Napping

[kalolaina]

opinion...do most people let their kids nap in the stroller or take them back for their nap?

 

[Hannathy]

Mine just napped in the stroller. We found it too exhausting and time consuming to go back to the resort.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

For all 4 of my son's trips he has napped in the stroller. However, we are going again in three weeks and we may go back - but that's mostly bc it will be very hot and I will be 30 weeks pregnant!! If your kiddo will snooze in the stroller it is much easier and gives you time to do some rides (using baby swap), shop, or eat in relative peace

 

[fitmom]

Nap in the stroller

 

[amylynne01]

Nap in the stroller. However, if we went in hot months, we would most likely take an afternoon break just to get out of the heat.

 

[kalolaina]

Thanks everyone! That's exactly my plan. Except i'm thinking maybe take them back (my DH is 2.5 and our friends DS is going to be 8 mo) the day that we are doing the Halloween Party...but they may just nap in the strollers. We'll be there 9/16-9/24 so I think it will be warm but not too hot.

 

[Suzanne74]

Not sure where you are staying, but I am basing this on staying onsite because I have never stayed offsite...

Under 9 months, I would just nap in the stroller unless it is hot - but you can easily go nurse in the baby care center and have them sleep there. I love those places.

9-24 months - 100% go back to the resort. Those kids need a good solid 2 hour nap to make it thru the entire day. Otherwise you risk having to leave before fireworks etc... That is my and my kids fav time of the day.

2-3yrs - I would still probably go back but if your child can do a 10 hour park day with only a power nap in the stoller, then I guess not leave. My 2 year old would melt by 6-7pm even if she napped 45min in the stroller.

over 3yrs - it would probably depend on the day, weather, how much they slept etc....

Also, remember the parks are open different hours depending on the year. Obviously a mid day nap stinks when they close at 5 or 6pm. We purposely go when the parks stay open until at least 9pm. We go at rope drop, leave from 1-4pm and then close the parks (most of the time!) This way we are still getting 8-10 hours of park time but we are also getting time at the resort, swimming and relaxing.

We also always add a resort day in the middle. Go get a big breakfast, swim, do naps and then go to DTD in the late afternoon for some dinner, shopping and fun. I make sure the kids are asleep by 8pm that day. It really helps break it up. I can't even fathom going commando with young kids but that is just me. Isn't much of a vacation if you are so tired at the end end of your vacation.

 

[Suzanne74]

Thanks everyone! That's exactly my plan. Except i'm thinking maybe take them back (my DH is 2.5 and our friends DS is going to be 8 mo) the day that we are doing the Halloween Party...but they may just nap in the strollers. We'll be there 9/16-9/24 so I think it will be warm but not too hot.

It won't be warm, it will be hot. Last Sept/Oct trip we went on, it never went below 95 degrees and was super humid. I personally wouldn't even go to a park the day of the Halloween Party. Stay at the resort pool, give them good naps and then enter at 4pm with your Halloween ticket. My 3 year old stayed up until 11:30pm that day and she got to see every character with no lines and we walked on every ride. It was the highlight of her trip.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We always stay on site and go in the summer. When my kids were young enough that they napped, we went back to the resort. This had the added benefit of being out of the heat at the hottest point in the day AND being out of the park at the busiest time of the day.

Also, I don't know what I would do IN the park if my child was sleeping in a stroller. Just sit around on a bench staring off into space? I couldn't go on any rides unless I woke the child up, and if I did that, what was the point of having them nap in his or her stroller?

 

[autismgoesdisney]

Our first trip with just a 4 and 2 year old we went back and napped everyday. Our second trip with a 6, 5 and 2 year old we had the 2 year old nap in the stroller. This trip is our first trip in the summer and I'm thinking we may ALL need naps each day with the heat. We are going to play it by ear.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

It will be HOT that time of year... that is when we normally go and you are looking at high 90's with HIGH humidiity. I would NOT want to be in the park mid afternoon and I would not expect kids to sleep comfortably in those conditions. The 8 month old may ... because physically he will pass out... but the older child may not regardless of how tired they are.

 

[amylynne01]

We always stay on site and go in the summer. When my kids were young enough that they napped, we went back to the resort. This had the added benefit of being out of the heat at the hottest point in the day AND being out of the park at the busiest time of the day.

Also, I don't know what I would do IN the park if my child was sleeping in a stroller. Just sit around on a bench staring off into space? I couldn't go on any rides unless I woke the child up, and if I did that, what was the point of having them nap in his or her stroller?

We went with my parents in January and never left for naps. After we had lunch, the girls went in the stroller, reclined, snuggled with their lovies, and we just started walking around. Sometimes 2-3 adults would go on an adult ride while the other 1-2 stayed with the girls walking or sitting on a bench with a cold drink. One day DD2 napped in the stroller, so we parked in Innoventions, and my mom sat back and rested as well. DH, DD1, my dad, and I checked out the exhibits. Another day DH and I went on Test Track while mom and dad got coffee and people watched.

Just seemed to be way easier than taking the long trek back to our room. Once they were awake, they were ready to go again!

 

[lmc318]

It really depends on who will be with you and what you plan on doing during nap times. September will be hot most likely, so don't count on the weather being comfortable. When we went 2 years ago in the summer, DD was 10 months and slept both in the stroller and back at the resort (CBR) and it was always better if she napped at the resort. She had a better day and would last longer at night. My brother's kids were 5 at the time and ALWAYS went back for at least 2 hours for a swim or a nap just to relax and get out of the heat, then we continued with the day. September will still have some evening hours and EMH, so I say go back to the resort. Of course, you can always test napping in the stroller in the beginning of the week and if it doesn't work out well and you find too many evening melt downs occurring, go back to the resort to nap. If we weren't staying onsite, I'd stay in the parks for sure. Ease of naps is the reason we are breaking the bank this year and staying at the Poly. Most of all, just go with what works!

 

[monorailsilver]

We have mostly gone in the summer months (late July/early August) so we always took a mid day break even as a teenager. We didn't nap then but we swam instead.

With my own kids & still going in the summer, we do go back to our room for naps. We stay at the Poly & mainly go to MK or Epcot so it is easy to get back there. I also do laundry during that break so we don't have to bring that much stuff.

 

[sp0ngem0nkey]

mandatory. we are going back to the hotel most if not all days. They are 4 and downtime/nap is a must. this is planned time and helps us all out. While kids are sleeping we have one adult with them while the other 2 adults (us and/or grandma) go for coffee, dip in pool or shop at the hotel gift store.

this will help us all rejuvenate.

 

[mom2princesss]

Thanks everyone! That's exactly my plan. Except i'm thinking maybe take them back (my DH is 2.5 and our friends DS is going to be 8 mo) the day that we are doing the Halloween Party...but they may just nap in the strollers. We'll be there 9/16-9/24 so I think it will be warm but not too hot.

It is going to be HOT. Like surface of the sun hot and really humid. Sept is not fall in FL it is just hotter and more humid summer. Highs in the 90s and feeling hotter because of the humidity and heat index.

We always go in Sept and love the low crowds but we ALWAYS take afternoon breaks. It has nothing to do with naps for us. My kids will fall asleep anywhere but if we stay at the park past 1:00 or 2:00 we are MISERABLE. We go play in the AM, break for rest, swimming, clean up, and then go back out in the evening for more playing when it is cooler(not cool but cooler).

 

[sparks19]

I think it depends on the child.

My dd will NOT nap in the stroller. she will NOT nap if we are out anywhere. She has been like this since she was just over a year old lol. So we go back to the resort in the afternoon. We are going in september so we are all going to need to get out of the afternoon heat anyway but even when we go in December we need to go back to the resort or there will be no nap and DD will be DONE by dinner

 

[Aunt Bee]

That time of year is still HOT. If they will nap in the stroller, then find a cool, shady place and sit while they nap. Take a cold drink with you and a book and enjoy your rest, too. You can take turns doing this on different days. This works well for babies who aren't up and running around yet.

By the time they are 3-4 and active, they will enjoy that afternoon break and so will you. That time of year I like to arrive for rope drop, leave the park before lunch, let them play in the pool, give them lunch, a nap and be back in time for the afternoon parade

Aunt BeeCOLOR]

 

[Chee Chick]

DS did great napping in the stroller on our last two trips. There was only a day or two where we felt it was better to return to the hotel for a nap. On those days we never made it back to the parks. On those really hot days I would use his napping in the stroller time to do some shopping in the AC or grab a cold drink or ice cream and find a bench in the shade where I could rest. DH took advantage of the time to ride the attractions that DS did not make the height restriction cut off. Napping in the stroller worked great for us.

 

[Suzanne74]

I am just curious for all those that say their kids nap great in the stroller, even in the summer. By great do you mean a normal nap? My DD sleeps 2 to 2.5 hours at naptime, sometimes even 3 hours when we are Disney (because we go early/stay late.) I can not imagine her doing that in 95 degree heat/humidity. Plus, like another poster said, I would be bored to tears. Getting a drink and sitting in the shade for a little while is one thing, but for 2+ hours?