what time to exit parks /what time to return in evening?

[barb3779]

What time would all of you dis vets reccomend we exit the parks for our afternoon nap/swim breaks? What time should we plan to return in the late afternoon or early evening for more touring and the fireworks? We'll be staying at the WL for 9 days in July, and would like to make dinner PS's that work well with our plans to avoid the hottest part of the day but reentering in time to use the evening hours to our advantage. As always: thanks so much for your knowledgeable assistance!!

 

[kilee]

It depends on if you want to see the parades. During the summer they are gonna run between 3-5pm depending on which park. So this will be something to take into consideration.

 

[mplsmom1]

Also depends on how old your kids are. My sons were 13 and 10 on this last trip - we stayed until about 1 or 2 pm and went back between 4:30 - 6. I definitely recommend the mid day break - everyone has a lot more fun!!

 

[luvaladdin]

We always take a break to go back to our Disney resort, about 1 pm. We do end up missing parades because of this, but everyone is better off for the rest/swim time. Then we return between 4-5 pm. We usually end up at Epcot in the evening, so there's time for Future World rides (it's quiet in the afternoon when everyone else is at World Showcase), then there's the entertainment in the countries in the early evening, then 9 pm Illuminations. This also works for us at MGM and Fantasmic.

 

[2tinksmom]

My DDs are 11 and 6 and we no longer take a break outside the park. The last time we did that was when the youngest was 2 1/2 and we went in June. We now go in November, March, or New Year's. My DDs are able to open and close the parks at those times. New Year's we were at EPCOT from 9:30 am to 1:30 am the next day. We're from Houston, so heat and humidity are something we are very used to. We usually open and close the parks each day! How, you ask...we take several "mini-breaks" in quiet, places having a snack and people watching. I think if I asked them if they wanted to go back to the hotel to rest or swim, they'd look at me like I was crazy!!
Michele