How do you handle nap time in parks for 2 year old?

[LoveKermit]

I think your best plan is to try to be done with the morning nap before you go. Then, plan to rest in the afternoon.

At 22 mo DD fell asleep once in her stroller in the afternoon, I think she missed the Dole Whip break. And I think she stayed asleep all the way back to the Dolphin via Monorail and walk through Epcot, but don't quote me. Also don't remember if she stayed asleep once back.

But you will have more fulfilling days if your child can be awake all morning. Maybe they'll doze off for a few minutes around 10/10:30, but nothing you'd call a nap. When DD was 7 months that was how she morning napped at WDW. And she was always very serious about her morning naps--until we broke her around 19/20 months. But even as a baby she survived without a good morning nap as long as there was a good afternoon nap to be had.

She still appreciates her afternoon naps another year later.

 

[drewbie'smom]

I have been very fortunate that my 2yo (almost 3) son has always gone to sleep wherever and whenever. He was at Disney at 11 weeks, 16 months, and 30 months (and we leave again Saturday). Each time, we prepared for the worst but naptime has not been an issue! He would just fall asleep, I would push him around for 1-2 hours, he would wake up and life was good!

This time, because of the July heat (we usually travel in the cooler off season), we will be leaving the parks much earlier and returning later in the evening (regardless of naptime). I still have planned for the worst (bought a Baby Jogger City Mini for lots of reasons, but especially for the recline) but I am hoping for the best.

This was my experience. YOU know your child the best and that will help you make the right decisions!

(Oh, and I am totally jealous of the two nap thing. This kid has been a one nap a day kid since 8 months old!)

 

[adventure_woman]

I think it depends upon the child. My DD NEEDS her nap - she literally can't function w/o one. She will sleep about 2-3 hrs everyday at home. That being said, she will sleep a little bit in her stroller, maybe an hour. BUT, knowing how she is w/o a nap, I always go back to the room and have her sleep in her bed. We usually go to EMH in the AM, go back to the room around 12:30-1, maybe swim for 30 minutes then take a nap. I bring the baby monitor and sit right outside the door so it is totally quiet for her to go to sleep. In January, she was sleeping even OVER 3 hrs! (AND, that is with her getting her normal full night's sleep too!). She was just so stimulated and having a great time.

NOW, my best friend's daughter can survive on only sleeping 1 hr and staying up late and getting off schedule. NOT mine!!

 

[Hannathy]

always did stroller sleeping. We found going back to the room was anything but a break! It was more exhausting for the parents with all the extra walking and maneuvering on and off buses in the heat, etc just for an hour or so. After trying it once we just stayed wherever we were and did something slower, have ice cream, shop, or go on a big ride, while they slept in the stroller.

 

[Marthasor]

Thanks everyone! You have all been very helpful!! I think my plan will be to get to the parks as early as possible, eat lunch around 11:30 am and then head back to the hotel. If he falls asleep before that I will walk him around until he wakes up.

 

[kalc12345]

When we went last year we had to leave the park and go back to the house and let him take a nap. He wouldn't nap in the stroller....too much going on for that!! It was a total PAIN but it made the day go so much smoother. A cranky toddler is NO fun.

 

[disneyatl]

The biggest piece of advice I give to anyone with young children asking me about Disney World is to go back to your room and nap! Heck, we even napped when my daughter was 10 and will probably do it this year too with a couple of 15 year olds. It is such a nice break and definitely re-energizes everyone. You don't have to be in your room forever. Get up early and head to the park, eat lunch there or head back to your hotel and eat lunch. Then take a nap or at least rest. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Lstar311]

Like you last year at one my child napped in the stroller. This year at 2 he did fall asleep in the stroller on his first day in MK but it was just too hot for all of us so we did go back to the room for him to nap. It was a huge hassle but we stayed out a little later each night so I wanted him to have a good nap during the day.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Mine would never sleep in a stroller--I am in such envy of those moms who have kids who will! We always took the break. Even this last trip, we were off-site for a week, and still tok the break.

We have 4 kids spanning 11 years, so we're used to splitting up. Some days, we'd all go back, other times, one parent would take DS3 (and sometimes DD6) back for a break. It got us out of the heat the day, the kids could swim, and we didn't feel bad about being out later at night. We tried to hit the parks right at opening time, so you can get in a good 3-4 hours of ride time (and the lines are real short, first thing in the morning). It worked out well.

OTOH, if you have a stroller sleeper, that might work out fine. I would suggest you not plan a whole lot of night time stuff, though, unless you're real confident that the child will be in good shape for it.

 

[shoppymommy]

My DD is 2 1/2 and can't function without a nap. She usually sleeps 2-3 hours. We are going in August and plan on going back to the room for a nap. She probably could nap in the stroller, but it's not a deep sleep so she'd still be cranky when she woke up rather than a good sleep in a bed We are planning on hitting the parks when they open since she is an early riser and there is no way we could stay at the parks that long without a break.