Last minute tips?

[Bhall9123]

We’re staying at All star Movies starting next Thursday with our 11 Month old. We were APs in 2016 and have been to DLR with our son but staying on property at wdw is new to us as we always used Airbnb.
Are the any last minute tips that might help? We do plan to come back to the hotel to take a nap in the middle of the day but is that going to be kind of tough for us?

Anyway just wondering if anybody might have suggestions for stuff we didn’t think about. Not looking for anything specific. Thanks!

 

[holden]

When our kids were little like that, we let them sleep in the stroller. We’d wander around aimlessly until they fell asleep and then take turns going on rides or grab a bite to eat.

We left the parks by 2 or so to shower and rest before dinner. Then dinner and bed for the little ones.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Agree with @holden , Adults take a Transportation Tour of Disney Property, while your kids nap- tell them you are in the Monorail as they wake up, especially if you haven't taken it before.

If you are lucky they will pass out on an EPCOT ride so you will ride it again cuz they dont remember going on it
Timing to YOUR kid's cues under massive social stimuli like WDW is key to surviving the vacation.
If they are night owls they may enjoy seeing the evening fireworks. But it all depends on YOUR family

 

[SL6827]

Ask for a room on the highest floor. Usually quieter because no one is above you. (in my cases anyways)

 

[Markal]

Agree on highest floor and coming back to nap midday. My son had to have his nap, and we got to nap too. Then we could stay later in the parks. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Bhall9123]

When our kids were little like that, we let them sleep in the stroller. We’d wander around aimlessly until they fell asleep and then take turns going on rides or grab a bite to eat.

We left the parks by 2 or so to shower and rest before dinner. Then dinner and bed for the little ones.

Yeah we went with friends a few years back and their kids 3 kids all basically took turns taking naps in the stroller. And I told my wife our son will do the same. Usually if he won’t go down for a nap I’ll walk him around the block in the stroller and he passes out. I don’t think it would be too different in the parks.

 

[Bhall9123]

Ask for a room on the highest floor. Usually quieter because no one is above you. (in my cases anyways)

That definitely makes sense. Not sure my wife would be up for climbing stairs though. Haha I’ll have to see if she thinks it worth it.

 

[shocker]

That definitely makes sense. Not sure my wife would be up for climbing stairs though. Haha I’ll have to see if she thinks it worth it.

Every building of All Stars has an elevator.

I've let kids nap in strollers & I've taken them back to room for naps. I can only suggest if going to room to nap that you keep them awake on the way or they'll sleep on bus, be awake while you try to rest, then fall asleep on way back to park or during dinner. This is what my son did multiple days on one trip. I had to engage him constantly en route to ensure an actual nap time.

 

[DrunkJam]

My biggest tip is don't be afraid to ditch a plan and change the scenery. Honestly, whatever the FP or goal, it is not fun with a screaming child, or an overly stressed out parent. Just stop if it stops being fun, and do what is needed to bring the trip back on track, nap, swim, whatever. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help, if something is not working and you don't know how to fix it, ask if a CM has any ideas, you'd be surprised.
Baby care rooms are usually quiet and cool.
Don't worry about maximising any aspect of your holiday, my daughter, aged 4, ordered her dinner at Citricos, fell asleep at the table before it arrived, stayed asleep through the whole meal, (the waiter very kindly boxed her meal for her, but honestly, she slept til morning, so we ended up wasting it) and the calm to eat while she slept, rather than waking her to make sure she ate, but leaving her bad tempered and leaving us anxious about upsetting other patrons, meant that we didn't concern ourselves with the wasted food.

 

[Mome Rath]

Are the any last minute tips that might help? We do plan to come back to the hotel to take a nap in the middle of the day but is that going to be kind of tough for us?

I'm going to answer assuming you are going to utilize the buses. I don't think it will be tough for you, but it does take time. If the weather is bad, or you guys are too hot, then I do think a break is worth it... at least leaving the park and heading to a hotel is worth it (it doesn't have to be your own unless you all need a rest that requires a bed/change of clothes, etc... there are neat places to cool off and rest in most of the hotels on property, we like the monorail hotels for that purpose).

If you are going to jump on a bus, try to time it where you are naturally at the front of the park when you think you want to go back (for example, don't be in the very back of World Showcase in EPCOT at 1 if you are wanting to leave the park at 2), and set up your day to match your schedule. And, just in case you don't know, when you are at your hotel there is now a bus schedule on the MDE app that shows when the next bus is supposed to be there. You can use it to time when you leave the room to go down to the bus stop, just be aware, sometimes the time is off by a couple of minutes, but at least you have a heads up.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

We’re staying at All star Movies starting next Thursday with our 11 Month old. We were APs in 2016 and have been to DLR with our son but staying on property at wdw is new to us as we always used Airbnb.
Are the any last minute tips that might help? We do plan to come back to the hotel to take a nap in the middle of the day but is that going to be kind of tough for us?

Anyway just wondering if anybody might have suggestions for stuff we didn’t think about. Not looking for anything specific. Thanks!

another with the dont try to nap at resort unless you are sure you can keep awake on way back plus walk to room. another in a different area bring a power strip for extra plugs to charge everything

 

[nkereina]

Going from park to resort (or vice versa), its best to allow an hour for that. I think people tend to underestimate the commute times. If you want nap time at 2pm (for example), I'd be leaving the park by 1pm to make sure you're back at the room by 2. Also, strollers will need to be folded when on the bus, so I would try to make the commute before the baby falls asleep when you can. Otherwise, the bus transportation is logistically easy as long as you give yourself enough time to get to and from.

 

[shocker]

bring a power strip for extra plugs to charge everything

The OP is staying at Movies which has been fully renovated. There are plugs & USB ports EVERYWHERE & its sooooo nice. Unless you have a gazillion devices, you no longer have to bring power strips, yea!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

The OP is staying at Movies which has been fully renovated. There are plugs & USB ports EVERYWHERE & its sooooo nice. Unless you have a gazillion devices, you no longer have to bring power strips, yea!

guess it comes with traveling with 4 boys, grandsons, and each as a device so power strip will still be on my list even with the updates. we have 3 different camera batteries and my phone plus there stuff. not just Disney but we have never not needed a strip

 

[dancin Disney style]

My biggest tip is don't be afraid to ditch a plan and change the scenery. Honestly, whatever the FP or goal, it is not fun with a screaming child, or an overly stressed out parent. Just stop if it stops being fun, and do what is needed to bring the trip back on track, nap, swim, whatever. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help, if something is not working and you don't know how to fix it, ask if a CM has any ideas, you'd be surprised.
Baby care rooms are usually quiet and cool.
Don't worry about maximising any aspect of your holiday, my daughter, aged 4, ordered her dinner at Citricos, fell asleep at the table before it arrived, stayed asleep through the whole meal, (the waiter very kindly boxed her meal for her, but honestly, she slept til morning, so we ended up wasting it) and the calm to eat while she slept, rather than waking her to make sure she ate, but leaving her bad tempered and leaving us anxious about upsetting other patrons, meant that we didn't concern ourselves with the wasted food.

This is excellent advice. Go with the flow is the best plan with young children. When my youngest DD was 6 we took her for her first all Disney, all the time trip. Within 3 or 4 hours of arriving at MK on the first day she was absolutely miserable and wanted to go home....not the resort but home. Very quickly I figured out that she was already wiped out from walking and it was a really hot day too. We got her a stroller and it turned EVERYTHING around. She then started having the time of her life. LOL.....I swear that stroller unleashed the beast. Since then we have logged over 20 WDW trips.

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

When we taveled to Disney when our children were young we always took breaks in the afternoon. We went in early got a bunch of stuff done and went back to the resort for a rest. A rest for the children as well as us. Children took a nap and mom and dad got to relax for a little while because let's face it watching children in a place that big IS exhausting. It may not be for everyone. And it may not work for people on a short visit who need to get alot done on any given day but it is worth thinking about. It does not take that long to catch a bus to anywhere on property at 1 or 2 in the afternoon so traveling back and forth to take a break is usually not that big a hassle. We felt it made it much easier to stay late for the fireworks etc..... Enjoy your trip and and please let us know what a great time you had.

 

[sponica]

I'm on team stroller nap, but we only had 4 park days...really going with kids is about being flexible more than anything else. Some kids will hang late, others wont.

If the hotel break works for you, then do it. But don't be so committed to the idea if it does not work.