naps in stroller?

[constantstar]

For our last trip, DD was 2 and we had park hopper. So, we would do a park in the morning, go back to resort for down time, and end the day in a different park. This worked okay but DD was always to hopped up on magic to nap and it took a huge chunk out of each day. She would still end up sleeping some in the parks either in the stroller (a horrible umbrella one - never again!) or in our arms.

In February, we'll be going to Disney (!) with DD (now 4) and DS2. I'm considering changing things up this trip. First, we're not getting the hopper and each day will have a dedicated park. Second, I'm renting a nice double stroller that will hopefully be much easier to roll. With these changes - I'd like to have the kids nap in the stroller mid-day instead of worrying with buses and getting back and forth to the resort.

Has this worked for other people? I'd love to hear some feedback or success stories!

For reference: My son is a major napper and runs to his bed when it's nap time or bed time - it's serious business! My daughter comes and goes with naps and generally just takes them in the car or on accident. I believe that if we put them in the stroller after lunch, they'll both go to sleep (fingers crossed!).

 

[wilkeliza]

My nephew napped fine in his stroller at 2 years 11 months. He took about an hour long nap while we took the older siblings on rides he couldn't do.

 

[disney world dreamer]

it is very successful for my family.

my sister just went in september and took these stroller nap pics of my niece who was 2yrs5mos at the time.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

My grandson always napped well as did my youngest. Lots of kids are seen napping in the strollers. Sometimes I sat in the shade someplace and had a snack, or we made shade, had these chill towels and kept the kiddo's cool. Reapply sunscreen during the day, it helps keep them cool too along with burning rays. We have our Mickey spray bottle with the fan from years ago that is filled with ice water every morning. I take a light receiving blanket to make shade, but one year bought the extended sun visor for shade. Ventilate areas for air flow too.

 

[ElenaRN]

We were there in Sept. YDD-20month, napped in stroller pretty much every day. I brought a very thin blanket to pin over front when she did fall asleep.

 

[blackpearl77]

Mine always napped in the stroller. At home and at Disney!

 

[msmama]

My son napped in his stroller better than at the resort, but that still wasn't well.

I'd say if you do this, just have a contingency plan for if they don't nap (just like I'd say have a contingency plan if you were planning on going back to the resort for a nap and they didn't sleep).

What we've always done (not necessarily because I want to, but because it works best) is to go for as long as we can and then have an early night (leave the parks around dinner time).

 

[kuhltiffany]

When my kids were 3 and 4 I went to DW for a week by myself. Every day after lunch I would lay them down, put a sun cover over to minimize distractions, and walk until they fell asleep. It worked great, allowed me to shop (just wheeled the kids around) and then we could stay for the day in the park.

 

[kohlby]

My kids refused to nap in the stroller - but they also refused to nap in the room. (I saw LOTS of kids napping in their strollers, so they really do exist!) Since going back to the room didn't work for you, it's worth it to try the stroller. We learned that we couldn't make our kids nap, but we could get them to sleep at night - so we focused on early enough bedtimes instead.

 

[happymommy]

My kids' first trip they were 2 and 4, and napped every day in our double stroller (it was a really good one, and they could both recline even though it was a tandem). It worked perfectly! We didn't always go morning till night, but I don't think we ever made a point to go back to nap in the room. If it happened that we were in the room and DD fell asleep, so be it, but it was great!

We did do park hoppers, as we like to sometimes go from one to another. We didn't stay out late, though! They kept their pretty much normal bed times.

 

[Figmentmommy]

On our first trip when the kids were 4 & 2 - years ago - we used a Jeep double side by side stroller. It was an umbrella stroller type - but very heavy duty and both seats reclined nicely. Our 2 year old napped as he felt like it and the 4 year old would conk out at the end of the night once all the fun had stopped! We are the type of family that stays out late every night and we never went back to our resort for naps. In fact DH & I were known to sneak in a couple of late night trips to the French Quarter food court for beignets with them still sleeping side by side in the stroller! Shh....don't tell!

 

[BStew]

We loved our double stroller for naps! Also works great for late nights in the park.

 

[Baklava]

What is this "nap" you speak of? It appears to be a magical spell cast on children. We are unfamiliar with it in my family.

My stinker won't nap anywhere, let alone somewhere interesting. May your luck be better.

 

[NotTheBatesMotel]

My son (2.5 at the time) refused to sleep in the stroller the first 2 days. We have a city mini so it has great reclining options (lays almost completely flat) and has the sunshade that pulls almost all the way down. I was really shocked he wouldn't sleep! The 3rd day he started sleeping in the stroller. I think by that time he was a lot more tired from the excitement of the first 2 days. Basically, it could go either way. I would just try to be flexible and not make any ADRs directly around nap time in case the stroller naps don't work out.

 

[constantstar]

It's good to hear there have been success stories! I believe the stroller we're renting is the city mini so I'll youtube the reclining options to get familiar with that. I'm a planner and have a hard time being flexible or easy going - so this trip should be an interesting exercise for me! With the excitement, I'm not sure if they'll nap easily (especially DD4). My absolute favorite part of Disney is the night shows - and my kids wake up before the sun. So, we may have song loooong days ahead of us. I've planned (so far) to have our MK days first since it stays open longest. I figure we'll have the most energy then. After our 2 MK days, we go to an AK day with an early evening and then HS and EP the following days. If they don't nap on the MK days due to sensory overload, it could make the rest of the trip rather interesting. I also worry about having the MK days first because I *need* an A&E fastpass. I may need to switch around some days...

 

[Gracie09]

My girls napped in their strollers until just this past trip (they were 5). We would put the shade down and find a quietish place to sit and rock them and they were out in 10 minutes.

 

[PurpleKomodo]

We had success with DS who was almost 3 napping in the city mini we rented. I will say, while it will recline, we rarely did. If we reclined it back and told DS to take a nap, he would fight it. If we reclined just enough so his head didn't flop forward, put the shade up and just start walking until he fell asleep, it would work every time. He is also a consistent napper at home. I was worried if we tried to go back to the resort, he would fall asleep in the car or on the monorail and then not go back to sleep to transfer into the room. Stroller naps were winners for us.

 

[DisneynBison]

If I could fit in the stroller I am sure I could fall asleep and have a good nap but alas it does not work to well for someone my size.

 

[SaraMc]

We tried to go back to the room in the afternoon to let DS or DD nap when they were still stroller age. However if they fell asleep in their strollers ( which they often did) then we would let them sleep and go along through the park. The old saying let sleeping children and dogs lay.