.

 

[Suellen]

Thanks. We are all the up near Universal.

ALL the way.... it is 13 miles. It isn't like you are an hour away.

Breaks for us have always been worth it.... mostly so we can stay out late, late, late!

 

[CNYDisneyFan]

When my family and I stayed off site, we would make sure to go back mid day for the break. So glad we did.

 

[jm106]

ALL the way.... it is 13 miles. It isn't like you are an hour away.

Breaks for us have always been worth it.... mostly so we can stay out late, late, late!

Sorry, I meant we aren't next door is all.
I know when we were off site last time with traffic a 20 min ride was taking us a lot longer many days. Once it was almost 3 hours with a road closed midday! I am a bit unsure of the timing with local morning commuters.

I need to decide if we will do ADRs for dinner onsite. We do plan to try and do a few early nights as well as late (on US/IOA days. We arent doing Ak which is always a short day.)

 

[daisy87]

We are staying offsite for first time in August and I'm planning in afternoon breaks,maybe to leave around midday and return around 4/5.

We're only 10/15 mins away from disney so not too far but even if it takes 45 mins each way with traffic and getting to car park etc I think it will be worth it! Especially since it's gunna be so hot,much better to have a couple hours to cool down and relax than to have a grumpy tired family I think!

That's the plan anyways but could always change when were there lol!

 

[eliza61]

How do other off site guests handle the day? Just an ADR to relax? Leave parks midday? My kids did enjoy pool time mid day but the pool now isnt as cool as Disney's. Please share your experiences on staying off site and plans. Appreciate the help

I've never had an issue with doing mid day breaks while off site. Never.

first, let me say we always have our own car on vacation so transportation is never an issue.

Now we also stayed at Bonnet creek and the Waldorf. both are really close to Disney, in fact it takes me less time to drive to either than it did taking Disney transportation back to my resort. Especially one year when we stayed at the AKL. that took forever with Disney transportation.

Lastly, we generally went in August when my kids were small. NO way could I drag them through the parks in the hot midday sun without a coup. In fact, dh would have revolted, so midafternoon breaks were mandatory.

We leave around 12:30 go back and chill until dinner than return.