Stay offsite & go back to hotel for rest?

[mommy2savannah]

I know that many who stay onsite often go back to their hotels for swimming or just relaxing and then return to the MK later in the afternoon. But what about those of us that are offsite? We will be staying at Cypress Pointe. It will be myself, dh and my dd who is 2. I know everyone here recommends getting to the parks early in the morning. This is what we plan to do, however I think we will all be tired if we are there all day long, since we plan on staying for Wishes and Spectromagic. Is it worth it to leave the park and return later on? Or just stick it out? My dd will nap in the stroller regardless... I think i am more worried about how tired I will be!! Please share your experiences!

 

[Robo]

I know that many who stay onsite often go back to their hotels for swimming or just relaxing and then return to the MK later in the afternoon. But what about those of us that are offsite? We will be staying at Cypress Pointe. It will be myself, dh and my dd who is 2. I know everyone here recommends getting to the parks early in the morning. This is what we plan to do, however I think we will all be tired if we are there all day long, since we plan on staying for Wishes and Spectromagic. Is it worth it to leave the park and return later on? Or just stick it out? My dd will nap in the stroller regardless... I think i am more worried about how tired I will be!! Please share your experiences!

We never rest mid-day... in over 20 years of WDW trips.

Others here ALWAYS rest mid-day.

No one can know your stamina or energy level on any given WDW day.

If you want to leave and return, its just a matter of the total round-trip transit time.
You'll be allowed to re-park your car and re-enter the theme-park at no additional charge.

Its totally up to you.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We stayed offsite once when DD was 15 months and DS was 6. To us, it would have been a royal pain in the butt to pack everyone up, go back to the hotel , rest and come back. That is one of the many reasons we will never stay offsite again.

Some people do go back for rests offsite, but it seemed way too much of a hassle. You didn't mention when you were going also and how long the parks will be open.

 

[bopper]

You have many choices:
1) Go early, try to have toddler take a nap in the stroller, stay for Wishes
2) Go later, stay for Wishes
3) Go early, leave earlier
4)Go early, leave mid afternoon, eat dinner off site, go back for Wishes and what have you.

Some of it depends on how many days you go, does your toddler nap well, do you ever plan to go back, do you have more than one day at MK, etc.

 

[emmabelle]

Depending on what month your traveling, I think the weather plays a big part in it. In the hot months, June, July and August it's very hard to stay all day in the heat. We stayed off site years ago in the month of July at the Raddison Resort Parkway and we did the morning in one park and then after a break would go back to a different park at night, I didn't think it was a big deal to go back, but then my kids were 8 and 10 at the time.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Plan on at least 4-5 hours for your break, if you take one. It'll take quite a bit of time to leave the park, get to your car, drive back to your hotel, get back in the room, feed the tots and yourself, take the nap or pool break, clean up, drive back, get another parking spot, get into park (if you can...depending on time of year, you may not be able to return due to crowds), and get yourself a good spot for the fireworks. Hmmm, maybe you should give yourself 6 hours...

 

[mdoc]

If Cypress Pointe is the hotel I'm thinking of (the really nice one that's not far off of Hotel Plaza Drive), I don't think it's much further from the disney parks than some of the disney resorts, so if you're driving to the parks, I don't think it's all that much different. We generally stay on-site, but we drive to the parks so it seems like pretty much the same thing to me.

 

[momrek06]

Plan on at least 4-5 hours for your break, if you take one. It'll take quite a bit of time to leave the park, get to your car, drive back to your hotel, get back in the room, feed the tots and yourself, take the nap or pool break, clean up, drive back, get another parking spot, get into park (if you can...depending on time of year, you may not be able to return due to crowds), and get yourself a good spot for the fireworks. Hmmm, maybe you should give yourself 6 hours...

YUP What she said. Look at my siggy, we stayed off site many years before staying in the PARKS and we NEVER went back. Ya, we talked about it BUT by the time you do (ABOVE), there is no way you feel like going back THAT DAY!!!!
I think one time when my boys were older, we slept LATE and that was the day to stay late and see Spectromagic.

 

[pepe of ohio]

No matter what others say, weather and time of year dictate what you can do. To us, we always take an afternoon break at the resort, to use the pool, cool off, have lunch and rest for the evening outing. Its a long day from opening till noon fighting with lines, people, directions and having fun. Heat and walking will take the fun out of any trip. Short ride back to the resort, dip in the pool, lunch and a few beers rejuvenates us. A shower and on to a different park for the evening when the sun sets. We either have AP's or buy hoppers and never do all one park the same day. If the park we're in is crowded we go to another. But that afternoon break saves the legs and back and if its Florida summer time, the skin. I've seen way too many adults and kids, tongue hanging out, red as tomatoes trying to last the whole day in the heat of a park. Where's the fun in that. Relax, enjoy the amenities of your resort, you paid for them, smell the flowers and walk around. Thats why we like staying on property, tons of things to do without the parks.

 

[karrit2000]

I never leave the parks for a rest except that one trip with my brother's family. It was my worst trip to WDW ever. The rest always lasted until the next day with them.
I usually hop from one park to another or go back to the hotel briefly enroute to another park. If you are staying off property you will spend much time travelling back & forth. I'm not much for hitting a pool in the middle of the day, that's just not my thing. I'd rather get to the parks a little later & stay late then get up really early myself.

 

[WIcruizer]

If you are staying off property you will spend much time travelling back & forth.

I'm sorry, but that's just not true. We've stayed on and off-site at all different times of the year. We don't take a break every day, but the days we do it is very easy to get to the hotel and back. On average 45 minutes of round trip travel max.

On-site is of no advantage when it comes to travel time. The ONLY advantage is extra magic hours, which IS a big benefit. In fact, from now on if we have to go during peak season we will stay on-site just for extra magic hours.

 

[Wendy1953]

I know that many who stay onsite often go back to their hotels for swimming or just relaxing and then return to the MK later in the afternoon. But what about those of us that are offsite? We will be staying at Cypress Pointe. It will be myself, dh and my dd who is 2. I know everyone here recommends getting to the parks early in the morning. This is what we plan to do, however I think we will all be tired if we are there all day long, since we plan on staying for Wishes and Spectromagic. Is it worth it to leave the park and return later on? Or just stick it out? My dd will nap in the stroller regardless... I think i am more worried about how tired I will be!! Please share your experiences!

The only time I ever went back for an afternoon quiet time was when we were on site....and then it was rare.....rather take it all in..child sleeps in the stroller, leave at a decent hour......knowing we were going to be there for the night parade/fireworks....we'd sleep late, get to the parks late and it all worked out fine! going back to the hotel mid-day (unless its raining or swelltering hot) is useless if staying off-site (and even on site at times) in MOP...by the time you get back, you get that Disney itch and are afraid you'll miss the parade/fireworks ...and so you don't sleep, you're more anxious then if you would have stayed at the park...my best advice is to play it by ear....if you and yours feel the need to go back to the hotel do it, if not, don't!

 

[TikiGoddess2006]

I've done both -- break and no break -- with a two year old.

When we took a break, it was July (hottest days of last summer) and we were staying at the Caribe Royale (quite close to WDW). We HAD to take a break. The heat was overwhelming, as was pushing a stroller and dealing with an excited 2 yr old. We left the park by 1pm and went back for a few hours in the evening.

When we didn't take a break, we stayed at the MK during the afternoon and DD slept in the stroller for 45 min. We left the park around 5ish, had dinner at our hotel room (perhaps an hour total), and then went to Epcot for the evening. It was do-able but we were all tired the next day.

Ask yourself -- how tired will we be the next day? Our trips to WDW tend to be 2-3 days long so we have to use our time effectively but not push ourselves to exhaustion.

Another thing we've done is go to a monorail resort for lunch and tour the resorts (in the air conditioning) for a little bit. This is a GREAT way to get away from the crowds 1-3pm and decompress from the craziness of the parks.

Hope this helps!
TikiG

 

[spiceycat]

Cypress Pointe is very, very close....

you can try to let her nap in a stroller - but if she requires you to leave - then leave...

you don't want a mad and irrated child at WDW. It ruins it for everyone else in the party.

I go early. when the parks gets to hot, humdity or too crowded - I leave....

come back later generally around 5 pm - this works great when the parks are open later...

on your non-park time - makes sure your child gets a nap... goes swimming, shopping, water parks, etc.... do what you want to do....

remember the most you enjoy WDW the most often you will return.

 

[HappyLawyer]

we stay offsite, i personally would not go back to the hotel for a rest, because of the drive time, might you consider just leaving the park a bit early? good luck

 

[Aimeemee]

I have to jump in here on this one. I have stayed a CP and it is VERY close to the gates of WDW. Right around the corner from Downtown Disney & hotels that are considered to be on disney property(Doubletree Suites etc.). I would say CP is 5-10 min max (with traffic) away from Disney parks. Dont stress over it. Dont stress over it. It is close enough to go back to enjoy pool, eat, & visit parks again for night time events. Once you stay you will realize how easy it is to find your way around & how quickly it can be done.