Everyone in one room

[kkc1021]

Hi!

I'll be traveling to Disney next November with my Mom and son (who will be 2). Can anyone offer tips and suggestions for handling early bedtimes and naps for small children when you were all in one room?

Thanks!
Kristen

 

[disneyatl]

Trust me.....all of you will probably want to nap in the afternoon so that won't be a problem. I remember the first time we went and my DD was a few months from being 3. We all napped. In the evening she was so tired that she would end up falling asleep before we tried to put her to bed.

 

[winniedapooh]

I agree with previous poster. My kids are usually so tired that they will go to the pool with us for a while and then fall asleep for an hour or so.....even the 14 yo! Pixie dust to you and enjoy.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We went in Aug with 2 DDs (4 and 22 months at the time of the trip). We had no problems during nap or at night. Once the little one fell asleep, she was OUT, so we normally would just have the TV on low, and it wouldn't bother her. Older DD would fall asleep watching TV, and DH and I wouldn't be far behind. I really like to read, so I bought a booklight before we left home, and it worked like a charm.

I wouldn't worry too much. You will be just as tired as your little one. Naps and early bedtimes won't be too much of an issue!

 

[motaei]

I agree with the previous posters. When we did DL when the kids were little, we were ready for bed when they were! We may have woken a little earlier, but that gave us a chance to shower & dress before we got the kids ready.

One of us would often take the extra time to run down & get the free continental breakfast, then bring it back to the room to save time (non-Disney hotel).

 

[crisi]

Lucky you - ours were wound up.

Just in case yours are more like ours....

We didn't try to nap in the room...at some point they would fall asleep exhausted and we'd let them stay where they were - stroller, bus, boat....whereever. Taking them to the room put them to sleep on the transportation - and ten minutes was too little nap to get them refreshed, but too much nap to get them to sleep again.

We'd lie down with our kids at bedtime, turn out the lights and let them go to sleep. Sometimes took half an hour. Once they were asleep, you can creep out of bed and try sitting on your balcony (if you have one) with a book or use a booklight in the room. We'd also swap trips to the hot tub at this time, I'd lie with the kids in the room and hubby would tub - then when he got back the kids were asleep and I'd go tub. Usually, once our kids fall asleep, they are difficult to wake, so we could talk quietly or read with a booklight. More often, I'd get back from the hot tub to find my husband reading or playing computer games on his laptop, I'd get into jammies and fall asleep.

 

[kkc1021]

Thanks for all your comments so far. We've been to Disney many times, but this will be the first with my own child. I know that I am absolutely exhausted at the end of each day, so I'm hoping that my son will be too.

On our last few trips to visit family we've shared a room with my son. He has a very difficult time falling asleep if we are in the room, and he often wakes up very early and is thrilled that he can see us and get our attention. On these trips we've been able to stay in another part of the house until he's asleep. I'm just a bit concerned that there won't be any place to escape on this trip.

I'm hoping that this will get a little easier as he gets a little older!

Kristen

 

[motaei]

kkc1021 - by next November, he may have a very different sleeping pattern, but if not, you can always get some pillows & play cards in the bathroom until he falls asleep.

 

[EthansMom]

On our recent trip, my 2 year-old son didn't nap at all well. He would fall asleep on the monorail and then wake up on the bus and then refuse to nap once we were back at our room. I finally got the idea of just staying on the monorail and riding it around and around while he slept -- this worked great, I recommend taking a magazine if you think you'll do this.

Also, if your little guy doesn't sleep well in the same room, consider getting a Kids Suite at Holiday Inn Family Suites -- a little more expensive but you get two attached rooms, one for adults and one for kids. I haven't stayed there myself, but they get rave reviews here and I'll be using them on the next trip.

Best of Luck!

EthansMom