Night Time Activities with Young Kids

[Frozen2014]

We are coming in Oct with our kids who will be 9 and 5 by then. I notice there are a lot of cool things happening at night such as

• Illumination Fireworks at 9pm or 10pm
• Electrical Parade at 9pm
• Fantastmic at 7:30pm
• MNSSHP starts at 7pm
• Wishes Firewords at 10pm

I've heard the electrical parade is amazing and would love for them to see some fireworks. Also, we are planning on attending the MNSSHP on our last night.

For those with young kids, do they manage to stay up? And if so, how old are they?

 

[Ravenne]

For those with young kids, do they manage to stay up? And if so, how old are they?

Mine always did, (the last time we went they were 3 and 5. 1 and 3 before that) but we're also a few hours behind in terms of time zone so that makes a difference as well. I think it's one of those things where you have to play it by ear and see how your kids are at the time. At least that's what we did. Mine would nap just fine in a stroller if they were tired. They'd sleep on the bus and we were able to get them back into a stroller and back to sleep when we got back to our resort room at night. We also took mid-day breaks back at our resort if we felt we needed. We felt comfortable staying up later because they were pretty flexible and not total grouch monsters if they were too tired. If they weren't so easy going, we wouldn't have done it. Screaming kids are no fun for the parents either. You know your kids best. Do you think they can stay up?

 

[Mousemommy1]

Our girls have been visiting Disney annually since they were 3 and 5 (they are now 9 and 7) and have always been nightowls in the parks. Literally sometimes in MK until 1 am.

They are nightowls at home too though...we make sure they go to bed at a decent hour on school nights (8:30 pm) but on the weekends, they will stay up with us until 11-midnight when we finally tell them they have to go to bed. (But then they will also sleep until 9-9:30 am on weekend mornings....)

A child who is used to a much earlier bed time might have a difficult time, but our girls love their late nights at Disney!

 

[GillianP1301]

We have the most success with keeping my DS6 well rested and happy, by sticking as close as possible to his normal bed time (about 8) and meal times. We've gone with him the last 2 years, so since age 4. I pick one night during our week to see a nighttime show, so that gives him a chance to take in the experience without compromising too much on sleep time.

 

[puffkin]

We go 2x a year so my 2 have been there from 12 weeks old to the their current ages of 8 and 21 months. We do all the nighttime activities at Disney. They don't really have problems staying up but may nod off in the stroller sometimes. We are hardly ever back in the room by 9. We usually do Rope Drop and then a long afternoon break. My kids are EXTREMELY adaptable though and can slip in and out of our "vacation" schedule very easily though. At home normal bedtime for the little one is 8 on weekdays and usually no later than 9 on weekends and for my 8 year old 8-8:30 on weekdays and 10ish on weekends. They pretty much get up at the same time (6:45-7) regardless of how late they go to bed, vacation or at home.

 

[jbish]

We have the most success with keeping my DS6 well rested and happy, by sticking as close as possible to his normal bed time (about 8) and meal times. We've gone with him the last 2 years, so since age 4. I pick one night during our week to see a nighttime show, so that gives him a chance to take in the experience without compromising too much on sleep time.

This is pretty much us, too. I try and do one late night for them to see the parade, but most nights try to make it back to our room for a decent bedtime. Sometimes they'll fall asleep for a little catnap during the day in the stroller, then they may be able to stay up. But each kid really is different. Last November, one of the 4 YO miraculously was awake for Illuminations. And I think all three saw MSEP. But I try not to push it with them. They are CRANKS the next day if they're too tired - and momma likes to get to the parks early!

 

[snoopy5386]

Ours are able to stay up late, but we never make rope drop. Our recipe for happy kids in Disney is to let them sleep in as late as possible while we are there. We prefer the parks at nighttime so that works for us. We go yearly (we own DVC) so it's not the end of the world for us to not make rope drop. I'd love to do the rope drop, mid day nap, late night fun plan but my kids are too old to need afternoon naps and too young to understand why taking one now = fun late at night. Someday.

 

[lanejudy]

I'm going to say...it really depends on your kids specifically, and they might be different.

How are your kids at staying up late for 4th of July fireworks and other such special evening events? Can they do this multiple nights in a row? Are you rope-drop people, or will you sleep in after a late night? Or do you take a mid-day nap? Your answers to those questions may help guide you towards deciding about late night activities with your kids.

DD has always been an early bedtime kid and an early riser. Even on vacation, she'll make it a night or maybe 2, but more than that and we risk a super-cranky over-tired kid. Depending on the length of our trip, we tend to plan 1 or 2 late evenings but stick closer to normal bedtime the rest of the nights.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[jm106]

My kids will be 6/8 this trip. We always have late nights, but try to mix in an early night or late morning but sleep late is 8 anyway. It's only a few nights, they are having a great time, rest up as needed during the day. We have been going since they were 11 months/3 years old, always late for shows.

 

[bweagle]

My kids were 2 and 4 on their first trip. First night there we did EMH at MK. They ended up riding Dumbo with Mickey & Minnie around 1 am. Good times! They are going to be 8 & 10 on the upcoming trip. Late nights aren't a problem for them on vacation. Even if we do get back before midnight, they generally want to hit the pool before checking in for the night.

 

[wallskm]

Mine always did, (the last time we went they were 3 and 5. 1 and 3 before that) but we're also a few hours behind in terms of time zone so that makes a difference as well. I think it's one of those things where you have to play it by ear and see how your kids are at the time. At least that's what we did. Mine would nap just fine in a stroller if they were tired. They'd sleep on the bus and we were able to get them back into a stroller and back to sleep when we got back to our resort room at night. We also took mid-day breaks back at our resort if we felt we needed. We felt comfortable staying up later because they were pretty flexible and not total grouch monsters if they were too tired. If they weren't so easy going, we wouldn't have done it. Screaming kids are no fun for the parents either. You know your kids best. Do you think they can stay up?

Mine are the same way as yours. Strict(ish) bedtime at home but have no problems staying up late. Not usually grumpy either. We recently did a cruise and never got them to bed before 10:30 and they were fine. Last time we were at WDW we didn't go back for naps but they rested (the youngest napped) in the stroller every day. They rarely stayed awake though on the bus ride back to the resort! For ours as long as the activity is fun they are fine!

 

[Frozen2014]

To answer some questions (I'm the OP)...
So we don't have any rope drops planned, but will have 2 breakfast ADRs (one on Epcot day and one on departure day). Other than that, we'll get to the park when we do. Having said that, when they stay up later, they still never seem to sleep in. We also have one day in the middle of our trip that will be non-Disney so can relax and take our time. But if we have late nights, then showers will have to be in the morning (unless we return to our resort before evening).
Our kids were never nappers but they will be 9 and 5, so no chance of that.
They've actually never seen fireworks and the MK electrical parade looks great so really want to attend. I just don't get why some things are so late when DW is full of and geared to kids. I understand in the summer these may have to be pushed later, but in October, it gets darker earlier.
But I can see them being so excited, they'll want to stay up. Guess we'll just have to see how they do.

 

[disnut8]

Others have given a lot of great advice but I wanted to mention with Illuminations that it might be worth your time to go out to wikipedia and learn the story behind the show. Then, share that with your kids however you want to. In my experience, just noticing kids and having a few interactions with them, the "slow down" part doesn't make sense to them so if they knew what that was about, they might enjoy it more.

 

[Epcot Mom]

My kids were never ones to sleep in, no matter how late past bedtime they were the night before. Even when they were little, we would stay up for fireworks, etc at Disney and then they would pass out on the bus or in strollers waiting for the bus. Then for the most part, we let them sleep in the morning and head out, but again, never ones to sleep in.

You said you have a five year old that probably hasn't used a stroller at home in forever. Mine continued to benefit from the stroller at Disney, perhaps even to ages 6-7-8 even though they never used it at home that late. As my husband said, in the stroller they go at our speed instead of the other way around. We just told them to stroller up and they understood it as a Disney only kind of thing. Saved my husband from carrying a very tired and heavy six year old boy later in the day too.

We were always pretty good about going back for a mid-day break, even if they weren't napping. Just take the shoes off, get some ice water and hangout really refreshed everyone. They are 11 and 15 now and we still do that most days, just makes us all feel better. Then it's up for a nice dinner and fireworks somewhere. Fireworks at Disney are like no other.

Having said all of that, you know your kids, if you see it heading downhill, go back and early and let them crash. My older could do fireworks all week and would recharge after we returned home. My younger needed a night midweek that "Mickey decided not to do fireworks so everyone could sleep". Then back on track the next day.

Most of all, have fun and enjoy the time together. That's really the point anyway!