Do your kids really nap on vacation?

[ecross23]

We are taking our 2 1/2 and 5 1/2 year old boys to Disney for the first time in March. I plan to come back to the hotel each afternoon for naps but my husband doesn't think our boys will sleep. Do your kids nap well on vacation? The 2 1/2 year old needs an hour and a half nap a day. The five year old could go with out but with being up later than our usual 8pm bed time I think he will need them too. Just curious if anyone has any luck with naps. If not at the hotel I'm hoping they will maybe take a short nap in the double stroller I rented.

Thanks

Eva

 

[Brer Shay]

Mine don't nap on a regular basis, but did almost every day at Disney (age 4&6). With the high level of energy, and our go-go-go style, they were tuckered out. We'd nap for 60-90 minutes between 3 and 5 pm almost every day. If you're going when it's warm, that will likely wear them out also. They fought the idea, but I would say that we had to lay down still in our beds in the dark room for 15 minutes with no talking, toys or wiggling. The 15 minutes didn't start until they were still and quiet. Heck, most days I slept too. Worked well for us since we generally hit rope drop, then did evenings until around 10 pm.

 

[perpetualplanner]

When it was just my oldest he'd easily nap in the stroller - more easily than in a bed actually so we didn't head back to the resort. When DS#2 came along we'd head back. He's very curious (even at age 9 now) and won't settle down until everything is calm then he's out like a light.

Even if they don't actually fall asleep the down time does wonders for everyone - even DH. I think it might be hard for a 5 y.o. to nap in a stroller but my DS's have always been on the taller side.

Whatever you decide Good Luck and have a great trip!

 

[tam626]

My ds was 3 & we went back for naps & he did sleep. This year he will be 4 so we may let him crash in the stroller.

 

[ScrapperBelle]

My DS never napped, but he always did on our Disney trips. My 2 stepchildren were not nappers either. We would return to the room, I would make them all take a shower and lay down. In just a few minutes, they would all be out! They usually only slept for about 20-30 minutes, but occasionally (usually somewhere in the middle of our trips), they may sleep for an hour or two one day.

 

[MNFootballMommy]

Yep--my kiddo naps at WDW. Both times we've been there, she would fall asleep in the stroller. She is not a 'napper' by nature, but WDW just tuckers her out!

We tried going back to the room once on our first trip--she fell asleep on the way there and then was wide awake by the time we got back to the room (this was from Epcot to the Contemporary) Not worth it (for us).

 

[deedeetoo]

We also did the nap in the stroller when my kids were young. If we went back to the hotel they just wanted to go swimming. We tried it a few times and just gave up.

Instead we would find a bench in a shady place, sit down and let them sleep. DH and I would take turns going off - doing a ride, going shopping, etc while the kids napped.

 

[verlee]

Both boys napped at wdw. ds6 never naps at home.

We went to the room every day. If we left the parks too late ds3 would fall asleep in the stroller or on the bus. Then naps were short (30 min. tops). But if we were back in the room they both slept for at least 1.5 hrs. (shhhh, but I napped too )

 

[surfer_ed]

My kids (DS2 and DS2) don't nap, we try but it is usually more trouble than it is worth. DS is OK but DD doesn't want to and wants to swim if we go back to the hotel and ends up getting frustrated.

 

[disneybridetobe]

DD will *not* nap if there's something doing on. I think she thinks she's missing out on something. I was the same way. LOL, if she's really tired, she'll pass out on the floor/bed, or in the stroller if we're out. She's an odd duck.

We tried the "go back to the room for a nap" trick, and the only ones that ended up napping were DH and/or I! (MIL was w/ us)

Again, my kid's a little different.

 

[hannah_03]

My kids sleep on the plane ride there and back and that's it LOL!

 

[msce2]

DD was 3 when my parents took her. Sent lots of pics (can't seem to find any now) of her sleeping in the stroller. DD is 5 now and can definitely make it thru the day without a nap, but I'm not sure how DS (2) will be. We're going to see if he will nap in the stroller on the first day, and we'll adjust from there. Luckily lots of volunteers to take him back to the room to nap. I would just take each day and see how they do, if they seem sleepy head back to the room. If not stay and have fun. Maybe you'll get lucky and the little one will sleep in the stroller.

 

[msreneau]

My kids are 12, 10 and 7 and yes they napped everyday for at least 2-3 hours!!!

Edited to add: However, I made them get up at 6 everyday to leave for the parks by 7. We'd do the parks from 7 til 12:30 ish. Take a swim/break until about 5 and go back to the parks until 10ish. so they needed the naps after all the walking we did. This year the parks dont open until 9, so they will get to sleep in a bit. During the school week, they are used to getting up at 530.

 

[RMulieri]

My 4 yr old doesn't nap anymore.But while at Disney we still left the parks and went back to the resort for downtime.Even hanging by the pool was very relaxing and recharging for her.

 

[MichelleVW]

My girls are teenagers and they always take a nap at Disney!! 2 summers ago on our June trip, everyone napped on our MK day break. That included two mom's two teens and one 8 year old.

 

[Mom2JoeyandBen]

Both of my boys nap at DW. THey need it if they are going to make it back to the park at night. I bargain with my oldest that if he takes a nap then he will get to stay up later and ride more rides at night.

 

[Elmo888]

Yes! When DDs were 6 and 2, we went back to the resort for the 2 yo to nap. Well, the 6 yo napped every time, too (as did DH!).

On our second trip, DDs were 7 and 3, and we went for the nap some days and just had early evenings on the other days. And on the days that we went for the nap, everybody napped.

 

[djm99]

Honestly, in 2007 my niece and DD slept ONE afternoon. I made them rest on the other days (they were 6 & 7 then). Regardless if that was just laying around pool OR just laying in the bed quiet. IMO, this helped with the meltdowns that are bound to happen during summer heat. I know they helped me.

 

[JKSWonder]

In the stroller, yes, in the room, no. I tried very hard to get DS (2) to take a nap in the room last October so that he would be good to go to the MNSSHP last year. Although, he agreed to lay down, he never went to sleep. He was able to do the party for about an hour or so, then he konked out in the stroller. Luckily, he wasn't cranky at all.

He is almost three now and is starting to give up naps. He only takes one now when he is truly exhausted.

 

[tzolkin]

We ALL took a nap at Disney!
Honestly that was the best part of the trip. It was so relaxing and we got so much sleep.

I was actually worried about sharing a room with 3 little kids and getting them to nap and what would we do at night if DH & I weren't tired yet, but it wound up working out well.

Only our youngest would normally ever take a nap (he was turning 2 at the time). Our girls were 9 and 4 (and never napped even as infants). Every afternoon, we came back to the room, pulled the curtains tight, shut off the lights, and everyone got into bed and was quiet. Usually within 10 minutes the kids were asleep. We were all tired and it was so comfortable to get out of the heat, snuggle up, and sleep for a few hours. (We usually slept from about 1:30-4:30!) Only once in 9 days my oldest and I did not fall asleep (so we snuck out for a walk and mickey ice cream bars).