Bedtimes for toddler at Disney

[chipper10]

If your toddler is in bed around 7pm most nights, how did he/she do staying up later at Disney World? Was your toddler able to go later? Or did he/she just fall asleep in the stroller?

We plan on going back to the hotel every afternoon to take a nap, then heading back to the parks around 4pm.

 

[beckmrk04]

If I were you, I'd just leave the toddler at home and take my SIL instead.

 

[chipper10]

If I were you, I'd just leave the toddler at home and take my SIL instead.

I would be able to see alot more!

 

[DesigningMouse]

When we were there in December our youngest was 20 months old. We didn't go back to the room for naps. She'd sometimes doze off in the stroller for a few minutes but not for long. She stuck in there w/the rest of us and wouldn't fall asleep until we were on the monorail heading for the resort or back in the room.

 

[laughinplace199]

I think a lot depends on the child and their personality. On our first family WDW trip, our DD was 3 and DS was 1. We kept them on their regular schedule with naps and bedtimes, with the exception of 1 late night (MNSSHP). We were afraid that they would be miserable and have constant meltdowns from being overtired if we strayed too much from their routine. That worked fine for us at the time.

However, now DD is 9, DS is 7, and we also have another DS who is 1. He is a very easy-going little guy and can sleep anywhere. Since the older kids can handle longer days now, the little guys gets dragged along too. If we're going to be in a park at night, I bring PJ's and change him at the baby care center. He'll fall asleep in the stroller and everyone's happy.

So, it really depends on what your little one can handle. I'm sorry I probably wasn't much help, but have fun!!!!!!

 

[jcc0621]

We took DS for his first trip when he was 11 months old (August 2004) and have been back every year since. He never takes a full nap but would doze in the stroller. He would fall asleep on the bus on the way backt to the resort or in the car on the way home.

One thing we found helpful is to bring his pajamas to the park with us and take him to the baby center(s). We would wipe him down and change him into his pull-up and his PJ's before we hit the bus or monorail to go back. This way when he went to sleep on the bus and we got back to the resort We would put him in the stroller, go to our room and put him in bed without ever having to wake him up. It worked great!

As someone else said all kids are different so just read the signs. If your child is acting cranky, etc a rest back at the resort is a good thing

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Depends on the kid...and you. Some parents are really strict about bedtime/naps. We were never those parents so DD was raised to "go with the flow" She stays up in the parks several nights during the trip. However, we ALWAYS come back to the room to nap. If you plan to go back to the parks by 4pm, plan to leave the parks no later than noon. Dont' forget, transportation could take an hour easily (waiting for bus and riding bus). So if you leave at noon, get to the hotel by 1pm, spend a little while settling them down, nap from 2-3, get up, ready, and back to the bus, you'll maybe be LEAVING by 4pm. We learned this lesson the hard way. We were always rushing to dinner every night because by the time we got back to the hotel, got DD down for a nap, took the nap, and got everyone ready for dinner, we always JUST had enough time to get to our ADRs. This year we scheduled dinners for later in the evening so that we wouldn't have to rush as much.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Just got back last week with 2 little ones, 3 and a half for our older son, 14 months for the little guy (about to turn 15 months next week!). They normally go to bed between 7 and 8 each night at home.

DS3 never naps at home but he did at Disney. We got to the parks before rope drop, left by 2PM each day, and a couple of days he fell asleep in the double stroller toward the end of the day at the park (some time after lunch he would fall asleep). He normally is not in a stroller either, but we knew we would need it at WDW.

DS1 sleeps anywhere and did so at Disney too.

We were in a room in the 50s section at the Pop Century and had a great view of Epcot's fireworks each night at 9PM. DS3 watched every night, and then went right to bed, had no problem getting up early in the morning! We woke him up around 6AM the earliest, 6:30 the latest.

So he did adjust. He was so enthralled at Disney that he did fine! Both kids behaved very well in restaurants, at the parks, at the hotel. My kids are normally very well-behaved, and we do take them to restaurants once a week, to other people's houses all the time, and many other places. So I knew going in that they would be okay at Disney, but still had my worries. You know your own kids best, so always do what is best for them and you will have a great time!

BTW, I would never go to Disney without my kids! Just my own feelings, not judging what anyone else does. But I don't think I could ever go there without them! Not until they are grown and out of the house!

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

We have not kept our kids out past their bedtime while at WDW...our kids are usually in bed by 8pm, and we make it a point to be back in the hotel by then...and try and stick to their bedtime routine as much as possible. Our kids don't do very well sleeping in the stroller, and that would mean two cranky toddlers while we are out and about, so we rather just head back to the hotel. I think if you kid has no problem sleeping in the stroller, it should be OK to stay out.

By the way, I take it that you have a Chipper Jones fan? We are huge Atlanta Braves fan.

 

[chipper10]

By the way, I take it that you have a Chipper Jones fan? We are huge Atlanta Braves fan.

Yes, I am. Most people here in Illinois don't get the Chipper reference. It's part of my email too, so its funny when I call disney & the CM actually knows where it came from.

 

[barnaby1]

Like most other people have said it depends very much on the child. We have been with our dd at 8, 17 and 22 months. Next trip in 4 weeks when she will be 2.5
The first time we stuck to bed time. She wouldn't have coped with a later bedtime. The last 2 trips have been different and we have pushed bedtime a bit but adjusted it with a sleep in or a late afternoon sleep. We sometimes go back to the hotel for a sleep (at least every couple of days) other than that she would nap in the stroller. Any signs of tiredness and we made sure she got that hotel sleep.
It will interesting for us this trip as she still has a day time nap at home (about 60-90 minutes) but can go the occasional day without one. She also has not slept in her stroller since that last trip. Not sure if she still will.
Go with the flow when there and just see what happens. There is no right or wrong as long as they are happy and coping with the schedule.

 

[jenseib]

We are alot different than the norm. My DD is a late nighter from day 1. I have tried putting her to bed early and so far it has NEVER worked. She is up to 11:30 each night at home. I hate it, but I can't get her to switch. She also sleeps in till anywhere from 9-11:30 AM. So we did late night stuff, but couldn't head out to the parks any earlier than 11 most days. And we still were waking her up alot of the time. (she is 3 BTW) So we go and spend the rest of the day, or as much time needed at our destination. We don;t do naps, as it takes her awhile to calm down and then she naps for 3-4 hours when she fianlly goes down. Now that would be most of the day spent in the room with a sleeping child. She doesn't nap daily at home anymore though. Just when she has a rough night or gets up early.
Now in theory she should've done well as she is used to the hours, but ech trip we have gone , by day 4 she has thrown up. I think it is overstimulation, and still some lack of sleep. But I know she has had a problem with overstimulation since she was small too. So not sure when we are goin back, but I either need to change my game plan, or wait till she is outgrown this.

 

[brymolmom]

My kids are 4.5 and 6 now and we are pretty strict with bedtimes, not because we're mean - but that's what the kids are used to so everyone stays happier and better rested. Even now in the summer, some kids are out playing at 9:30, etc. - our kids have been in bed for an hour by then.

Anyway - at WDW, we stick PRETTY close to schedule, but not entirely. We usually schedule at least 2 or so 'late nights' (which for us is GETTING home and in bed by 9:30 or so - MAYBE 10:00 when we do the outdoor movie at Fort Wilderness). Unfortunately, my kids will still wake up on schedule between 6:30 and 7:00am - so that next day might be quite grumpy for the lot of us.

One thing I wanted to comment on - if you decide to try to stay 'on schedule' most days - you MIGHT want to consider skipping the back-to-the-resort thing and maybe the baby will sleep for awhile in the stroller. We've tried the back to the parks at 4:00 thing - but often by the time we're done with naps, snacks, getting ready, etc - usually we're not leaving the resort to go back until about 4:00 - 5:00 and getting in the gate by about 5:30 and 6:00 (don't forget the bus or car ride, plus getting back thru security, plus going thru the gates, etc.) - then, it often isn't worth it since we'll eat dinner and then it will be about time to head back to the room. We've had more luck 'pushing the limits' of staying there as long as possible, then just head back to the room and crash - get dinner from the food court and let the kids just eat in the room - or they will fall asleep on the way back to the room for awhile and we'll do a little swimming with dinner and before bed. ANyway, just want to warn you that sometimes the time gets away from you and if you all will be happier in bed about on time - don't always plan on making it back for a nap.

 

[Vility]

I was kinda wondering the same thing.
My daughter is a slave to schedule.
I am afaid we won't be able to stay out late because she needs to sleep.
I hope a year of maturing helps.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

On vacation all bets are off and we just go with the flow. If they are happy we stay up late. Cranky- we go to bed.