Shorter park hours, still need rest?

[devmer]

We are going on our 1st trip to WDW in Jan 2006. I am going with my family (mom, dad, 3 sisters, bil, DN 5,3, &1, DH, DD5 & DS4). If the hours for the parks are shorter do you still need to stop and take a rest in the middle of the day? Or are the kids okay going all day if they go to bed earlier instead of staying up late? If the kids need a rest (cranky, whiny, overwhelmed), then we will go back to the hotel and take one. I want this to be a fun vacation for all of us. If you have any expiriences or advice it would be appreciated. I am trying to plan ahead as much as possible so we can get the most out of this trip. We probably won't be able to come back for a long time

Thanks!

Dawn

 

[Bob P]

hi Dawn,

I think you can answer your question better than any of us can!! You know your kids best, and you know how they react to long days and sensory stimulation.

It also looks like there will be three generations going so...lots of different age groups. It may not only be the young kids who need a break!!

Have fun,

Bob

 

[PaulaSue]

I wonder about that too. I am thinking/hoping we can do the whole day,maybe minus an hour or two and then supper and bed. My kids will be 2,4 and 7 when we go. We do Hersheypark everyweek. We start there at 10 and they do good until about 5 or so I am thinking Disney will be about the same. (I know it is bigger but KWIM)

Which week are you going? We are goin the 15th to 21st.

 

[ZachnElli]

We went to WDW in Jan when dd was 1, ds was 4 1/2, we didn't take breaks and we normally do. It was very cool when we went, so no heat to wear us out either. It was only in the 50-60's for highs that year.

 

[devmer]

Hi PaulaSue. We will just miss you. We are going the week after you 22-29. It would be nice to meet some of the Dis people.

 

[Colinsmom]

My DS needed breaks when he was 2.25yo, last December (so it wasn't hot or crowded). He didn't always nap back at the hotel, but appreciated the chance to veg out for an hour. Depends, too, on whether your kids will nap in their strollers; mine won't!

 

[can'twait]

I was thinking about this too, and at first I thought, "We're tough, we can suck it up - the kids are old enough to not need naps." But then I remembered the last time I was there (no kids) DH and I went commando style for 3 days before we "hit the wall". Also, when we go to a park closer to home from morning until night, the next day we are wiped and need the whole day to recover. This vacation will be a whole WEEK, and we don't have "recovery days" planned. I finally realized I have no choice but to plan a rest break every afternoon, whether it's a swim or nap, even if it's just a 2 hour break. We have plans to go to the parks early to minimize time waiting in line and also have plans each night to attend dinner shows or fireworks. I can't see any of us burning the candle at both ends for a week straight without some kind of break in the middle. Of course, we'll play it by ear and scrap the rests if we end up not needing them, but they scheduled in if we need them.