Falling asleep on ferry while going back to WL from MK

[Heffalump12]

This is our first trip to WDW and we are staying at the WL in Sept. 2019. Doing the logistics of every moment to optimize our time, I started wondering... if my 3 year old falls asleep on the ferry, can we just stay on until he wakes up or do you have to get off once you arive at your destination? If my son falls asleep even for five minutes, he will not go back to sleep. A 5-10 min nap equals a very cranky little boy. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

This is our first trip to WDW and we are staying at the WL in Sept. 2019. Doing the logistics of every moment to optimize our time, I started wondering... if my 3 year old falls asleep on the ferry, can we just stay on until he wakes up or do you have to get off once you arive at your destination? If my son falls asleep even for five minutes, he will not go back to sleep. A 5-10 min nap equals a very cranky little boy. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

Hi @Heffalump12, to the DIS!

FYI, most people will refer to the MK-WL boat as the “resort launch” or “resort boat”, or similar. “Ferry” is most often the term/name used for the larger double-decker boats that run between the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) and the MK entrance.

But as to your question, and not that I’ve done this - but I’d bet you’d have no issues. The captain may look at you funny, but (in all likelihood) he/she is not going to make you get off. It’s a beautiful boat ride, and it IS sleep inducing!

Our son was the same way - close his eyes for 2 minutes, wake up, and we were toast. One time when our son was very young he fell asleep on the boat back to WL despite our best efforts to keep him awake. The commotion of heading back to the room DID wake him up, and the downward spiral of the rest of the day commenced. Man I’m glad those days are over.

Anyway, hope that helps. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

This is our first trip to WDW and we are staying at the WL in Sept. 2019. Doing the logistics of every moment to optimize our time, I started wondering... if my 3 year old falls asleep on the ferry, can we just stay on until he wakes up or do you have to get off once you arive at your destination? If my son falls asleep even for five minutes, he will not go back to sleep. A 5-10 min nap equals a very cranky little boy. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

only thing that I can see as a problem is the time stopped to let others off and on and the noise docking and undocking waking him up anyways. I say this based on my daughters and 9 grandkids. if one fell asleep on boat ride as soon as we docked even without me moving it was all over.

 

[Hi Pluto]

SO not the same thing, but when DS was 3 he fell asleep on my lap on a boat ride near Savannah, GA. He was still pretty new to potty training... see where I'm going with this? It was like we BOTH peed our pants. Yay parenting!

 

[StarSeven7]

I don't know anything about the boat ride at all, but just wondering what your plan is if he falls asleep? To just stay on the boat going back and forth? Would it not be better to have him just nap in the stroller so you can maximize your time at MK?

 

[cruisin5]

Not a problem at all! You could be on a smaller boat or a larger one. Either way, just keep your seat and enjoy the ride. The smaller boat feels more like a boat.

One of my mom's favorite things to do at Disney is just riding the boat around Bay Lake!

 

[Lynne M]

Yep, you can stay on for as long as you like.

I’ve done the occasional trip around the lakes just as a break from the parks, to get away from the crowds and catch a breeze.

 

[Belleandtinker]

Stroller time!

When our son was little he always fell asleep on the boat ride from POFQ to now Disney Springs (or the other way around). We would let him sleep and push him every where after that.

 

[Hi Pluto]

Stroller time!

When our son was little he always fell asleep on the boat ride from POFQ to now Disney Springs (or the other way around). We would let him sleep and push him every where after that.

Agreed! Those plastic rental strollers will save your life. We were shoving DS in one when he was 4 and 5, basically until he could no longer fit. It was especially handy when walking the world showcase at Epcot.

You can rent one at one park and the rental will transfer over to the next park. You just have to return it then grab a new one at the other park.

 

[fla4fun]

Would he be as likely to fall asleep on a bus as a boat? There is a bus to WL from MK, and it's a shorter ride, once you are on board. Not as scenic or relaxing, but that may be to your benefit in this situation.

 

[Heffalump12]

Thank you all so much for the helpful info! GADisneyDad14, that’s exactly what I needed to know, thank you! Depending on how tired my 3.5 year old will be, he may wake when the boat stops. At that point I’ll just say a prayer he won’t be cranky. He’s also not one to continue sleeping once you move him. We are driving to wdw and I don’t want to take a bus anywhere but the boat sounds nice. My son won’t fall asleep in a stroller, he is at an age where he’s starting to drop naps altogether. However I’m concerned about the day we plan to attend MNSSHP since he will be up late. I really appreciate all the input, thank you again!

 

[SharonZ]

You might be lucky, and he'll be so exhausted that he won't wake up!

 

[buzznina]

Thank you all so much for the helpful info! GADisneyDad14, that’s exactly what I needed to know, thank you! Depending on how tired my 3.5 year old will be, he may wake when the boat stops. At that point I’ll just say a prayer he won’t be cranky. He’s also not one to continue sleeping once you move him. We are driving to wdw and I don’t want to take a bus anywhere but the boat sounds nice. My son won’t fall asleep in a stroller, he is at an age where he’s starting to drop naps altogether. However I’m concerned about the day we plan to attend MNSSHP since he will be up late. I really appreciate all the input, thank you again!

That was what we thought before WDW Our DD was only 9 months at the time, we had three days of failed try's to go back to the resort in the middle of the day that made everyone cranky. The next day we decided not to head back to the resort and next thing we knew she was out and slept solid for 1-2 hours. We were able to either sight see, shop or sit and have a snack and people watchAfter that, we never went back to trying to do mid-day breaks and made sure we took our stroller for years, best decision we ever made. Actually hated not taking a stroller to keep our stuff in etc.

 

[Micca]

If I may add one additional thought about strollers: The parks can get crowded and not everyone is watching where they are walking or what's going on around them. In fact, that may be almost everyone! With a kid in a stroller you can help guide the way as your family tours the park keeping him out of the path of oncoming pedestrian traffic. Also when kids get tired if you don't have a stroller you have one option...you carry them. And it's hot, and you're tired too! You may very well be right about your DS not sleeping in a stroller, but don't underestimate the impact of sensory overload you get at WDW. The excitement,the rides, the crowds, the heat, the noise, hell it wears down most adults at some point. Bonus: You can keep your "stuff" in the stroller. All those accessories you schlep around the parks have a place to stay(Don't leave anything valuable in the stroller though, because you know....people.)

In any case have have a great time and Welcome to the Dis! We all had a "first trip" too, and a lot us just keep going back

 

[FSU Girl]

I don't think they'd force you to get off. You could ride it back and forth until he wakes up, but people might be noisy when getting on and off at each stop. I know when my mom went when my brother was a baby he fell asleep on It's a Small World and they let her ride it until he woke up. I don't know how my mother handled hearing that song so many times lol.

 

[Heffalump12]

So sorry for the late reply, trying to get in the hang of being on the board. Even though my son won’t fall asleep in the stroller, taking a stroller is a MUST! And yes I love being able to pack our stuff in it as well. The stroller can be as much a blessing as a curse. We learned a long time ago with our six year old how crowds can be with strollers, you have to be somewhat of a defensive driver haha. Funny thing, when I wrote the question, I was worried about the day we were going to go to MK for first part of day then heading back for the MNSSHP. But after reading many blogs and threads, I’ve changed my mind altogether and deciding to go to MNSSHP on our free day. I do plan on using a ride to lull him to sleep on the 3rd day we go to MK. I’ve read the People Mover is also a really good ride to take naps.

 

[Micca]

I’ve read the People Mover is also a really good ride to take naps

Maybe, but at the end of the ride you'll have to get off, you're looking at nap of 7 minutes.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Even though my son won’t fall asleep in the stroller, taking a stroller is a MUST!

Youd be surprised how easily kids fall asleep in Disney. Between all the excitement, the sun and eating more than usual, they tucker out quickly! Maybe your son wont fall asleep in a stroller at home, but its quite possible at Disney.

When my DD was almost 5, every night at dinner, right after we ordered, she's put her head on the table and pass out! I could barely get her to bed at 8pm at home. At Disney it was lights out by 5:30! I have many photos of me with a sleeping child in my arms at Disney!

When my DD was 7, we went to Illuminations at Epcot. We watched from a location near "America" where we found a bench to sit on about 30 minutes before the show. Before it even started, she fell asleep on my lap. She was probably 50 lbs, which felt like 200 when she was asleep. My husband and I watched the whole show then I asked him to carry her back to the monorail. Since we had been out all day, he was tired too, but started heading towards the front of the park. When we got close to Mexico, he had to take a break and asked me to hold her. "NO way!!!" I couldnt carry her. We tried waking her up, but it wasnt happening. We found a bench and my husband sat for a couple of minutes, then tried again to walk. He made it a few steps then was begging me to hold her! I was laughing (still am just thinking about it many years later), so obviously that made me weaker. He made it to around Spaceship Earth then the sweating and swearing began! Cursing under his breath all the way up the monorail ramp! (I thought it was the funniest thing to see him struggle! Im such a bad wife!!!) Of course we had to wait about 10 minutes to get onto a monorail, but when he finally sat he was so relieved. We were staying at the Poly so had to get off at the TTC. Down the big ramp, then up the other big ramp (no way he would walk it). We were the first stop..almost there.... but nope. He refused to get off. I got off and he made another entire loop before getting enough strength to carry her to our building, luckily right next to the GCH!

So yeah....make sure you have a stroller regardless...even if they are 15 !!!

 

[BlueFairy]

At least some of the boats to the resorts from MK and all of the Epcot boats may require you to fold the stroller. There is a step down into the boat. They are not all wheel-accessible.

This doesn't sound like an issue for the OP, but people who plan to use a boat to lull a child to sleep should be aware.

Also, we have the kid who was an awesome sleeper at home and could never conk out early or nap (stroller or at the resort) at WDW. So letting home set your expectations for Disney can be a surprise OR a disappointment.

 

[Hi Pluto]

Youd be surprised how easily kids fall asleep in Disney. Between all the excitement, the sun and eating more than usual, they tucker out quickly! Maybe your son wont fall asleep in a stroller at home, but its quite possible at Disney.

When my DD was almost 5, every night at dinner, right after we ordered, she's put her head on the table and pass out! I could barely get her to bed at 8pm at home. At Disney it was lights out by 5:30! I have many photos of me with a sleeping child in my arms at Disney!

When my DD was 7, we went to Illuminations at Epcot. We watched from a location near "America" where we found a bench to sit on about 30 minutes before the show. Before it even started, she fell asleep on my lap. She was probably 50 lbs, which felt like 200 when she was asleep. My husband and I watched the whole show then I asked him to carry her back to the monorail. Since we had been out all day, he was tired too, but started heading towards the front of the park. When we got close to Mexico, he had to take a break and asked me to hold her. "NO way!!!" I couldnt carry her. We tried waking her up, but it wasnt happening. We found a bench and my husband sat for a couple of minutes, then tried again to walk. He made it a few steps then was begging me to hold her! I was laughing (still am just thinking about it many years later), so obviously that made me weaker. He made it to around Spaceship Earth then the sweating and swearing began! Cursing under his breath all the way up the monorail ramp! (I thought it was the funniest thing to see him struggle! Im such a bad wife!!!) Of course we had to wait about 10 minutes to get onto a monorail, but when he finally sat he was so relieved. We were staying at the Poly so had to get off at the TTC. Down the big ramp, then up the other big ramp (no way he would walk it). We were the first stop..almost there.... but nope. He refused to get off. I got off and he made another entire loop before getting enough strength to carry her to our building, luckily right next to the GCH!

So yeah....make sure you have a stroller regardless...even if they are 15 !!!

Yes!! We made it the first day without a stroller with DS when he was 4, then we're like, "Screw it, we're getting a stroller!" He loved it, fell asleep in it (and he was SO not a napper) and also fell asleep at a few dinners just like your DD. He rode in it while eating his snacks and was in heaven. We were happy to be able to walk at our own pace. When we returned he was 5, and we wasted no time in getting another stroller. He barely fit in it this time, but it was still completely worth it. By 6, he was too big, otherwise we would totally get it every time!