What do you do for Mid Day Break?

[Frozen2014]

When we went to WDW, we arrived in the morning and stayed all day. There seemed no reason to leave the park and come back (it was too much hassle and since we were at 3 different parks, each day was like doing new things so we always had things to do). Plus we stayed onsite and had a car, but the travel back to our car/hotel was not worth it.

However, I know Disneyland is different in that the parks are close...plus we will be (most likely) staying at a hotel very close. Having said that, I'm leaning towards Desert Inn & Suites (due to balance of cost and proximity) and that is not a hotel you book for the pool. But we'll be coming late August so can see us not being able to spend 4 days in a row from 9am - 8pm in the parks just due to the heat (kids will be 12 and 8).

I always hear of taking a mid day break...especially during the hottest hours. So what is there to do aside form swimming? Even on site...or downtown Disney...are there things to do and "put our feet up"?

 

[ashley0139]

When we went to WDW, we arrived in the morning and stayed all day. There seemed no reason to leave the park and come back (it was too much hassle and since we were at 3 different parks, each day was like doing new things so we always had things to do). Plus we stayed onsite and had a car, but the travel back to our car/hotel was not worth it.

However, I know Disneyland is different in that the parks are close...plus we will be (most likely) staying at a hotel very close. Having said that, I'm leaning towards Desert Inn & Suites (due to balance of cost and proximity) and that is not a hotel you book for the pool. But we'll be coming late August so can see us not being able to spend 4 days in a row from 9am - 8pm in the parks just due to the heat (kids will be 12 and 8).

I always hear of taking a mid day break...especially during the hottest hours. So what is there to do aside form swimming? Even on site...or downtown Disney...are there things to do and "put our feet up"?

You could catch a movie at the AMC at Downtown Disney. You could also go sit and relax in one of the on site hotels, like the Grand Californian lobby. It's beautiful in there and a nice place to sit for a while.

 

[GatorChris]

I know what you mean at WDW. We'd take the bus system, which means it took too long to get back to the hotel for a break. We only park hopped our first 2 (of 7) trips because of this, and we only did a mid-day break once. And that was because on our last trip, we had an extra long trip, added to a hot day where we went back for a swim. That was it.

That type of mentality has spilled over to our DL trips. We still hardly every take mid-day breaks. And that's with staying at the HoJo with a water park. We usually will do the water park at least once at the request of the kids. And that's usually after the first 5 days of hitting the parks has passed.

 

[jaymesmom617]

We have stayed at DI&S several times. While the pool is nothing to write home about, my kids still enjoy going. A "nice" pool doesn't matter to them. So, I wouldn't discount doing that one day.

 

[Winnowill]

Since we usually go on busier days with early park opening hours and we rope drop, we almost always go back to our hotel to take a nap in the afternoon. We almost never use the pool since we have one at home.

 

[arcadiandj]

My wife and I love the lobby at the Grand Californian. They usually have someone playing the piano and the have very comfortable furniture to sit on. And, you can walk over to the Hearthstone lounge, get a cocktail or other beverage, and take it to the lobby to enjoy. Very nice!

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you for the replies. Good idea to go visit the Grand Californian. Would be nice to check it out.
And true...my kids would still be happy with "a pool" even if not the fanciest or biggest. It's still an option. (We're not nappers though)
Can't see us spending our tavel time at a movie theatre since we can do that at home (plus will have tons of time during the flights there and back for that), but suppose it's one way to cool down.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I also visit the lounge and/or White Water snacks at the Grand. Another place to relax is Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's at DLH, but it will likely be really hot when you are there and there isn't much room indoors.

Last August we were roasting in over 90 degree heat, but decided to just do our breaks in DCA. We had a period of almost 2 hours where we just watched a preview in one theater, then watched the Tough to be a Bug one in another theater and then we hung out in Carthay Circle lounge having a few drinks. Staying in the park and doing those things wasn't much different than leaving to take a break.

 

[WonkaKid]

My wife and I love the lobby at the Grand Californian. They usually have someone playing the piano and the have very comfortable furniture to sit on. And, you can walk over to the Hearthstone lounge, get a cocktail or other beverage, and take it to the lobby to enjoy. Very nice!

Agreed. The GC is an awesome place for a midday break. I don't drink myself, but I took my mother to the nice bar there for a G&T late one afternoon once the crowds and cacophony of the park proved excessive for her.

For me, I like to grab a cup of tea with cream and honey and relax in one of the many benches that surround the main hub or, indeed, to do the same at the Main St square around the flagpole.

As an aside, we stayed at the GC once. The common areas are wonderful but the rooms are merely average/average+. Certainly not worth $400 a night.

 

[Congo Queen]

Oh gosh - we swim and then nap - either in lounge chairs at the pool or back at the room. Sometimes we just nap as we are so wiped out. In the summer MM is pretty darn early and the parks stay open until midnight so a midday nap is essential.

 

[figment_jii]

When I went with some much younger kids, we had originally planned on having mid-day breaks back in the hotel, but that only happened one day when the kids really wanted to swim. Otherwise, we just tried to plan some things that took a while and let us sit down for the mid-afternoon (e.g. Mickey and Magical Map, the show at the Hyperion (it was Aladdin back then, but now it's Frozen), have a sit down lunch, etc.). While the hotel was pretty close (Marriott Theme Park), it was still kind of a hassle to get back to the hotel and then get back into the park. In end it was easier for us to just stay in the parks and do some slower/time consuming things.

 

[chickapin parterre]

for first time visitors with children younger then OP, the pool is a very relaxing element for young children, it allows them to be free witout the restraints of being an attraction visitor. And don't be surprised if your very young children tell you that the best part of the trip to Disneyland was the time spent in the pool....with you. That happened to me twice, when my son was young at the Farifield and once when we stayed at resort in Palm Springs with pool side service after a week in Disneyland.... as an 9 year old he thought that was just heaven

 

[beachdreamr1229]

We usually walk back to our hotel and take a nap for an hour or so or watch tv if we aren't enjoying the pool or water play area. Without leaving Disney property, some options are to relax in the lobby at the GCH, ride the monorail around the full circle a couple of times (or DLRR when it's open again), listen to some of the live musical entertainment down Main St. or elsewhere in the park, or visit the Animation Academy at DCA on a hot day. We also used to just sit near the RoA at DL and watch everyone walk by while sipping mint juleps, but it doesn't feel the same knowing half of RoA is a dirt pile right now.

 

[Abbey1]

We used to go back to the hotel for a nap when my son was younger (we stayed on site). Now that we are past the napping age, we still try to find a little way to take a break from the over-stimulation. Some things that we enjoy:

- Make a reservation for a sit-down restaurant.
- Catch a show. My son loves the Disney Jr show, we always loved Aladdin and I hear the new Frozen show is great, Mickey and the Magical Map etc.
- Visit Animation Academy in DCA (nice and air conditioned; generally pretty quiet).
-Our favorite way to rest mid-day is to ride the railroad. Luckily, I think it should be back and running by your trip in August. We like to get a little treat or drink and ride around the whole park. Can't wait for the railroad to be open again!!

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks for the great replies. Quite helpful. Good to know too that the Animation Academy is air conditioned...and we'll check out the Grand Californian hotel.

 

[DocDCT]

I think there are two kinds of midday breaks:

- Some people take the break just to avoid the heat and the crowd, but don't need (or want) to rest.
- Some people actually need to rest during the break, maybe because the kids are young or they planned a very late night. In this case, a proper nap is necessary.

I personally think that nap breaks are good not only for young kids, but also for "tweens" like yours, but only when late nights are involved (and I assume that a 12 years old would love to stay in the park late).

 

[travelgirl06]

We are local but a decent drive from the park, so we are used to figuring out midday breaks . We like to go to downtown Disney - it's pretty calm, lots of food options (usually not overly crowded), and several restaurants with A/c. The Grand Californian is also nice, and we enjoy Trader Sam's although as others have said, not much space inside, but the patio is still a nice place to relax. There is also the Frozen Show, Animaiton academy / other things in that building, Golden Horseshoe, etc. in the parks if you just need a little break and some air. Our girls love to go get ice cream at Golden Horseshoe and its pretty easy to find a table, the show is fun and keeps them entertained while we recharge a little bit.

 

[wongck]

I think there are two kinds of midday breaks:

- Some people take the break just to avoid the heat and the crowd, but don't need (or want) to rest.
- Some people actually need to rest during the break, maybe because the kids are young or they planned a very late night. In this case, a proper nap is necessary.

Just by reading this thread, it does seems to be just like that.

My youngest normal bed time was at 8pm, when we were at WDW even with an afternoon nap, he was asleep and missed the Epcot IllumiNations at 9ish pm.
That was 3 years ago. Even now when I am planning the Dec DLR trip, I still keep the afternoon nap break especially with PtN at almost 11pm as he can only stay up to 10pm now.
(and he does take naps at home too)

 

[julesann]

When my kids were the age of OP, and even now that I go without them, I find a midday break to be absolutely necessary for my full enjoyment of the parks. I like to get to the gates an hour before rd every day so I find those couple of hours rejuvenating whether I am staying at the GC or at a place in walking distance. Sometimes I put up my feet in the room and read, do a little planning for the evening, and I often take a bath or go in the pool and spa (even though I can at home) and I may have a glass of wine. I found it helped my children to relax and have a positive attitude adjustment whether they went swimming, watched TV, read or just hung out and talked about the morning. A midday break helps me feel refreshed and ready to go back for the evening.

 

[ravenclawforever]

We have not been to DL in a while (planning for next summer), but we have been to Universal Orlando the last 2 summers which has a similar set up of 2 close parks and easily accessible onsite hotels. I cannot imagine not taking an afternoon break for a nap, and sometimes a shower if it is really hot. We all nap: me, DH, and DDs 18 and 19 yrs old. And those parks aren't even open late (9:00 close). Early mornings, lots of walking, and hot weather would make it miserable to stay all day without a break for us.