Should we take mid day pool breaks in August?

[kikamom]

We are going August 14-24 and I know it's going to be hot. I was thinking of getting to each park for rope drop, staying until lunch ADR at 12 then leaving after lunch to go swimming at hotel which is 10 minutes away. We would come back to the parks for rides and dinner around 5. Is it too much to come and go like this or Is it more enjoyable and refreshing getting to cool down and take a break? Thank you for any help. I want to plan ADRs around our Dayton. Also , with taking breaks, will 2 days per park be enough time in each park? Especially Magic Kingdom and Epcot?

 

[Marianm]

Were going August 19th and my plan is to take mid day breaks. Most of our time is spent at MK, and we're staying at Contemporary so it's easy to walk back and forth. My plan for when we go to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom is to not get to the parks until mid afternoon.

 

[Monty]

I've done a number of late-August trips. I always "intend" to take breaks and cool off at the resort pool, I never end up doing so.

As for the parks, two days should be fine per park. I tend to do two each at MK and EPCOT and one each at DHS and AK, then decide where I enjoyed most for the last full day we're there.

 

[Me 'Earties]

I think it all depends on you/your family. When it was just adults going on a trip, we would spend all day at the parks, even during summer visits. When we had our first son, he was okay with spending the entire day at the park, and would fall asleep in the stroller. When we went last September, we took our second son to WDW for the first time (he was about 18 months). It was very much like August weather, so hot and humid. The little one did not handle it well at all. Initially, we were trekking along like how all previous trips went (trying to spend all day at the parks), but we came to find out it was essential that we take a mid-day break, so the kids could cool off in the pool, take a nap (the little one would not sleep in the stroller, but still needed his daily nap), and we'd head back to the parks. It was good for the little ones, and the adults' sanity.

So, I think it all dependent on the individuals going, and how much energy they have/how much they have to stick to daily routines

 

[snek]

Yes, and take every AC break opportunity that you come across (walk through shops, sit inside restaurants for snacks, go on CoP).

 

[Chef Mickey]

In my opinion, "pool breaks" back at the hotel are overrated if you're doing it to cool down. You're just as susceptible to the sun and dehydration in a pool, although you'll think you're fine because you're in the water.

Unless you're staying at one of the monorail resorts, a pool break will take about 3 hours round trip with only an hour or so in the pool. It eats up a lot of time.

Disney has so much A/C that you can just as easily take a break in the parks while drinking something (not Coke) to replenish your liquids.

 

[LAKid53]

Yes, I would definitely plan for mid day breaks. It's not just the heat, but the humidity that's the culprit. Temperatures in the 90s, with humidity levels in the 80s, are a path to heat exhaustion or worse. While doing your best to stay hydrated is tops, that the sweat your body generates to regulate temperature isn't able to evaporate quickly enough to cool you down is the problem. Go back to your hotel, take a nice dip in the pool and a nap. Returning in the late afternoon before people head out for dinner is a good idea. And you'll be rested and refreshed. I think it's even more important to take mid afternoon breaks if you have kids.

I would think 2 days for each park is fine for MK and Epcot. Just carefully plan your FP bookings - don't use them for fireworks or parades, especially fireworks since that will prevent you from booking additional selections. If you're going to do rope drop, you can get several of the popular rides done with standby since crowds won't be at peak for the first hour or so. Don't waste FP on those rides. If Disney still mails the really nice map of each park, request them. If you're unfamiliar with a park, nothing wastes time more than running from one side to another because you didn't book FP in some kind of pattern.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[JIMINYCR]

Normally I am a go, go, go person. I hit the parks early, stay late, do as much as I can for as long as I can. But when I did my summer trips I found that wasn't going to work. The heat & humidity wears you down to no end. Even hydrating constantly, having air conditioned breaks by visiting the stores or while eating isn't enough. Taking a pool break mid-day gives you a chance to get refreshed and recharged to take on the rest of the day. It also gives you a nice break from the unruly guests who are also overheated. A couple of hours break is fine, you may not want to take as long a break as you are describing, because that does take away time you could be doing something else.
Two days per park will allow you time to do a lot but remember its still August, which brings massive crowd filled parks, so you may still find that you'll miss out on some things. Target to do the things you want to do mostly so you at least accomplish those.

 

[Disney4family]

We have never taken a pool break for all of the reasons @Chef Mickey has stated. Our kids have been going since they're 3 and we've never had a problem with long days or hot, late August weather (when we go). When we had strollers, the kids would crash and nap in their strollers. We stayed in the parks and enjoyed a stroll through an air-conditioned store or a nice drink on a bench (cue Grand Marnier orange slushie now). We have always enjoyed cooling off in the evenings at the pool.
We're just a family that looks forward to being there so much that we still love as much park time as possible. If we rest, it'll be in a store, a restaurant or a shady spot with a refreshing drink. That's where you'll find us this August, too. Every family is different. There's no right or wrong way to enjoy a WDW trip.

 

[21stamps]

We went the week of Labor Day 2015. We did a pool break during all of our MK days. AK we only stayed a few hours so didn't need one...and Epcot we ended up moving up our dinner so we could leave early instead of taking a break. Heat index was 103-105 most of our days.
I think we spent more time at the pool then the other 3 parks.lol

ETA-
My best advice based on what I experienced- be flexible!!!
Even if you planned to see a parade or nighttime show..if the kids are overheated and worn out, it's not worth it.
This was extremely difficult for me to accept.lol..but our vacation was better once I did accept that.
Most of the restaurants will let you live around your times if need be...when you call the day of.

 

[Adam Snider]

We are going August 14-24 and I know it's going to be hot. I was thinking of getting to each park for rope drop, staying until lunch ADR at 12 then leaving after lunch to go swimming at hotel which is 10 minutes away. We would come back to the parks for rides and dinner around 5. Is it too much to come and go like this or Is it more enjoyable and refreshing getting to cool down and take a break? Thank you for any help. I want to plan ADRs around our Dayton. Also , with taking breaks, will 2 days per park be enough time in each park? Especially Magic Kingdom and Epcot?

What hotel are you staying at?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

When our kids were infants/toddlers, we would take breaks from the sun by either going into venues that are indoors like Carousel of Progress or The People Mover at AK or walking through shops down Main Street. After lunch if we would eat in a park we would put the kids in the car, turn on the AC and drive to Celebration and drive around the town. The kids would get their naps in comfort and my husband and I could sightsee. We would do the pool later in the afternoon or early evening when the sun wasn't so high in the sky. Less chance for burns even with sunblock.

 

[LAKid53]

We went the week of Labor Day 2015. We did a pool break during all of our MK days. AK we only stayed a few hours so didn't need one...and Epcot we ended up moving up our dinner so we could leave early instead of taking a break. Heat index was 103-105 most of our days.
I think we spent more time at the pool then the other 3 parks.lol

That's what people, especially those not from Florida, don't plan for. With that heat index, those 90 degree temperatures are really more like 105 degrees. We've had days, because of the relentless sun and high humidity, where the heat index approached 110 degrees. We Floridians stay inside then...and pray our AC doesn't break.

Do yourself a favor..take an afternoon break. I've witnessed people collapse from heat exhaustion or stroke. You don't want a sudden trip to the hospital....

 

[21stamps]

That's what people, especially those not from Florida, don't plan for. With that heat index, those 90 degree temperatures are really more like 105 degrees. We've had days, because of the relentless sun and high humidity, where the heat index approached 110 degrees. We Floridians stay inside then...and pray our AC doesn't break.

Do yourself a favor..take an afternoon break. I've witnessed people collapse from heat exhaustion or stroke. You don't want a sudden trip to the hospital....

We are (former) South Floridians!!! Ugh. I don't understand how my SoFla born kid has such low tolerance to heat. He'd rather be snow skiing instead of in the hot sun. I'm the opposite.lol

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I will easily take the heat of the summer Florida sun instead of the freezing PA temps in the winter any day. Wouldn't care if I never saw snow again.

 

[LAKid53]

We are (former) South Floridians!!! Ugh. I don't understand how my SoFla born kid has such low tolerance to heat. He'd rather be snow skiing instead of in the hot sun. I'm the opposite.lol

Tell you what. We'll switch places. You can move back here but it will be North Florida....and I'll move there - I love cold weather. Just remember you'll be on the turf of that team you hate...

 

[21stamps]

Tell you what. We'll switch places. You can move back here but it will be North Florida....and I'll move there - I love cold weather. Just remember you'll be on the turf of that team you hate...

Once upon a time I refused to go north of Jupiter during the winter..lol. (Minus a few days up north, out of Florida, for Christmas) the water is too cold in the Panhandle. And no..I couldn't deal with the football fans there.

 

[LAKid53]

Once upon a time I refused to go north of Jupiter during the winter..lol. (Minus a few days up north, out of Florida, for Christmas) the water is too cold in the Panhandle. And no..I couldn't deal with the football fans there.

We haven't had cold winters for several years...just a few cold days. PCB is warm in the spring and summer 80 degree water temps. Where do you think the Gulf Stream that flows past the East Coast comes from? Wakulla Springs, that constant 68 degree water does take getting use to.

Yeah, you'd be in trouble for a certain game each year...

 

[kikamom]

What hotel are you staying at?

We are staying at The Hyatt Regal Grand Cypress

 

[BigRedDad]

We do. It is a great refreshing break, another way to keep cool, and get us ready for nighttime at the parks.