returning to room, how practical is it?

angelbearmom

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Apr 18, 2008
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I've been reading a lot of guide books for DW and most suggest you return to your room for awhile in the afternoon. We're going to be staying at ASSports and using Disney transportation. Our first full day is MK with a adr for Crystal Palace at 5 so I know that day we won't leave. I'll just use the first aid room for my ds to rest. The 2nd day we're at AK with a 1 pm adr at Yak & Yeti. With them closing earlier I doubt that we'd want to leave-or are we close enough to take a break. We plan on doing DTD that night. Day 3 is Epcot with a 7:40 adr at Narcoosees. Is it convenient to return to ***? I know we need to dress for Narcoosees-better dress. Next day is MGM with a adr at 1900 Park Fare at 6. Next day is Epcot with 5 pm adr at Coral Reef. What do the rest of you with your special needs kids do?

Thanks,
 
I'm a special needs Mom and always have to return to the room during the day, esp. if we have any evening plans. While it does take alot of time out of touring, if someone is too tired or in pain to enjoy themselves then it's not worth it to push onward. I'd see how your DS feels during the day and watch for meltdowns or signs of stress. Of course your dining plans and timing would have to be taken into consideration but at least you know you can also rest in First Aid. Lots of children,even those without special needs have a hard time dealing with all the excitement and stimulation of the crowds. It will probably also depend on when you're planning your trip. I know for me the heat wears me out much more quickly than when the weather's cooler.---Kathy
 
I would think it depends on a lot of variables including: the nature of the disability, the time of year you are traveling, your touring “style”, your accommodations etc.

If you are traveling in the summer when park hours are long (even loner with the on site extra hours) and the mid day temperatures are high then I would think it would likely be a must. For cooler less crowded times of the year it may not be needed.

It will use up an extra hour+ in transportation time, plus break time but can make all the difference in the enjoyments level especially in the summer since being from Canada you do not see these levels of heat and humidity.

bookwormde
 
Generally the buses at WDW run about 20 minutes apart. During peak times (such as park closing) they actually run continuously. Figure that normally you will need at least 40 minutes to get from inside a park to the bus stop, then to your resort, and finally back to the room. This could stretch to as long as an hour if you just miss the bus at the stop.

But on days with long park hours a midday break really does help.
 

We went back some days and not others. It kinda depended on how well everyone was holding up and if we were staying for the evening show.

The days when we did go back, we would leave the park right after lunch and head back at about 3:30 or 4:00. That gave us enough time for the bus, a short swim, and to veg out for a little bit. It's surprising how 20 minutes in the pool made everyone feel a whole lot better.
 
I'm also the mom of a special needs child and I always schedule a 1-2 hour break in the middle of our day. It gives my daughter a chance to get out of her wheelchair, stretch and relax in an air-conditioned room. But I generally plan for this break and therefore schedule our dinner ADRs a little later - like 7pm or after. We always stay at the BW and most of our dinner ADRs are at Epcot, so it's just a short walk for us when we go out again.
 
We don't usually return to our room for a midday break. We found that the time and effort to get back to our room was not worth it for us. DD might be dragging at the park, but after riding in an air conditioned bus, she perked up and was in no mood to rest once we got back to our room. We found that for us, it works much better to take a rest in the park in an air conditioned place or go to the lobby of one of the resorts that it close to whatever park we are at.
We also don't usually get a very early start in the morning. It's hard to get DD going and get all her 'stuff' done in the morning. If we were starting at park opening, it might be different.

I think what it all boils down to is playing it by ear - see how things are going. You may have a cool day when you can keep going and everyone feels fine. You may have a hot day when just a few hours makes everyone need a break.
 
I think if you plan to be at the parks at rope drop then it is good to go back to the room after lunch (like at 1pm) and take a rest before dinner. If you go to the parks later then it becomes more difficult to take that break.

I agree that it depends on the time of year you go - how hot it is - how crowded - how late the parks are open, etc. I allow an hour travel time each way to the parks (just in case - that is by Disney bus) - maybe longer if we're eating at Epcot and we have to get across the lake.

To make a 5pm ADR I'd leave the hotel by 4pm so working backwords - to get a 2 hour rest - I'd leave my morning park by 1pm at the latest. It is nice to go back to the room - maybe have lunch at your hotel - then go swimming or put your feet up or nap a bit.

If the parks are hot and crowded and open later I'd definitely take the break - try to get most of your riding done in the early morning - use the evening for eating and seeing the fireworks/shopping, etc.

Have fun!
 
Hi angelbearmom,

Do you feel comfortable sharing with us what the disability is? I ask because I have 2 autistic children and a mid-day break is a must for us. Here is what we do. We get to the parks about before they open (maybe 15-20 minutes early). We get on all of the main attractions first so the kids don't have to wait in long lines. We continue will rides until about 11:30am. At that point, we eat lunch and return to the hotel for break.

We usually rest in the room for about an hour or sometimes longer. If the kids just need an hour to wind down, we may go to the pool for another hour. By about 4pm, we go back to the park. It works for us. :thumbsup2
 
We never took a midday break. It wasn't worthwhile for us. We stayed offsite. We usually didn't get to the park until at least 11:00 because of all the medical care and extra time getting ready. And it takes a while for us all to get laid down. Just not really feasible.
 
Most days we take a break. We try to get to the parks early morning and then by 2:00 it's time to leave!
One time at AK we stayed until 5:00. :eek: It was so hot there! :faint:
DS was quite stressed - in fact, he only lasted 10 minutes at the Lion King show.
Sometimes if a taxi is handy, we take that back to the hotel. :thumbsup2
 





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