Rest from the parks

[Glenelg]

According to some people I have spoken to a popular choice of how to spend your time at the parks is to get there no later than 10am, and leave around lunch time to return to your villa for some downtime, return to the park around 5pm where you can spend the rest of the evening. We are staying at Lake Wilson villas in Kissimmee which is around 25 -30 mins from most of the parks. It seems a good way of keeping out of the midday sun and enjoying the pool in our villa. However is it a hassle going back and forward ie traffic, parking etc. Going last week June and first week July HOT! HOT!

[mikeymouse]

Hi Glenelg!! Me and my family visited the parks in july last year and yes it was hot very hot :) before we went on holiday we too were advised to visit the parks early and leave before the midday sun but we never did , yes we visited early but most days we stayed all day we just found it difficult to leave when you are enjoying yourself:happy-thumb we managed to stay at MK and epcot all day but AK was a different story , to leave around lunchtime and return in the evening i guess is a good idea but i found when you are actually there this is very hard to do, your plans just go out the window :eek:
example : you visit epcot first thing in the morning you fast pass soarin and it says come back around 2.45pm if you really want to go on this ride you aint going home at midday;)

[LeonieM]

We've never left the parks and gone back, either. I think that when you have to queue for a while to get into the rides, you don't want to leave and miss a couple of rides.

I personally have never had problems with the midday sun at Disney. We're either on the rides - which at Disney are all inside and therefore air conditioned - or we're eating our lunch in the air conditioned restaurants.

[katie666]

I do get to the parks at 9, leave at noon & head back to the villa picking up a chicken, bread & salad on the way. Quick lunch, PM by the pool, reading & dozing. Shower & back to the parks for the evening. The traffic is lighter during the day so it's not a hassle betting back to the villa. If we didn't do this, we wouldn't last the day out and would be tired & irritable by tea time, then wouldn't really enjoy the evening. Each to their own - it suits us to do it this way.

Katie :)

[palmer gang]

we have worked it both ways spending all in park and splitting the day up its really down to personal choice really.You do need to have some sort of plan before you go but you will adapt when your out there remember its a holiday not a military operation just go with the flow and have a great time:happy-thumb

[Tiggers Friend]

Over the year s we've tried both ways. TBH our favoured approach is a slightly later start, taking time out (an hour or so) in the park at one of the cafes and then resuming to when you feel you've had enough.

[Millie]

We also tend to leave for the parks a little later and then can usually last the rest of the day. Although on certain days can get to the parks earlier and then maybe leave earlier. But like others have said sometimes difficult to leave once your there. Last time cos it was August, we found it a godsend to go in and have a snack to recharge and get out of the heat.

[Glenelg]

Thanks for all the replies.
Obviously once we are there we will work out what is best what i had failed to mention
that our son has ME [chronic fatigue] which will mean without question we will have to take some sort of rest.

[LeonieM]

In which case, you'll probably be better taking rest in cafes and stuff than schlepping all the way back to your car to go out to take a break! It can take ages to get back to your car, and then you've got to do it all in reverse again an hour or so later!

There are plenty of places to sit - although not really that many under cover out in the park itself. However, there's nothing stopping you going into one of the many rest areas by the cafes which are under cover, and just buying one or two drinks (to keep the price down) and then just sitting quietly in there for a while, if that's what it takes.

I would also strongly suggest you go to see guest services on your arrival and see whether you can get some sort of priority pass so that you don't have to wait in queues. We take a letter from the Bromley Autistic Trust with us which they exchange for a special pass which is then good for the remainder of your holiday and is valid in all the parks. That would certainly help your son. A doctor's letter or something saying he's got ME and can't stand in queues would do the trick.

[Tiggers Friend]

There are some great locations in the parks for just sitting and people watching, for example, if you sit on the terrace of Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station in MK you could watch the parade, in EPCOT the Electric Umbrella in Innoventions or the eating place down by the Tower of Terror are good places to watch the goings on.

[Glenelg]

Hi Leonie M

Thanks for info.
I presume each park has Guest services. Is there any particular one we approach or would any park do. If we were successful would this special pass apply to all parks ?
It just seems to good to be true.
Considering what he has gone through the last two years there would be no problem getting a letter confirming his disability from our GP.
He is certainly restricted regarding his walking any more than a mile or two and he will be villa bound the next day. We have information re hiring wheelchairs and fotunately he is up for that.

[Tiggers Friend]

We have information re hiring wheelchairs and fotunately he is up for that.

One thing to bear in mind is that Americans are much more understanding with regard to disabilities and wheelchairs than people in this country. I know form my son's experiences he was dismayed at the way people in the UK looked at him in his chair, but in the States he was very relaxed about it. :)

[LeonieM]

Hi Leonie M

Thanks for info.
I presume each park has Guest services. Is there any particular one we approach or would any park do. If we were successful would this special pass apply to all parks ?
It just seems to good to be true.
Considering what he has gone through the last two years there would be no problem getting a letter confirming his disability from our GP.
He is certainly restricted regarding his walking any more than a mile or two and he will be villa bound the next day. We have information re hiring wheelchairs and fotunately he is up for that.

As far as I know, there are guest services in all the parks. I think we got our pass from MGM (as it was), being the first park we visited on our last trip. Guest Services are well signed and you'll find them near the entrances to all the parks.

I especially got 5 copies of the letter in case we needed one per park, however once I'd handed them the letter, they barely blinked but went straight away to write us out a pass which they told us was valid for our entire stay and for all the parks.

Basically, what it is is effectively a 'fast pass' for every single ride/attraction in the park. You just go straight to the fast pass entrance and they should usher you straight in.

With any luck, your son should find he hardly needs to use a wheelchair, although if he does, there are lots of 'wheelchair' parks round the park where you would leave it to go into the ride. Not all rides are wheelchair accessible in any event, such as 'Stitches Great Adventure', 'Haunted Mansion' and 'Buzz Lightyear' to name but three.

Oh, and I have been informed that Universal can also sort out some sort of 'fast pass' if you go and see them on your arrival (can't remember if you're going there).

[Glenelg]

Thanks for all your replies, you have been a great help.

[Susan Veness]

I've toured the parks during an 'active' phase of Epstein-Barr (similar to chronic fatigue) and several long breaks throughout the day were necessary. Your son may have a pattern at home for when he fades (mine was always 4pm), but you may also notice him becoming far more exhaused much earlier than normal after the initial excitement of being there has worn off.

Consider contacting Walt Disney World's Disabled Guests Special Requests line at 407-939-7807 before you leave to see if they can set up a Guest Assistance Card. Generally it won't shorten the wait, but you may be allowed to wait in an alternate area where your son can sit (noramally Disney have the child and one adult wait in the alternate area, then load with the rest of the family once they reach the front of the queue, but it varys by attraction).

It probably won't help much, to be honest, as CF really does just 'knock you out' more than just making you feel tired. If he needs to sleep you may want to keep watch for quiet benches in shady spots for a quick power nap. That may help, though late mornings and early nights will still probably be necessary. I found it very difficult to cope without several naps, but it can be done!

[LeonieM]

The sheer heat and humidity of a foreign climate could well have an effect, too. I find I wilt in the heat - and I'm supposedly healthy! Make sure you have plenty of water for him to drink.

It certainly helps that Disney have free water fountains all over the park - some of which are chilled, too.

Susan, our personal experience of the special pass is that you don't have to wait in queues! Still, they may treat every type of problem separately. If you like, Glen, I can ask them when we're there in a couple of weeks when we pick up our own pass.

[Glenelg]

LeonieM - that would be great if you could do that, when should I look out for your post?
You know for the past two years life for him has just been miserable, right in the middle of his higher education he took this condition so all the hard work seems for nothing.
He needs a break as the family does and for him along with his younger sister he wants to go to Discovery Cove to swim with the dolphins.
However on the plus side we as a family have been working with this for two years now so we know how to handle it.
It would be much appreciated if you could get some up to date info.

[LeonieM]

Glen, we're off on 8th April, back on 19th. However, I will be on line every day as we have free wireless connection at our villa! We're going to the Princess & Pirate party on 11th April, and will obviously have to go on 9th or something to pick up the tickets. So, I'll definitely be able to report back to you before 11th April.

[Glenelg]

Hi LeonieM
Hey! we don't go to last week in June don't put yourself out whils't your'e enjoying
yourselves. Once again you have been extremely helpfull- thx.

Whils't its in my mind what is the best way in your opinion to take money,by travellers cheques and dollar cash?
For your information the Nationwide have no commision fee when using their card abroad.

[LeonieM]

How you take your money is very much a personal choice - and what kind of security arrangements you have where you're staying.

We've always had a safe in our hotel rooms, and I would just take up to $50 out a day as lunch/spending money. I have a combination of cash and TCs; this year I'm taking about $400 in TCs and $600 in cash. I also take my credit card.

[Tiggers Friend]

Whils't its in my mind what is the best way in your opinion to take money,by travellers cheques and dollar cash?
For your information the Nationwide have no commision fee when using their card abroad.

I personally use TCs (in dollars - you can spend them in shops and restaurants as cash), take some dollars for initial spending and also carry a Nationwide credit card (for security on the hire car and emergencies or perhaps an unplanned spend by the wife).

Some people reject the idea of TCs and stick to drawing money on their debit card (again Nationwide as they don't charge), but it is personal preference and a view on how you think the exchange rate affects you.

[Glenelg]

Have a great holiday LeonieM and look we forward to hearing from you.