Return to room/pool in afternoon?

[DKx3]

Hi, we're going to the world 11/12-11/19/05, staying at POP. It is DH, myself, DD10, DS7. Most nights the parks close at 7pm and then fireworks at 8pm. If at parks for 9am opening, do you still go back to the resort for afternoon rest or swim given the shorter park hours?

 

[Susiesnowflake]

We always do this. We leave right around lunch time, when the crowds always seem to be picking up. We got back to the resort, hang around the pool, shower and then return to the parks late afternoon. We've never stayed at a park from opening to closing.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Even when the parks are open fewer hours, we still head back to take a swim or a nap. But, then, we go at least twice a year. What we don't do on this trip, we'll try to do on the next. It's just too long to stay in the parks all day long. We did that once and never again.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

We always take an afternoon break. We usually go in Sept and all parks close early except Epcot. Swim, nap, or just chill (literally) in the room. It keeps us rested and ready for an evening. If the parks close early, we usually hop to epcot or go to DTD for evening entertainment. One day we didn't take a break and I wasn't worth anything the next day. I was exhausted and felt run down all day.

 

[DisneyMom5]

I'm the minority. If the parks close early, spend your down time at the parks. Your kids are old enough that they should be ok. It takes a lot of time to go back and forth plus take time out for a swim. IF you are comfortable sacrificing 3-4 hours minimum of your park time at the resort, then go back.
We prefer to go all day, come back early if we don't want to see fireworks or whatever, spend some time at the pool in the evening. Nice way to wind down.
You could always play it by ear. We find that forward momentum keeps us going, if we stopped, it would be hard to go back! LOL

Have a great time!

 

[goofy's friends]

I'm with Disneymom5. We always say we are going to do that--take breaks--, then never do. We are having too good a time there. We take ice cream breaks to rest. The ages of your kids should allow them to keep up. This way, you don't feel rushed all morning either. You can take things a little slower knowing you are going to be there until close.

 

[ciera321]

We always take a break, during the hot months, to swim, shower and head off to dinner then to Wishes, Fantasmic or Illuminations...

 

[bigmac5]

We took a break every day, but it was in the summer. Very Very hot and humid. I didn't plan having a break, I thought we could go all day. but going back to the room worked well for us. My boys are 11, 13 and 14. and they liked the break, and feeling refreshed before supper.

 

[mommaU4]

The time of year is a huge factor when deciding this IMHO. In the summer when it's hotter and crowded and the parks are open late, then I think taking a midday time-out is a great idea. In the cooler months during non-peak times when the crowds are lighter I would just stay in the parks. Especially if they close early and if your Disney trips are few and far between, then you should take advantage of every minute they are open. You can still find a nice bench or table and relax with a drink or ice cream without having to go through the hassle of leaving the park.

 

[kilee]

For us the weather plays a big factor too. If it's really humid and 90+ degree's out. Well, a afternoon break even w/ short park hours is needed. We encountered this on a Sept. trip.

Now during the cooler winter months when its only in the 70's and the hours are shorter-- well we don't leave. We don't feel run down as fast and all that. We also don't have little kids. Our youngest is almost 13 so he doesn't require a nap or time to settle down a little.

 

[vanyel]

I'm a head back to the hotel for a swim/rest person no matter what the weather or park hours, but you should play it by ear. See how things go. If you and/or the kids are tired or just need a break, go back to the hotel. If the weather is cooler, you might not need that break. Everyone and every family is different. My favorite advice, for me too, is to be flexible. You don't have to see everything!

 

[LaraK]

We'll probably do the nap thing for the beginning of our trip and then go commando towards the end (last day or so). We found a couple of quite spots the last time where the kids could nap right in the park.

 

[shafke]

We have not yet gone back to the resort for a break.. partially from habit.
When MK was the only park we we would basically go open to close but on a 7 day vacation only 3 or 4 would be at the park. Even when Epcot opened I think we still had at least 2 days for hanging at the resort. This was before pool hopping was banned so we would hop to the Poly pool a couple of times. This was back when the Poly was the only resort pool with a slide. Also, whenever we visited the local theme parks it was always open to close with a short break of about an hour or so in the middle of the afternoon in an air conditioned fodd court. Since I was brought up not taking extended breaks it is normal for me not to.

 

[ksdave]

Not trying to insult anyone, but it really depends on what kind of physical shape you are in and what you are used to doing all day. If you are a "desk person", who rarely exercises, then doing open-to-close might be way too much. If you and the rest of the family are active most of the time, than doing 9 AM - 7 or 8 PM should be no problem.
(Note: It doesn't hurt anybody to do a pre-trip exercise program, particularly by walking.)