Afternoon Breaks

[MickeyMinnieMom]

For the most part, I agree with you. I just think some people have kids that are terrible nappers (my oldest was that way) and it really backfired on us. If you've got good sleepers, it's is definitely good to get that break. We usually don't take breaks, but it was SO hot while we were there this past July that *I* was miserable by about 1:00 due to the heat. I never went back to take a nap, but it was so nice to get away from the crowds and the punishing sun and heat and just sit back and read and relax.

That's the thing -- sleep or not, I think the whole family benefits from the break in the A/C and away from crowds. One of my kids was great with naps, the other one, not so much. They still both benefited from the break. Not that this is right for EVERYONE, but I'd suspect most would feel more refreshed during the entire second half of their day if they took the break.

 

[Christine]

That's the thing -- sleep or not, I think the whole family benefits from the break in the A/C and away from crowds. One of my kids was great with naps, the other one, not so much. They still both benefited from the break. Not that this is right for EVERYONE, but I'd suspect most would feel more refreshed during the entire second half of their day if they took the break.

I think back on this one day with laughter now, but at the time, it was not fun. I sort of described it upthread. On our first trip to Disney, we read about how parents with young kids *should* take breaks. I was somewhat dubious knowing my daughter was not good at napping, but surely, she would be exhausted. We were staying at the CBR so we drove back to our resort from the MK (she didn't fall asleep), parked, and somehow she caught a glimpse of the pool and started going on about "going to the pool." We said later, after a short rest. We got to the room and spent a good hour having her lay down, rubbing her back, doing all sorts of things to get her to drift off. And all she kept saying was "I wanna go to the pool" over and over. We then got back into the car and drove around for an hour and she did finally drift off for 45 minutes but it wasn't happening while that pool was around. We, the parents, were exhausted!!! Of course, we did let her go to the pool at other times but we were really trying out those naps. In the end, we just didn't do better with breaks because of her (although we could have certainly used them). We just really couldn't do any late nights at the parks.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think back on this one day with laughter now, but at the time, it was not fun. I sort of described it upthread. On our first trip to Disney, we read about how parents with young kids *should* take breaks. I was somewhat dubious knowing my daughter was not good at napping, but surely, she would be exhausted. We were staying at the CBR so we drove back to our resort from the MK (she didn't fall asleep), parked, and somehow she caught a glimpse of the pool and started going on about "going to the pool." We said later, after a short rest. We got to the room and spent a good hour having her lay down, rubbing her back, doing all sorts of things to get her to drift off. And all she kept saying was "I wanna go to the pool" over and over. We then got back into the car and drove around for an hour and she did finally drift off for 45 minutes but it wasn't happening while that pool was around. We, the parents, were exhausted!!! Of course, we did let her go to the pool at other times but we were really trying out those naps. In the end, we just didn't do better with breaks because of her (although we could have certainly used them). We just really couldn't do any late nights at the parks.

I can picture that! LOL now, but not so much back then I'm sure...!!

Like so much, it comes down to knowing your kids and your family. My daughter would just fall asleep anywhere if she was tired -- she'd always catch up on sleep and be fine. If my son didn't have a REAL nap time, he'd build up a sleep deficit until he melted down! We'd always plan to be at the hotel by 1:30pm, as his typical nap time was 2pm -- gave ourselves cushion so he wouldn't fall asleep on the way there. Because if he slept for even 5min in the stroller, you could forget about the nap!!

Ahhh... the trials and tribulations of parenthood!! Now they're 11 and 13, and neither takes a nap unless they're not feeling well. But if DH doesn't get a nap in, we'll all pay for it! And regardless, we can all use the break, so it works out just fine.

 

[lolomarie]

Because if he slept for even 5min in the stroller, you could forget about the nap!!

5 minutes of a nap in a stroller of car seat equals NO NAP

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

5 minutes of a nap in a stroller of car seat equals NO NAP

Exactly -- which is why we always gave ourselves cushion to get to the hotel before he fell asleep. Then he'd sleep for an hour minimum. Otherwise it would become pretty miserable, pretty quickly.

 

[mydisneyanytime]

I think that it depends on your family and kids. We tried going back to the hotel one time when the kids were little and I would never do it again. Too much traveling, kid napped on the bus, wide awake when we got to the hotel. Hot and tired from getting on the bus then off then to the room. Kids napped in the stroller for as long as was needed in the parks. It was a great time to people watch. There are great places around each park to stop and rest and if you can't find a place like that then the baby care centers are there for use. My kids were always ready to go after napping in the stroller and sometimes it was an hour or more nap even in the summer heat. I just made sure they were shaded and a fan pointed their way. It really is up to each family to find out their touring style!

 

[LA Poolboy]

Breaks are the greatest thing in Disney history! I don't know how we would have done it all these years without them. This past trip there were 2 days we didn't take a mid-day break and the days were pretty tiresome. I sleep really hard during these naps and so does the rest of the fam. We set alarms to get us going again. That's what works for us, but do what works for you. I can't imagine not taking breaks with young children, but that's just me.

 

[ItsNotMuchofaTail]

I am definitely team take a break. I would be miserable in a park all day myself. My DD would never make it, the fun would be over, lol.

We don’t mind the buses at all, midday they won’t be crowded. We generally leave around 1:00.

We like spending some time at the resort, swimming or relaxing. We miss some things, but we don’t care. I can’t see cramming so much in that we never have a relaxing time, that isn’t a vacation to me.

 

[icesk8abc]

My girls are nappers. They consistently take a 2+ hour nap every day at home. One is a light sleeper so a stroller nap doesn’t work for her. We go back and take a break daily. However, we take longer trips- usually 8-10 days. We also are there before rope drop every morning and for the fireworks every night. According to my 4 year old it’s not a Disney night if there are no fireworks. We do take a morning mid trip to sleep in and go to Disney Springs, but we still do a park that night.

My oldest is a heavy sleeper so we were able to do stroller naps for her sometimes. She managed to sleep through a high school marching band, the Main Street band, and festival of fantasy pushed right up to the parade route rope.