When do you return to the park after your rest?

[KappleB2]

I am so excited to be leaving for the World in just 36 days! This will be my 5th trip and the first to plan by myself! We do not have park hoppers and have always just powered through the day without a rest but this time its just me and my mom and I think we will need the rest.
SO...when do you typically go back to resort? And when do you return to the park? What influences your decision? We don't have any dinner ressies so that is not a factor and I do plan to take advantage of late EMH when we can.
I just am trying to convince myself TOTALLY that I am not going to miss alot if I get out of the heat and away from the people for a little bit and return.

 

[Vader2112]

If we are going to "power through" a park a TS meal would be in order to take an extended break.
With two small children and depending on the length of our stay we may just decide to only see certain attractions at a given park that day and they chill by the pool or get a good nights sleep. If it is a night time attraction, parade or fireworks we will stay in bed a little longer hit the pool then head to the park late in the day.

 

[WDW 3]

Our breaks are super short. We like to go back to our resort late in the afternoon to freshen up or grab a jacket if it's supposed to get cool, dh gets a quick nap and then it's back to a park or DTD before dinner. We aren't early risers so the only park we go for rope drop is HS when they have morning EMH. Otherwise we are more night owls. Love the parks after dark

 

[laxchik18]

we usually dont go to the park then back to the hotel then back to the park bc with travel time and everything, we just dont really find it worth it, but if yourr gonna use late emh then i would just go into the park later, at like maybe 12 or even 2 that way you rest up in the morning so u can last all night

 

[Funfy]

I am so excited to be leaving for the World in just 36 days! This will be my 5th trip and the first to plan by myself! We do not have park hoppers and have always just powered through the day without a rest but this time its just me and my mom and I think we will need the rest.
SO...when do you typically go back to resort? And when do you return to the park? What influences your decision? We don't have any dinner ressies so that is not a factor and I do plan to take advantage of late EMH when we can.
I just am trying to convince myself TOTALLY that I am not going to miss alot if I get out of the heat and away from the people for a little bit and return.

We usually go back around 2:00 (after lunch) and rest, read, nap etc. sometimes DH and DS go to the pool. Then hit the park again around 6-8 depending on dinner ressie.

You absolutely will not miss anything because the time you spend waiting in line in the heat, you will more than make up getting tired of riding things after about 11:00-11:30 on those really late night EMH. There is something really fun about dragging around at 2:50 in the morning at MK. Sometimes we make it until three-sometimes earlier. But late night EMH's are the best!

 

[disney1077]

I go back to the resort anywhere from 12-2pm. Relax in the room, maybe go in the pool. And then go back to the parks about 4-5pm.

 

[twinnstar]

I usually power through MK & Epcot, one day for each park, and then the rest of the time I usually take breaks around the afternoon/early evening, then return to a park right before EMH or head to Downtown Disney. OR, i go to a park later in the day and relax at the resort! the possibilities are endless! I usually just let my legs make the decision on the spot

 

[Mikester71]

We usually head to the parks between 9-10am and then head back to Pop for dinner in the cafeteria between 4-5pm. Usually take our time and enjoy dinner together before heading back to the room to freshen up a little before heading back to the parks for the night.

 

[bethymouse]

Go early. Stay late. No breaks! Our "break time" is actually a nice lunch and dinner. We usually don't leave the park, but that's all changing now that hubby and I are getting "older". LOL We will go at 8/9am, and stay until around 4 ( lunch qs in park), then eat dinner at resort, pool or return to the park for fireworks.

 

[Pooh Lover]

Since we go in September and the parks close earlier, we tend to stay out until we are ready to head back to get ready for dinner (if there is even time for that.) We don't travel with small children so there is no real need for nap/rest time or designated pool time. Husband is not a big fan of the later parades and fireworks (and the crowds that accompany them) so we normally don't return to the park once we've left for the day.

 

[Funfy]

Since we go in September and the parks close earlier, we tend to stay out until we are ready to head back to get ready for dinner (if there is even time for that.) We don't travel with small children so there is no real need for nap/rest time or designated pool time. Husband is not a big fan of the later parades and fireworks (and the crowds that accompany them) so we normally don't return to the park once we've left for the day.

No one in our family is younger than 18 and we still nap/rest/go to pool. It is more about the heat of the day than age-and we are from Georgia-should be used to it.

 

[Pooh Lover]

No one in our family is younger than 18 and we still nap/rest/go to pool. It is more about the heat of the day than age-and we are from Georgia-should be used to it.

That is funny you say that. I would have agreed with you even 10 years ago but now that I'm a little "older", the Florida heat seems to bother me less and less. I will be that old woman some day you see on a 85 degree day with a winter coat and gloves on.

 

[foreverbelle]

We usually head back to take a break sometime around 1-2, then hit the parks back right about 4-5. Makes it more enjoyable with that break. Especially with my son...

 

[plaz10]

We wake up super early - go to the parks, eat lunch, etc...
usually by early afternoon (3:30 - 4:00) we go back to the resort. Swim, sleep, shower - then off to our dinner reservation (usually at 7:00 - 8:00) and we'll go to the park after the dinner (depending on if it's IN the park or not).

Sometimes we just go through the whole day. Just depends on the weather, moods and other dining reservations. But the 3:00 nap/shower and get ready for dinner is pretty standard since I don't want to go to dinner in sweaty theme park clothes

 

[lebeau]

we go in the morning for opening then return to the hotel most days after lunch then stay till 4 or 5 then return to the park.

This is our approach as well. I highly recommend it. You'll wonder why you were running yourself ragged on the previous 4 trips.

 

[KappleB2]

Thank you all so much for your responses! I THINK I have decided on a short break. We'll see how we feel when we get there We are staying at All Star Music and will use our car so we shouldn't lose that time on the bus. I am really hoping to feel kind of refreshed after this trip and not quite as exhausted when I get home! I work in retail (in a small TOY store) so when I get home I will be running through Christmas I CANT GET THERE SOON ENOUGH!!!!!​

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

We usually go back to the resort around 1:30-2pm and return a couple hours later. It does depend on our dinner or lunch ressies and the weather.

 

[Ex-Floridian]

we go in the morning for opening then return to the hotel most days after lunch then stay till 4 or 5 then return to the park.

Us too!

 

[wdwmomof3]

We always make it for rope drop and normally we stay until around 3:00 or so. Sometimes DH will head back before us to chill out and get ready for dinner before we get there. Once we are back we all shower and get cleaned up for dinner. It feels great after a hot day in the park.

We try to make our ADRs for between 6 and 7 pm. So we normally head out about 45 minutes to an hour before to make sure we are there on time. We drive so that makes it stress free for me. After dinner we hit the park again and stay as late as we can, or until DH makes us leave. Sometimes if we have a really late ADR we mix it up a little.

Personally, I really think making it to the parks at rope drop and playing the rest of the day by ear is the best way to go because it helps avoid melt downs. I really don't think there is a right or wrong way to do it, so we just do what works best for our family.