Anybody with experience reurning to WDW resort for nap?

[pperfectmom]

Has anyone used the WDW busses for returning to their resort for an afternoon nap? Are the busses usually crowded at that time? How long does it take? We aren't really sure where we will be staying yet. Depending on what we get back on taxes it could be anything. I'm hoping for a miracle to get the Poly where we could use the monorail, but to be more realistic our other possibilities are CBR and ASMo. The way our finances are now, we will most likely be at ASMo. We will probably drive to MGM, EC and AK and will take the bus to MK only unless the busses just prove to be super convenient. We don't even know if we will take a stroller every day or not. The kids will be 2 and 4 at the time. I do know that we will most definately return to the room every day for a break. Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

 

[stacy6552]

Its been a few years since we left to nap, but we've never had trouble traveling midday. In fact you might drive to a park, and use the busses mid day so you dont loose your parking space.

 

[hannahsmomma]

Have stayed at POR, AKL and BC with napping children. Have always used the buses to return for naps. Love the buses! With our dd who was 4 we rented a stroller everyday for her. Then last year when dd was 6 and ds was 1 we took our maclaren for ds and rented for dd. You have to have a stroller everyday! That is my suggestion and use the buses they are wonderful.

 

[o2bacelt]

We've been twice and have gone back for a nap every trip. Just let your kids know that you're going to be heading back to the room for a rest and that you'll be back to the parks later. We did take later naps one day since AK closes so early.

We always drive just in case we have thermo-nuclear meltdown toddler so we can make a quick escape without damaging the hearing of the unsuspecting public. But our DD (2 1/2) doesn't usually complain. It takes a little work sometimes to get her down since she's so overstimulated but she's usually good for the nap.

Oops, I forgot, we bring our own stroller, the only day we don't use ours is if we leave in the late afternoon early evening and we'll just rent at whatever parks we're in that day. We check our stroller with our bags at the TSA counter at the resort.

 

[monorailsilver]

I have always gone back to the room for a nap.

But mostly I stay at the Poly.

So I have used buses, boat & monorail to get back home.

The last 2 times have been with kids (mine) & there was no problem taking the bus back from AK at around noon.

 

[KristiA]

The buses have been great for us! We went with mother and father in law and they would take 2 yo at the time back to nap and we would follow awhile later with older kids after we were done at whatever park we were at. We would get back to hotel and relax and swim and eat dinner. Then, we would hop back on the bus and go back to park. This always worked well for us.

 

[SerinaEmily]

how long were you out of the park for? I'm trying to fit everything we want to do and I think a nap midday is BEST for us but I just don't think its realistic to take 4-5 hours including travel time out of the park and still try to fit everything in in 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours at night plus sit down meals. Those that went back for a nap what times were you gone from and did you still feel you accomplished what you needed to everyday?

 

[LaraK]

We leave the park at about noon and return about 4:30. That gives us time to go back, grab a quick meal, maybe one lap around the pool and nap time. We didn't use the buses, we rented a car.

 

[shannon1219]

We always use the busses to go back to our rsort for naptime and they are never very crowded during that time. We usually leave the parks around 1:00 and then return around 4:30. That still gives us plenty of time to do everything that we want to do at the parks.

 

[amylevan]

how long were you out of the park for? I'm trying to fit everything we want to do and I think a nap midday is BEST for us but I just don't think its realistic to take 4-5 hours including travel time out of the park and still try to fit everything in in 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours at night plus sit down meals. Those that went back for a nap what times were you gone from and did you still feel you accomplished what you needed to everyday?

You also have to remember that the busiest part of the day in the parks is the early afternoon - making it the best time to head out and relax somewhere else. If you get there at opening, you can get A LOT done before the lines start getting too long, and then come back later to see night time entertainment, etc.

We typically get to the parks at rope drop, leave the parks around 1:30 or so, (taking the buses) nap or swim and shower, and leave for the parks around 4:30 or so.

You will not get to do everything. But if you were there for a week straight without ever leaving the parks, you STILL wouldn't see everything. Pick out what you really want to do and be happy if you get more than that done.

 

[beckecl1]

We always go back to our resort via bus at midday. If not for a nap at least for a swim. Just make sure you arrive at the Park of the day at opening. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy yourself before taking a break. I agree with the other posters who said to bring your own stroller.

 

[crisi]

We didn't have luck with naps when our kid were little - we stayed at the WL. They'd fall asleep on the way (boat from MK - maybe 10 minute ride, bus from anywhere else) and once they woke up to get back to the room they wouldn't fall asleep again - the ten minutes had been plenty of nap. So we let sleeping kids lie and just rode buses or boats or the train around the MK rather than returning for a nap.

 

[meandtheguys2]

We didn't have luck with naps when our kid were little - we stayed at the WL. They'd fall asleep on the way (boat from MK - maybe 10 minute ride, bus from anywhere else) and once they woke up to get back to the room they wouldn't fall asleep again - the ten minutes had been plenty of nap. So we let sleeping kids lie and just rode buses or boats or the train around the MK rather than returning for a nap.

We would do anything to keep my son awake on the drive/ride back!

One happy memory is of being on the Fort Wilderness bus, and the people around seeing that David was about to fall asleep, and we were trying to keep him awake...they all started singing "Wheels on the Bus!" He laughed all the way "home!"

 

[pha1226]

We typically get to the parks at rope drop, leave the parks around 1:30 or so, (taking the buses) nap or swim and shower, and leave for the parks around 4:30 or so.

Ditto! My kids never napped during the down time but they loved having some swim time. It was nice to relax and have a drink by the pool. Typically when we were leaving the parks, they were getting crazy-crowded so we didn't mind getting out for a bit.

 

[katefromny]

Our kids also never napped during the downtime , but most of the time we were at the parks at opening and left by noon or 12:30, to return around 430 or 5 for dinner/fireworks/parades. We stayed at the VWL.

It was by far the most memorable part of our trip, and the kids loved the swimming time, plus I got alot of reading and relaxing in. The afternoon was great for recharging our batteries and gave us energy for the evenings! I highly recommend the break. Reconcile yourself to the fact that there is just no way to ever see everything and the most unforgettable moments are generally unplanned and unexpected!

 

[720L]

how long were you out of the park for? I'm trying to fit everything we want to do and I think a nap midday is BEST for us but I just don't think its realistic to take 4-5 hours including travel time out of the park and still try to fit everything in in 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours at night plus sit down meals. Those that went back for a nap what times were you gone from and did you still feel you accomplished what you needed to everyday?

How about not doing a sit down meal every day? That saves lots of time. We do what most everyone else does, leave the parks around 1:00 and come back around 4/4:30. If you get to the parks at opening you should have plenty of time to get things done. The midday breaks make for a much more pleasant night with young kids-even if they don't nap.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We always do the afternoon break (ASMo and CBR both) and have never had a problem. We usually had the busses to ourselves, or else only a few other people.