Going back to hotel for naps

[anneofgreengables]

Here in California, the hotels are just within walking distance to the parks, so it's easy to take a nap after lunch and go back to the parks refreshed for dinner.

What about in WDW? I know you have to travel via bus/car. Is it easy to go back for naps? What are your experiences?

 

[Mom to Jordan]

If it's in the budget, go for a mono-rail resort and then it is very easy to get back for a nap mid-day. At leasst from MK and Epcot. WL is the lowest price deluxe and it is just a boat ride from the MK.

 

[CleveRocks]

During the busier seasons when the parks have longer hours, going back to the resort for a siesta or swim is very workable. I went in the spring with my 5 year old and 2.5 year old. Especially as the week wore on, they were kinda bushed by mid-afternoon, plus the sun was plenty hot. A mid-afternoon break was much more welcome then pressing on commando-style and winding up with cranky kids and, I'll admit it, crankier parents. Yes, we took the bus back to CBR many times, and yes a monorail ride would have been easier, but if we had had to pay deluxe resort prices we might not have been able to go in the first place.

 

[Hannathy]

We never went back to the room found it to be too much work for too little benefit. Instead we just took it easy at some point in the day. Go on COP, or Hall of Presidents, Take the rafts to Tom Sawyer island and have a snack, Ride the train all the way around or the Monorail. We have done this at Easter when we were there from 8 to midnight, with a preschooler and elementary age. It depends on your stamina as adults I think. It just made me more tired to walk all the way out of a park, get transportation, walk to the room, change everyone for swimming, get everyone ready again and reverse all above. Just do what feels right for you.

 

[catbertdave99]

We return to the resort every day just to relax. We've stayed at WL, AKL, and CBR -- there's plenty to do and plenty of places to relax at all 3 of those. We don't worry too much about the time we spend on the buses going back and forth -- we enjoy our break. Then it's back to the parks in the evenings -- and after the parks, we often relax again at night at the resort. Everyone (me included) stays happier and easy to live with! And, we get to enjoy our resort too!

 

[jwfla422]

When dd was younger we'd usually spend a few hrs in the parks, have lunch and then head back to the resort for a nap. We usually stayed on site so most of the time we'd just have to take the bus back which wasn't too far. (about 15-25 minutes tops including waiting).

We still do this but she doesn't nap much anymore so we just have some "down" time. She'll watch tv or just relax for an hr or so. Then we might go to the pool for a swim or do something at the resort. We usually don't return to the same park later in the day. We usually go to dinner and then go to a park for a few hrs. Sometimes we just stick around the hotel area. The S/D are great places to stay for being able to find stuff to do at night. The BW is fun to walk around after dinner.

Depending on where you stay depends on how long it is to get back to your resort. If you stay at the MK resorts it's just a monorail ride away to your resort (or a boat ride). If you're at Epcot or MGM you can walk back to the Epcot resort area or take a boat. WDW tries to make it easy to get back and forth. Sometimes in mid-day you can wait a little longer for the buses as they don't run as frequently as they do at peak times. But, WDW transportation is one of the big perks about staying on property, because of the convenience of being able to go back and forth to your hotel room.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We have stayed at value and moderate since we had kids (and before on our only trip) and we go back every day for a nap. My boys both nap 3-1/2 hours each afternoon, so there is catching a little rest in the parks. It's not an inconvenience for us at all. I enjoy the break and the chance to shower!

 

[rt2dz]

We never went back to the room found it to be too much work for too little benefit. Instead we just took it easy at some point in the day. Go on COP, or Hall of Presidents, Take the rafts to Tom Sawyer island and have a snack, Ride the train all the way around or the Monorail. We have done this at Easter when we were there from 8 to midnight, with a preschooler and elementary age. It depends on your stamina as adults I think. It just made me more tired to walk all the way out of a park, get transportation, walk to the room, change everyone for swimming, get everyone ready again and reverse all above. Just do what feels right for you.

ITA

My kids did much, much, much better by not going back to the hotel--whether for a nap or change in activity. They were never ready to leave when it was worth while. Either from the park to the hotel or from the hotel to the park. It was the only time we had temper tantrums. In addition to the above things, we had sit down meals, switched parks, let kids nap in the stroller while we did things they wouldn't enjoy or things that would be hard with them awake (shopping). We also just followed their leads. We did what they wanted, including riding Goofy's Barnstormer 14 times in a row. Of course, there was some guidance, but generally they ruled the show. That way we ALL enjoyed the vacation. BTW--my kids are 5, 2, and now 5 months.

 

[Stephres]

We always stay on-site and take the bus or walk back in the afternoon for a nap/break. Now that they are not napping, I find that they still need a break and so do I. Then we go down to the pool and swim and get dressed for dinner. It has always been so easy I wouldn't want to do it any other way no matter how old they get!

 

[Pluto's Honey]

i HAVEN'T BEEN BUT i HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS WONDEFUL TO GO BACK TO THE HOTEL IF ONLY TO SWIM AND SHOWER, GET AWAY FROM THE CROWDS AND LET THE LINES GET SMALLER. i HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS REFRESHING. i WILL BE DOING THIS WHEN WE GO IN THE SUMMER. BUT SOME PEOPLE DON'T MIND THE CROWDS, OR HEAT AND THEY MAY NOT GET TIRED OR CRANKY. I KNOW WHEN I NEED A REST I AM

 

[FSUGrad97]

We stayed at the WL, and we took a break every day. We would leave the park at around 3, and would return to the parks around 6. Breaks were not a problem since we could catch the boat and be back at the WL in about 10 minutes.

It was great because our 2 year old was able to stretch out and nap, and we could relax for a bit before hitting the parks again. By the time we would get back into the parks, the crowds had died down.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Afternoon naps are a must not only for our daughter, but for Mom and Dad as well.

We always rent a car to make it a piece of cake no matter where we're staying to get us back within a reasonable amount of time for nap and relaxation. Luckily, we stay at a DVC villa so we have relatively easy access to our resort from any Disney park. Our naps are actually factored into our daily schedule.

Mommy gets cranky without her afternoon nap and tubby.

 

[anneofgreengables]

We will be staying at All-Stars Movies. Hope that won't be too much trouble getting to and from the parks for breaks using Disney transportation.

We did that whenever we went to Disneyland here in California. We would walk back to our hotel across the street from the entrance, nap, swim, take a shower and go back refreshed to the parks. I remember riding the train at night all perky and refreshed and noticing that the people riding with us having tired and "can't wait to get home" faces--it was funny.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Afternoon naps are a must not only for our daughter, but for Mom and Dad as well.

We always rent a car to make it a piece of cake no matter where we're staying to get us back within a reasonable amount of time for nap and relaxation. Luckily, we stay at a DVC villa so we have relatively easy access to our resort from any Disney park. Our naps are actually factored into our daily schedule.

Mommy gets cranky without her afternoon nap and tubby.

Agree. And in our family, it's Mommy who needs the break!

It also depends on when you are going. My December trips, which have less heat, I found we could go longer. This May/June I am planning on taking a break everyday from the heat. And again, we are offsite this trip. We found it to be NO problem to get back to the hotel. We took the tram from the parking lots to our car and it was no more than a 10-15 ride, depending on which park we were at. We were 1 mile from DTD so Epcot was really close along with MGM. So if you are on-site, it shouldn't be a problem either.

Also with this next trip the park hours are a lot longer. Our one day the parks are open till midnight...........don't know if we'll make that but if we get naps in the afternoon we might try it. My kids are night owls and my two oldest would think it was "way cool".

 

[anneofgreengables]

We are going in December, but I'm thinking we may need naps because even though the hours are shorter, we may parkhop to an open park at night. And my kids will be only 7 and 9, so they may not be able to do a long day.

I guess we'll have to see when we get there. But I'm the type who likes to plan our itinerary and dining arrangements before a trip, so I guess I'll just assume that we are nappinig.

 

[mangosink]

Is it easy to get back to the swan/dolphin for naps??