How late do you all stay w/ a toddler?

[mrskay9]

I've seen info about fireworks and parties and such and don't even pay any attention to them because we really don't keep our dd up late.

We had such a hard time getting her to GET to sleep that now that she's on a 'schedule' we try to keep her on it. Now we have been traveling here lately and her bed time is a bit later due to that, but do toddlers really last to see the fireworks?

How late to you stay w/ your toddler? My dd will be 3.5 when we go.

tia

 

[turnlisa]

Depends on the child. My 3 year old is an insomniac (like me) and will stay up until midnight or later at home. At WDW, he usually makes it through the fireworks and then falls asleep on the monorail back to the resort. My best friend was there last year with her daughter that was 3 and she didn't make it past 7 p.m. Also, we didn't go back to the room for a nap so I think that plays a factor.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I went to Disney in Oct 02 when my DD was 3 1/2 and I was 6 months pregnant. We went with a friend and left her brother (2) at home. It was HOT-high 80's and we'd both be melting around noon or after lunch and head back to the resort for a rest. But once we hit the A/C she came to life (I needed a nap!!!!) We'd head out again at night -usually Epcot and everynight she fell asleep in the stroller around 6PM. She often woke up when we returned to the room but went to bed pretty easy. On the last day she fell asleep at 6 and slept til 7 the next morning. She was afraid of Illuminations even from Future World so we never tried to stay for fireworks.

When we went back in Jan 04 with her brother (3) and new sister (1) we also went back to the hotel everyday and she and her brother both napped and the baby who napped in the stroller got some floor time. We didn't go the parks at night on that trip-out to dinner but no parks and always back to room well before 9PM. Part of the reason was it was VERY cold-some nights 30's. We stayed at the Poly and watch the fireworks from our hotel room. I'm not sure if she & siblings would be afraid of the fireworks in the parks. I'm hoping we do go to Epcot at night on our Oct trip but don't plan on staying for fireworks and I am NOT planning on Fantasmic as it can be scarry too.

 

[cardramblues]

Both my toddlers with an afternoon nap made it to the fireworks in June. The heat just beat them down, but the afternoon nap in the cool hotel room recharged them and it was like a new day going back to the parks.

I understand the importance of sleep schedules with my 3 and 1 year old, but ours adjust pretty quickly.

I would say this, no one knows your toddler better then you, if they aren't up to it--don't push it. BUT, I would try and not miss Spectro and Wishes if possible.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

If the kids behave, we stay late. If not we go back to the room. Sometimes they fall asleep in the stroller.

We have a set bed time at home. On vacation we wing it.

 

[BevS97]

We have a set bed time at home. On vacation we wing it.

Our philosophy too - we are all messed up with jetlag too, so we just don't worry about bedtime on vacation.

If the baby is tired then she will fall asleep in the stroller - we do take her jammies with us, and will change her into those and put her in the stroller for a sleep if she seems to need it.

I could not imagine spending each evening back in the hotel room watching my kids sleep - not my idea of a vacation at all.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Depending on the time of year you're going, the parks might not be open terribly late too. Our boys are 3 and 15-months, and we're planning on seeing fireworks most nights of our trip. But, we're leaving next week, and Wishes and Illuminations are at 9, and Fantasmic at 8:30, so none of those are that late. Usually my boys are in bed between 8:30 and 9:00. The 3-yo will be fine, it's my little one I'm thinking about, but if he falls asleep in the stroller, we'll just put his pj's on and he'll get his bath in the morning the next day. We are planning on a nap each afternoon, leaving the parks around lunchtime and returning around 4 or so, that will help them.

Enjoy your planning!

Steph

 

[chesirekate]

My daughter will turn two when we go next week, but I'm not too worried about her falling asleep too early. She's on 'our' time so she's always up late every night anyway. My husband doesn't have to be at work until noon and I work at home so I usually work a similar schedule to his. We're usually up until 2 or 3 and get up around 10. Kate usually falls asleep around midnight and is up at 10 or so with us.

However, we are going to be getting up earlier to get to the parks, PSB, etc., so she might pass out a couple hours earlier than usual, but that should still give us time to do the parades and shows.

 

[Denine]

We try to keep our DD who will be 2 next Saturday up no later than 1 hour past her normal bedtime unless it is a special party like Halloween or Christmas.

It just keeps everyone happier.

 

[GEM]

I've got one of those "stay up late" toddlers, too. My little guy is almost 17 months now and will be almost 20 months when the time for our trip rolls around. His normal bedtime is between 10pm and 11pm. Like somebody else said, he's pretty much on our time. He gets up around 8am or so, takes two good naps a day, and goes down for the night when we do. Luckily, he will nap pretty much anywhere and has no problem just kicking back in his stroller. It worked out great when we took him in May for his first birthday. We even took him to the evening Extra Magic Hour at Epcot and he closed down the park at midnight. He had a blast!! We're doing MVMCP this year, and I imagine he will last through pretty much through the whole thing. Of course, we're planning a "sleeping in" morning for the next day. It probably helps that he is very laid back and easy going. He doesn't really get cranky when he gets tired, he just passes out.

 

[HenDuck]

When we went on Spring Break to DL in April, we modified DS' schedule. We all got up early and hit the parks first thing in the morning. We brought him back at noonish for a nap. This is his regular schedule but we let him sleep up to 3 hours, which is unheard of at home (for obvious reasons the rest of us need to sleep at night!)

Then I bathed him and he was ready to go until the fireworks exploded across the sky!

He is a night owl by nature but having that extra long nap really helped him make the most of the extended hours.

When we go in December, we'll have to play it by ear because the hours will be shorter and he is slowly weaning himself from his naps. I am thinking the first day we'll let him sleep in and then see how long he can go with either a short, 60 minute nap or none at all. When the parks are open later on the weekends, I'll try to nap him a little longer.

No matter. He'll be happy (as will I) as long as we're at Disney!



Be flexible and see how your little one does the first day or so and then adjust, adjust, adjust!

 

[MinnieGi]

With an afternoon nap, DD was ready for all the night time action WDW had to offer! Actually we all usually need an afternoon nap from all the excitement and then we're able to enjoy more fun in the evening!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

The first time ds went to WDW he was almost 3. What we did was get an early start, come back to the room and swim and nap. We'd leave that parks around 1:00 and not return until dinner (6 or 7). That way they'd be able to see the parades and fireworks. There wasn't any trouble getting the kids to bed, they'd fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow! We still follow this schedule (kids are now 4, 5 1/2 and 7) and it works for us.

 

[Amirah95]

My sister has a 2 year old DD and she took her to WDW last year with us and she stayed in the parks from open to close with her DD. Her DD napped in the stroller so there was no problem. The only thing was that my sister couldn't keep up with us her family was forced to slow down to the pace of their little one.