Naps: WWYD?

[shabbychick]

I wasn't expecting this, but DH just told me the other night that we can take a 1 day trip to Disney next January or February when we go to Orlando to meet my BFF's new baby! My kids will be 2 (nearly 3) and about 15 months and this will be their first trip. They'll both need naps. For the "meet the baby" part of the trip we'll be staying with my BFF; she lives just north of the airport. So for our Disney day that would be too far away to drive to leave the park for naps.

So, my question is: would you book the cheapest hotel on property or very near Disney to go and have afternoon naps and then stay the night there? Or would you save the money and just let them nap in their umbrella strollers at the park and head back to the BFF's house at the end of the day?

 

[millerette]

Have your kids naped in strollers before? My dd has always napped in her stroller so she is used to it and doesn't mind it. We have a chicco litewy that lays completely flat for sleeping. Of course it would be a lot cheaper to not pay for a hotel just for a nap and leaving property for a nap would take a chunk out of your day. I say do what works best for your kids. Maybe try a nap in stroller away from home like at the mall just for a trial run.

Have fun!

 

[Crystal824]

I would just let them nap in the stroller. In fact, our last trip that is excatly what we did with DD everyday. After lunch she would crawl into her stroller and take a nap. Make sure you bring a comfy stroller because they won't be napping in those hard plastic WDW ones. We would take turns hitting the rides she was too short to ride. One day we rode, EE 6 times each while she was napping (using singler rider entrance). We never went back to the hotel except for one afternoon where we wanted a pool day. We actually went back then after DD had napped.

When DD was 9 months old, we did schedule time to go back to the hotel. That was our first trip there with her. Looking back, I probably would just let her nap in the stroller.

 

[hpsalb]

That would be a tough one for us because DS really needs a nap and doesn't do stroller naps, but your kids may be different. I would assume that they both need a mid-day nap around the same time, so could you plan for a quiet/low-key place to hang out for a while so they can nap in their strollers? There is no way my DS would ever stay asleep if we kept on truckin' (if we ever got him to sleep in the first place!). Maybe feed them lunch on the go and then hopefully they could sleep while you enjoy a nice peaceful lunch?

I wouldn't fool with a hotel for the day since you won't already have one. That would be an expensive nap!

 

[Claudine877]

As it appears you have twins,you may have an interesting situation; if one naps and one won't. If you have a comfy double stroller and adequate shade then you may be able to have them sleep in the stroller. You could also look into the People Mover where I think it's a 20 min ride, or somewhere quiet like the Hall of Presidents for them to sleep but they're still in the stroller. If they absolutely won't sleep in a stroller and you're still in the Disney frame of mind, I'd book a one night stay and sacrifice the time mid-day in the park (and who really wants to be there at that time anyway) and head back later when the kids and you are refreshed. How much could one night actually cost? The dilemma is that checkin is usually 3pm and checkout is 11am and you don't actually get a full 24 hours, but you would have a pool.

 

[brockash]

If you're only going for 1 day, I def. wouldn't spend the time to go back to the hotel to nap. I'd just let them sleep in their strollers. Even when we do go back for naps, my kids still often sleep in their strollers at some point throughout the day.

As far as booking a room, if I could, I would and then spend the next day at DTD for a little bit in the morning if possible.

 

[Woodmnky]

If you have a car, could they nap there for a bit?

 

[Dani C]

Utilize the baby stations in the park.

 

[tms295psu]

I'd plan on a nap in the stroller...

At least with my kids... they need to "adjust" to a place before I can expect them to follow their normal routine. So staying with a friend for a few days... they won't nap as usual just because its out of their normal home/routine. So the few days we travel we just wing it...

LOL, on our last trip both kids passed out face first on their stroller belly bars on the way to the car @ 4 pm!!!

 

[VeeHam]

I wouldn't go back to a hotel for an afternoon nap in your situation. Like others have mentioned, find a quiet spot like the baby stations and let them try to rest or fall asleep in there. Once they are asleep you can go on with rides and such. IMO, going back to a hotel for a nap will loose you 3-4 hours of park time.

 

[Lilliputian]

If your children will nap in a stroller, and if they can handle having a shorter-than-usual nap one day without turning into monsters, I'd stay in the park. We always go back to the hotel for naps, but it's not one-day trips. Most children are fine having a little less sleep than normal for one day.

 

[blessedby3]

I agree...a stroller nap for your situation. I wouldnt take umbrella strollers, though. They arent comfortable...unless you are talking about a Mac or something similiar that actually reclines.

 

[MSSANDRA]

For a one day trip, I would not loose all that park time for a nap. Chances are they would be so tuckered they would fall asleep in the car and sleep till you got to the hotel and wake up. If they will sleep in the stroller; best choice. DS5 would not ever go to sleep in the stroller but this is what worked for us sometimes. Yes...I know it's called rotten but it worked. He WOULD go to sleep if I carried him around with him laying his head on my shoulder. Look for a quite, out of the way place that might have some shade if possible. Once he is asleep, I would just find a nice, quite bench or chair and hang till he work up. Maybe got an hour or so but enough to get us through. Another idea in the event they are melting down and have to get away for a break, assuming they will nap in their car seats, just put them in the car and drive all around property while they sleep. A little gas money but less than a hotel and you are not too far away when they wake up!