Rest time on vacation

[Carrie772]

Do any of you all really take that mid afternoon break the UOG recommends? We have always gone in October, so crowds never warranted it. We are considering August this year, so we may need to do it.

Anyone?

 

[shaunaday]

As a kid, I remember we did take mid afternoon naps. But, I don't think we ever went back after naptime.

I have been twice as an adult (with my own kids)...and both times I planned to take a rest in the middle of the day, but didn't do it either time. I guess I would have done it if I were taking an extended trip...maybe 10-14 days. But since both times we were only there for 7 days (with 6 day tickets), none of us wanted to leave the parks. (Of course, we have never been during the most crowded or hot times...so who knows how much we'd be willing to leave the parks if the kids had gotten hot and grumpy.)

 

[PollyannaMom]

Nope. We do spread out our busier days between shorter ones, but we don't take a break and then go back.

 

[MnMomW3Boys]

When we go in October we don't normally do rest time either, mostly because the parks are not open very late and it is very relaxed compared to Auguest. The couple of times we have gone in the summer we have always taken breaks and the kids are usually asking for them. Of course this only really applies if you are early risers and get to the parks first thing.

 

[Carrie772]

When we go in October we don't normally do rest time either, mostly because the parks are not open very late and it is very relaxed compared to Auguest. The couple of times we have gone in the summer we have always taken breaks and the kids are usually asking for them. Of course this only really applies if you are early risers and get to the parks first thing.

Oh, for sure we get up early. I would say that 6:30 is the average time we get up.

Is rope drop in August the one that takes you down Main Street and you have to pick which land you are going to head out for?

 

[lntsmom]

but my kids would mutiny now if I made that suggestion! Seriously!

The only day where it was an issue was the day we were at MK from 9 am to 3 am. We took a break at Wildnerness Lodge for dinner at WCC. My thought was we could rest in the lobby. Little did I know, the restaurant only has 3 walls, so you hear the scream for katsup, the pony races, etc. My older son actually napped for an hour. I rested. The 7 year old went around the lobby introducing himself to all the kids and inquiring about their vacation.

Around 1 am he was starting to lag, but I convinced him to keep on keeping on, and he ended up managing to stay awake until we got back to the room at 3 am.

Now, my kids are Disney fanatics. If they could figure out a way to go without sleep for 8 days, they'd do it!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

We didn't plan to on our 10 day trip over Christmas/NY, but after 4 mornings up before 6:30 (one at 5:15 CD) our DD3 and DS5 were asking for naps...who am I kidding so were DH and I...but we went back for ADRs/saved FPs in th evening.

 

[lady_hlh]

We have gone twice in August and we always went back to the resort for a swim and to freshen up if we were at the park in the early AM. The afternoon can be so awfully hot, especially at AK, that you don't want to be at the park during that time.

 

[vcgirl925]

Never in all my trips to disney have we done that. It just seems like a pain to get on the bus or in the car and head back to the hotel. Swim, changed, dressed again, and then go back. We always go on the slower seasons though and the past two times it's been pretty chilly. We are also not get up at the crack of dawn people either.

 

[dougsmom98]

Even with little kids, we only did this on our June trip. I couldn't handle being drenched in sweat, so we went back to the hotel to swim and have lunch between noon and 1 pm. We would head back to the parks around 5 pm until close.

 

[summermac]

We've never done it with kids. The other two times the youngest was 11 then (my sister) and the second time she was 14. No mid afternoon breaks for us. We must push on. LOL!

This time, we'll have a 5 yo and a 2 yo. I would like to go no breaks (and have done other things without) but we shall see what happens. If a break is needed, we take on. If all is well, we press on. We might take a whole day off in the middle of the week instead. A good regrouping kind of day, ya know?

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

I guess that we are in the few minority that DO nap. We always seperate times and days for rest. Example: do EMH night, then take it easy the next and only head to the parks after lunch, and we ALWAYS have one off day. WDW for us is a vacation, and there have been plenty of times that we've gotten back home full of fun, but extremely exhausted. We want to have fun, but relax as well. I also found that an off day is great b/c you really get to know and enjoy your resort, the kids loved the pool and playgrounds, and after all we all know that when you stay on property you are paying a little extra, so why not enjoy your resort as well??

I think that each family has their own way of vacationing, so to each his own. There may be a time when my boys are a little older that we may have to change this, but for now it works for us.

Have a great vacation!

 

[kldmom2000]

You will be soaked to the bone in sweat in August.... we've gone twice in August and you'll want nothing more than to jump in the pool and then shower to freshen up for the evening!!!! It's so bloody hot and humid..... but still fun!

 

[Marshay]

No matter when we've gone (all months except Oct) or how many days we stay or whether we are on or off-property, Room or DVC, we always go back for a mid-day rest. We've done this when it was just DH and I; when I was growing up with my family; and we do it now that we have a DD3 -- ESPECIALLY, now that we have our own child!

Sometimes we nap, other times we swim, other times we read books or take a shower (esp in the summer months). We've explored our resort or done laundry. Anything to get out of the crowds, heat, noise and excitement of the parks and sort of re-group for the evening.

We usually try to get to a park upon opening or NLT 9:30am and stay for lunch, then leave the park. That night we'll go to a different park or DTD or a special dinner or maybe swim.

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

We don't take breaks, but I know several families that do. Whatever you think works for your family.

That said, we do plan for some rest. If we do EMH really late, or if we do two hard core park days in a row, we'll plan to have a "pool" day the next day and just chill out. We also never make rope drop, we wake when we wake and go from there so that helps us. We've said we were going to make rope drop for at least one day of our trip for the last 6 or 7 trips- yeah, hasn't happened yet!

 

[IllumFan]

My family swears by the mid-afternoon break. It just works better for us. We're up very early for EMH every day and after lunch we find the crowds to be heavier, the weather warmer and our family getting cranky. A few hours back at the resort (yes, I'm 30+ and WDW is one of the few times I nap) works wonders. My husband usually takes the kids to the arcade or pool or they relax in the air conditioned room. We hit some more rides in the late afternoon before dinner, eat dinner and then stay for nightly entertainment.

 

[southtexasmom]

We never take a mid day break.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

We started doing afternoon breaks, last year, because our resort was so convenient to MK. However, it's annoying to go to the pool then have to shower to go back out in the evening. I think we were showering like twice a day (unnecessary...). Plus, it rained from like 2 to 4pm, and the pool closed at the slightest drop of rain. But it was nice to be able to get away from the park crowds and relax.

 

[tweedlemom]

We're early-rising, rope dropping, EMH commandos! We take the afternoon break then head back to the parks. Our sons (5 and 6) as well as the 4 grandparents we traveled with had no problem with this. Worked great for our family.

 

[Minnie]

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!

Do yourself a huge favor and take that afternoon break

We go in July every year and it is wayyyyyy to freaking hot to be in the parks between 1-5

We don't necessarily "nap" but we do something that is out of the heat. Tour other resort hotels, watch a movie or tv, short dip in the pool, and always a nice cool shower

Then we are ready to go back out in the evenings all refreshed