To rest, or not to rest - that is the question

[jvattes]

Our first visit we went back to the resort to rest. The kids were 8 and 6 at the time. My DH was the only one who truly wanted to rest. He took a nap almost every afternoon. We mostly did it to avoid the heat and hot sun. We are all fair skin (half of us are red heads), so we burn easily. We used tons of sun block, and still burnt.

This time we are going later in the year, the kids are almost 11 and 9. We are not taking a break. If DH is tired he can scoot back to the room and nap while we have fun.

We also park hopped last time, one park in the am, then lunch and rest, one park in the afternoon. We wasted SO much time doing that! No park hopping this trip.

At the age my kids are, we don't believe in hopping either. Aside from the time expenditure - it's a very expensive option to add! Do you remember the days when that was just part of your ticket??

 

[pjacobi]

Instead of a hard schedule, I suggest check-points at various intervals with options A or B. Everyone in the group needs to agree on the option and the consequences of the option.

Consider breaking the group into smaller groups so that each group can make their own choice of options. Smaller groups need to re-join larger group at defined time.


-Paul

 

[AshleeH]

We always go for a rest. It's impossible to get every minute of every day - we would rather be refreshed and happy going from place to place, not sluggishly trudging from ride to ride, trying to get more for our money.

I know there are plenty of people who go commando and if that works for them, more power to them. We tried both and found what works best for us, so I would recommend for anyone to just use trial and error and figure out what works for you and your family.

 

[jvattes]

Instead of a hard schedule, I suggest check-points at various intervals with options A or B. Everyone in the group needs to agree on the option and the consequences of the option.

Consider breaking the group into smaller groups so that each group can make their own choice of options. Smaller groups need to re-join larger group at defined time.


-Paul

We are a small group already So not into splitting up.

But I do like the idea of making a Plan A and Plan B with check-points for decision making. That makes sense to me! More work on this end, but might be helpful when there.

 

[mm1971]

I am trying to work out our touring plans and am SO torn about a mid-day rest.

Our kids will be 10 and 6 when we travel. We are going in the very end of July and beginning of August, and I know it is going to be crazy hot and busy (we've been at this time of year before and know fully what to expect). Our day-to-day schedule is laid out such that after a long day and late night in the park we have a day off or a late start the next day.

I am torn between going hard on the full day and evening in the park, juicing the day of every possible minute of fun and skipping a mid-day rest; and making the sacrifice of knowing we'll be missing some attractions or shows, but taking a few hours in the middle of the day to lunch, rest, change wardrobes, and regroup.

Help??

We usually take a break, especially when going in the summer months where the heat can be draining. A few hours in and around the pool resting always seem to make everyone feel better and re-energized for the evenings. When I was a kid, we went commando and all I remember is being tired, even exhausted, by the end of each day. I definitely feel that by not trying to do everything and taking the break, we get to enjoy everything a little more. Of course not everyone agrees with this approach, but it works for us.

We go early and take a break after or around lunch time. We spend the hottest part of the day cooling off int he pool or at the resort. Then we head back out as the sun is weakening and the crowds are thinning out a little. Seems to work well for us.

 

[momamy]

It will be very hot from 11 till like 2.

We always get to the park at opening ride 3 or 4 rides. head back to the resort for lunch and a dip in the pool and back to the park for dinner and rides! fireworks are more enjoyable after a rest!

 

[pigletgirl]

I'm learning that no matter what schedule you intend to stick to, always keep your knees bent! We will be travelling with DD who will be 14.5 months and she a great napper in the stroller. But, if DH and I need a break I won't have any problems with heading back to the room.

And as I've been reading, the 2 days in the parks followed by 1 rest day makes the most since. For our rest day, we have a breakfast ADR at 9:55am at Boma. I don't know what we'll do the rest of the day, but knowing we've built in a rest/pool/DTD day is really nice.

 

[monorailsilver]

My kids in August were 12, nearly 10 & 8.

We went to the park for early entry, so basically gone by 7-7:15 & then returned to our room after lunch & we all took a nap! Then we went back to the park around 5 ish til closing.

We only did 2 park days in a row & then had an off day. Of course I was still up at 6 so I did laundry, dried & folded it for my dh to put away & then I was at the pool by 8....alone...

I don't think my kids would of been happy if we skipped the break, us either. They'd be hot & miserable & I am sure I'd hear groans about their feet being sore!

 

[Stephaniesue]

We are doing 4 park days in a row then heading to the beach for 5 days. That's where I will relax, nice white sand between my toes and a drink I in my hand. That's what I am looking forward to the most!

I am also pretty loose when it comes to plans. If we really want or need a break we will do it, but I think this year we will be ok.

 

[JillShari]

We took a break everyday. And it was great. One of the days we just went back and went swimming which is one of the kids favorite memories. Two of the days, we napped which meant that my little one (4yo who hasn't napped in 2 years) could stay up really late....and we ended up having 2 wonderful evenings in the parks when things weren't crowded.

I have to say that having just come back, there were a few days were I was getting overwhelmed at being in the parks as crowded as they got around 11am. I was grateful to be able to go back and so were the kids. We got a lot done in the morning by being at an entrance within 15 minutes of opening and then we'd return in the evening and once again, more rides were available. In fact, we went to Epcot one evening from 6-9 and rode 4 rides including Spaceship Earth with a 5 min wait and even Soarin with a 10 minute wait.

I just didn't see the point of fighting the crowds and my kids aren't going to be as happy with a ride after struggling to wait an hour! Midday waits are tough!

 

[jezebel73]

I am more or less an open to close park person, but we always make sure there is some down time, like a splash pad, leisurely meal, or even just sitting on a bench and people watching for a bit. There are lots of ways to rejuvenate without a trek back to the hotel, especially if it's a longer trip. This year we're trying eating a meal at a monorail resort during an MK day to get a break without going too far, just away from the "crazy" for a bit.

Does anyone know if you can swim in the pool at a resort if you're not staying there (but staying elsewhere on property)?
I'm thinking it's easy to toss a wet suit in a ziploc and just keep going...

 

[TravelAgentJen]

You could take a break without actually going back to the hotel. Ride the monorail, go check out another resort. Have a long leisurely lunch in the middle of the day, ride the train.

For my family, once we leave the parks, it's hard to go back. But we also don't push ourselves from rope drop to fireworks (in fact, we've never seen disney fireworks). We usually leave the parks by 4/5 ish (maybe later if I schedule an early dinner).

I'd say play it by ear.

I don't think u should be Allowed to call yourself a veteran if you;ne NEVER WATCHED DISNEY FIREWORKShttp://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/confused24.gif

 

[Kristina4109]

Have a loose plan but be ready to change your mind. We once splurged on a nearby hotel so that we could take my then two year old daughter back to the room for a nap. She did not nap. She lay in her crib and sang "It's a Small World" at the top of her lungs.

I agree that FP+ is making it harder to have loose plans. We're looking at our upcoming trip in June (we know it'll be hot and crowded!) and we've picked a couple of days as good ones to take a break, either at the pool, or if it's raining, in the air conditioned comfort of the room.

Other days we'll spend the hottest, more crowded hours inside air conditioned restaurants, in long sit down shows, etc.

 

[Kellykins1218]

We never leave for a rest. We'll go to a show or boring attraction to rest up but we don't leave the park. If we get too tired we might go back to the resort & go to bed by 9 but that's it. I've never understood wasting the best part of the day on buses and naps.