How long do you spend in the parks?
About This Page: This is a discussion on How long do you spend in the parks? within the Planning Your Adventure: Your Plans for Walt Disney World, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; We do a combination of things. I like to be at the parks as much as possible. I am an ...

OneLittleSpark · 07-22-2011, 07:42 AM

We do a combination of things. I like to be at the parks as much as possible. I am an early riser, while DH is a later one.

I plan our schedule to include at least one day where he can "sleep" in. Which usually means like 7-8 in the morning. For days that have a tight squeeze with ADR's, park closing earlier, etc. we don't break. If the day allows then we do. For example in Sept when we go this year, one night MK has EMH till 1am and Epcot is open till 12am we will break in the afternoon to nap and swim.

So we really follow a combination during our trip.

Sunshine Family · 07-22-2011, 09:13 AM

Since we travel with some one who is special needs, we do 4-6 hours at a park at the most. On special nights like MNSSHP, we'll do 2-4 hours in a park so that we're ready for the 5 hours at MK that night.

mickey0823 · 07-22-2011, 09:24 AM

We usually get to a park early in the morning, take a nap or swim in the afternoon, go back to the parks and stay until closing. Every now and then, (if we're feeling Olympic), we'll stay from open until closing.

phoebec · 07-22-2011, 09:43 AM

We took mid day breaks on Epcot and MK days, and then went back for dinner and evening (not late though). We are rope droppers. We stayed until about 2 or 3 on AK day and DHS day and did other things in the evening. We did it this way because our kids our young and they would NEVER last from morning till close, plus they were very focused on swimming every day too. They were obsessed with the POR pool

Next time, not sure how we will do it. The kids will be 2 years older, but I still can't see us doing open to close. My kids are not night owls.

**HiddenMickey** · 07-22-2011, 09:49 AM

We generally get to parks before opening. We leave after lunch for a break and go back at dinner time for the rest of the day. We usually park hop at that time. We stay on site to make this work.

My upcoming trip with DD, we'll be staying offsite, so plan to be at the park from open until close (EMH nights too!) for the four days we're there. First time with Base tickets. Wish us luck!

krisk11 · 07-22-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

We are usually there at rope drop. Go back to the resort after noon, maybe 1 PM. Take naps and have pool time, and go back to the parks around 5 or 5 until closing. Can't do all day, especially in the heat of summer. We end up with very cranky people!

That's us. We are nappers. Especially since we go down in August.

jimmymac · 07-22-2011, 11:53 AM

We're pretty much open the parks - midday break - close the parks folks

MichaelF · 07-22-2011, 12:57 PM

We usually get there around park opening, stay through lunch to about 2 p.m. then go back to the resort to swim. We will then go back after dinner if its MK or Epcot.

Joanne929 · 07-22-2011, 01:15 PM

We have mostly arrived to the parks within 1 hour of opening, take a break for lunch and/or dinner (usually a TS for dinner) either in the park, or a resort close-by so we can return to the park for the evening and stay until closing. (Although, not necessarily EMH closing!)

HollyH · 07-22-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiddenMickey

My upcoming trip with DD, we'll be staying offsite, so plan to be at the park from open until close (EMH nights too!)

But if you're staying offsite, you can't do EMHs.

guitardiva · 07-22-2011, 04:27 PM

We usually do not make it to rope drop. We get up and get to the parks around 10-ish. We go to close at MK and Epcot. AK and DHS we stay until we are ready for a swim or to go eat. Whichever comes first. We will on those days , go swimming or shop.
Now DH is the exception. He likes to go for a few hours then go nap and meet up with us later on.

having said that, this is our first August trip in a long time so who knows. If it is real hot we will be sneaking out for pool time here and there.

Disneyland Penny · 07-22-2011, 05:24 PM

We typically get up, get ready, have breakfast at the resort, and then go to our park of choice around 10:30am or so. We may or may not park hop depending on our moods. We typically stay until closing which isn't very late since we like to go in January/February. We NEVER go back to the hotel in the middle of the day.

DisneyOrBustColorado · 07-22-2011, 05:28 PM

We wake up in the morning, at a decent time, when we feel rested. Then we head to our park for the day. We are usually in a single park all day accept the last few days of our vacation when we park hop to catch up on our favorite or missed attractions. Our hotel is used for eating & sleeping.

**HiddenMickey** · 07-22-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollyH

But if you're staying offsite, you can't do EMHs.

Thanks.... I completely forgot!

Cripes, I need to look at our schedule again now. You'd think I'd know better! After staying onsite for 16 trips and using EMH since they added it, I didn't even think about where we were staying when planning. I still keep thinking we're staying onsite and have to keep reminding myself that we aren't.

HollyH · 07-22-2011, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiddenMickey

Thanks.... I completely forgot!

Cripes, I need to look at our schedule again now. You'd think I'd know better! After staying onsite for 16 trips and using EMH since they added it, I didn't even think about where we were staying when planning. I still keep thinking we're staying onsite and have to keep reminding myself that we aren't.

Glad I could help

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