Go back for a nap??

[skbasnett]

We are heading down to WDW next mont and we are staying at ASMo. Should we take DS (2) back to the hotel for a nap everyday or no? He has not been napping lately but he keeps falling asleep early. Any advice would be helpful.

 

[Manda]

We're planning on it. Our son turns 2 tomorrow (Happy Birthday, Holden!) and we're going in December. Who knows what he'll be doing then, but for now, he's a nightmare if he doesn't nap. Plus, we could use the down time ourselves.

 

[HLAuburn]

Any chance he'll sleep in the stroller? We bought a full-reclining stroller just for naps at Disney! IMO, going all the way back to the AllStar resorts for a break will be really inconvenient. By the time you wait for and catch a bus, ride back, get to your room, nap, get ready to go again, and ride back to the park, it's a good 3 hours taken out of your day. Maybe I'm being too optimistic about DD napping in a stroller, but I'd really like to avoid going back to the resort for naps.

 

[rchristiansen]

A day at Disney World is not complete for us without a midday nap back at the hotel! It makes the trip so much more enjoyable. Yes, it will be three hours of the day you'll miss in the park, but it's during peak hours. You'll miss maybe 2 1/2 hours of standing in line and only 30 minutes of ride time. Do the nap - You'll need it yourself.

And if he doesn't fall asleep on his own, have him crawl in the bed with you and at least you'll get some rest. Chances are though, he'll crash on the bus ride back to the hotel. In fact my DD crashed once on the Tram in the Parking Lot! I have a cute picture of it

 

[jckdisneybound]

We always go back for a break, whether DD naps or not. It just gets too hot and crazy for us and it refreshes us for the evening.

 

[Colinsmom]

We definitely went back for a nap each day. DS refuses to sleep in the stroller, and just needed the break and slower pace for a couple of hours. This was when he was 2.25 years old; not sure exactly what we'll do in September when he is almost 3.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Every child is different so I would suggest just playing it by ear. Our DD sleeps great in her stroller. When she was 2 and we went to WDW she took two 2 hour naps every day in her stroller so we didn't ever go back to our hotel. If she was cranky and needed it we would have.

This is just my feelings but I just can't bring myself to go back to rest or swim. I can't waist a minute of the parks while I'm there Dh on the other hand would love to go back for a nap every day. I've only done it on one vacation and that was in August when the heat was just awful.

 

[susykt4]

We went in April when DS was 2 and 5 months. He was napping about half the time at home. We returned for a nap 5 out of 6 days and it was a great break from the crowds (heat wasn't an issue.) He napped every time. The day we didn't return we were at Epcot and DD5 wanted to do all the World Showcase Kidcot stops. DS slept in his non-reclining umbrella stroller during most of this time (the only time he slept in his stroller this trip.)

DH and I took turns staying in the room w/ DS and the other person would take DD swimming or to the gift shop or food court. We all enjoyed the break from the parks and usually hopped to a different park for the evening.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My girls have always napped in their strollers if they needed it. For bus resorts---the commute is too huge a chunk of the day. My kids would probably fall asleep on the busses and be awake at the resort .

Of course--we are the family who is too zonked to stay for the night parade and fireworks--so maybe a nap in the resort would have been a good idea for mom and dad....

 

[nemomama]

We never go back for naps. Our DD is also 2 and at our last trip in June, she did great napping in her comfortable stroller. I wasn't sure how she would do either, since she always naps in her crib at home, but she would nap for at least 2 hours.

Have a wonderful trip - IMO this is a great age go to Disney! Our DD had the best time!

 

[crisi]

Every child is different.

Four years ago when I posted this question on the board I was pretty assured that yes, I wanted to do this. My kids were never big nappers, but most people said they'd be tired at Disney.

Well, I should have paid attention to my gut. We went back to the room and I had toddlers bouncing on beds for three hours. No nap, we went back to the parks having lost three hours. After that, we'd generally switch parks mid-day and the kids would catnap on the bus (monorail, train around the MK, Ferry back and forth - my kids are champs at falling asleep in a moving vehicle).

 

[brymolmom]

I'm pretty sure we've decided to do mid-day naps in the room (we're staying at POP). We've got two - ds will be a little over 3 and dd will be almost 2. OR we're planning on just doing a half day (until 2 or 3 in the afternoon) at the park and then heading back to the room to nap and use the pool/sprayjets for the evening.

We went to Sesame Place for 2 days last week and I considered it a 'dry run' for Disney next month. The first day we did not return to hotel for naps and dd did sleep really well in the stroller, even so - we were all cranky, hot and tired by 4:00pm. The second day we left the park about 2:00 and returned by 5:15 and stayed until close at 8:00. We were all refreshed and much happier for the evening. Definitely depends on the kids, the weather and whether or not they'll really use the nap time in the room.

Good luck.
Karen

 

[tjmw2727]

We used to do a resort stop but not necessarily for afternoon naps.

When my dd's were small they did nap in the stroller. We always had a comfy reclining stroller (for a while it was a double!) with sunshade and stroller fan (for comfort and white noise). Luckily both slept great in the stroller and this is when dh and I would use FP or BS for the e rides while the other parent rested in the shade with an ice cream or other teat and a sleeping child(ren).

We would also make a PS for a nice table service lunch and that would be our meal of the day giving all of us a chance to recharge, cool off and rest. Sometimes a late character breakfast would also do the trick.

Then we would leave a park about 3-4 ish for a resort break. Sometimes swimming and then a bath and then early dinner and both girls into PJ's, or very comfy clothes until they were in the 4-5 ish range. Then it was off to Epcot or MGM for dh and I as the kids would always fall asleep for the evening, happy and comfy in the stroller so it was like a night out for DH and I but without a babysitter.

This still works to this day (without the naps and pj's ) as we all just get antsy and don't want to spend an entire day at one park. We still love to hit the pool and resort and freshen up before our night out even though the girls are now 8 and 10.

Try doing a stroller nap one day and then a resort nap another to see what works best for you.

TJ

 

[pbharris4]

I would suppose it depends on your child. My DD is a big napper...in the pack and play. She'll nap in the stroller or car only for 30 mins and only if she's exhausted. We did a little of both. If you plan on doing several parks, then yes..go back to the hotel for a nap for a day or 2 and spilt up those days. If you are only going to 1 or 2 parks then I would say to let them nap in the stroller. Take a fan for the stroller. It will make them more comfortable and go in the shops to keep them cool as well. IMHO, a rested 2 yo is a happy 2 yo and in turn the rest of us are happy too! Our 2 yo did really good (I am amazed)! The week we came home she slept every day until 9 am (usually gets up at 7:00am) and napped for 3 hours every day (usually naps for 1.5 hrs/day)!! Even now..3 weeks later she is sleeping in until 8:30.

 

[becca011906]

Our plan is to spend the whole day in the parks unless it's just unbearable. I just can't see spending so much $ on tickets then going to back and sitting at the hotel with kids that won't nap... B/c mine wouldn't they woudl fall alseep in the van on the way there and then would be up jumping on beds till we went back. So i would rather take a nice AC lunch then some nice slow rides to get them to dose off, push the stroller around and let them nap. my oldest hasn't naped in over 2 years, my other two have no problems naping at all any time and where.

 

[rt2dz]

I'm probably very much in the minority here, but I think it is worthless to go back to the hotel for a nap. Our Sept. 2004 trip we had DS3.5 and DS7 months. Our May 2005 trip We had DS4 and DS15 months.

We did not go back to the room in Sept. and the kids just napped in the stroller (DS#1 quit napping at about 2- 2.5). It was wonderful. We did follow their pace. If things weren't going well, we did 180.

In May, I was also 6 months pregnant. Definetly planned on going back to WL for naps/breaks. And for the first 3 days, we did so. We had to fight with the kids to get out of the parks. Fight with them to go back. It was miserable. No one was having a good time. Then, we spent day #4 at the park all day. Taking in shows, switching parks, sitting down in A/C for lunch (long if need be), taking a train ride (or two) around MK, shopping while the kids napped in the stroller, Tom's Sawyer's Island/Bone Yard/Donald's Boat etc, etc whenever anyone needed a break. This day, EVERYONE had a great time. So, we followed suit for the remaining 6 days. Worked out much better. No whining. No arguing. No complaining. We just let the kids set the schedule (different from home) on when to get up and leave, when to come back to the hotel, when to nap, when to eat. The rest of the trip was heaven.

Breaks, yes. Out of Park? NO! My advice is follow your gut once you get there. If things in the park aren't working out for you no matter what you do, leave. Don't push kids beyond their limits--ever. But don't feel forced to keep them on the same schedule as at home (mine change schedules when we get there and switch back the day we get home all on their own), follow their leads on wants, things they dislike, hunger, etc. THAT is what makes a successful trip, IMO.