Moms who've gone to DL with toddlers - please help!

[4evrdisney]

I am trying to make our Disney Dining reservations this week. But, I'm not sure how to do this. We will have a 1 year old and 3 year old with us - they will definitely need naps in the afternoon. However, the parks are only open from 10:00-8:00 everyday that we are there. So . . . We will use our 2 Magic Mornings and get in at 9:00 2 mornings. And, probably stay at the park from 9:00-2:00 and 10:00-2:00 the other days. We are going to be at the park for 4 days.

So, my question is how would you do the afternoons. After nap time would you even attempt to go back to the park? We thought we'd be back at the park from 5:00-7:00 and then have a late-ish dinner then have the kids in bed by 9:00 which is late for them. At home our baby is in bed by 7!!

Our alternative is to swim/nap and then have dinner earlier and do bed earlier. Anyone have thoughts? We feel like if we don't go back to the park we don't have that much time in the parks. But, maybe 4/5 hours a a day is plenty with toddlers!!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Phalene]

I haven't toured with 2 toddlers together, but my son's first real visit was to celebrate his 1st birthday. We went a few weeks early, and he wasn't walking but he had no problems going all day with only short breaks for naps/meals/etc...

My daughter first went to WDW when she was turning 3 and again had no problems going all day. I had a stroller for her to use, and she'd hop in and out as needed, but I don't think she ever slowed down-the nap time at the hotel was more for me some days! LOL

 

[cccdisney]

I have gone with babies and toddlers many times. I really think it depends on how flexible your little ones are. My younger two never have problems because they could sleep anywhere! When we went back to the parks in the late evening we would just take pj's and dress them for bed when we thought they were ready to sleep. They had no problems sleeping in their stroller. In fact most days they napped in the stroller also.
I think you will find 4-5 hours in the park a day to not be enough time. You might just need to play it by ear each day to see how it goes.

 

[Sy-]

Do they need to sleep in the hotel room? My DD took a couple of naps in her stroller while we were there in 2005. We just found a nice quiet place in the park and she slept fine. New Orleans Square has a nice quiet courtyard that is perfect for sleeping!

 

[jazzatola]

When we first took our kids they were 8 months and 2 years old. We had every intention to go back and take a nap. The 1st day we tried and they wouldn't settle down at all, so we thought oh well we will just go back to the park. By the time we go the entrance they were both asleep! Ever since then we do not try and do naps, they fall asleep in the stroller if they are tired. Everyone is different and this way has really worked for us. When they would fall asleep hubby and I would switch off on rides, look at the shops and just have a relaxing time. Good luck!

 

[Anna1227]

Our last trip to Disneyland was in January, when DD was 19 months. We would get to the park a little before opening, around 12, go back to the hotel for a nap until 2 or 2:30 and then go back to the parks for a bit, do an early dinner around 4 and then stay at the parks until DD started getting tired. Sometimes she would make it until closing at 8, and sometimes that would be earlier. That schedule seemed to work out really well for us. We were there 3 days, had one magic morning, and I felt like we had a lot of time in the parks. We did most of our rides in the morning, then in the early afternoon after the nap we would see a show, go shopping or exploring, and then do rides again after dinner.

In my opinion, I wouldn't push the kids until they are cranky and overtired. That really isn't fun for anyone involved. I would do an earlier dinner, see how your kids are doing and go back to the park if they aren't too tired, and head back to go to bed when they start getting tired.

If they will take a nap a little earlier, then you could have dinner at a little earlier time before all the restaurants start to get too busy, then have some time to spend in the parks afterward. Be sure to also take plenty of snacks and drinks with you. I think keeping the kids well rested, and making sure they aren't hungry and thirsty go a long way to making the experience the best it can be.

Have a fun trip!

 

[sydangel68]

We took DS when he was 2.5yo, most days he napped in the stroller for 1hr and then we would take turns going on more adult rides whilst he slept. This worked most days.

We were staying at the Double Tree and it was just too much time wasting to get back to the hotel for nap time and still make it back to the park for a couple of hours in the evening. It just didn't work and we'd only get to the park for 1 hour before it closed, it almost wasn't worth the effort.

The 2 nights we spent at the GCH were fantastic, we were able to spend the morning till 1pm at the park, then nap, then swim and go back for 2 hours in the evening. If DS was tired, one of us went back to the room with him. It was just so convenient and one of the reasons were are staying at the GCH this time as DS still has a nap even though he is now 4yo.

The funniest thing was we got him up early one morning for Early Entry which was at 9am (normal opening was 10am) and we literally bolted for Dumbo as soon as the gates opened. Bent down to get him out of the strolller and he was asleep!!! It was only 9.15am. Poor kid must have been exhausted from the constant go go go. We then spent the morning walking around the park taking photos of DS asleep in front of all the attractions.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

If your kids really require naps in the room or you'd prefer it that way, I'd try to make their nap time a little earlier. Or could you shorten it to 2 hours (1-3 or 2-4) without making them miserable?

We've found at Disneyland that our kids can go from park opening to park closing most of the time without a break. But there have been days where we've taken a break for naps and we usually leave the parks by 1pm, swim for an hour and then naps for an hour (just enough to recharge them) and then back to the parks. I would try to utilize that evening time in the parks if at all possible. If our youngest is still tired, she'll fall asleep in the stroller and then we'll take turns waiting with her while the other takes our oldest on rides.

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

my son would just nap in his stroller also...he was just too excited and wouldnt fall asleep until he couldnt take it anymore we did go back to our hotel room, but of course i couldnt get him to nap there. are your children on any kind of schedual with naps and stuff? on vacation, i just let my son sleep when he wants...if he wanted to enjoy DL i didnt mind! he always went to sleep at night when we got back, so thats all that mattered to me.
i would definitely go back to the parks though!

 

[grizbuzz]

We always have gone back to the hotel room for naps in the afternoon. Mornings in the park, naps and then perhaps a swim in the pool and then back to the park in evenings. I think my DH and I both need a little break as well.

If the park is only open until 8pm, I'd do earlier naps. I'd do 9-1pm in park then nap and then back to the parks in the evenings. Perhaps you could have an early dinner at 5pm or 5:30pm and spend a couple hours at park after eating. And bring stroller so baby can fall asleep at 7pm in park.

 

[4evrdisney]

Hey All! Thank you for the responses -
I think everyone has great suggestions!! Our kids are on a really consistent schedule at home and usually nap at 1:00. So, I think I will take your suggestions and bump our naps back to 1:00 and then do an early dinner at 5 and go back to the parks for a couple of hours. And, of course, a lot of it we will play by ear once we get there. Thanks again everyone!!

Also - does the park really close at 8:00 if that's what the schedule says? Or can visitors actually stay a little later to shop, ride rides etc.??

 

[cinderella_mom]

When DD was a toddler, I would have her nap in her stroller. She would sleep for 1-2 hours while I shopped or sat in a cool location if I was alone. If DH or Grandma was with me, we would take turns sitting and either going on rides or shopping.

 

[cinderella_mom]

Hey All! Thank you for the responses -
I think everyone has great suggestions!! Our kids are on a really consistent schedule at home and usually nap at 1:00. So, I think I will take your suggestions and bump our naps back to 1:00 and then do an early dinner at 5 and go back to the parks for a couple of hours. And, of course, a lot of it we will play by ear once we get there. Thanks again everyone!!

Also - does the park really close at 8:00 if that's what the schedule says? Or can visitors actually stay a little later to shop, ride rides etc.??

If you are in line for a ride at the closing hour, you will most likely be able to ride that ride. They do not usually let people enter ride lines if it past the closing hour. The shops on Main Street stay open up to 1 hour past closing and World of Disney in DTD is open later.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Your kids might surprise you. I'm not saying test my theory, but my kids are on a strict nap schedule at home too, but there is something magical about Disneyland that lets go from opening to closing without getting cranky. I have found, though, that even if they don't want to nap a midday break is always helpful, even if we just go back to the hotel to swim.

 

[4evrdisney]

DisneyJamie - I'm glad to hear that from a mom who uses a schedule at home We are definitely hopeful that our kids will be flexible. We KNOW our 3 year old and be incredibly flexible. And, we have been glad that our 1 year old is much more flexible than her brother was at this age. We are hoping that maybe 1 or 2 of the days we can push it and then nap the other days.

Thanks everyone for your advice/suggestions/ideas! So helpful!

 

[mariezp]

Our DD was 18 months the first time she went. Then we also were with our 16 month grandson a few years later. If they will nap in the stroller, GREAT! Ours did but I know some can't tune out the noise in the park. Either way, I'd suggest going back to your room for an afternoon break and then getting in a few hours later in the day. In our case, I learned the hard way to NEVER skip naps! Just took one time but my daughter turned into a little demon without her nap! She is 8 now so she no longer needs naps but an afternoon break is always good! (You will be surprised at just how much better it makes YOU feel too!)

 

[lawyergirl22]

We went to DL in May this year w/ DD4(just turned 4) and DS 18months. The park times were exactly the same 10-8pm, and 10-6pm DCA. We stayed at the HoJo and we took breaks EVERY day. We would get to the park before rope drop, hit our fave rides from 9-12pm or so and break for lunch--it seemed like the kids were constantly hungry! And when they got hungry, they got cranky! So bring or buy lots of snacks! We then hit a couple more rides on our way out of the park and headed back to the room between 1-2pm for a rest.

Some evenings we headed bach to the parks by 5pm, other nights it wasn't until 6pm. We'd get something to quick and easy to eat and hit a couple more rides before park closing. We then headed back to HoJo's and were in bed by 9pm or so. It was a alot of walking and I lost 5lbs, despite the fact that I indulged my every whim on the sweets at DL! But, it really worked for the kids.

It was really hard to tour this way(with short park time and nap breaks), as I tend to be more commando than laid back. However, this wasn't just my vacation, and taking the breaks was crucial for the kids. Have a general game plan, and then let the kids set the pace. You'll do just fine.

HTH--Gianna

 

[4evrdisney]

Gianna - Your post was exactly what I needed. Thank you!!! BTW - are you really a lawyer?

 

[lawyergirl22]

Gianna - Your post was exactly what I needed. Thank you!!! BTW - are you really a lawyer?

Yup--really a lawyer. I represent kids, and it's a great job to have. Hope you have a great trip. We are headed back to DL in december and I can't wait. Actually, I'm not waiting...I'm taking the kids solo to WDW for the first time in September. Everyone thinks I am insane to visit Disney so much, but I just love it, and so do the kids!

Gianna