POLL: Couples Without Kids - Do You Take Midday Breaks??

[Barbday62]

I voted yes and this is why. We two 40 something empty nesters and are naturally early risers. We get up early for work and so on the weekends and even on vacation habits gets us up early. Being up early has its advantages liek less crowds too. We go early. But we realy like to be in the parks at night when its cooler and less crowded too. As a compromise we tend to take a mid day break/swim, its great sun time too lol. Then we rest and go back out about dinner time. I also like changin my clothes after the swim/shower so I feel fresh again at night. I say all this because we go in the summer time and so everything is open late and days are very hot.

I have another reason to break. MY husband has Muscular Dystrophy and needs a down time for massage and rest.

Barb

 

[Micca]

The suggestion about taking a break in the lounge of one of the hotels is a good one. Also there's DTD where you could catch a movie. DW and I enjoy a treat at Ghiardellis at DTD or a No Way Jose at Beaches and Cream.

 

[Blueberry]

We go in off season and generally we do not take breaks outside the park. However, if it is hot, like in September we sit down under a nice tree or in a nice air conditioned area have a cool drink or snack and chill out..We do rest some either in the park or outside of it, maybe even while moving the car from park to park but we do not go back to our hotel offsite generally and rest....

 

[ceejay13]

We always take breaks and usually visit a couple of times a year thanks to the DVC. We shop, take a nap, golf but never anymore do any commando touring. It is one of the most relaxing trips we make.

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

Sometimes we take mid-day breaks. We are usually up at 6 am - head to a park after breakfast and go until lunch. If it is crowded we head out of the park for lunch and then back to the room for a nap. If there are small crowds we tend to stay in the parks. DH is 58 and I am 48.

We got in the habit of taking the kids back for naps and even though we are alone on our disney trips now we like the break and usually end up staying till park close with plenty of energy to spare.

 

[dsneygirl]

We are young and spry (late 20's) and we always take a mid day break when we are there in the warmer months. The cooler times of year we play it by ear. We stay onsite 99% of the time.

In the hotter weather we've been know to go back to the hotel and shower and change into clean clothes from sweating all morning.

Also we like to go back to the hotel for a swim or snack and then do a different park at night. We find it more interesting to mix things up such as...

AM-MK
Break
PM-Epcot

AM-AK
Break
PM-Studios

etc.

This also works well when fireworks are only on certain nights to squeeze everything in.

 

[N&B'smom]

My dh and I went to WDW in 1997 and we took a break every day. We would go to a park early in the morning. We'd go until lunch time, grab a bite to eat and then head back to our resort. (Dixie Landings at the time) We would then go to the pool for a bit before going back to our room for a much needed nap! Then after that we'd get ourselves together and head to another park until it closed! We had a great time and never felt over tired!

Shelby

 

[DisneyDuo]

I'm 47, DH is 52 - we almost always take a break in the afternoon from the parks. We rarely go back to the room and rest. What we think is fun is to visit a resort we haven't seen yet. We check out the restaurants and shops, just walk around and try to peek in a room to see the decor, sit on a bench or in a hammock and people watch for awhile. It's a nice break, and we are then ready to finsih the afternoon/evening/night at the park of the day.

Another thing we like to do is take a form of transportation we haven't used yet that trip. We try to do them all each trip (bus, boat, monorail, train) - we drive to WDW so that takes care of the car ;-)

One more thought that is a real nice break - afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian!!! Yum!!!

Lin

 

[disney queen]

we usually go back to the room. from about 1:00 til 3:00 or 4:00. if we have a PS for some place nice for dinner, we will also use this time to freshen up.

 

[Kristina]

This will be our first trip and we are not planning to go back to the Pop for a rest mid day, although you never know. We have so much to see and do and most of the parks won't be open very late while we are there. I've planned time for a sleep in every third day, and I really hope that's enough ! Deep inside I know it won't be but I hope we don't suffer to much! When I lived in Cali and would go to Disneyland, the next day I was always way pooped! And that was ages and ages ago too! I love the idea of choosing a ride for it's relaxing value, I think we are going to do alot of that! We will hopefully take it easy while we are in the parks as the day goes on, but I've been aching for this trip for three years, and by golly we are going to go go go !

 

[Teri1]

We go off season and don't need to take a break. But dining at a full service restaurant gives you time to relax a bit.

 

[B'rer Karen]

Well I'm not part of a couple, but I am an adult who doesn't travel with children, so I guess I can respond. I generally do not take a mid-afternoon break. I do what many othes mentioned, I switch parks mid-day, and I use some attractions for their rest value. My favorite is Ellen's Energy Adventure. It's usually not crowded so I pick a row, move all the way to the end, and then stretch my legs out on the seat next to me. The TTA, HoP, and SSE are also great rest attractions.

If I'm on property for over a week, I will pick a day to sleep in and do the pool and stuff, usually half way through. This coming trip I'm there for 14 days, so I'm planning to take things a little slower. I can't keep up the "up at 7:30, at the parks from 9 to 9, at PI until 1:30" schedule up for 14 days. I am taking a mid-day break on one day of my trip, but it's not really for the break purpose as it is the fact that I want to enjoy the resort pool on my birthday. And I want to be able to enjoy PI with my mom that night, so she'll need the break, so I guess it is a little because of the need for a break.

 

[Terk-1]

Although I am not a couple, I do go solo to WDW and yes, I do take breaks during the day. It's a must for me. I'm an early riser and I always do EE, so I'm at the parks early, do the things I want to do, have lunch, then head back to my resort for a couple of hours and either relax in my room or go for a swim. This way I get a second wind, then head off to a different park and am awake to view Illuminations or Wishes or Fantasmic.

 

[tc]

We are 40 something empty nesters and always take a midday break. That is if we start early that day. Sometimes we sleep in, go to breakfast and get to the parks about noon, then we stay all day. If we get up early, I like to eat lunch in our room, nap and then back out around 2.

If you're staying offsite, Tom Sawyer Island in MK is a great place to take a break. I've napped there before (15-20 minutes, just enough to recharge). Of course, we usually go in September when the crowds are low, but I've never seen it busy there. Quiet, cool, peaceful and there are usually empty benches around.

 

[DizBelle]

No we don't but we go at a time of year when the parks close earlier so going from 8am to 7pm with just sitting breaks at the park itself works well for us.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If you are staying offsite I would not take a mid-day break in the room (depending on the park hours I wouldn't normally do that when staying onsite, either). My break would be either switching parks or eating a sit-down meal.

I've only gone once without children, with another trip without children soon. I think we'll do some park hopping and only go back to the hotel to rest the day that we go to the Halloween party, if even then. My DH would prefer to take it easy, but I have a hard time slowing down.

They only time I really like to take mid-day breaks is when we've gone during peak time with long hours and hot weather (and those times were with kids).

T&B

 

[kandmwedding]

Our "midday break" is usually just our lunch. We try to plan a sitdown meal for the tail end of lunch time (2pm or so) and take or time eating. Not only do we get off our feet for an hour or so, we also get cheaper eats, since the lunch menu is usually cheaper than the dinner menu. We always do a mid-trip break. We're usually there for 7 days, and always plan to sleep in and explore our resort the morning of the 4th day, and don't go to the parks til that afternoon.

 

[kathymc]

we never have - but we always have traveled in off season (december) so shorter hours and cooler weather.

we will be there in 4 days and with the heat we will see how we are feeling and I am kind of looking forward to taking mid day breaks back at the AKL.

 

[meiandrew]

I love this thread !!! DW and I are in our 30's, and started thinking that we were the only couple going to WDW that did not have kids !! Glad we are not alone !!!

We are AP holders... when we go during hot months, we always take an afternoon break. When we go for Thanksgiving, we can do the parks all day !

Thanks again for the thread !!! We are not crazy !! LOL

 

[disneynay]

We take breaks when there is time. If we go during the summer, it is a must. The heat and the crowds are at times unbearable, and being with your party 24-7 can be stressful with all that combined. Hey, sometimes you just need to chill out.