How do you get your little darlings to sleep at WDW?

[writerriann]

We leave next Friday and we're super, super excited. We took DS last year but were only able to stay 3 days (paired it with a beach trip). This year we're staying a full week at the world.

Please tell me someone has trouble getting their kids to sleep at WDW

DS4 would not fall asleep last year. We're talking hours after we were back at the hotel. DS also does not nap. Ever. Hasn't since he was a year old. At some point, you think "well, he'll wear himself out." But he doesn't. I actually wouldn't mind since it doesn't seem to bother him, but after a long day at the parks, we would like to sleep

We don't do rope drop but we do have character breakfasts most mornings scheduled between 8 and 9:30 a.m.

How can I get little darlin to go to sleep so Mommy and Daddy don't go insane? Or should I just start brewing coffee now?

[roxazul]

at home I can't get DD5 to sleep early

but at WDW (granted we've never been) I'm sure she's gonna pass out as soon as she hit the bed
lots of walking, swimming, combined with those september temperatures are gonna do her good,
cause I'll want to sleep too!

[kidsgobears]

Slegehammer.

Lights out. Quiet. Tell him he doesn't have to go to sleep, but he has to lie there quietly. Usually works for us. Good luck and you're not the only one.

[2binak]

Did you keep the bedtime routine the same as it is at home? Obviously, kids are going to be excited, but I think that keeping the bedtime routine as close to the same as possible should help.

[writerriann]

Yep, everything is done the same way as it is at home. I even read him bedtime stories

He's a handful at home at bedtime. He's in bed at 8 but usually is still awake at 10:30 when we go to sleep. Every night. It doesn't ever seem to catch up to him either.

You would think all the walking, swimming, heat, etc. would get to him, but last year, he could have stayed out longer than us I think.

*Sigh* I may just have to accept it.

[DisneyAngie]

My mom never tried this at WDW (to the best of my recollection), but whenever we couldn't sleep at home, she would tell us to layer there and make a mental list of all the rides we would ride, characters we would see, places we would eat, etc if we were at WDW right then. I can't believe that that never backfired and made me more wide awake, but it always ended with me sound asleep. I don't know how well that would work at WDW; I feel like that would just rile him up more, but who knows

I worked as counselor at a summer camp last summer, and one trick we would use was to tell the kids to lay very still and pretend they were already asleep .

[2binak]

Originally Posted by writerriann

Yep, everything is done the same way as it is at home. I even read him bedtime stories

He's a handful at home at bedtime. He's in bed at 8 but usually is still awake at 10:30 when we go to sleep. Every night. It doesn't ever seem to catch up to him either.

You would think all the walking, swimming, heat, etc. would get to him, but last year, he could have stayed out longer than us I think.

*Sigh* I may just have to accept it.

Well, there goes all of my advice

[Ktharee]

Let them swim first. Always makes my daughter tired. She swims and burns off whatever energy is left, gets a bath, then lights out. Works like a charm.

[lilys.mom]

Originally Posted by writerriann

We leave next Friday and we're super, super excited. We took DS last year but were only able to stay 3 days (paired it with a beach trip). This year we're staying a full week at the world.

Please tell me someone has trouble getting their kids to sleep at WDW

DS4 would not fall asleep last year. We're talking hours after we were back at the hotel. DS also does not nap. Ever. Hasn't since he was a year old. At some point, you think "well, he'll wear himself out." But he doesn't. I actually wouldn't mind since it doesn't seem to bother him, but after a long day at the parks, we would like to sleep

We don't do rope drop but we do have character breakfasts most mornings scheduled between 8 and 9:30 a.m.

How can I get little darlin to go to sleep so Mommy and Daddy don't go insane? Or should I just start brewing coffee now?

Hi! I live in Cleveland, TN not far from you guys....we leave this Sunday and I am going through the same thing with DD3 at home right now she wont nap doesnt sleep good at night...but mine is whiny......I am praying that the days will wear her out!!!!

Have a good trip!

[Sandi]

When I was about 8 or 9, I remember my mom taking me to the doctor because I would not go to sleep until really late (and this went on for years). The doctor said, "well, if everything else is alright, some kids just don't need that much sleep. Let her read and she'll sleep when she's tired." My mom was so mad at the doctor.

[Drusilla]

Benadryl. Works nicely so they sleep on the plane too.

[2binak]

Originally Posted by Drusilla

Benadryl. Works nicely so they sleep on the plane too.

Not always. Sometimes, it makes kids (and adults) hyper. There's even a warning about it on the box.

[writerriann]

Benadryl does make him sleepy and while I will resort to it on occasion, I hesitate to give it to him multiple nights in a row unless I'm giving it for his allergies.

[webstah]

Originally Posted by kidsgobears

Slegehammer.

Too hard to get through airport security.
We usually just find a rock at the resort.

[bek1758]

We employ the "everyone has to lie down on the bed quietly technique, including the parents." We all lie down and look at books or stare at the ceiling. If our DS talks (he usually talks himself to sleep at home) we ignore him. We all typically fall asleep fairly quickly. We also take our own pillows, lovies, and blankies (we drive down) for extra comfort. I've found bringing a piece of home makes it a little bit easier. Good luck!