Experiences with toddlers & napping etc... at WDW

[emmiesmom]

I was wondering if people would mind sharing their experiences with toddlers at WDW. I know each child is different but I am just curious what your child's schedule sleeping/napping etc...is like at home vs at the world?
For example at home my DD, 2.5, is starting to give up her naps and only naps every other day or so...She's also usually in bed by 7:15 - in July we'll know what she does at WDW...

 

[Luvin*Livvy]

We went in May when my daughter was 2 weeks shy of 2. We are going back in 19 days! Also she is a very easy going kid. BUT will not sleep in a stroller, car seat, or anywhere NOT a bed or crib. She also NEEDS a nap, otherwise she will be too tired around 5:30/6pm. She was like this in May and still like this now! So no nap or a nap in the stoller wouldn't have worked for us.

In May: She took one nap at home around 12:30 -- 2:00. And went to bed around 8:30/9:00 and woke up at 8:30. In WDW we took her back to the hotel to nap around 1:30 and she slept until around 3:30/4:00. She went to bed around 10:30/11:00 and woke up around 7:30 each morning.

This time she still naps around 1-3, goes to bed around 9 and wakes up around 7:30. So we will do the same as we did last time around!

 

[TaraZ]

We are not going until next Jan, when DD will be 3... but I am assuming she'll still need an afternoon nap at WDW-- even if she has given up on her naps at home! All that excitement is sure to tired those little ones out!

 

[tinkerbell423]

My daughter would not nap anywhere but her crib/bed and we wre worried that we would need to run back to the room every day. However she just passed out in her stroller every afternoon. I think she was exausted and just couldn't fight it

 

[scrapquitler]

We took our DS at age 10 months, 3 years and 4 years: we never go back to the room for a nap. Generally we leave our room by 8am and don't go back until 10 pm or later. He mostly stopped napping at about age 1 1/2, and I wondered what would happen at WDW. In the end, when he got tired, he passed out in the stroller. Most nights, he fell asleep on the way back to our room.

I just personally don't get the going back to the room for a nap...I can't see taking 3 hours of the middle of the day for it. Then again, my kids don't sleep that much.

 

[dunbarfamily]

We've taken our children at these ages:

2005 DS was 2.5 months shy of 4, DD was 9.5 months

2006 DS 1.5 months shy of 5, DD was 22.5 months, and I was 5 mths pg with #3

2007 DS 5.5 years, DD was 2.5, and DS was 5 months

2008 DS 6, DD 3, DS 9 months

The children were great on all the trips at the different ages. Our first trip, we went back to room for naps. The second and third trips, we didn't. Our last trip last month we went back 2/5 days for naps, but planned our days so we were back to the hotel early (around 8pm) on non-nap days.

Opinions vary as to whether you should go back for naps or not. Just try and see what works. Only once has one of our children fallen asleep in the stroller at WDW after age 2.

Don't get too caught up in the schedule. What happens at home is totally different than what happens at the World. You can make all these great plans for naps/meals, etc, but in reality, they will probably change. Try to be flexible. I am a total control freak and it was really hard for me to give up being in control of napping/eating/scheduling on our trips. I think I had/have a harder time than the children do.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is be realistic. Since your little one is giving up naps already, I guess I wouldn't worry about naps, but listen to your child. He/she will tell you what he/she needs.

Good luck, and have a super trip to the world!!

 

[lrab1126]

in aug my then 2 1/2 year old, who had given up naps long ago...napped every day, as did her 5 year old sister because they are so drop dead tired from all the activity. We all rested at about 1pm each day for about 1-1.5hrs and they slept each time. Make it a must everyday and she will be so much better off for the rest of the day/night.

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

I am also curious how my kids will do. Thanks for asking this!!

My 5 year old doesn't nap, but will if I lay down with him.

My 2 year old still naps for about 3 hours a day. I am hoping that he will sleep in the stroller, b/c I hate to loose out on time in the parks. But if that isn't working after the first day, I will take him back to the room to nap.

I figure my Dh or I can take my 5 year old to the pool for a couple hours, while the baby sleeps for a bit. Then we can take showers and get ready to stay up a little later than normal. My kids are usually in the bed by 8:30 and I know they won't be going to bed that early while in Disney.

 

[emmiesmom]

All these reponses have been so helpful for DH and I! It's just neat to hear about the real experiences other families have and know there are many possibilities to how DD will react when we get there- we shall see in July if DD is a night owl!

 

[twinmom2]

We live in Fl and have taken our girls 7 times since they were 2 yrs old. With out a doubt.....we always leave during the afternoon. Even if it is just for some down time. My girls end up napping 80% of the time. My feeling is that I want all of us to enjoy ourselves, so I try and be realistic for my 3 yr olds. When they start asking me to hold them and they start putting thier heads on my shoulder, then I know they are tired and it is time to go. We are always at the park just before 9am.
We just went this past weekend and we were there for opening. We hit all most all the major rides our girls could go on by 1130am.....amazing. when we are walking out a little after noon time, the crowds are coming in by the hundreds. We beat the crowds and can go back and rest or swim if we choose, but at least it is some down time. If my girls were 5 or older, then maybe we would stay the day. given that you are going during the summer(hot), your daughter will be even more tired just from the sun. ok, enough sorry for goin on and on!! Have a great trip and your daughter is just going to LOVE IT!! My girls are totally addicted.

 

[tanyaandallie]

We have been with toddlers many times. My dd at 2.5, my ds at 20 mos and again at 2.5. We always go back to the hotel and nap. My 4.5 year old only naps part of the time at home but at WDW she naps. If they don't nap they will be useless and asleep by 7!

 

[kim_o]

Last June DS 1 was 21 months. At home he typically napped from 12:30 to 3:30 and at daycare from 12:30 to 2:30 (they made him wake up at 2:30). AT Disney, he would fall asleep in the stroller around 3 and sleep until 5 then be good to go until 11 pm.

I'm curious how it will be in May because he is starting to give up naps at hime (daycare still makes him take them). If I force him down, he still sleeps for 3 hours, but if I let him go without one, he still acts fine. My younger on the other hand, DEMANDS to be in his crib by 7:30 for bed and definitely prefers the crib for naps. I'm really hoping he'll sleep in the stroller.