What's your favorite way to plan breaks?

[TulipMom]

Hi there!
We took a trip in 2015 with our 3 & 5yo. 5 park days and not a single meltdown! We felt like the key to our success was #1. staying at a MK area resort, #2. using touring plans, and #3. starting at rope drop and ending early every day. The latest we stayed at a park was 5pm. We'd come back to the resort to swim, eat, and get to bed at the kids' regular time.

Now our kids will be 5 & 7 for our next trip, so they can handle more. We're going to stay 8 nights. Doing all 4 parks, but no water parks. We already know that Day 5 will be a rest/pool day until the evening when we will do MNSSH.

How do you like to break up your days and week to keep everyone smiling for the whole trip?

 

[gap2368]

I think not doing all day so like what you did last year rip drop and back to the resort for dinner swimm bed time would be one way

another is do the opisit let then sleep in slow morning and at the park by 11 ( you could have FP starting at 12

another thing if they parks are opened lat is rope drop back to the hotel for a swim/ nap between 1 and maybe 5) then head back to the park.

I do agree that on MNSSHP your idea that this will be mainly a rest/ pool day.

I think the main thing is knowing your kids do they need 8 hours of sleep or can they do one or two night with 6 or 7 and be ok do they need more rest if they are walking all day are they morning or night people. This will help you a lot with 8 night 5 days you can build in a lot of rest time.

 

[soniam]

Rope drop, leave the park in early afternoon, nap or swim, return to the park for dinner and maybe night show. Having a full day off is good too at the age, especially for long trips. Eating at a table service can actually be a nice break. You could to sit and be in the AC.

 

[ghtx]

Rope drop, leave the park in early afternoon, nap or swim, return to the park for dinner and maybe night show. Having a full day off is good too at the age, especially for long trips. Eating at a table service can actually be a nice break. You could to sit and be in the AC.

I second this! Being at a monorail resort (or really anywhere onsite) makes it easier to go back to the hotel for a break.

 

[gap2368]

I find it easey to go back to the hotel for a mid day break and do so attest 1 time a trip how ever I have heard people say they find it hard to get back out and sometime they never do when they go back to the hotel.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We always take a mid day break, when the kids were 8&10 until now when they are 19&21. Even just DH and I take a mid day break, everyday. The break can be resting, napping, swimming, watching TV. Anything that relaxes you for a while.

We hit rope drop and tour until we are hungry. Either eat at the park or at our home resort, usually around noon. We take a break from 1-5/6 and then hit the parks for evening touring. We like to use the FP+ for the evening.

This works best for our family.

 

[Owl X]

Rope Drop at a Park until Lunch (in the Park).
Back to the Resort for a Nap.
Dinner at a Resort (which tend to be less busy than Park Restaurants).
Head to a different Park for a few rides and a night show.

 

[NJ Goofy]

We don't do rope drop anymore but still get to the parks @ opening time, we usually stay until 2:00 or 3:00 then we return to the hotel for a break. We swim, sit by the pool or get an adult beverage at the pool bar. Even if the weather is not great, we'll still take a break. We head out later for maybe a 7:30 ADR and then hit whatever park is still open for an hour or two. We feel it makes it more of a "vacation", our park touring commando days are over !!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Rope drop, leave the park in early afternoon, nap or swim, return to the park for dinner and maybe night show. Having a full day off is good too at the age, especially for long trips. Eating at a table service can actually be a nice break. You could to sit and be in the AC.

ALL OF THIS!

 

[loves to dive]

Easiest for us was to not plan. We've been going since my son was just shy of 3, single mom. I would just let him lead. If I knew he was getting tired, we would just sit and people watch or grab something to eat. Had I planned a break and he wasn't in the mood, that would have certainly caused a melt down. I would suggest we go back and go swimming or watch cartoons and he was always willing to do that. Truth be told, those breaks were more for me than him, I can't tell you how many times I'd end up napping and we would be happily watching cartoons, or playing.

 

[hooch11bear]

We like to get to the park for rope drop. Usually we stay until 1:00 or 2:00 and then head back to rest. I agree with saving your FP+ for the evening. You'll be able to get quite a bit done in the morning without using them. Our break in the afternoon is usually a few hours.

 

[Momto2minniemice]

I would not say we plan breaks more like breaks happen. We go with the flow. If we stay out late we let the girls sleep a solid amount of time. We take advantage of dark cool rides for a break from the weather. We walk in the stores to get to places to use the AC. And we get water before leaving a "land". My biggest thing is just understanding them and me on how we are doing. The one time I pushed it it backfired, tired, cranky family, headaches, nausea, etc..... it was a wonder we made it back to the hotel! We learned our lesson and after a nice nap, lots of fluids, and some TV time we were like new. Fast passes can be moved, reservations we limit to 1 a day. believe it or not the last day we were there we got Be Our Guest breakfast ressies before the park opened as we were on the bus headed for a later ressie, we stayed all day, went to MNSSHP, and closed the park. It was over 25K steps! It was the best day of our hole trip! We did have a few fastpasses but just went with it and that is what made it fun! Sitting on the curb people watching, taking random pictures, letting the kids really be charge and taking in the magic! Have fun on your trip and good luck!

 

[DLBDS]

If it's during the summer, we always do rope drops followed by a TS lunch to relax and cool off then head back to the resort for a real break until early evening. Then head to another park (or same park if no park hopper). For most trips, I'll plan an Open day on the 4th day or so but even on those days we'll usually go to a park in the evening. Most trips are at least 7 days.