ktlm
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2008
DH and I have always been open to close people. DD's first trip was when she was 2 years 10 months, and we figured she would need an afternoon break--- we were wrong. It did not go well. She was mad we left the parks and stood behind a curtain and pouted for approximately 3 hours until we gave up and went back. After that, we went back to open to close and she just took stroller naps. She is 13 now and we have been to WDW or DL or usually both every year for the last 10 years and most days we are open to close (and open to close at DL in the summer is 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.--- actually one day this year with a Star Wars Galaxy's edge reservation it was 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 am. but DH gave up at about 10:00 that day and I made DD leave at 11:30).
The way we do it is that we don't try for the very front of the rope drop crowd unless there is a special reason (i.e. Galaxy's edge--- a few years ago Anna and Elsa-- and had we not gotten an FOP FP Pandora would have warranted it). We get to the park right around rope drop, or even 10 minutes after. We don't do a pre park sit down breakfast- we might grab something at the resort on the way out, or just grab a snack in the park. We do a TS lunch at WDW-- that gets us inside to sit a while and recharge. If the afternoon is hot an crowded, we do things that are sit and rest or in air conditioning or shade such as Philharmagic; Peoplemover; Tiki room; World showcase movies rides shows shops; Hollywood studios shows; Festival of the Lion King. Those type things are good not only to cool off, but to recharge. Some people aren't cut out for open to close-- my in-laws could never do it. It is what works best for us. When we are there during MNSSHP, we go back to the resort during the day to put costumes on, and we always feel like we lose so much of the day by taking a break.
The way we do it is that we don't try for the very front of the rope drop crowd unless there is a special reason (i.e. Galaxy's edge--- a few years ago Anna and Elsa-- and had we not gotten an FOP FP Pandora would have warranted it). We get to the park right around rope drop, or even 10 minutes after. We don't do a pre park sit down breakfast- we might grab something at the resort on the way out, or just grab a snack in the park. We do a TS lunch at WDW-- that gets us inside to sit a while and recharge. If the afternoon is hot an crowded, we do things that are sit and rest or in air conditioning or shade such as Philharmagic; Peoplemover; Tiki room; World showcase movies rides shows shops; Hollywood studios shows; Festival of the Lion King. Those type things are good not only to cool off, but to recharge. Some people aren't cut out for open to close-- my in-laws could never do it. It is what works best for us. When we are there during MNSSHP, we go back to the resort during the day to put costumes on, and we always feel like we lose so much of the day by taking a break.