Taking afternoon breaks in Oct.

[traces7]

About what time do you take them? Or do you not even take them when the parks aren't open as long?
Just wondering how many hours we'll be able to go before we get tired and need a break. We're going at the end of October so the parks will be closing earlier. But after our break we'll probably just hop to a park that's open later. Thanks

 

[LBelle]

There are factors to consider:

Young kids (7 and under?) - I would always advise that you take the break- EVERYDAY - kids need some 'down time', parents REALLY NEED some 'down time'!!! It is soooo obvious after dinner in any of the parks exactly who DID NOT take the break....tired, cranky kids, not having any fun and tired, cranky parents who are cursing under their breath something along the line of:"these kids are so ungrateful" and/or "we never should have taken these brats to WDW", etc. I swear we see this type of scene EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!! THIS IS SO SAD, especially when, for the most part, those meltdown scenes would be history - all by a little break from the parks!!

So many people are of the mentality that they WILL have a great time only by being in the theme parks at every possible moment!! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! WDW must be taken in small doses - yes, you MIGHT miss 1 or 2 attractions, etc. but there is NO COMPARISON for what you GAIN by taking the break!!! If is's only adults, older kids, teens, etc. then of course that depends on the individuals.

Weather - BIG factor - That Fla. heat and humidity sucks the life out of most people in about 3 hours!!! For that reason, our schedule is ALWAYS something like this:

AK (9am - 12pm), Pop Century (1pm - 4pm), O'Hana (5:15 - 6:45) MK (7 - ?)

Best to tour in the morning, best to be in the pool or air. cond. room for most of the afternoon, best to have early ADR's at TS rest., best to enjoy the nighttime hours @ WDW!! But, that is just us - everyone is different!

 

[jennib5426]

We alway go in Sept/Oct and always take afternoon breaks.
We usually go to the park that is opening the earliest that morning with Extra magic hour, stay all morning, have lunch and head back to the hotel between 1-2pm. We are back out between 4-5pm to which ever park is opened latest or has fireworks.
I can never make it past 9pm if I don't have my afternoon break.

Some would say it is a lot of park hopping but that is the way we like to do WDW.

 

[trekker93]

We've gone down in all months of the year and have found the need to relax , rest,etc. mid day to have enough energy available for the night time parades, etc.. In the high heat of the summer, we found it really necessary! We are also going in October and I believe the temperatures should be in the 80's during the day and 60-70's at night.
By the way, we'll be going to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party for the first time! Has anyone else online done this?

 

[LUVMICKEY]

A break midday is good for everyone. It just revives you so you can enjoy the rest of your day and evening. I have done the parks all day without breaks too and I find myself getting really tired late afternoon. I still stayed in the parks but I wasn't enjoying it as much as I could have been.

 

[Skylarr29]

I always like to take breaks during the day even in slow times. I break my day up by morning and afternoon activities. We like to do morning emh and then take a break, shower, and have dinner and go back for parade/fireworks etc.

 

[traces7]

Thanks for all the good advice. This is all new to me, so every little bit helps. It's going to be just my and my DD on this trip. She's 7. So I should probably plan for some rest time. Maybe around 1 p.m.? I plan on getting to the parks at opening every day if possible. We won't be staying up too late on most nights, except the night we go to MK for Spectromagic and Wishes, that day I'm planning for a fairly long break in the afternoon and not going back to the park until 6 or 7 p.m.