Everyone Says to Take an Afternoon Break....

[Buttrcp16]

but I want to hear from people who didn't do this. Did your kids nap in the stroller and do okay through the evening hours?

Here's the situation: We can only afford one day at the parks, and we are going to the Magic Kingdom. Because we are only doing one day, I can't stand the thought of leaving for 3-4 hours in the afternoon. I feel like it's wasting so much of the day. Our kids will be 4.5 and almost 2 when we go in September. We are staying offsite, so to leave after lunch and go back to the resort, it's probably an hour or more round trip. Not to mention, when my kids are tired they conk out in the car and if woken up to be taken to their room, they typically won't go back to sleep. SO with that being said, my preliminary plan is to hopefully get them to sleep in their double stroller while we ride around the monorail. Do you think this is a doable plan? They could snag about a 1.5 hour nap, DH and I can relax, and it avoids the hassle of driving in and out of the park.

I would love to hear from BTDT parents who didn't take the afternoon break at their resort, whether it was a success or failure, and any additional tips.

Thank you!!!

 

[ktlm]

We took the afternoon break ONCE when DD was 2 on the first day of her first trip after the boards convinced me we should. It was a total disaster- dragged a kicking screaming kid out of MK who was angry and would not nap at the resort for hours. That was 6 years ago, and we go at least once a year and have NEVER taken an afternoon break since that first day. DD was always fine napping in her stroller in the afternoon or whenever she got tired. We usually stay in the parks from open to close. We didn't even have to look for quiet places. We would just walk around and she would conk out. Mostly she was up until park closing in the evening, but if she got in her stroller and conked out in the evening, DH and I would just keep going. When she was asleep, we would take turns doing the rides she did not want to do (or wasn't tall enough to do) if the lines weren't horrible. If you only have one day, I would just stick it out in the park and hopefully the stroller naps will work.

 

[Funfire240]

We took breaks last year but that was because of choice to swim. The previous trips we never took breaks. If they were tired, they could crash in the strollers and we would just relax or DH and I would take turns doing something with the other child.

 

[Buttrcp16]

I would LOVE it if they fall asleep in the middle of everything! My parents are coming with us so they could walk around with them while DH and I go on Space! (We weren't counting on being able to ride it since the kids can't). I'm almost wondering if sleeping at the park wouldn't be easier than on the monorail - I think they tend to do better with noise than quiet. We also plan to do RD until close. Again, since we only have one day, we want to try and experience as much as we can, knowing that we will have to take things at a slower pace for the kids.

 

[Nennie]

Napping in the stroller works great! It's also a great time to get a bite to eat, if you go to a place where you can bring the stroller into the restaurant.

I've found the boats (from Epcot to HS, or even just across the world showcase) make the kids pass right out!

Actually, one of our traditions, is to take the boat from Epcot to the Boardwalk. The kids fall asleep by the time we get to the boardwalk, and we have lunch at Big River while they sleep. Then after lunch we walk to HS, and they are usually just waking up when we get to HS!

 

[RyMacJ]

When we went last year, one of my girls was about 3 weeks out from her 4th bday and the other had just turned 5. We didn't take afternoon breaks. We arrived at park at opening, ate CS for lunch (so no long lunch breaks) had TS dinner around 6:30, then usually left the park around 8. Both girls did fine.

My youngest did take a nap on our water park day, but a day at the water park is more exhausting than the other parks I think! We'd gone back to the resort to change for dinner at the Beach Club and she passed out for about an hour.

Do what works for your family. I think you have a good plan. I wouldn't want to leave the parks if I only got one day, either. And riding around on the monorail or having a sit down lunch (the Plaza is good at the MK and is not too expensive--you and your DH may even be able to share a sandwich, they're pretty big) will be relaxing and a good opportunity for the kids to refresh and refuel.

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[MommyBryn]

We've done both. Our little ones end up napping in the stroller regardless (when we do go back, it's not necessarily for naps). But if I was going to be there for only one day, I'd absolutely skip the break!

 

[Rose23]

I've seen many a family with small children in strollers take an afternoon break over near the rose garden and in the covered shaded area in the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant. I've seen families whip out sandwiches, snacks, drink boxes, etc.; eat their lunch and the children take naps and are refreshed. Good break for the grown ups too. The area is very quiet after the lunch time hour and peaceful. An occasional bird may try to invade your snacks but it's a peaceful and shaded area for children to take naps and there's a breeze from the water.

Another quiet area is around the rear of the Christmas store and Liberty Square Market...oh and Tinker Bell's Magical Nook area in Adventureland.

 

[kathie859]

but I want to hear from people who didn't do this. Did your kids nap in the stroller and do okay through the evening hours?

Here's the situation: We can only afford one day at the parks, and we are going to the Magic Kingdom. Because we are only doing one day, I can't stand the thought of leaving for 3-4 hours in the afternoon. I feel like it's wasting so much of the day. Our kids will be 4.5 and almost 2 when we go in September. We are staying offsite, so to leave after lunch and go back to the resort, it's probably an hour or more round trip. Not to mention, when my kids are tired they conk out in the car and if woken up to be taken to their room, they typically won't go back to sleep. SO with that being said, my preliminary plan is to hopefully get them to sleep in their double stroller while we ride around the monorail. Do you think this is a doable plan? They could snag about a 1.5 hour nap, DH and I can relax, and it avoids the hassle of driving in and out of the park.

I would love to hear from BTDT parents who didn't take the afternoon break at their resort, whether it was a success or failure, and any additional tips.

Thank you!!!

I'm a Grandma who's been with her grandchildren 3 times and my own children when they were younger a few times and in a stroller. We NEVER left the parks mid-afternoon and the kids would nap as necessary in the stroller. It's amazing what most kids can sleep thru. Given you're staying offsite, I think you're thinking correctly that you'd burn a bunch of time coming and going. I wouldn't do it. I'd just take steps to make the stroller as comfy as possible, remember to keep the kids hydrated and cool.

Happy planning!

 

[worm761]

Honestly I think that napping in the monorail is just a bad idea. There is starting and stopping and the announcements are rather loud. It would scare/snap a little out out of sleeping.

My suggestion is to ride the bigger rides while the kids nap. There are shops around for the parent or grandparent mosey through while you are riding. This is what we did when DD was younger and it worked great. I will say that we did not stay for fireworks at all. We won't now that she is 4 either but that is because she doesn't like loud noises. So we are usually heading out of the park around 8 or so.

 

[amandaleigh2]

We went in 2011 with my then 20 month old. We never went back to the room for naps and I think he only took a nap one day in the afternoon in the stroller. He did fall asleep each night before we made it back to the room, but was never crabby. I think there was just too much going on for him to notice how tired he was! Oh, and we were at the parks by 9 each morning and didn't leave until close (Meaning some nights we didn't get back to the room until midnight).

We are going back in October with a now 5 year old and a 15 month old. We don't plan on going back to the room for naps. Hopefully he will be as cooperative as his brother was!

 

[teambeaman]

We've been taking DS3 since he was 18 months and the times we did go back to the resort for a nap, he wouldn't go to sleep. Now we just do our thing until he falls asleep in the stroller, then we taken that opportunity to do some shopping, have a snack, and relax. Sometimes we'll do a rider swap at that time too.

 

[JaimeK]

For one day I wouldn't plan a break. Go go go til you drop! Afternoon breaks can be nice if you're staying for a week and don't want to burn everybody out. For one day do as much as you can and then recover the day after

If they fall asleep in the stroller I'd just find a shady spot and relax for a bit. I don't think I'd bother riding the monorail.

 

[Dragonfly_34]

I've done it both ways. On DS17's first visit, he was 5 years old and could only last 1/2 day in the parks. We'd go back to the room (onsite) and let him nap, then spend the rest of the day in the pool. He wasn't much of a ride fan and preferred being in the water anyway so it worked out great.

When we took DS5 on his first trip, he was 2 1/2 and I was 6 months pregnant with twins. We went back to the room (onsite) one or twice but that was for my benefit because I was worn out. The other days he slept in the stroller with no issues - we went in July (never again!) and had a clip-on fan which helped keep him cool. We found a bench or somewhere in the shade and I would rest while he slept.

We are headed back in October with a 5 year old and 2 year old twins. DS5 doesn't nap any more but I'm hoping the twins will sleep in the stroller on the days we will be at the park all day.

 

[Disney4Shaw]

My son usually won't sleep when we try going back to the room for an afternoon nap. It seems like overall he has done better napping in the stroller, but he does get wired and hyper if he doesn't get some type of "down time".

 

[lcj19]

When we took our DD to DLP she just slept in the stroller for about 45 mins to an hour and woke up ready to go. We would walk around the gift shops, grab a snack, if it was early enough in the nap (less chance of her waking when we picked her up) we would hop on the riverboat or train.
You know your kids best and what they can handle. Some kids need a bed and quite, others can be laughing one moment and pass out mid laugh

 

[epsmith921]

We have done both. We got our daughter at 2.5 to take a nice nap our first day. Second day, she fell asleep on the monorail, and then she screamed through Epcot. If we had stayed on the monorail I bet she would have slept. After that we did better getting her in some AC out of the heat. We didn't try to force the nap and just let her fall asleep when she would.

I agree with others that you're on the right track. If you're desperate for some quiet and a break, I would hop in the monorail and check out some of the resorts on the loop. But there are lots of shady spots in MK. I think your plan will be fine and I wouldn't try to leave for breaks either in your situation.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!!

 

[Buttrcp16]

Whew, okay I am feeling much better about the stroller nap idea! I have read about taking afternoon resort breaks so often, I felt like I was making a huge mistake by not planning on one. We will probably stroll around the park around naptime and see if they nod off without any problems. It's been a LONG time since either one of them has napped in a stroller, but we are going to experiment this summer with day outings. I am already planning on stroller fans, cooling towels, etc. As a last resort I guess we could put them in the car and drive around, though I really dislike that idea because it's no fun for us. I'd rather be enjoying the MK!

 

[Crl1817]

With just one day, I would not take a break either. I wouldn't even worry about naps. I'd just be there at rope drop and keep going. If they fall asleep great, if not, early bed that night. If your youngest is much more likely to fall asleep, I do wonder of two single strollers might be a good idea? So the oldest doesn't keep the youngest awake and so you can split up if one kid does fall asleep?


I would not count on being able to stay until the park closes though. I think through dinner might be everyone's limit. Disney world is awesome, but very tiring.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I've been to Disney many times, both on-site and off, and I never went back to the room for an afternoon break. Not that I didn't try, just never work out.

Instead of a break, I like to book a table service lunch at midday as our cool off break. Also, my daughters take afternoon naps in the stroller or Ergo. One of the adult would stay with the napping child in a cool area while other zoom off.

There is always Casey Corner play area to relax and cool off. The play area at the stand by line at Dumbo is great too.

Enjoy your Magical Day at MK.