Rest during the day without leaving the park?

[Gazotron]

Just putting the finishing touches to my schedule and I am planning to do some early morning touring at both MK and Epcot.

Does anyone have some good suggestions for rest and refreshment which doesn't involve leaving the park. Ideally I would like to stick around for the evening's entertainment rather than waste time travelling to the hotel (which is off resort) and back.

However I do realise that it will be hot in the middle of the day and I don't want to overdo things. The children are way past "needing" a nap, but certainly not past getting hot, tired and annoying.

Any ideas?

 

[Perditamarie]

It is not only just hot, it is humid. Steadily throughout the morning, you will come to realize you are being poached!! With the extended hours in the summer you should have plenty of time to go to your resort after lunch and take a nice, long swim and everyone will be refreshed for the evening, instead of feeling like you've all been dragged through a bush.

However, here are some ideas if you must skip your swim break:

* make a reservation for lunch or an early dinner so you can have a nice long break in an air conditioned restaurant

* shop in the beautiful air conditioning

* schedule afternoons to watch shows that are air conditioned

* find the cooling misters or interactive fountains

* check out an arcade

* apply ice cream, dole whips and slushy drinks liberally

I hope you and your family have a brilliant trip!

 

[TaraPA]

Tom Sawyer Island on MK is the perfect place for us to rest & recharge. It always seems cooler over there, there are a lot of trees & not a lot of people. There are a few spots to actually sit & rest, or snooze if you need to. If Aunt Polly's isn't open that whole dock area is usually empty, and there are sometimes rocking chairs there to sit & watch the hustle & bustle of MK from a distance. I love that you can sit there & rock while watching the steam boat go by, and in the distance you can hear the howls from HM (when it's open). You can see the 3pm parade from that dock as well. There are also 2 spots to sit & play checkers.

 

[bellebud]

I say leave the park to explore and eat at a WDW resort. I think the mental break is just as important as the physical break from the parks for the kids (and adults sometimes).

From MK, the contemporary is a walk or monorail ride away. It's very cool inside and there are a few places to eat and the kids can chill out in the arcade and you can shop. There's also the Poly, GF, WL and Ft. Wilderness. Nice and easy to go back and forth.

From Epcot, boat or walk to the BW, YC/BC, Swan or Dolphin.

If you have time, which you might, you could bus to AKL instead. Eat at Mara, the fast food place (the food is really good!), rest, shop, watch the animals. I think it's worth the time away from the parks to be refreshed, and to get to see a cool resort.

 

[Dizneydaz]

One place at Epcot to spend a little down time is (are) Innoventions (East and West) My DD7 loves to spend time in there and it's always deliciously cool. There are even a few benches to sit on. Your kids could probably spend a few hours if they check out both sides. They are a lot of cool things to do in them also, along with playing some video games.

Another place at Epcot to escape the heat of the day is Mission Space Training Center. Located at the end of MS ride, you can also access it from the outside. There are some neat things to do there. If your kids are into cars at all, outside of Test Track there are alot of GM cars and trucks on display and you (kids too) can sit in them and pretend to drive. For some reason even adults get a kick out of sitting in a nice, red, Corvette.

Ellen's Energy Adventure is nice to do during the heat of the day as you are seated for the adventure, and I believe the whole thing takes about 45 minutes.

Hope this helps. Have Fun and Keep Cool!

 

[RangerPooh]

When we're at EPCOT and need to take a break we hit Ellen's Engery Adventure. Like the PP said, it's a nice long ride. Which also means that if someone needs it they can snag a nap. Which I will admit to doing on several occassions.

I'm all for taking a break in the afternoon to grab a bit to eat. There are plenty of air conditioned resturaunts available near MK. You could take a boat to FW and eat at Trails End or to WL for WCC and then take the boat back. The breeze from the boat ride alone should be relaxing.

 

[dfarner]

At MK I would suggest riding the train around the park a time or two, it's shaded and you're sitting. Someone else suggested getting on the monorail, I would definitely do this, it is COOL COOL COOL and you can ride it around for awhile even after you've seen other resorts. The Hall of Presidents is nicely air conditioned. My husband and daughter nap every time we go in there! Many of the rides in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are air conditioned (and dark!). I would also suggest buying some of the personal fans or the mini misting fans for your family. They work wonderful. You can find them in many drug stores (Walgreens, CVS) and (maybe?) Disney. There are some threads on the boards that have talked about them that may help. Have fun!!

 

[tadamom]

Lots of great advice from other posters. The places/attractions we have done to rest & what-not are Hall of Presidents, The People Mover (Tomorrowland Transit Authority), Carousel of Progress, Ellen's Energy Adventure (I fell asleep in there after taking some Benadryl my 1st trip -- I woke up feeling well rested, cool & ready for the rest of the day.) and the monorail.

 

[northriver]

We hit the parks when they open and often schedule a sit down meal for the last breakfast seating or the earliest lunch seating. You wouldn't think you'd be so hungry so early but we usually are, and it is fantastic to take an air conditioned break with food, and cold drinks! We take our time when we eat, they like to rush you in and out of there but just relax and take your time. then we are ready to hit the park for the afternoon.

 

[dyna]

Ride the monorail no one says you have to get off during the afternoon it's never very crowded most littles take a nap if moving for any length of time.

Hmmmm nice big lunch and ride on monorail I see a nap for myself comin on... lol

 

[Gazotron]

Thanks guys for all of your suggestions. It seems like there are plenty of options and I think I will take these suggestions with me and see how it goes.

This really is a step into the unknown for us and I'm sure that we will learn a lot from this trip, things we will be able to put into practise if we return.

 

[Mkrop]

This is why we scheduled most of our character meals for lunch to get that midday break from the heat even though it was only May.

 

[Atchley]

The first time we were in MK there was a light rain for about 20-30 minutes during the early afternoon. It was raining hard enough that you wanted out of the rain. We sat in the area where you get on Liberty Square Riverboat. It was not air conditioned but we sat there with a nice breeze from the rain and recharged while both our kids (5 and 3 at the time) both took a nap.

 

[Doc CW]

For EPCOT I would say you could ride Figment or see Honey I shrunk the Audience and the American Adventure. For MK I would say TTA, the Carousel of Progress, or any of the other shows would be good places to relax.

 

[JenGray]

Are you planning on going to any of the water parks? This might be something to relax you during the day. You can ride the lazy river, etc... We usually do this on every trip. It helps to relax your sore feet and legs... cools you off at the same time.

We always enjoy going to the Coka Cola place at Epcot. They have free tastings of Coke products from around the world. It's not a very long break, but something to check out.

Have fun!

 

[luvthattink]

I don't believe that anyone mentioned this yet but in MK Ariel's Grotto is a great place to let the kiddos let loose and expend some energy all while cooling off lots of squirting water. (might suggest a change of clothes as they can manage to get fairly wet)

 

[Gazotron]

Thks for the suggestions, it seems like the common themes are transport and shows in air conditioned comfort.

Are you planning on going to any of the water parks? This might be something to relax you during the day. You can ride the lazy river, etc... We usually do this on every trip. It helps to relax your sore feet and legs... cools you off at the same time.

Yes we are planning to visit both BB and TL. The thinking at the moment is that we will do this on days when we don't visit the other parks but, like so many things in this holiday, we'll see how it goes.

We always enjoy going to the Coka Cola place at Epcot. They have free tastings of Coke products from around the world. It's not a very long break, but something to check out.

Thanks, we'll certainly be checking this one out.

Have fun!

If we don't then it won't be for lack of planning.