Too many breaks???

[polyfor4]

We're leaving for Disney next Friday and are saying at AoA for three nights and Poly CL for five. Friday night we plan on going to downtown Disney, Saturday were going to have a pool day at AoA and then Chef Mickey's for dinner, and Monday and Thursday we are taking "down days" at the Poly. We check out the following Saturday so the rest of the time will be spent at the parks. My question is- is that too many breaks (3 full days)?? My family agrees that at least one day at the resort is needed to recharge but has anyone else spent extensive time at the hotel during a trip?? I feel like these breaks will either make our trip relaxing and seem longer or we'll be bored and sick of the hotel. Thanks in advance for personal stories and opinions!

 

[Sue M]

Instead of taking full, all day breaks we build in afternoon breaks every day, especially in hot weather. We go to a park in the morning, then return to our resort for an afternoon break. Then go back to a park at night.

 

[wiigirl]

Instead of taking full, all day breaks we build in afternoon breaks every day, especially in hot weather. We go to a park in the morning, then return to our resort for an afternoon break. Then go back to a park at night.

Thats what we do when it gets hot...

 

[robinb]

We're leaving for Disney next Friday and are saying at AoA for three nights and Poly CL for five. Friday night we plan on going to downtown Disney, Saturday were going to have a pool day at AoA and then Chef Mickey's for dinner, and Monday and Thursday we are taking "down days" at the Poly. We check out the following Saturday so the rest of the time will be spent at the parks. My question is- is that too many breaks (3 full days)?? My family agrees that at least one day at the resort is needed to recharge but has anyone else spent extensive time at the hotel during a trip?? I feel like these breaks will either make our trip relaxing and seem longer or we'll be bored and sick of the hotel. Thanks in advance for personal stories and opinions!

For me? Yes, 3 full days out of 8 is too many days away from the parks. I go elsewhere (Clearwater Beach, Hawaii, etc) to just "hang out". I go to WDW to go to the parks. That being said, we always take a mid-afternoon nap/swim break instead of going full-commando all the time.

 

[mmouse50]

Just plan on doing something else on break day, instead of staying at the hotel - how about playing putt-putt?

I believe in at least 1 break day - but personally I couldn't do 3.

 

[lovin'fl]

I agree with others...I'd rather do several half-day breaks instead of 3 full days. The day(s) at AK can be a half day and HS too. Then maybe throw in 1 full day break and hit Downtown Disney for lunch or dinner and you can still spend time at the pool. Our family was never one to hang at the pool all day (something to do with DH's Irish pasty skin that our kids also have ).

 

[Zooshoveller]

I could see two resort days since you are staying at two different resorts, but like others have said I couldn't do it. We will be there next Thursday and staying eight days and we have no resort days planned. If need be, we will take afternoon breaks.

 

[polyfor4]

I was thinking the same thing as everyone's responses- we need more park time. We only have a four day ticket due to the military salute tickets but I'm thinking we need to purchase a 1 day ticket. A down day at the Polynesian is a vacation in itself for us but a whole pool day at AoA might be a bit much. One day tickets are just so expensive in comparison to longer ticket packages...

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I love the full day breaks. The parks are so tiring and the days fly by.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[susanm]

i am a park person.... so i want to be in the parks and i go for at least 10 days any more...some days i take a later start - like 1pm if it MK is open late (i usually get there in the summer so park is open 11-12 etc) and i find i am not to wiped out by the time the parade starts. other times i am there for early morning, then go back to the resort shower & nap then go back or dtd or a resort for dinner later. do need chill time for sure...but myself, its all about the parks

 

[robinb]

I was thinking the same thing as everyone's responses- we need more park time. We only have a four day ticket due to the military salute tickets but I'm thinking we need to purchase a 1 day ticket. A down day at the Polynesian is a vacation in itself for us but a whole pool day at AoA might be a bit much. One day tickets are just so expensive in comparison to longer ticket packages...

The Military Salute tickets are making you penny wise, but pound foolish. Yes, it's a great deal for 4 days but as you have found out it doesn't work for longer trips like yours. I would just get the Military price for longer tickets at SOG. An 8-day base ticket is $291. The 5-days you have planned now is $156 + $92 or $248. You're looking at 3 days more for less than $50 per person.

ETA: I see by your signature that you have been making two trips per year. Are you planning to return to WDW in the next year? If so, would buy a SOG AP for $591 and be done with it.

 

[monorailsilver]

I *LOVE* resort days.

When we go for 8 days we do 2 travel days, 5 park days & just have 1 no park day.

When we go for 9 days, we have 2 travel, 5 park & 2 resort days.

This year we are going for 10 days. We will have 2 travel days, 5 park days & 3 non park days although one of those will be spend at a water park.

I live for those days of no park.

We also take mid day breaks on every park day.

 

[mickeynut1]

We're leaving for Disney next Friday and are saying at AoA for three nights and Poly CL for five. Friday night we plan on going to downtown Disney, Saturday were going to have a pool day at AoA and then Chef Mickey's for dinner, and Monday and Thursday we are taking "down days" at the Poly. We check out the following Saturday so the rest of the time will be spent at the parks. My question is- is that too many breaks (3 full days)?? My family agrees that at least one day at the resort is needed to recharge but has anyone else spent extensive time at the hotel during a trip?? I feel like these breaks will either make our trip relaxing and seem longer or we'll be bored and sick of the hotel. Thanks in advance for personal stories and opinions!

We are in the minority in that we spend a lot of time at the resort, so I don't think you have too many breaks. We do love the parks and do spend time in them, but they are no longer the main focus of our trips. We can go elsewhere to relax and sit by a pool, but we love the Disney atmosphere and the parks are just a quick monorail, boat, or bus ride away if we choose to go. We have done the parks all day from open to close, but the more we go, the more we like to relax and enjoy the resort and everything else Disney has to offer besides just hitting the parks every day.

 

[mmmears]

Instead of spending full days at the resort, we most often take a mid-day break there (from about 1pm until we leave for dinner), although some days we will take the whole afternoon or evening off to relax and enjoy the pool, etc. It works better for us to go to the parks every day, but not for the whole day. It really just depends on what works best for your family.

 

[MinnieMe129]

I was thinking the same thing as everyone's responses- we need more park time. We only have a four day ticket due to the military salute tickets but I'm thinking we need to purchase a 1 day ticket. A down day at the Polynesian is a vacation in itself for us but a whole pool day at AoA might be a bit much. One day tickets are just so expensive in comparison to longer ticket packages...

You could do downtown Disney for part of your AoA resort day...

 

[mousefan73]

Might it be a money issue with those damn expensive 1 day passes, that add up to a small fortune for afamily?

As mentioned do DTD. Or since staying at the Poly, do some free stuff like ferrying about and catching wishes from outside the park and that lagoon show. Or trying a different resort's QS for a icecream break. ( I would love to ferry over to check out the wilderness lodge) gets you out of the hotel to see things without forking over cash.

Also i never stayed at AOA but checked the property out. The big pool is cool, but we noticed almost no shade! I couldnt handle a whole day in that sun. Here mix with a DTD break??

 

[Lynne M]

I'd play it by ear. I agree that you may want to adjust your tickets, additional days are really inexpensive once you get into the 4-5 day range.

If you don't want to use a ticket day to visit a park, there are loads of things to do without having a park ticket. Rent boats at Poly, or any of the other resorts that offer boat rentals. If anyone's into water skiing or parasailing, that's available a short monorail ride away at CR. Explore some of the other resorts. DTD is always a fun thing to do; you can even take in a movie over at the West Side. The resorts have lots of interesting places for a leisurely breakfast. There's Disney Quest, the water parks.....I don't think you'll have trouble filling a non-park day.

 

[Tink415]

We're leaving for Disney next Friday and are saying at AoA for three nights and Poly CL for five. Friday night we plan on going to downtown Disney, Saturday were going to have a pool day at AoA and then Chef Mickey's for dinner, and Monday and Thursday we are taking "down days" at the Poly. We check out the following Saturday so the rest of the time will be spent at the parks. My question is- is that too many breaks (3 full days)?? My family agrees that at least one day at the resort is needed to recharge but has anyone else spent extensive time at the hotel during a trip?? I feel like these breaks will either make our trip relaxing and seem longer or we'll be bored and sick of the hotel. Thanks in advance for personal stories and opinions!

I think you'll be fine. It sounds good to me! We no longer enjoy going to a park from morning to night or always rushing around. Haha some of my family never liked it! Down time is good!
Your AoA day should be great, there is plenty to explore there, and walk over to Pop too. Watch fireworks from CR after Chef Mickeys. If you get bored at Poly , go ride bikes at FW or BWI, rent a boat from CR or GF, play mini golf at WinterSummerland, go back to DD and walk, shop, see a movie or bowl, watch a movie on the beach at BC or CBR. Visit the animals at AKL. One of our long vacations at DW one of the things I really enjoyed was going for a late dinner then getting ready for bed & watching tv together in our pjs. Sounds funny, but we don't do it at home and it felt nice and cozy.
Most of the best times and memories I've had at WDW don't involve the parks!
Enjoy your vacation!

 

[nkereina]

I wouldn't necessarily say it's too much down time but I probably wouldn't have my first full day at WDW be a down day. I'd be too anxious to get to the parks. It looks like out of your first 4 days there, 2 and a half are spent outside the parks and I'd be too antsy not having hit all four parks yet.

 

[polyfor4]

The Military Salute tickets are making you penny wise, but pound foolish. Yes, it's a great deal for 4 days but as you have found out it doesn't work for longer trips like yours. I would just get the Military price for longer tickets at SOG. An 8-day base ticket is $291. The 5-days you have planned now is $156 + $92 or $248. You're looking at 3 days more for less than $50 per person.

ETA: I see by your signature that you have been making two trips per year. Are you planning to return to WDW in the next year? If so, would buy a SOG AP for $591 and be done with it.

Wow the 8 day pass price comparison really puts it into perspective. Thank you for taking the time to do the math- I like the idea of the AP! We have been doing two trips- prior discount years we were able to buy more military salute tickets and this year we just did the Halloween party ticket and are planning on using the four day salute this trip. Money wise buying the four day ticket allows us to budget for the Poly but the addition of the 1 day ticket (for 4 adults) does kind of defeat the purpose of our prior budget. Our dilemma now is that we have already purchased our salute tickets but of course want more time at Disney. So I don't know if its worth to bite the expense and buy a one day ticket or find something different to do like the mini golf suggestion. We love the Poly and are excited to try CL but I think in the future we'll be back to 10 day tickets at POR, we're missing our park time.