2 adults, no kids: How long for midday break?

[launchpad03]

We are planning a a trip being at the parks from Sept 3 - September 6 (one day in each WDW park, no hopper). As we plan out our days, (using TourigPlans) we are putting in a 2 hour break each day around 1pm-3pm.

Is two hours long enough to exit park at 1pm, get Dis-transport to Pop Century, take a nap/swim and be back in park by 3pm?

We don't have kids, and can be pretty quick in transition, but about how long should we expect for waiting/riding on the bus? (I realize each park will be closer/further, but an estimate would be great.) Pop Century, as of now, does not share bus transport with other resorts.

I am a previous Cast Member, my wife visited last in 2001.

 

[nepalostparks]

I think two hours will be cutting your nap/swim time a little short. I would personally budget more like 3 hours gate-to-gate for a quick swim or nap in the afternoon.

If you figure on average 30 minutes from the time you leave the park to the time you arrive back at your room and reverse, that would only leave an hour for you at the resort. Personally, that doesn't seem like enough of a break to warrant coming back for.

 

[launchpad03]

Thanks, nepalostparks, the roughly half hour transport each way is a helpful figure. The hour break seems like a minimum but still decent amount. (We've got lots of shows/food/low-key items on the parks/plan and won't be pushing ourselves too hard in the parks anyhow. That pace plus an hour of private room A/C may just do the trick.

While you're here though, do you have thoughts about taking a break at all? We're planning on being in parks at rope drop, and because that week in Sept is looking like small crowds we anticipate doing much of what we want. We even have a break for DAK. I was reading that it was a good idea, but if entirely unnecessary we could skip.

Do you schedule mid-day breaks for full-day park visits? Do you for each/any park? Do younger-adults need to (in your opinion of course)? Just curious.

 

[nepalostparks]

We're day and weekend trippers now since we live in Tampa. We generally take a break even on day trips and head to a resort to cool off and have lunch. When we vacationed from Pennsylvania though, we generally went all day. Something about cramming in as much magic as we could.

Ultimately, I would play it by ear. If you're feeling like you need a break, go for it. If you think you're good to go, keep on going. The heat and how much you're able to do before 1 p.m. rolls around will probably factor into your decision.

Since AK is only open until 5 p.m. on the days your are going, I would plan on skipping the break that day and take an easier evening. Take an extra ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Our afternoon breaks are usually around 1 1/2-2 hours from the time we get to our resort, depends on weather and how long we want to sleep. I can usually only take 20-30 min long naps or I feel super groggy. You might just want to play it by ear and see how your days go.

 

[launchpad03]

Thanks, animal kingdom is probably a good candidate for a full, no-break day. We also will be in LotLK, Nemo, Bug's Life, and the bird show, so we shouldn't be to worn out from walking.

 

[dave&di]

We are also 2 adults, I must have a nap during a WDW day, we take around 3 hours to get back, nap, shower and then leave for another park.

I need a 45min/1hr nap during a WDW day or I would fall asleep by 7pm! We normally take this break between 2pm - 5pm.

 

[copcarguyp71]

It really depends on whether you want to be more commando on the parks or if it is a slower pace. Me personally I would plan on 3-3.5 hours from leaving the parks until you get back into them but since it is an adults trip just play it by ear and leave yourselves some wiggle room with ADR times or other time sensitive things in your itinerary.

 

[Susan Savia]

3 hours to rest seems like a large chunk of precious Disney time out. We are in the parks for two weeks, at rope drop each day and never take breaks. We 'break' when we see an indoor attraction or find a bench under a shady tree or such. For us, two 60 yr olds and a 27 year old, a good 10 minute sit works fine. We just figure that we save hard all year to come and we can nap and visit the pool at home.

 

[Poofiesdream]

We are a 60 yr old couple and what we do is around 2pm the hottest part of the day we find a nice air conditioned, or shady spot and sit around maybe with a snack or ice cream and people watch for awhile and just rest up. It takes too much time to go back and forth to the resort. This way we get everything done we want and leave at the end of the day not too late. Then when we get back its pool time.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Nap during the day @ WDW
Plenty of time for sleeping on the plane trip back to the UK

 

[real mad hatter]

Hmmm.Lets see...32 year old from good ole Texas..Come on boy!..2 hours max..When you get to my age then 3 hours..

 

[Bob]

Rather than break up the day, we usually prefer to sleep in a bit and get to the parks a little later in the morning (esp on days where we are doing evening EMH's). Then there is no need to recharge the batteries in the middle of the day.