Parents of Children Read Please

[flipturngirl]

Hi! I have been to Disney several times. Each time I have seen kids screaming and yelling because they have not had naps. I personally think you need to have a 2 hour a day nap time and then go back to the park. The kids should be well rested to go back to the park and stay there till 11. I have seen so many families rushing back at 8 to get there kids to bed at 9. I think YOU ARE ON VACATION!!! Vacation is- when you are away from home, your daily scedual etc. Daily schedual means waking up go to work come home go to bed do it all over again. Just go with the flow. When I was little we did not have to go back to the hotel at 8 or 9 to get to bed we stayed up all night and got up at 5 or 4:30 and we were fine that is because we got naps. Please reply on what you think of this.

 

[ducklite]

Hi! I have been to Disney several times. Each time I have seen kids screaming and yelling because they have not had naps. I personally think you need to have a 2 hour a day nap time and then go back to the park. The kids should be well rested to go back to the park and stay there till 11. I have seen so many families rushing back at 8 to get there kids to bed at 9. I think YOU ARE ON VACATION!!! Vacation is- when you are away from home, your daily scedual etc. Daily schedual means waking up go to work come home go to bed do it all over again. Just go with the flow. When I was little we did not have to go back to the hotel at 8 or 9 to get to bed we stayed up all night and got up at 5 or 4:30 and we were fine that is because we got naps. Please reply on what you think of this.

I think it depends on the ages of the kids and how well they do when they aren't on a routine.

Anne

 

[flipturngirl]

That is true.. But I think that kids in Disney should know that it is vacation and yah.

 

[ducklite]

That is true.. But I think that kids in Disney should know that it is vacation and yah.

I'm sure that they know it's Disney. I think it's unreasonable to keep a three year old out all night every night, even with a nap. On the other hand a ten year old might be able to handle it without a nap.

You have to be realistic with your expectations of what your kids can handle, and remember "there's always a next time".

Anne

 

[flipturngirl]

Well right there is next time but you have to remember next time may come in 10 years or something if the parents do not have the money. So yah. I think that it is not earresponsible because you are on vacation and that is what u do on vacation.

 

[Simba's Girl]

While I certainly agree with you, and try my best to do what you're suggesting-this is not a perfect world.

I also think that it depends on the age of the kids certainly an 8 year old would understand this much better than a 2 year old. Heck I have a hard time getting my own 2 year old (3 next month) to take a nap here at home half the time, and you expect me to do that in Disney! With all the excitement and things to do...

I think that part of the problem is when parents push to do to much and the whole expense of the vacation deal and the "we don't know if we'll ever be back agian" mindset. Unfortunatly this is not good for the kids or the other guests. I know I try and do my best to quiet an unruly child of mine but if all else fails-we leave the park, which I have been know to do. Most people (and I said most certainly not all) parents with young children understand that the world revolves around thier children (this is the child's pont of view btw) and sometimes there's little that can be done to convince them otherwise!

Heather

 

[skiwee1]

When we go to WDW we don't get up early. We get up when we feel like it and then head to the pool for a few hours. We then shower and go to a park for a few hours followed by a nice dinner. Sometimes we do another park for a couple hours and then back to the resort around 9pm. My 6 y/o DD has been to WDW 12 times in her life and she has never been cranky or overtired. We have also never went back to the hotel for naps. We do what works for us. A vacation would not be relaxing if we had to get up early, race around the parks, come back and nap, get up and race around the parks til late. That doesn't sound like fun to us.

 

[flipturngirl]

When we go to WDW we don't get up early. We get up when we feel like it and then head to the pool for a few hours. We then shower and go to a park for a few hours followed by a nice dinner. Sometimes we do another park for a couple hours and then back to the resort around 9pm. My 6 y/o DD has been to WDW 12 times in her life and she has never been cranky or overtired. We have also never went back to the hotel for naps. We do what works for us. A vacation would not be relaxing if we had to get up early, race around the parks, come back and nap, get up and race around the parks til late. That doesn't sound like fun to us.

Well you do not have to get up early. We always get up early because we are all excited about going And I think that is part of the fun running around lol sorry if anyone disagrees with me

 

[skiwee1]

Well you do not have to get up early. We always get up early because we are all excited about going And I think that is part of the fun running around lol sorry if anyone disagrees with me

Why would anyone disagree on what you consider is fun? I would never tell you what you can do or not do simply because I wouldn't agree. You might think it is fun to get up early and I'm happy for you. I don't think it is fun to get up early. I don't work but do get up with DD for school early every day. Why would I want to do that on vacation? I prefer to sleep in til about 9am and then get out and take our time. Rarely do we get to the parks before noon and most of the time it isn't until around 2pm. We think it's fun that way. DD's favorite part of WDW is swimming at the Poly pool. After 12 trips she couldn't care less about the parks that much anymore. She's there for the lava flows at the pool bar and the pool itself. To her, that's fun. Well, that and shopping, which we seem to do too much of at WDW.

 

[Rachie0507]

I think it is important to remember that everyone is different. In my family, we are morning people. The idea of being out until 11 is not at all relaxing or enjoyable for us. Our kids will most likely take a nap/rest time (in a perfect world they would sleep but we can't make them) everyday but that doesn't mean we want them out until park closing. Our kids stay up later when we are on vacation and they tell us when they are ready for bed. It is usually by 9 o'clock. I think I would be a bad parent if I said NO when they are being responsible and listening to their body's signals that they are tired. To each his own, as they say. But I never thought I would be judged at WDW for putting my kids to bed earlier, before they have tantrums .

 

[munchkinsmom]

I totally agree with you that naps are very important. Unfortunately, my DD (age 4) does not take naps anymore and my DS is currently at an age (2 1/2) where his naps are starting to become inconsistent. Believe me, I would LOVE to have my children take naps, but sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't.

We go with the flow as well, but knowing our children as we do, we try to go to bed at the same time on vacation as we do at home (in bed by 7-8PM) and that's WITH downtime or naps. Some may not agree with this and think that we're depriving our children from the Disney nightlife (fireworks, evening parades, etc.). That may be so, but believe me, my children (and their parents, LOL) benefit from this routine and getting their sleep. They enjoy themselves a WHOLE lot better during the day. It's a sacrifice we're willing to make. We figure that when they're older, they'll have all the time in the world to enjoy the nightlife, but right now, at their ages, being well rested for the day's events is more important. The up side of this is my DH and I get some alone time. We get take out, sit in front of the hotel TV and reconnect with each other (we usually get a suite, so that's how we can do this). It's a great vacation for us!

Just as other posters have said, each family is different and families should do what works for them to have a great time at Mickey's House!

 

[soccerchick]

I personally think you need to have a 2 hour a day nap time and then go back to the park. The kids should be well rested to go back to the park and stay there till 11. I have seen so many families rushing back at 8 to get there kids to bed at 9. I think YOU ARE ON VACATION!!! ... Please reply on what you think of this.

Okay, since you asked... I don't really care what you or ANYONE thinks about my vacation style. I laugh when I see the line about a 2 hour nap and then being able to stay up until 11. Yeah, right! Certainly not my kids. Oh, and how should I vacation on our AK day when it closes at 5?

I'm not sure what age children you were directing your advice to, but I will respectfully disregard it. To each his own and thank goodness. If every guest was at the parks at opening, why bother? I do think you were being sincere, but I guess I don't get people w/o little kids trying to give parenting advice. If you were giving advice about teen issues, perhaps I'd be more willing to listen.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Well, naps just never worked out real well for our family. ALL children are different and their sleep patterns are different, just like adults. When DS was little I was a stay at home mom and pretty much let him establish his own patterens. By the time he was three, naps were a thing of the past. However, he went to be at 7:30 and slept till 7:30 the next morning. There was no way to get him off his pattern and we really would not want to as it worked perfect for our lifestyle. He would however fall asleep where ever he was at 7:30 so we did just cart him along with us sometimes if we wanted to be out a little later. The only time we have ever been in a park at 11:00 pm was at the MVMPC aand he was 11. There has however been very few mornings at WDW that we have not been at rope drop. It is just what works for our family. DS has never had a nap at WDW but DH has had a few. We set our pace and break if anyone if tired. He has never been one of those poor children too exasuted to have fun even though he has never had a nap at WDW.

Jordan's mom

 

[ButterflyJen]

I do think you were being sincere, but I guess I don't get people w/o little kids trying to give parenting advice. If you were giving advice about teen issues, perhaps I'd be more willing to listen.

Well said, soccerchick. Not to be disrespectful to the OP, but I'm guessing she doesn't have a small child and so therefore doesn't have any idea that each child is different regarding what they can/can't handle.

A two hour nap? That's rare around here with my one-year-old, who is "supposed" to take naps like that. (I think my DD read the book on what she's "supposed" to do while in utero, and has proceeded to do the exact opposite ever since birth.)

Sorry, OP, but until you're the one with the little one and know the paths parents walk, I can't get behind your request.

 

[madge]

Hi! I have been to Disney several times. Each time I have seen kids screaming and yelling because they have not had naps. I personally think you need to have a 2 hour a day nap time and then go back to the park. The kids should be well rested to go back to the park and stay there till 11. I have seen so many families rushing back at 8 to get there kids to bed at 9. I think YOU ARE ON VACATION!!! Vacation is- when you are away from home, your daily scedual etc. Daily schedual means waking up go to work come home go to bed do it all over again. Just go with the flow. When I was little we did not have to go back to the hotel at 8 or 9 to get to bed we stayed up all night and got up at 5 or 4:30 and we were fine that is because we got naps. Please reply on what you think of this.

When you are an adult, married, with children of your own....feel free to take naps and keep your children out as late as you'd like

 

[KeepSwimming]

Hi! I have been to Disney several times. Each time I have seen kids screaming and yelling because they have not had naps. I personally think you need to have a 2 hour a day nap time and then go back to the park. The kids should be well rested to go back to the park and stay there till 11. I have seen so many families rushing back at 8 to get there kids to bed at 9. I think YOU ARE ON VACATION!!! Vacation is- when you are away from home, your daily scedual etc. Daily schedual means waking up go to work come home go to bed do it all over again. Just go with the flow. When I was little we did not have to go back to the hotel at 8 or 9 to get to bed we stayed up all night and got up at 5 or 4:30 and we were fine that is because we got naps. Please reply on what you think of this.

Seems a little quick to judge...

None of us know what has been going on with those kids all day. Sometimes my kids have had a nap, plenty to eat, but are just in a whiney mood. They're kids, so it happens. Please don't walk by, see one of my kids have a mini breakdown, and ASSUME things.

Mind your own....ummm...magic!

 

[crisi]

I think it depends on the kids. Mine wouldn't nap as little ones in the room at Disney - it was a waste of time and effort. So we switched to napping where they would nap (exhausted on buses, usually, but the train in the MK, monorail, boat - then get off after an hour ride and nap), and called for early evenings (since sleeping on mom's lap isn't the most restful).

 

[kerry34]

Every child is different and there is no way any assumptions can be made to what does or does not make a child cranky through the course of the day or if a child needs a nap or not. I started taking my oldest daughter (who is now almost 13) to Disney when she was five and naps were long a thing of the past for her. She could go all day long without stopping and if she did cry it was because she wanted to do something she couldnt or wanted something she couldnt have, not because she was tired but because she was five. My now 10 yr old would also easily go from early morning until at least 8pm, never complained, cried or anything. Same goes for my 9 yr old and one of my five yr olds, my other five yr old still needs naps during the day and is ready for bed by 830 or so at night. She pitched a fit in Disney this past April and we werent in the park for more than an hour. She was mad, plain and simple. As far as keeping them out until very late, I won't do it with my little ones because I need a rest and a reprive from the five kids after a long day at the parks. Also after a while it will take its toll on them as well. I am making the assumption that the OP doesnt have kids due to the age on her ticker. I remember how easy it was before I had kids to give advice and opinions on child rearing. If only it were that easy.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm confused..

This thread seems like deja vu.

ETA: Nevermind--it is the flip side.

we honor our children's bedtimes on vacation--mostly because they need it and so do we.

We don't rush them back per se....but we are not stay until Park closing kind of people....anymore...since we had kids.

We enjoy our vacations as we choose to do so. And without sleep--we are crabby! And that certainly isn't a way to enjoy a vacation.

 

[flipturngirl]

Well I personally think that I am right and kids should have fun. You only live once remember this...