Naptimes?

[jenseib]

Ifwe ever do go to Disney(which I am hoping in January now, as DH keeps pushing it back), I am wondering about naptimes. Claire wil lbe 2 and takes a nap everyday. If she doesn't nap, then we usually pay for it and she wil lstay up all night because she is overtired. So my guess is that we wil lahve to come back to the hotel each day and take a nap. How has everyone else handled this? I am not sure too, if she will need a pack and play or just sleep in a bed with one of us.
I also hate to go back for a nap and she not want to sleep, so then we waste the day in our room, while she thinks it's fun time.

 

[mbc35]

Five years ago, I went to WDW with twins who were almost two. We stayed at an off-site condo, and went back every day for naps. Each twin had a pack-n-play, and I don't remember any problems getting them to sleep. The hardest thing was getting them to stay awake in the car on the drive from WDW to the condo! You might be surprised at how tiring Disney can be. All of the adults (even my MIL who was very against the idea of taking a nap break) ended up napping along with the kids.

 

[stacy6552]

Here's the question. Will she sleep on the go? If so then just be sure to bring a fully reclinging stroller and have fun. If she has to be in the crib/bed in a quiet room, then I really reccommend going later in the year when the parks are open late into the evening, so you wont care about a few hours missed during the afternoon.

 

[LaraK]

I would go back for the nap....you'll need one too! The only day we will go "commando" is the last day of the trip...otherwise you may get through that day, but you'll all be toast the next day. When we go "commando" we find a quiet place in the park where the kids can at least sleep for a half hour in the stroller. I recommend the small patio where the old skyway entrance is in future world. Very secluded and usually quite. Tom Sawyer's island is also good, but it's hard to get a stroller over there and the boat horn goes off every half hour or so.

 

[jenseib]

She rarely sleeps in the stroller. So I doubt she will, but maybe. I also wonder about the room. I may have to lay her down ,and take a monitor and sit in the hall till she falls asleep. I have also thought about a family suite, but we are trying to make it as affordable as possible, so that will probably not work.
As for going late in the year, it won't work, as my DH is a dariy farmer, and taking anytime off is hard, but the winter makes it a little easier.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

May will be our first time going w/our 3 kids - one of which will be 2. In doing our itinerary - I have broken the day into 3 blocks. A morning block (8 to 1-1:30), an afternoon block, evening block (4:30 to 8:00). We'll go to the parks during morning and evening blocks and then rest/swim during the afternoon block. Also I've scheduled the morning blocks but have remained fairly loose w/evening block - no adrs- (maybe one for PSB). We'll probably have one late evening w/Spectro. I just don't know what to expect so I'm trying to do a schedule but remain as flexible as possible.

Have fun w/it. It has been a little frustrating trying to schedule because I remember the kidless days when DH and I would go non stop from AM to PM. But I am looking forward to taking my kids like my parents did me and seeing their faces. It will be a different trip but I believe it will be a much better trip.

Good luck!

 

[Hoosier Mom]

For us it was trial and error. We were aiming to just let our 18M old son sleep in his stroller and he did one day while we strolled thru some shops. Our problem was the heat of September.

The rest of the days we'd have breakfast between 7:00 and 8:00 and get to the parks. We'd do some attractions in the morning time and then have lunch. By then it was so hot, we caught a bus back to CBR. Our problem was he'd fall asleep on the bus. Then when we got back to our room, he wasn't interested in sleeping again. So we'd all just relax in the cool air.

Then we'd get going back to the parks around 3:00 or 3:30 and stay til 7:30 or 8:00.

We really wanted to stay for Illuminations and we tried the day our son had a really good nap, but he started crying around 8:30 and we left.

I think if the weather had been cooler, snoozing in the stroller might have worked well for us. We decided our next trip is going to be during the month of January (not this coming January, just some January)

Have fun on your trip!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

When our oldest was 2, we used a stroller that could lay completely flat. When he was tired, we'd lay him down flat and then cover the stroller with a cover. He slept amazingly well, even with all of the noise around him. He napped for over an hour every day like that and was fine. We never left the park at all. That wouldn't have worked with our second son, who doesn't sleep so soundly.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Play it by ear.

The first time we took dd she was 1 year and 8 months and I would go to the room at naptime and it would take her like 3 hours to fall asleep, so in the end I would be there from noon until 6 pm, and dumb me, kept trying this everyday. Dh was at a convention in the hotel, so dd and I were alone during the day.

Now we wake her up early and usually she falls asleep by 2 or 3 pm in her stroller (though she never naps at home anymore) and we might use that time to travel the monorail loop all the way to Epcot, or to browse the stores or whatever.

I don´t worry anomore about messing with her schedule. Maybe she won´t nap the first day in the stroller, but by the second day she will be so tired that she probably will.

HTH

Julie

 

[Victoria J]

I am facing the same issues with my son who will be 3 years old on December 26th and still needs naps but regulary fights them. We will be there December 1 - 9. We were there 2 years ago when he was 11 months and had no problem as he would readily sleep in his stroller. That is not an option these days! I would try to book a suite that has at least a separate bedroom area. I know you are trying to keep costs down, but it seems like there are many off-site hotels with suites that are quite reasonably priced and close to the parks making it possible to go back for a couple hours. I have never stayed off-site before but am trying it for part of this trip for exactly those reasons (space and cost). For napping on trips, I try to keep to his normal napping procedure (dim lights, books, then songs) as much as possible to increase my chance of success....not that it always works. If our efforts do not work in the first few days, we plan to go to the parks early, stay as long as we can, and then head back to the hotel. At that point he will be so exhausted he will most definitely crash. Although that means we would not make it back out until late or at all depending on park hours. This will also wreck his normal sleeping schedule, and it will probably take weeks to adjust back to normal. Worth it for a fabulous trip with a happy child? I'll guess I will find out in about a month!
Also, I think most places offer a pack n play for no extra charge so you might as well give it a try and if it doesn't work just fold it up! The play it by ear theory is a good one with some basic plans in place. Good Luck!

 

[MinnieGi]

Take the nap break - you will ALL need it!!! I could not do commando style day in and day out at Disney - it would be overwhelming. You also though may need to play it by ear as far as figuring out how and when to get her to nap.

Each of my kids were different at that age in WDW. DD could be strolled around and slept peacefully in the parks whenever she needed shut eye. However even if she had napped in the park for a bit we still would head out for an afternoon break for ourselves. We loved spending time by the pool or at our resort hanging out and recharging for our evening outing. DS would NOT nap in the stroller so we had to get him to nap in the room. I love hotel room darkening curtains!!! We would make the room all dark and lay with him in bed until he fell asleep. Since he had been stimulated so much it usually did not take that long! Then we'd sit on the balcony or one of us would take DD (who is older and done napping) for a swim.

Good luck, but definetly take a break!!!

 

[JoJo's Mom]

My daugher is 10 so we didn't have the issue. However, we went with my brother and SIL and their 2 girls. At the time they were 6 months and almost 3 1/2 yrs. They both needed naps. What we all did was get up and go in the morning around when the parks opened. I would guess around 1-2 we all went back to the hotel for naps (we stayed at Pop Century). The girls would always nap because it is so exciting and takes a lot out of you. Everyone else would swim or take a short nap ourselves. We would be up and ready to go again around dinner time and would stay at the parks until well after dark (sometimes closing). It's tiring to stay at the parks from open to close so having a little break in each day was perfect for us. Plus, it gave us time to relax our poor feet!!!

 

[Love the Mouse]

When we were in Disney in May, DD was almost 2 (about 2 weeks shy) and we tried to do the "on the go" sleep in the stroller thing. It DID NOT work! We had a horrible trip. Like you, we paid for her not taking her naps. She was totally miserable, and in turn we were miserable. It was just too much stimulation for her staying in the parks.

Then we went again in Sept. (DD was 2 yrs 3 mos) and I told DH, no matter what, each day we were getting to the parks early, and leaving right after lunch for a nap. We went back to the room, told DD it was quiet time, read a story and we actually all slept for 2 - 3 hours each day. She was so much happier, was able to stay up and watch her "Boom Booms" (fireworks) and we had a wonderful trip.

Disney is a lot to take in, especially to a 2 yr old, and so tiring. With all of the walking and stimulation, DD was ready for a nap (and here at home she doesn't take them), so you know she was tired if she actually laid down to take one.

I noticed that several people wrote that their kids fell asleep on the bus on the way back to the resort...I was afraid of that as well, and had that happen once. All of the other times, we high tailed it out of there before she got to that point. Plus, we tried to keep her occupied to keep her awake on the ride home. Just that one day I pushed a little longer than I should and that was when she fell asleep on the bus ride back.

It really is a trial and error thing with Disney...

That is my opinion and our experience with Disney and a 2 yr old. Every family is different with different needs.

Have fun!

Michaela

 

[2poohbears]

We took our 2 1/2 y/o twins in late JAN/early FEB this year. We stayed at ASMovies and used bus transportation. Here is what worked for us: The room had 2 double beds...they slept in one with 2 side rails (we pushed one side against the wall and used one on the foot of the bed and one on the other side). DH would go down to the hotel restaurant and get breakfast for us every day while I got the boys and myself ready for the parks. We ate breakfast quickly in the room, then we got to the park at opening time every day. We ate lunch at 11am (you'll avoid long lines by eating earlier for lunch and dinner. We noticed by 11:20am the lines got long at the counters). Right after lunch we took the bus back to the hotel for nap. I have a battery operated nature sounds toy that we use at home when we put them to bed---I brought that with us to the hotel. I also brought our small room air purifier, which provides a light hum - white noise sound. I think having these familiar items helped them understand it was time to sleep and gave them comfort. It also helped block outside noise during the day. That, plus they were exhausted from the parks meant for no problems getting them to sleep during naptime and overnight. (Even my hubby and I took naps during our trip). Generally, by 3:00 pm we were on the bus heading back to the parks. We grabbed a quick snack on the run in the afternoons (I brought goldfish and cheerios for the boys) & we ate early dinners, usually between 5pm and 5:30 pm (again to avoid crowds). I also found we had a shorter wait at sit-down meals if I made the reservations before we left or when we arrived at the park in the morning. We would leave at closing, and still managed to see a LOT because at that time of year the crowd levels are low. The only nights we stayed late were at MK for the parade and fireworks on THURS night (warning - the line at the bus stop will be really long, so leave a little early if you can, to avoid being at the end of the line) and on our very last night there, when MK had extra magic hours until midnight...we stayed until around 9:30 pm.

Trust me - don't try to avoid the naps. Because of the time of year you are going you will still see a LOT. The lines for rides will not be long. We only used fast-pass once - for jungle cruise---other than that we never waited longer than 5-7 minutes to get into an attraction. Bring some of your child's favorite things from home - whatever routine you have before bed at home, try to do as close to that as possible at WDW, so it's something familiar.

Hope that helps. Have a great time. I know we did...we're going back on JAN 28, 2007!

 

[jenseib]

This is all great advice! My biggest worry isthat she won't fall asleep with us in the room. She is always put to bed in her crib in her own room, and I'm afraid with us in the room she will want to play, or cry??? I guess we will find out when the time comes.

 

[nyyankeegirl]

We are leaving this Wed. for a week long trip ( ) with a 2 yr. old and a son turning 5 while there! My DH has always felt strongly about having a separate bedroom for the boys to sleep in, so we can have our own time after they go to bed. So we decided to stay at a 1 bdrm villa at BWV. Anyway, I am really hoping to be able to come back to the room for DS2 to take his nap around 2:00, and maybe DH & DS5 can go to the pool, while I nap too (wouldn't that be nice!) I don't think DS2 will fall asleep in his stroller (but you never know!) I just wonder if DS5 will be able to make it all day without a rest. I swear he was born with adrenaline/sugar in his blood--- he is non stop normally! Well whatever happens I'll just be glad that we are there and I guess I will learn by trial & error.

 

[2poohbears]

This is all great advice! My biggest worry isthat she won't fall asleep with us in the room. She is always put to bed in her crib in her own room, and I'm afraid with us in the room she will want to play, or cry??? I guess we will find out when the time comes.

My 2 always fell asleep in their own cribs in their own room as well, but at WDW we had no problem getting them to sleep in the same room. Just make sure you turn out the lights at least until she's sleeping & bring familiar bedtime items/rituals from home.

Believe me, with 2 1/2 year old twins we were worried about how our trip would go. (I had to talk dh into going - he thought it was going to be a disaster). We all had a great time...so much so that we are returning a year later. Realize that you will have a few tamtrums to deal with (usually when she's getting tired), but remember most of us have kids so we can relate. Just relax and follow her lead, don't over-do things, and remember you can always go back to catch anything you've missed.

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

This is all great advice! My biggest worry isthat she won't fall asleep with us in the room. She is always put to bed in her crib in her own room, and I'm afraid with us in the room she will want to play, or cry??? I guess we will find out when the time comes.

Where are you staying? We usually stay at Port Orleans...either one...and they have a curtain in the vanity area of the room. We put her pack-n-play up against the wall opposite the bathroom, and pull the curtain shut. It works for us, it just makes the sink on that side hard to reach, which isn't a big deal. WIth the room darkening shades previously mentioned, it made a nice spot for her to snooze.

Taking the time to rest makes the trip so much more enjoyable for the entire family, even those who don't think they need the rest (that would be my 9yo who's usually the first to fall asleep, lol!)

 

[lclark0621]

We still go back to the room every day for some down time/nap time. DS is 3. But we never scheduled a time. We all start to get tired & head back to the room for a little bit. If DS sleeps, GREAT, if not, we all still get a bit of quiet time before heading back to the parks.

DS also sleeps anywhere. So in WDW, if he is tired, he has always fallen asleep in our stroller (we have one that fully reclines with a hood to block out the sun) or on our shoulder, or in a show (then we just transfer him to the stroller). When he sleeps, we will walk through some shops, catch a snack, etc. It works out great.

 

[monorailsilver]

I have always gone back to my room/resort for rest, nap or pool time. I need it.

I am always amazed as I am walking out the crowds of people that are walking in at noon time.

When dd was 15 months, we went back to the room every day for her nap. One time she fell asleep on dh's shoulder on the bus ride back from the AK to the Poly but she stayed asleep (his shoulder was not happy but luckily she was only 16 ish lbs then).

She did great & stayed up for the fireworks & Illuminations each night & dh & I were able to watch TV in the same room when she fell asleep but we did sit outside on the lanai bottom floor at the Poly) & took turns leaving to get things/do laundry at nap time. And at bed time we were both pooped to so we pretty much went to bed but a few times we did watch TV & she stayed asleep.

In 2005, dd was 4 & no longer napping & ds was 22 mo & was still napping. The first park day I took dd to the pool while dh & ds napped. DD fell asleep on the walk from Future world to the WS in Epcot after she ate dinner.

So the next day we forced her to nap (I was pg too so I napped too) & both my kids were great staying up for the fireworks/Illuminations each night & they begged to see them.

I am a strong believer of leaving the park for down time because Disney is a up up up time.