Mid-day naps

[LRdismom]

When my kids were 2 & 4, I had a double Maclaren stroller that laid flat. They both would fall asleep at the same time and I would just casually stroll through gift shops for the air conditioning. They would sleep for at least an hour. I would give it a shot before planning on the leaving for a huge chunk of the day.

 

[hardcorestitch]

When my kids were younger we never went back to the hotel for naps, they would just conk out in the stroller or we would hold them in the wait lines while they were passed out. And we always did rope drop to fireworks! I know my kids may have been the exceptions and we were extremely blessed by never having melt downs.

Anyway, we are now going with friends that have a 4 year old and she is insisting that the little one has to go back to the hotel every day for 1-2hr naps plus there's no way he will last until fireworks shows at night. I'm not going to tell her how to parent, so that's not my question.

But for those that DID/DO the naps in the middle of the day - can you tell me how long it actually takes out of the day? Leaving the park, waiting for Disney bus back to Pop Century, travel, getting back to the room, getting him settled down, actually nap, and then turn around and go back to the park!?! It seems this could take a huge chunk of time out of the day?

She said he will nap from approx 11am-1pm... am I wrong to be thinking that by the time we get in the park (normal opening time) they would almost have to turn around and go right back to the hotel?

Is there anything I can help advise her on this? Again, Im not trying to tell her how to parent...I just have no frame of reference to help her because we never did it.

Would honestly just recommend taking a break either in a show or a more relaxed attraction. Even if there are lines, there should be some limited benches in queue.

 

[foxybynature]

Every kid and every *person* is different. I am 44 years old and you couldn't pay me to be in the parks during peak heat in the summer. Plus, health-wise, I need to take a mid-day break. I'd say plan for 4 hours and be pleasantly surprised if it is shorter. Perhaps they will learn their kiddo conks out in the stroller easier than they thought, or maybe the overstimulation will make it harder for the kid to go down. There's just no way to know. They have to do what works for their family, but that doesn't mean you have to let it hold your plans hostage.

 

[Cfabar1]

We tended to leave around lunch, then back to the room for a nap.
So, all in all it was a long time away from the park - probably 3-4 hours.

Our kids are on the young side - not even 4 yet… Our 3 year old has outgrown her nap, so this year it will probably be baby sleeps and takes a nap while 3 YO goes to the pool, plays some games, etc.

We aren’t parks warriors. So that worked well for us. We’ve commented that if other members of our family were with us, they wouldn’t be able to handle vacationing like this - they’d feel they weren’t getting their money’s worth out of the park ticket…

But we have APs, so we don’t feel that pressure, and just want the trip to be fun. We do keep the kids to the routine, though towards the end of the trip we may pick one night to stay up a little bit late and watch the fireworks or the water pageant. Typically the last one, since we know the next day will be ample opportunity to nap as we travel home…

 

[Kerr84]

We go in the summer, so we always go back to the hotel to swim/nap/relax. We usually leave around 1:00 and go back around 4:30 or 5:00. It helps us rest and cool off and we miss the busiest time of day. We always get everything done that we want to.

I want to throw out that you don’t have to go back with them. Let them go take their nap break. You can stay in the park and then just join back up with them when they get back.

If they do decide they want to stay in the park, I’ve taken my daughter on the monorail for an air conditioned nap break before. We just rode for like 3 loops. Carousel of Progess is another great nap break. At Animal Kingdom, they could ask for a patio table at nomad lounge and sit and have a drink while the child naps.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

When my kids were younger we never went back to the hotel for naps, they would just conk out in the stroller or we would hold them in the wait lines while they were passed out. And we always did rope drop to fireworks! I know my kids may have been the exceptions and we were extremely blessed by never having melt downs.

Anyway, we are now going with friends that have a 4 year old and she is insisting that the little one has to go back to the hotel every day for 1-2hr naps plus there's no way he will last until fireworks shows at night. I'm not going to tell her how to parent, so that's not my question.

But for those that DID/DO the naps in the middle of the day - can you tell me how long it actually takes out of the day? Leaving the park, waiting for Disney bus back to Pop Century, travel, getting back to the room, getting him settled down, actually nap, and then turn around and go back to the park!?! It seems this could take a huge chunk of time out of the day?

She said he will nap from approx 11am-1pm... am I wrong to be thinking that by the time we get in the park (normal opening time) they would almost have to turn around and go right back to the hotel?

Is there anything I can help advise her on this? Again, Im not trying to tell her how to parent...I just have no frame of reference to help her because we never did

Also, every kid is different. My daughter wouldn’t fall asleep in a car, stroller etc until she was 2. Just let them do what makes them happy and you do what makes you happy.

I wonder if the little one regularly sleeps anywhere during those hrs? If not, all bets could be off. When my GS was little he was a one and done, so if he'd fall asleep in the car for 15 minutes and wake up once we got home he was done napping.

 

[brockash]

When my kids were younger we never went back to the hotel for naps, they would just conk out in the stroller or we would hold them in the wait lines while they were passed out. And we always did rope drop to fireworks! I know my kids may have been the exceptions and we were extremely blessed by never having melt downs.

Anyway, we are now going with friends that have a 4 year old and she is insisting that the little one has to go back to the hotel every day for 1-2hr naps plus there's no way he will last until fireworks shows at night. I'm not going to tell her how to parent, so that's not my question.

But for those that DID/DO the naps in the middle of the day - can you tell me how long it actually takes out of the day? Leaving the park, waiting for Disney bus back to Pop Century, travel, getting back to the room, getting him settled down, actually nap, and then turn around and go back to the park!?! It seems this could take a huge chunk of time out of the day?

She said he will nap from approx 11am-1pm... am I wrong to be thinking that by the time we get in the park (normal opening time) they would almost have to turn around and go right back to the hotel?

Is there anything I can help advise her on this? Again, Im not trying to tell her how to parent...I just have no frame of reference to help her because we never did it.

Going to/from Epcot and DHS will be a breeze (we always break during those days if we're staying on the skyliner). Breaking for MK is going to be about 45 mins. one way (by the time you get out of the park to the bus stop, wait for bus and back to your room). - Same on the way back. That should be your longest, however if you have to wait a while for a bus in either direction tack on the extra time. Realistically I'd say 35-55 mins. for MK - Pop in middle of the day.

 

[PatsGirl]

All bets are off for our group. I never left the parks with my kids when they were younger but we would get there at rope drop and stay until mid-afternoon. If they fell asleep great, we might stay a little later. If not, we left and it meant an early bedtime. Upcoming trip is with nearly 3 yo who at present (2.5) naps daily 1-3 pm. She can occasionally stay up until closer to 1:30 or 2 but a needed nap is obvious. Not sure what another 6 months will bring but her daycare requires a rest period of at least an hour after lunch so (12:30 or 1:00 until 2 or so and she now sleeps until 3 there) that will be her schedule at the time still. Add in a 6 month old, who if like most that age will take two naps, one mid morning and one mid afternoon. He'll have to do his mid-morning in a stroller and we'll see what happens with the second nap. I'm hoping my son and DIL can be a bit flexible with the older child but I get not wanting any melt downs at the parks so I'm voting for a 2 pm leave and a short nap whenever it happens once we depart. Time will tell. I'm happy to leave at 2 and have some adult pool and HH time. This isn't a one and done trip for us if I have my way. My kids went alot and if I have my way, my grandchildren will also. Prices will prohibit yearly but I'll be happy with every 3 years. I understand for some its a one and done and they really push to stay late and not miss anything.