Question for members with small children

[Steamboat Girlie]

I am a new member, so I have never stayed in a one-bedroom villa before. I was just wondering how you put the little one to bed at night. Our boys are 1 and 4 and go to bed pretty early even when we are on vacation. If we have a one-bedroom, do you put the kids down in the family room area, then hang out in the master bedroom? Or do you put them down in the bedroom, and then carry them to the family room when you are ready to go to bed?

 

[MNMickeyWorldMom]

This probably isn't the answer you were looking for, but even though we are a family of 4 (our boys are 1 & 4 too), we get a 2-bedroom. That way we don't have to worry about disturbing them late at night. I know it seems kind of like a waste, but that's part of the reason we bought into DVC, so we could vacation in comfort. HTH.

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

This probably isn't the answer you were looking for, but even though we are a family of 4 (our boys are 1 & 4 too), we get a 2-bedroom. That way we don't have to worry about disturbing them late at night. I know it seems kind of like a waste, but that's part of the reason we bought into DVC, so we could vacation in comfort. HTH.

Thanks for your post. We definitely plan on getting a 2 bedroom in the future, but next year we are going with my sister and husband and we are planning on getting a two bedroom lock off. So this will still place our family in the one bedroom. So I was just wondering how families with small children work it out with the one bedroom.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Good question...

We have a one bedroom reserved in Oct. My "plan" was to put them to bed in the master so we can shut the door and then transfering when we go to bed. I'm not sure how reality will work out.

We stayed in a two bedroom last year with my sister and her family It was very spacious..but...we ended up with the baby in a crib in our room and my older daughter in the king bed with us...my daughter didn't want to sleep in the living room by herself.
I guess we'll keep trying until she's willing

 

[zalansky]

We have a 2 year old (will be 3 in Sept) and a 5 year old. Our 2 year old still sleeps (but won't fit much longer) in a pack n play. So she goes in that in the bedroom and we put the 5 year old to bed in the king...until we're ready for bed and then we move him to the pullout when we're ready for bed. Of course, even with good intentions, most times we get back to the room so late and it takes a while to get bathed and settled - that many nights we all go to bed at the same time.

ETA: when we're at Boardwalk, we've always put the pack n play in the big closet. Don't laugh at that either, I know many others who've done it.

 

[bellazachmom]

Ok, don't laugh ... the first few times we went with our little ones we booked at OKW because of the laundry ROOM. Yep, you guessed it, we put a pack 'n play in there and the little ones slept without being disturbed by anyone! (Make sure to take a nightlight!)

1st visit in 1BR with 14month daughter - mom&dad in bedroom, daughter in laundry

2nd visit in 1BR with 9month son and 2year old daughter - mom&dad in bedroom, daughter on a "ReadyBed" inflatable bed on our floor and son in laundry.

3rd visit put both kids on the floor in the master

4th visit we got a 2BR!

We have now added one more little one, our son born in January, so it looks like we will be in 2 BRs from now on!

hope this helps!

 

[stormer]

My boys are 6 and 4. We have stayed in a 1BR at VWL and SSR. Both times we brought an air mattress. A twin size fits fine on the floor next to the bed in the bedroom. You could probably even fit a full size. We used the extra linens meant for the couch bed on tha air mattress. It worked great. We were able to put them to bed and still use the family room area. I don't know how long it will work for, but while they are little it works great and saves points!

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

My boys are 6 and 4. We have stayed in a 1BR at VWL and SSR. Both times we brought an air mattress. A twin size fits fine on the floor next to the bed in the bedroom. You could probably even fit a full size. We used the extra linens meant for the couch bed on tha air mattress. It worked great. We were able to put them to bed and still use the family room area. I don't know how long it will work for, but while they are little it works great and saves points!

That sounds like a good idea. How do you pack the air mattress?

 

[jpolak]

Since I am an early riser it works better for DD to sleep in the master bedroon with us. We rent her a toddler bed from http://www.abbf.com/ for her to sleep in. That way when it's bed time she goes to sleep, and we get to hang out in the living room until we are ready for bed. In the morning I can get up and have coffee without disturbing anyone.

 

[castleri]

That sounds like a good idea. How do you pack the air mattress?

We pack ours in one of the rolling duffle bags that has a separate compartment on the bottom and then there is plenty of room for clothes in the upper section.

 

[El&Asmom]

Usually at Disney we are all so tired that we go to bed at the same time. In a 1bd, dd who is 4 sleeps on the pull out. Unfortunately dd that is 2 still needs help getting down, and refused to sleep on the pullout most nights. She slept with us in the king, so there wasn't much private time. Thats ok, they'll eventually grow up and we'll miss those nights.

 

[Lisa0503]

We have a 3 yr old boy & 4 yr old girl and right now the sleep together in the family room in the pullout couch. DH & I hang out in the bedroom or we take turns leaving the room and enjoying the resort in the evenings (we tend to be back in the room around 7 or 8pm and we travel during slow times of the year so the parks are closed early anyway)

 

[goldenears]

That sounds like a good idea. How do you pack the air mattress?

I agree! While my kids are still little, I plan on keeping them in the same bedroom as us and saving the points. If we want to stay up later, then we can use the family room and if someone gets up early, then we don't have to tip toe around the family room.

 

[ssrmouse]

We've always put our two young girls (6 and 8, now) to bed on the pull out sofa in the living room when it's time for them to go to bed.

They are always so worn out from the days activities, that we've been able to use the kitchen and dining table without them waking up (most of the lights were off though).

 

[shazen]

We put our girls (now 4 and 5) on the bedroom floor on either side of the bed. Sometimes we bring a kids Aero bed and a sleeping bag, sometimes we just put blankets on the floor and let them sleep there (they don't mind - sometimes they sleep on the floor at home just for fun). When we take the Aero bed and sleeping bag we just pack them in a large duffel bag with other stuff.

When we're ready for bed we don't move them, we just get into bed (watching where we step of course)!

I like being able to watch TV, use the balcony, leave the room for a snack, play cards, etc.. after the kids are asleep, and when we had them on the pull-out couch we kept waking up the kids.

 

[stormer]

That sounds like a good idea. How do you pack the air mattress?

We usually drive so it isn't a problem, just throw it in the trunk. This fall we will be flying down so I am going to see if I can squeeze it in a suitcase.

 

[lisareniff]

The first year we got a 1 bedroom with DD2 in the Pack and play and DD7 on the sleeper sofa. We put the pack and play next to the sleeper so both girls would sleep better with someone else in the room. Then DH and I hung out in the bedroom. Once asleep, which didn't take very long (LOL), we could go in the kitchen for snacks, etc with out waking them. DD7 has difficulties sleeping so transferring wouldn't have worked for her.

 

[moredisneyplease]

i'm one of those people that puts the baby in the closet!! Or at OKW in the laundry room! I admit it! Those closets and that OKW laundry room are big enough for the pack and play plus its dark and quiet.

Just a month ago at BWV 1 bedroom the baby was in the closet and the 3 year old was on an inflatable matress on the floor between the master bed and the wall that's next to the big tub. DH and I slept on the bed and the mommy's helper had the pull out. Soon we'll be in a two bedroom

 

[ckg]

We have a 2 year old (will be 3 in Sept) and a 5 year old. Our 2 year old still sleeps (but won't fit much longer) in a pack n play. So she goes in that in the bedroom and we put the 5 year old to bed in the king...until we're ready for bed and then we move him to the pullout when we're ready for bed. Of course, even with good intentions, most times we get back to the room so late and it takes a while to get bathed and settled - that many nights we all go to bed at the same time.

ETA: when we're at Boardwalk, we've always put the pack n play in the big closet. Don't laugh at that either, I know many others who've done it.

We do exactly the same thing for my little guy (closet pack and play) as the quiet keeps him relaxed and more "like home" . Glad we are not alone

 

[DVCJones]

I am a new member, so I have never stayed in a one-bedroom villa before. I was just wondering how you put the little one to bed at night. Our boys are 1 and 4 and go to bed pretty early even when we are on vacation. If we have a one-bedroom, do you put the kids down in the family room area, then hang out in the master bedroom? Or do you put them down in the bedroom, and then carry them to the family room when you are ready to go to bed?

Last April my kids were 2 and 5 at the time of our trip and we tried doing it both ways. We found on most park days we came home so late that it was fine to put them in the family room area because we were going to bed too.

On non-park days we did put them to bed in the master bedroom and made the switch later in the evening.

One night, DH was snoring so loud, he was out in the family room and I took the youngest DD in bed with me

I am sure you will figure out what is best for your family once you get there!
Have fun!!!!