Nap Time

[JKB70]

My family (DW and DS (1)) will be making our very first Disney trip in one month from today. We are putting our itinerary together and have a question that I hope you all could answer for me. My son will need to nap, and he isnt much on stroller sleeping. We figure if he has one healthy nap a day he will be pleasant for Mickey. Is it better to wake in the morning and lounge around the resort and wait for his morning nap to end (around 10 or 11), or would it be better to get up and head to the parks; then return to the resort so he could nap?
I dont know how I feel about going to a park then leaving and returning, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[jimandami]

I think it would be better to go to the park in the morning and then back to the hotel to eat lunch and take a nap. That is what we are planning to do when we go in a couple weeks (13 days....but who's counting?) In the morning, the parks are less crowded and you can get a lot more done, not to mention that it is cooler in the morning than in the afternoon (It can still get pretty warm in Orlando...even in February). Plus, I think kids at that age need the afternoon nap more than the morning nap...the morning nap is usually the one they give up when transitioning to one nap a day. After the afternoon nap, you will all be refreshed and ready to head back to the parks!
Edited to add: This obviously works much better if you are staying on-site....are you?

 

[JKB70]

Thanks for the idea, that sounds like a good plan.

We are staying on-site. 4 days at the Contemporary for my sister-in-laws wedding and then 4 days at the Caribbean!

 

[tadamom]

Since you are staying onsite and your son really needs the nap, I would go in the morning and return for lunch & the nap. And, since you are staying at the Contemporary it would be soooo easy for you to hop back on the monorail to go back for more Mickey time after the nap. Once my son fell asleep on the monorail and we just rode it while he slept.

 

[JKB70]

Thanks for the info.
Sounds pretty easy to get in and out of the park when I am in the Contemporary, but what about when I am at the Caribbean? Will it be just as simple?

 

[tadamom]

I've never stayed there but it has its own buses to/from the park.

 

[Ariel8676]

We have always gotten up early and got to the parks at opening, then head back around noon to have a relaxing lunch at the resort and either swim for a bit or to take a nap...then head back out later on around dinner time.
This works best for out girls and always have a great time!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I love seeing parents that are actually concered with their childs need to sleep rather than trying to push and push then till they are just so tired, over-heated and so darn grouchy no one wants to be around them! Having said that, I agree that you should go to the parks in the morning, get back to the resort around 11 maybe or so, order up room service, and let him/her nap!

 

[JKB70]

Thank you all for the great advice. I am trying to make this first Disney experience an enjoyable one that will cause us to return again and again.

 

[hopare]

I too have kids that have always needed naps. This will be our 3rd trip and we will be taking time out for naps. I waould much rather have a happy kid than a cranky kid. Just let them decide what pace to go and things will be great.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We are going in July with our sons. One turned 3 today (Happy Birthday Philip!) and the little one will be 1 on May 1st. Philip tends to fight napping so as not to miss out on anything so I know he will not sleep in the stroller, whereas our little Jonathan is still so little that he falls asleep anywhere. However, Philip tends to fall asleep within 2 minutes of getting into the car after being somewhere with a lot of excitement. So we are thinking it will be better for us to go to the parks very early (love the extra magic hours they offer since we will stay onsite), have lunch there and then head back to the Pop Century to our room for a nap. We are driving to the parks too so we don't have to wait for a bus and the kids will be more comfortable on the ride back. That way if Philip falls asleep in the car (which he most likely will), we can put him right into the bed in the nice air-conditioned room and not worry that he has not yet eaten lunch. So lunching in the park then returning to the room works better for us. As far as Jonathan, like I said, he will sleep anywhere, so he would probably fall asleep in the car too and then be put into the pack 'n' play in the room.

I just think that for us it is a better idea to be sure the kids eat lunch first before leaving the park, then head back for some quiet and cool time. That if an option you may want to consider! Enjoy your trip and have a blast!

-Bonnie

 

[Schmeck]

We are driving to the parks too so we don't have to wait for a bus and the kids will be more comfortable on the ride back. That way if Philip falls asleep in the car (which he most likely will), we can put him right into the bed in the nice air-conditioned room and not worry that he has not yet eaten lunch.

-Bonnie

Just a reminder that you will have to wait for the monorail or ferry, and the tram possibly too, at MK because you have to park at the TTC and get over or around the lake to get to MK.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Thanks for the info! I was already aware of the parking situation at MK. Others here have also told me that early enough in the morning you can park close enough to walk to MK and avoid the tram. Although I know it is a bit of a distance, we don't mind it at all especially since the kids will be riding in the stroller. DH and I are in good shape and love a lot of walking. As long as the kids don't have to do it and can sit in the stroller it works for us. Also we can wheel the stroller onto the monorail or boat most likely. In addition, we still avoid waiting for the bus at the resort and also the other days when we visit the other 3 parks. So, driving just works for us, especially since we will already have the car with us and do not have to add an extra expense for a rental car.

Bonnie

 

[JKB70]

Thanks again for all the info. This is a really great site where a new WDW parent, like myself, sure can get great info. I am sure with all of this knowledge I will not have the first time WDW errors that many others do.


Thanks, and my family thanks you all too.

 

[laughinplace199]

I agree with the other posters who recommended getting to the parks early and then taking a break later in the day. My kids are now 8, 6, & 1 and that's what we've always done (and still do!). Even the bigger kids welcome the rest and swim time.

We like to get to the parks right when they open. You can get a lot done in that first hour or two, before the heavier crowds arrive. We usually have an early lunch and then head back to the resort right after lunch. At the resort, we'll rest/nap, and then maybe go for a swim before showering and getting ready to go out again. We might hit a few rides before or after dinner, but we don't stay out too late. With the exception of a couple of nights, we try to get the kids to bed close to their regular bedtimes. For us, it makes for happy kids and therefore, happy parents.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I agree about working everything out based on your children's schedule. I think that what many people try to do is to see EVERYTHING all in one trip, which is difficult enough for adults to do, let alone little ones. The way I look at it, if we make it to a parade or 2, great, if not...next time around or the time after that! This is certainly not our last trip to Disney, though it is our first with the kids. We plan to do things best for them. Whatever we end up doing, we will be in DISNEYWORLD...we will have fun no matter what!

If they can stay up a little late to see a parade one night at MK, great...if not thats fine too! As long as we all have a good time!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We took our 12 month old and she did all her napping in the stroller (we brought one from home instead of renting). We fully planned to go back to the resort each day, but she fell asleep on her own whenever she was ready. So we used that time to ride-swap all the rides she couldn't get on. By the time we we'd get to the bus stop, wait for a bus, get to the resort and into the room, she would have been awake again anyway.

Here she is napping at MGM:

And at the MK the next day:

Waking up from a nap at Epcot: