Afternoon Nap or Open to Close

[disneysince71]

For Many, Many years when we went to Disney we would go from park open to park close... 12-14 hours.. How ever long the parks where open... We packed the kids bathing suits so they could splash around in the fountains... or we would park hop to a Water park.. When we bought our first DVC points we continued to go at park open but now we go back to the room at lunch and take a nap before going back to the parks.
So my question is what does everyone else do... are you a Open to Close family... or a Afternoon Nap/pool family?

 

[Brittany--]

Open to close! We're there from rope drop until the park closes, which has been about 3am on some trips. I want to spend as much time in the park as I possibly can!

 

[disneysince71]

Open to close! We're there from rope drop until the park closes, which has been about 3am on some trips. I want to spend as much time in the park as I possibly can!

We used to be the same way.... I guess I still feel like I am there... Just relaxing without thousands of others...

 

[Brittany--]

We used to be the same way.... I guess I still feel like I am there... Just relaxing without thousands of others...

My mom is the same way. She'll stay at the pool and relax and the rest of us will spend the day at the park.

 

[disneysince71]

My mom is the same way. She'll stay at the pool and relax and the rest of us will spend the day at the park.

Your Mom is a Smart Lady!

 

[foreverbelle]

It depends on the day...if its just my husband and I we usually hit the parks all day until they close. We did this a lot before we had our son, and before we were DVC members. Now though, my son needs a nap, as does his daddy from time to time.

But if its just the hubs and I...we could go on and on on.

 

[Jessica Meier]

Our first two trips we did pretty much open to close at whatever park we happened to choose for the day. This trip it will likely be a little of both.

 

[brifraz]

Open the park. Do things until it gets crowded. Out after lunch. Rest, relax, maybe pool, maybe nap. Back to the parks around dinner.

So, we are open and close, but generally stay out from 1-5pm. We almost always are travelling during peak seasons so those hours of the day the park is just uncomfortable to be in and lines are not worth it!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

If we don't stop mid day for a nap, pool time, relaxation, etc. - we cut out of the parks early in the evening-or pick a park with an earlier closing so we don't feel driven to stick it out longer than we should. My parents used to try to go from opening to close when we went as kids, but by the end of the day - we were all so crabby and tired...and it carried over into the next day. Soooooo, we decided to adopt the relaxing approach previously noted.

 

[disneysince71]

If we don't stop mid day for a nap, pool time, relaxation, etc. - we cut out of the parks early in the evening-or pick a park with an earlier closing so we don't feel driven to stick it out longer than we should. My parents used to try to go from opening to close when we went as kids, but by the end of the day - we were all so crabby and tired...and it carried over into the next day. Soooooo, we decided to adopt the relaxing approach previously noted.

I am with you Chickie... we used to feel like we where not getting our moneys worth if we did not stay all day... And I would go home.. sleepy and grumpy (lol)... so now we just take it easy... much more relaxing for us... I think its great if others can go all day... especially if they are staying off site.. that has to be hard... But as for us we enjoy the down time

 

[Weather_Lady]

We are nap people! (Kids are 4 and 6). We show up at rope drop, stay until lunch, go back and nap from about 1:30-4:00, and then head back to the parks until about 9:00pm. It's amazing how much you can get done in just a few hours (and how refreshed and wonderful you feel), when you avoid the peak crowds at midday!

 

[Skibum1970]

Our days of opening and closing the parks without rest are behind us. I still have the energy but my wife has learned the art of mid-afternoon naps. In all fairness, it does help with the late afternoon doldrums as well as dealing with the busiest part of the day. Plus, it is nice to get away from the crowds and slow things down for a bit. Added bonus is not being stuck in line during the hottest part of the day.

I still miss staying through and through.

 

[wild01ride]

Open the park. Do things until it gets crowded. Out after lunch. Rest, relax, maybe pool, maybe nap. Back to the parks around dinner.

So, we are open and close, but generally stay out from 1-5pm. We almost always are travelling during peak seasons so those hours of the day the park is just uncomfortable to be in and lines are not worth it!

This is exactly what we do!

Forget waiting 90min. for whatever at 2 in the afternoon when it's 95degrees and 100% humidity.
We'll make the effort to get there at the crack of opening, then, when the wait time exceeds our patience - we're out!
Then, wander back in around dinner time, enjoy some attractions while others are eating, eat a late-ish dinner, catch the evening entertainment and close down the parks.

That's the best combination of "getting it all in" and "keeping things reasonable" that I can think of!

 

[ImagineerDude]

Open to close! The afternoon hours are for attractions like Hall of Presidents, Country Bears, Tiki Room, and parades while everyone else is waiting for 90 minutes for Dumbo

 

[bsiev1977]

No rest for me.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I'm hoping to do open until fireworks. My son can nap anywhere and my daughter is getting to the age where she doesn't need naps so I'm hoping to stay in the parks all day.

 

[PUSH]

Go back to the resort. We don't necessarily nap, but just rest and relax. If I go at rope drop, which I normally do, I am burned out by noon or 1. I need to go back to the resort and take an hour to just sit and relax, whether it be the room, pool, food court, etc. Sometimes we will just find a nice relaxing show or ride to go on a couple of times and we are ready to keep going, but for the most part we head to the resort during the afternoon.

 

[Mot]

Open to close most trips. Except on special party nights, we do go back to freshen up a bit. We are taking it a bit slower now and soaking up the reactions of others. Especially the little ones delights.

 

[draybook]

Open to close, all the way! We weren't sure how the kids would do on their first trip, in 2008. They were 8 and 7, and they did just fine. We didn't push them or drag them around or anything. There's plenty of time to sleep when you're dead.

 

[disneycouple07]

We're normally at the parks for rope drop but leave late afternoon to take a shower and get dressed for dinner. After dinner, we stay and watch the fireworks. I wish there was enough time for a nap!