Sleeping in....really?

[ready4mouse]

I've seen on these posts that if you are staying onsite, you really don't need to rush to the parks in the morning. I want to embrace this idea, really I do, but is it true?

We'll be staying at PBH in April. After that, we'll have one day at the Magic Kingdom before we head down to visit a relative in FL. That MK day is an AM EMH, so I'll want to have the family up and at the bus stop by 6:50am... so that we have enough time to get there, turn in our Give A Day vouchers for tickets, let the kids pin trade, etc...

I was thinking that if that was our ONLY day I had to drag them out of bed, it may not be so bad. But that means letting them sleep during our US portion- they'd probably be up by 8:30 and we'd get up, dressed, breakfast in the room and then head over.

But this truly gives me anxiety! I'd love to hear from those of you that are WDW "ropedroppers" that were able to let it go at US...

 

[bubba's mom]

We stay onsite and always sleep in (we are NOT morning people at ALL). We NEVER make it to the park before 11am. I think the advantage to being there at opening, is shorter lines at the entrance and the rides that are open.

Now, we HAVE gotten up early to go ride Hulk in the first row, and it doesn't take long to fill up. We've been there before opening, and there are still lines...but I think around 10 the lines are worse BECAUSE of the onsiters sleeping in.

I know there is usually a line for Spiderman early on...seems like after noon is when the early morning crowd lightens up and the lines lighten up...but, with the fotl, it doesn't matter.

sorry...does that answer your question/help?

 

[Purseval]

Imagine someone at WDW gave you a stack of Fastpasses good for whenever you wanted to use them all day and night. Would you still feel the need to rush over? Add in the fact that you are a short walk rather than a bus/monorail ride and you can see how easily it can be done.

 

[ky07]

Thats why DW will not stay offsite anymore
Not only does it spoil you on how nice the hotels are but there is no need to be at the gate when it first opens and makes for more enjoyable day at the parks

 

[pixeegrl]

We tried to sleep in but the excitement of the parks always got us up early. However, we didn't feel the NEED to get up early...

 

[schumigirl]

We are very much morning people, so are normally up before the Hulk starts whooshing us awake with its early morning runs.

In saying that we were happy to mooch somewhere else some mornings and head back around or after lunch knowing we had fotl passes with our room key.

But you can definately have a longer lie in and still go on loads of rides and it will be a much more enjoyable day not having to plan a military exercise to have fun.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

If you're staying when Harry Potter opens, you may want to wake up early one day for that as you'll only be allowed 1 Express use on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey per day. So that way you can ride it before the crowds and save another ride for later in the day.

If Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit doesn't have Express yet either, you might want to head early for that too.

But otherwise, we always sleep in. It's the best part of Universal vacations. It actually feels like a vacation! Sleep in, hit the pool, have lunch.. THEN theme parks. Or vice versa.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Yes, even during a busy time -- we were there over Thanksgiving, and found that we could still just arrive whenever we wanted. It is a fantastic perk!

Maria

 

[donaldduck352]

I'm a early riser(and a all night party animal when on vacation) but DW is not.But normaly we get showered and eat breakfast and hit the boat around 10am.That puts me in the parks for my 1'st beer!!

Seriously tho,no rush needed staying on-site..

 

[rpbert1]

have been staying onsite for 5 years, and it makes it more of a vacation when you can take it easy relax at the pool for as long as you want, then decide, " i think i will maybe go to the parks for a while", and not worry what the crowds are like

 

[bubba's mom]

If you're staying when Harry Potter opens, you may want to wake up early one day for that as you'll only be allowed 1 Express use on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey per day. So that way you can ride it before the crowds and save another ride for later in the day.

That will be our plan

 

[La2kw]

Flying out from the west coast means 8am in Orlando is really 5am at home. Since I'm on vacation, I have no intention of being in a park at 5am. We love starting our Orlando vacations at one of the Universal resorts because it means we can relax, sleep in, and still get to do everything. Once we've recovered from jet lag, we move onto our DVC home at WDW. Add to the fact that these resorts are run by Loews and not Disney (with the service to match their 4 star rating) and it's a bargain. Loews pampers it's guests, Disney is more concerned about fake magic and squeezing every last cent out of you. (I say that with love because I'm a DVC member and a fan of Disney, but I don't wear rose colored glasses.)

 

[bubba's mom]

Flying out from the west coast means 8am in Orlando is really 5am at home. Since I'm on vacation, I have no intention of being in a park at 5am. We love starting our Orlando vacations at one of the Universal resorts because it means we can relax, sleep in, and still get to do everything. Once we've recovered from jet lag, we move onto our DVC home at WDW. Add to the fact that these resorts are run by Loews and not Disney (with the service to match their 4 star rating) and it's a bargain. Loews pampers it's guests, Disney is more concerned about fake magic and squeezing every last cent out of you. (I say that with love because I'm a DVC member and a fan of Disney, but I don't wear rose colored glasses.)

I totally understand why you do UO first...and you have got to be the ONLY person I would recommend it to. Recovering from jetlag at UO instead of WDW is VERY smart

 

[Sleepy]

We never hit the parks until after noon. Always take our time doing the rides, shows, bathroom breaks, food breaks, etc and see everything we want....many times.

 

[Moon Child]

You could sleep in if you want, it's really more laid back than WDW
In fact, we don't really sleep in too much, we are early risers
But what we usually do, is hit the pools really early
Last year at the HRH, we were the only ones in the pool for about an hour
every day for our 5 night trip
It was heaven
In fact, that's where my siggy pic was taken

 

[Coach81]

That was the best thing about our last mardi Gras trip to UF. It was so laid-back compared to our normal Disney vacations.. now granted we still got up early mainly because we are early risers, and we wanted to get on HR3 before the lines (no express pass for it, as of yet) got too long. But the fact that we were able to stroll on over to whatever we wanted to ride and not worry about 45 min waits.. was fantastic!!

 

[DecaturDad]

We will be there fir spring break. What I am looking forward to is not having to rush off in one direction for a fast pass while my DW and DS stand in another line. Oh wait, we have an ADR, lets head to that part of the park now....

Don't get me wrong. My son visited Disney 4 times before he was 9. He had a blast. I am hoping this time, he can have a blast, AND I can relax.

 

[Bluer101]

We always get up between 7-9 am and get a shower then head to Islands dinning room for the buffet. After breakfast we head back to the room for last minute bathroom and grab our cameras. We get on the boat around 10-11 am and visit on of the parks for a few hours. Then we return to one of the resorts for some pool time durring the afternoon. Then around 4-5 pm we return to our room for a shower the go to Citywalk for dinner. After dinner we return to the parks to close them out. Keep in mind we do this on our summer trips since there is longer hours.

Even when we go off season we still sleep in just we don't return to the hotel until mid afternoon.

 

[JAL2525]

We always get up early but it is nice to know you don't need too.