Park vs Resort Days

[sponica]

We don't do "off" days. Technically our last trip was a Mon-Sat but our flights were super late Mon and super early Sat, so we had Tues-Friday in the parks. We park hopped every day except Friday, after we wrapped up at Animal Kingdom, we went to the hotel pool for a while until it was time for dinner.

 

[tinkerjo]

With only 5 days I would not take a resort day. There are parks that we are done with sooner than others (Epcot and AK for us) so some days we are back 1-2 in the afternoon. I do like a resort day, and we took a couple last trip but we had an 8 night trip and 5 day tickets. And yes, everyone’s feet hurt by day 3. It’s a lot of walking and there were a few with blisters by day 3 so if you really need a resort day I would go to the parks 2 days/off day/2 more park days. But that extra day gets you a morning at least of catching a few big ticket rides that maybe you couldn’t get in on your day in a particular park. Then spend the rest of the day at the resort. It still feels like a break day

 

[piccolopat]

Does your 5 days include arrival/departure days or are they the days in between? We never took a resort day even when DD was an infant and toddler but she also slept well in the stroller. If you want to see all 4 parks, I agree with OPs to have a resort day planned for in the middle. If the kids are doing well and you want to do another park day you can always upgrade your tickets. With your kids so young, you might even plan for 2 days in MK and split one day between the resort and the Studios.

 

[Gatrcruzer]

I agree with the others: it depends on how your family rolls. We like the idea of splitting up the day rather than taking whole resort days. So we have done morning at the park, leave for lunch and maybe a bit of pool/nap, then returning later in the day (note, we were staying on property or very close; it is harder to do this if staying some distance from the parks); we have also done park till around 3/4 then returned to the resort; we have also done lunch at a nearby hotel to get a rest from the crowds/chaos/heat (we ate at the restaurant at the Poly when at MK) and stayed all day. A full day from rope drop till closing is a lot to do with young children, even if the 2-year-old is able to nap in the stroller. And it's tiring for grown-ups, too! I would also say that time of year is a factor. It is HOT in the summer, and there is also rain to factor in (often in the afternoon, although it could happen at any time), so breaks might be more needed, while late fall-early spring are more comfortable times and it is easier to stay all day. I would agree with another poster that your life will be easier if you don't park hop, and given how much time you have that shouldn't be necessary. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[slosinger]

My husband needs resort days to recover We went as a married couple and he couldn't keep up with me back before kids. I can't imagine he will be any better this go around with 2 kids in tow.

 

[npatellye]

When my youngest was 2, we did a lot of rope drop mornings at the parks. We headed back to the resort around lunchtime and then back to the parks later in the evening. We also scheduled arrival day as resort time and Disney Springs and a day at the end as resort day. So we did 5 days of parks (2 days at MK) and then 2 days of no parks.

Now that the kids are a bit older, we sometimes do a park in the evening on arrival day (in November it was HS and in May it was AK). We usually head to parks early, leave by lunch, and go back around dinner. Or we just head to parks later in the day around dinner time. We still schedule in resort time on the days we head to the parks late and we schedule a day of resort time and Disney Springs but our trips are now 8-10 days long (counting arrival and departure days).

 

[westie55]

We do park days every day with an afternoon swim break each day. The only times we usually don't do parks are arrival day and departure day. Especially with a 5 day trip, there's a lot you'll miss even if you don't do any resort days. I love the resorts, but I would miss the parks if I skipped them for entire days. I'm not a lay by the pool all day kind of person. I like action on my vacations lol. My husband is the opposite!

 

[maiaeh]

Breaks will be very important! Especially for your younger one. A midday break back at the hotel for a nap or time at the pool is a great way to get energy back so you can go back to the parks later in the day. For your 5 day stay, I would say 2 resort days would be good, however remember to just take it slow and day by day!

 

[Specter]

As others have said, this really depends on your family and what you want.

My family (myself, DW, and on our last trip for the first time, DD who is now 2) do not like resort days. I can see why some people do and if we were going for more than a week (almost every trip we take is 8 nights, occasionally 7 or 9) or lived close by we might even try it out. But after a particularly go go go trip that we took with some extended family once DW and I have taken a much more relaxed approach. We aren't going to be speed walking across the park to try and be 2 spots closer in a line. And, even before DD was born, the two of us would take midday breaks.

We usually go in either March or November/December, DW is a teacher and summer is just too hot, and while some trips have been too cold for the pool there have been numerous instances where you could find us at one of the quiet pools after a day in the parks. DD was 11 months old on the last trip and even though she was a very good traveler and took naps in her stroller, it was also good to get her out of the sun for a few hours each day, but doing that AND taking a whole day off from the parks just strikes us as too much time spent not doing what we went to Disney World to do. Our neighborhood pool is great, and DWs parents live nearby and have a pool too, so that's no loss for us.

There is so much to see and do at each park that we just prefer having at least 1 and a half if not 2 days per (when park hopping was normal). I didn't look at all the replies so if this has been said I apologize, but during our last trip and planning for our upcoming trip next March, have you looked at just how much (or little) your youngest can do at Hollywood Studios. DW and I love that park and the thrill rides but on our last trip DD could only ride Mickey and Minnie which had just opened, and Toy Story Midway Mania. As much as DW and I love the rides in that park we are seriously considering doing only a half-day there for our next trip because even then, DD may only be able to ride 1-2 more things at most. She is on the petite side, though, so maybe your youngest can do a bit more.

 

[KateInWonderland]

Well it's ultimately up to you. When I would go on trips with my folks we would have at least one resort day to swim and shop. It would usually be on an Animal Kingdom day, because I was a hyper child with a short attention span and there wasn't much to do in AK 14 years ago...Though to be completely honest, this is your families first trip so I think you should make the most of it! I hope I was able to help a little bit and that you guys have a wonderful time!!!