Let 2.5 yr. old stay up for fireworks?

[kjs1976]

Just wondering if anyone let's/has let their 2-3 year old stay up for one of the WDW fireworks shows. DD will be 2.5 (or 32 mos.) when we go next month and we've never had her stay up for a show. Our last full day is my b-day and an MK day. Wondering if we could consider it. Wondering about your experiences. She LOVES fireworks on TV and the little ones you light in the yard. We keep her schedule very regular on vacation and she's always done well. Normally when we've gone to WDW she is asleep my 8:30-9 there. Thanks!

 

[Fall1]

We took twin DS and DD when they were 28 mos and we skipped all night activities, but we are thinking of doing it this time. It's kind of good that it would be your last night, so if she's a little cranky the next day, at least you are headed home.

 

[dizneechic]

I'm a stickler for a schedule so when on vacation we stay as close to possible to our home schedule. That said we went in Feb and for a few nights Wishes was at 8. At home were normally in bed by then but we made the exception for one night to watch. By the end of our trip Wishes was at 9 and we were "home" in bed by then, so if we didn't get it in early on in our trip they would have missed it.

Anyhow, if your child can handle changes in schedules without much being thrown off maybe one night would be OK (with a relaxing morning planned the next day). If your child will end up "off" because of a messed up schedule then its not worth messing with the zen of the whole vacation for a night of fireworks.

 

[Minnesota!]

Of course I would let my kid stay up! We don't have bedtimes when on vacation (or really at home, either...it's at whatever time we all get tired...)..

If you think it will be an issue, just let her sleep in longer then next day. Esp if you are going home...the travel is going to wipe her out anyway...so she will sleep when you get home.

 

[glk2009]

We took our daughter when she was 28 months, so not quite 2 1/2, for the 9 PM Wishes show and she loved it and was great about the late bedtime.

We let her sleep in (as much as she would) that morning and made sure she had a good afternoon nap.

We watched from the dessert party which was great. The only part she didn't like were the really loud fireworks, she would duck her head into dad's shoulder.

I'd say play it by ear and see how your child is doing and if they don't seem too tired, give it a shot.

Have fun!

 

[Tinkerbell3014]

I would definetly let my child stay up for fireworks. Part of the fun of being a kid; to stay up late for something special. Have a magical vacation!

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Of course I would let my kid stay up! We don't have bedtimes when on vacation (or really at home, either...it's at whatever time we all get tired...)..

If you think it will be an issue, just let her sleep in longer then next day. Esp if you are going home...the travel is going to wipe her out anyway...so she will sleep when you get home.

I agree - no bedtimes on vacation!!! Our kids have always been fine!!! (and this comes from a mom with a schedule!!!) It's Disney, live it up!!!!!!

 

[bijoli666]

I agree - no bedtimes on vacation!!! Our kids have always been fine!!! (and this comes from a mom with a schedule!!!) It's Disney, live it up!!!!!!

DITTO!!! How often in her life will she have a chance to experience that caliber of fireworks?

 

[antree]

My son has been going since he was 10 mos old and I would not change anything we did with him. We didn't give him a set bed time and he did everything we did and loved it. The good thing about having kids that young, is when they are tired most of them will fall asleep anywhere.
Have a stroller with you and if he is tired he can lay in the stroller. He might not even make it for the fireworks but at least he will be in the stroller. Good Luck in whatever you choose and have fun.

 

[tzolkin]

We change bedtime for Disney. At home my kids are in bed by 8:00, but we usually don't leave a park until 8-8:30. After the bus back to the resort and bathing they are usually asleep before 10.

However, none of us nap at home but we sleep for about 4 hours in the afternoon at Disney. We may stay up a bit later (see a 9:00 Wishes or Illuminations) one or two night during a 10-12 day trip.

My kids have never had any issues with the schedule changes. No one has ever been grumpy or had any meltdowns either. We get more sleep and lots of time to relax during our trips than we ever do at home.

 

[mom2girlsx3]

Definitely stay! Sounds like a great excuse to sleep during travel home the next day! We've always taken our kids and never had a problem... and we're sticklers for bedtime at home, but not at Disney!

 

[FayeW]

Hey, she's your kid...do whatever you want. If the evening is progressing well and you think she can hang on til fireworks, then stay. Missing one bedtime won't hurt her. Parenting doesn't have to be a world of hard and fast rules, and everyone benefits if kids can learn to be flexible.

 

[kjs1976]

Fun to read everyones responses. Maybe I'm not so worried about her schedule, but mine! Since I'll be the one doing the packing and keeping track of all the documents and watching the clock....ha! I'll need MY sleep! We want to try to be to the Poly or GF for a character b-fast the next morning at 9. I just want her to sleep on the plane ride the next day!

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Let them stay up!!! My DDs have a VERY regular schedule at home with an 8:00 bed time. On vacation in June we hit the Parks in the morning, went back to the Resort to swim/nap, went back to the parks around dinner time, and stayed up late.

They did great. My DD(5) who has not napped in at least 2.5 years, even napped so that she could stay up late.

They had no problem readjusting to our normal schedule when we got home.

 

[sk!mom]

Depends on the child. My DD could not stay up late for any reason at that age. She would just get too cranky. My DS, on the other hand, could take a good nap and was then able to stay up late.

 

[Halbleib1]

My son did everything that we did from our first trip when he was 2 to our last trip. Sometimes he did fall asleep in the stroller which was fine. Others he stayed awake and watched the whole thing. We always go back to our room for an afternoon break though.

Our last trip it was just the two of us for MK EMH since my dh was sick and he stayed up until we got back to our room at 3am. He was 5 at the time. We had a great time riding all the rides in Fantasyland without much of a wait time. We got a late start the next morning which we had planned on because of the late EMH time.

 

[cheyandrew7]

We are the same way when your tired you to go to bed i have a 4, 2, and 9 month old most of the time they are in bed by midnight

Of course I would let my kid stay up! We don't have bedtimes when on vacation (or really at home, either...it's at whatever time we all get tired...)..

 

[Big Kid]

Our son really enjoyed the fireworks at 8:00 PM the past two Januarys when he was one and a half and then two and a half. We went back to the room for naps directly after lunch and generally went out again at dinnertime. Since the environment at WDW is so different than at home, we don't try to keep the same schedule. We all sleep well there whatever time our heads hit the pillows.

 

[seelyt2]

Give it a shot. Just be sure to have them nap beforehand, bring a stroller, and don't plan a heavy morning the following day. They'll get back to their regular schedule within a few days upon their return home since the whole vacation will likely throw their schedule off anyway.

 

[kimbo0569]

It really depends on your child and how well they do with staying up later, losing sleep, etc.

That being said - when my oldest was 2.5, we took her to Disney for the first time and she did fine staying up late for the fireworks, loved it!
My little one was 3 when we took her and she did fine one night waiting for the fireworks at MK. However, on our last night there, we went to Epcot to see Illuminations, she was doing fine until about 5 minutes before they started, and wound up falling asleep on my husband's shoulder 5 minutes into the show.

Normally my dh and I are a stickler for bedtime/routine at home. However, when we're on vacation, we consider it a break from the routine and are more laid back. Play it by ear that day.