afternoon nap?

[Partyof12]

Does everyone take the little ones back to the hotel in the afternoon for a nap? The kids are 1 and 2 years old. The MK closes early when we are going and I am wondering if the nap is really necessary like it says in the guidebook.

Thanks for you help.

 

[Ellester]

I think it totally depends on your kids. My first two were great stroller nappers, so we just stayed in the parks and let them nap on the go. My youngest isn't so good at sleeping in the stroller, so if we go when he is a tot we would probably try to take a nap break. Both my girls gave up naps at 2, so it wasn't an issue for very long.

 

[RichieGraciemom]

Have them sleep in the stroller, unless you are going to epcot and that is a longer night or want to see fantasmic. My son was nine months old and is now four and has been there five times and my daugher was seven months when we first went and did as I mentioned it all worked out.

 

[libba]

OMG - afternoon nap is what kept us sane! I highly recommend it. Ours never threw a fit at all and I credit that to keeping her on a schedule!

 

[mel]

We were going to try to stay at the parks all day, but it was sooo hot and kids were getting grumpy so we decided to go back to room for a while. My 7 year old was asleep before we even got out of the parking lot! We went back later, ready to go!!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I knew that there was no way my 18 month old son was going to take a nap back at the room, so we just let him fall asleep in his stroller everyday. Some kids nap anywhere, but our son only naps in his crib at home, in the car, or in his stroller! It worked out well actually! He took a 1-2 hour nap everyday. During that time, my husband and I took turns riding the rides he couldn't go on. Only one of us had to wait in line because of the baby swap rule.

 

[SueOKW]

Heck, my DH is 48 and he has to have a nap! I love taking the afternoon breaks!!!

 

[flynnmnstr]

Our DS3 has been to disney several times. He naps very well in his stroller. When he was younger, he had a lot of trouble sleeping in the hotel room so going back for naps was a waste of time and energy. He still has a rough time sleeping in hotel room (sensory issues) but our last trip he (and therefore we) napped everyday. I have to say it was our most enjoyable trip to Disney; we felt like we were actually on vacation. Going to WDW with kids is hard work and us adults need naps to. If your child will take a nap in the hotel room go for it. If they won't my suggestion is to take the time to relax with your spouse. DH and I would plan our meals around DS's nap; many of the sit down restaurants allowed us to roll stroller in and park it next to table. Or we would go to more "scenic" counter service restaurants and sit and chat for an hour or so. Our favs- Flame Tree BBQ seating area in Animal Kingdom or Cantina in Mexico at Epcot (get a Fiesta Margarita from separate vendor not counter service restaurant- right after outdoor market)

 

[mjmcca]

My son wont fall asleep no matter where he is. In the room in the stroller. Unless i oput him inthe car and then it is lights out. I only did this once while at Disney since i have no interest driving in Disney area rush hour traffic.If we go back to the room for a nap all that happens is he wakes up his younger sister. She will nap pretty much anywhere. The plan for us now is stay all day and let the little one nap in the stroler if she wants.

 

[RichieGraciemom]

yes that is true about having time to yourself in the park when the little ones sleep, I still remember resting by country bear hall and eating ice cream with my husband while my DS1 was napping and we just people watched and dreamed about when are kids will be old enough to go on all the rides( which is now already) Do what you think is best , but leaving the parks sometimes is work itself if the child does not nap.

 

[Brina]

There were a couple of days that we went back to the hotel for the kids nap, and a couple that they naped in their strollers. DH and I took stroller nap time as an opportunity to take turns going on some grown up rides. One of us would sit in the shade with the kids and the other would ride things like r&rc or space mountain.

 

[EthansMom]

Neither one of my kids will nap in the stroller. Of course, now my DS who is 3.5 won't nap at all. We find that it totally reenergizes us to head back to the hotel for an afternoon break.

On past trips with just our son, I would take him back to the room and lay down for a nap with him while DH stayed at the parks and did the adult rides, then he'd meet us back at the hotel in the late afternoon. We would have dinner and then head back to the parks for a parade or show.

On our upcoming trip -- first one with our 1 year-old daughter, we'll all head back to the hotel in the afternoon and I'll get DD down for a nap while Dad and DS get some pool time in.

Our basic schedule is that we're at a park when it opens or closely thereafter, do attractions, have lunch in the park, do a few more attractions and then head back to the hotel about 2ish, nap till 4-4:30, get some dinner (either at our resort or at a park), a few more attractions and a night show (like Fantasmic). We usually seem to miss the parades which are in the afternoon, but between missing a parade and a nap, I'd choose to miss the parade.

If you're staying off-property, it may be easier to find a quiet place for your children to rest at the parks. At MK, my son would nap in a heartbeat on the monorail and you can ride it in circles as long as you want -- just take something to read.

Best of Luck

EthansMom (and now Molly's too)