Alternative naps

[Tiffylv]

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[bobtabin]

At MK, some have known to nap during the 20 minute Carousel of Progress; likely be able to stay on it a couple times.

 

[MommyMK]

He's 7, can you not just keep him awake on the bus? Talk to him etc? Alternatively you could rent a car and let him sleep in there if he falls asleep on the drive back to the resort.

 

[msmama]

Totally not what you asked, BUT, generally, our days are over by dinner time (either just before or just after). We simply cannot stay in the parks all day (and if we go back to the hotel, we don't make it back to parks, usually - hoping that will change this upcoming trip since we're staying in Epcot area so it'll be easier to get to a park).

That said, you could possibly stay on a bus longer, BUT you won't necessarily know where you'd end up. The bus routes don't always go from on hotel back to the park over and over again (well, the busses do, they're labeled correctly, but the bus you got on at the MK may go to your resort and then Epcot instead of back to MK, for example).

The monorail could be a good napping spot.

But none of the places mentioned are super comfortable so that could be an issue as could the fact that they could be crowded. My son stopped napping at 2 so I'm very little help.

 

[MSSANDRA]

If he needs a good nap, I would try to get him back to the resort awake and let him nap there. Will you use a stroller? If he is small and you use a more traditional stroller, maybe he would fall asleep there and you could find a place to chill for a while. Bus would be a bad idea for a lot of reasons, but if you are at the MK or Epcot and its mid day and the monorail is not too busy, that might be an option. We have done this a few times but our boys were smaller. Good luck.

 

[Tiffylv]

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[DopeyDame]

We've had great luck with naps on disney transportation. The monorail can be good, although all the stops can occasionally wake kids up if people are getting on or off with a lot of noise.
By far the best alternative nap location we've found is the big boat between the TTC and the magic kingdom. More than once, we just got on the boat, found a quiet corner, and rode it back and forth several times. The CMs were great and friendly and didn't mind at all.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would say a boat - makes a continuous circle, the motion is soothing, etc.

My kids always slept in their strollers, and my younger son (7) is still a big sleeper...he would probably sleep like your son if I was a nicer mom and actually let him

We get on a monorail or boat, and it's lights out for my son. Same for busses.

 

[skriegerjr]

Monorail might be a great way to do it, and cool down if it's a hot day too. And you won't spend too much time away from the park should he wake back up ready to go!

 

[HollieS]

You could stay at the contemporary then at least on your MK days you walk back avoiding the falling asleep on the bus issue entirely.

 

[Tiffylv]

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[bookgirl]

I am planning a trip with myself and my 7 year old son. This would be out first trip to disney and only our 2nd trip ever...so I've got a lot to learn and plan! I jokingly call my son an infant because he has some tendencies for a child a lot younger than he is. Case in point he's still a napper.....every single day. After school he goes to daycare and sleeps there an hour plus, then goes to bed at 7:30. On the weekends he can nap 2 or 3 hours and then goes to bed at 9ish. I don't think he will skip the nap due to excitement as he didn't on our cruise several months ago. Plus I really don't want to skip a nap and have our day be over at 7. Originally I'd thought we'd go back to the resort for a nap midday but then I was reading another thread that said their kid tended to fall asleep on the way back and then wouldn't nap in their room. My son is an excellent car sleeper and actually does that a lot....sometimes he will go back to sleep when we get home and sometimes he won't and will be grouchy all day until I send him to bed early. I was wondering if anyone had any alternative napping spots for older kids who still nap? Is there such thing as a quiet area we could chill in while he naps a bit? Or if he falls asleep on the bus is it an option to just ride it around awhile to let him snooze? I really don't know what I'm doing and am just trying to get a feel for things. Does anyone have any advice? Or is this something I'll just have to figure out when the time comes? Thanks!

MK- go to the Hall of Presidents. It's longish so he could power nap.

Epcot- Ellen's Energy Adventure no joke first time visiting this park and we were hot and frankly in danger of an adult meltdown so we chose it because it was indoors, 45 minutes later everyone was bored but it was a nice cool relaxing trip.

Also the Circle of Life movie in The Land. Not overly long but cool and dark and quiet.

Other than that my suggestion would be the monorail. They don't make you get off. Get on one of them and just ride around in circles.

 

[bookgirl]

I probably can keep him up and take a nap in our room, which is what I'd originally planned on...just trying to think of an alternative if that can't happen. I just know if he skips a nap we are going to be done for the day at 5:00.

I was not planning on using a stroller. He has been done with those for years. Do people really do that for kids that old? I had no idea. I can't imagine pushing him in one all day, much less him agreeing to that haha.

He might not need one for the local mall, but Disney is crazy big and people who track their walking (including me) log anywhere from 6-12 miles per day.

 

[ZenDaisy]

I would totally break the day in two and nap midday back at the resort. Heck, a little quiet rest time for adults sounds heavenly too! I'd do it just after lunch - maybe between 2-4. Bus crowds are low then and you'll get back to the parks right in time for the shorter lines. Also... When do you guys usually get up? Are you going to be doing rope drops? How does waking time compare to his regular schedule?

 

[Tiffylv]

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[bookgirl]

I can't imagine him agreeing to anything that's "for babies". If he needs one I assume there's some available for rental? I never would have thought about that one lol

Yes Disney has rentals and they do not look like a traditional stroller.

 

[ZenDaisy]

Yeah that's definitely my first plan as long as it works out. Rope drop won't be any trouble.....during the week I get up at 4:30. If he doesn't get up with me I wake him up at around 5. During the weekends he wakes up anywhere between like 6 and 7:30...sometimes as late as 8. I wake up whenever he gets me up saying that he's hungry lol

My two early birds are up at around 5 am year-round. I don't think they've ever in their lives slept later than 6 voluntarily.

EXCEPT.... at Disney.

When we lived in FL and took frequent, short trips, this wasn't the case, of course. We'd have plenty of time for a QS breakfast, a walk around the resort, etc. and then a leisurely journey to the park and still make it way in time for rope drop. Then we moved out of the area, and took a much longer trip - I think like 9 days? On one of the last days, I had scheduled in a character breakfast at, I think 8:45. I figured we'd have plenty of time to make it... Lo and behold, the kids were still snoring away at 8 AM. They had been having so much fun and walking around so much in the past week that they just slept in. This NEVER happens at home, no matter how much exercise they get, swim lessons, parks, later bedtimes... but the World just really tired them out. So, I let them sleep, and lost our breakfast deposit... but it was worth it, because they needed the rest.

Point is, even early birds might need some schedule relaxation towards the end of your trip, especially if it's a longer one.

 

[Tiffylv]

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[MSSANDRA]

Addressing the strollers: Most do not need them at 7, just like most kids do not need naps at 7 but some do and that is just fine!!! My boys both refused them long before 7 but we were willing to rent the park ones if needed. We rented one night on the trip DS turned 5 as he had been sick the day before and we thought he might need it and he REFUSED to get in it. The park ones are hard and I think the single would be too small for a typical size 7 year old to sleep in, but if he is a kid that would sleep anywhere, and its a day you really don't want to return to the resort, then getting a double is an option for the afternoon for a nap or a rest. If he is a lower endurance kid and you think a stroller might make the whole trip better, there are places off site you can rent larger strollers that fit bigger kids and are comfortable and he might nap in that.

 

[Tiffylv]

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