The Value of a Rest Day

[CamdenLab]

So, DF thought it was ridiculous to cut out one day from our trip to do "nothing." Well, last night before 8:00 the kids were ready to kill each other (and DF was on the edge, too). Then, they practically fell asleep with their faces in their dinner plates last night. DF rolled off the sofa about 10pm and konked out on the floor until at least midnight before coming to bed.

Kids were up (surprisingly) before 10am. They started on their homework after breakfast and they just finished (it's after 4pm now).

Oh, and DF is on his second nap of the day.

 

[blue donkey]

Man, do I hear you! My dh & I always plan on a rest day after our traveling day & we don't even have any kids.

 

[DahliaRW]

We REALLY wished we'd built in a rest day. By the last two days we were all so tired there was a lot of wasted time in the parks. It would have been way better with a down day. Something we'll keep in mind next year!

 

[trodrigue]

Wow, can I ever vouch for a rest day. Even though we plan on afternoon breaks and take them, we tend to still spend at least 10 hours a day at the parks. So having a day in between is a life saver.

And...given how often everyone gets sick at DL, and then those other unforseen problems like sprained ankles, it is wise to plan for extra days, so the whole dang trip isn't ruined and then you have to plan an entire extra trip to make up for it.

Does it sound like the voice of experience? Well it is, and I am currently planning my do over, 8 day trip to make up for our distastrous 3 day trip that included and ear infection, sprained ankle, and the flu.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we have a rest day planed too. sometimes i just think its better for us

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Now that we have APs (well we just thought of it last trip) our first day we get up early and stay out at the park until closing. The next day we wake up late, rest, eat lunch at the hotel and then get to the park around 4 pr 5ish, eat dinner in the park and stay until closing. We're rested and not grumpy... I'm the queen of sleeping in, so this makes me very happy.

The only downside is we do love going early in the morning since it's the best time to get on all the rides, but now that we've been/seen everything it's not that big of a priority.

 

[pixiewings71]

We had AP's last year and on our last couple of trips we took Saturdays off (blacked out) and MAN, it helped so much to have a day to play!

Sounds like you're enjoying yourselves and that's the best part!

 

[jlparedes]

Oh I so agree about having a rest day after a trip. We will be returning on Halloween and will have 3 days to "catch up" and rest before work/school. Thank goodness.

 

[davidsprincess]

When we go next month we plan on just relaxing one /two days at the hotel, maybe beach depending on how nice it is. We will rest on the Sat/Sunday while it is nuts at the park and be ready to go back on the Monday.

 

[Judy from Boise]

not a fan of rest days.....I would jump out of my skin being that close and not going into the park for even a few hours, but we do pace ourselves, sleep in, swim, park hop etc. I think it really comes down to which method is easier for the whole group to agree upon.

 

[bumbershoot]

not a fan of rest days.....I would jump out of my skin being that close and not going into the park for even a few hours, but we do pace ourselves, sleep in, swim, park hop etc. I think it really comes down to which method is easier for the whole group to agree upon.

I feel the same way. It might help, but I'd go bonkers and run to the parks, LOL. But for hubby and son, they would love it. So I might have to force myself to do it next time, since they like to follow me (like ducklings) when we're at DLR, and think I'm being passive aggressive when I say "I'll just go alone, you guys have fun doing whatever you want!" (OK my 4 year old doesn't think I'm being p-a).



But I think the OP is saying that they took a day at the END of their trip to hang out *at home* and I'm ALL over that idea. Love it, have done it, think it's brilliant.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Does this count?

We arrive at Orlando VERY early in the AM. We are staying at the AKL for the first part of our stay. So.... our "plan" for that morning is to sit in the AKL with some breakfast of some sort (muffins, juice, etc...) and watch the animals in the Savannah until we feel rested and ready to venture into a park.

Therefore.... we rest, we don't feel like we are doing nothing because we are watching the animals, and we get some food to re-charge. LOL That's the plan anyway.

- Dreams

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Oh yeah, we learned our lesson the hard way with that. DH now takes a few days off more, so when we get home he can take a vacation from the vacation! LOL

We've actually had a few trips that had a built in rest day AT DL. Always when staying onsite. We'd spend the day in the pool and sleeping. But those were usually trips when we'd be there a whole week. Not something we do often, can't stand being that close and not go in. It was hard the day we were leaving, waiting for our time to go to the airport. We had breakfast at La Brea Bakery, and sat and watched everyone going in the gates. We seriously talked about buying tickets just for a few more hours. LOL

 

[Gisele]

Now that is funny! when one is so tired that they are falling a sleep in their mac n cheese! he he! but no, seriously, I have been there, done that, only it was not Disney related, it was work related (ugh) literally, for one example, going to sleep standing up, that was interesting, of course it was but for a millisecond, but still I caught myself doing that.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

It is sooooo true that you need to rest when you get home. Disneyland is a trip and not a vacation. It is a lot of work but totally worth it and the only trips we like to take

 

[tink2dw]

This trip 3 Adults was 7 days/nights and I bought 6 day hoppers thinking we would rest, or visit Knott's, had good discount. But no one want to leave Disneyland. And I had to buy 1 extra ticket per person to finish the trip.

We just aren't people who can stay at the hotel. We got to go to DL opening to closing 7 days.