Small Children at Night

[honeymom]

I have a 5 year old DD and 2 and 1/2 year old DS. My inclination is to get up early, do stuff in parks, rest for afternoon back at hotel and do evening at parks. But, I'm thinking that some of the nightime events may be just a little too late for my kids as they don't seem to start until 9. For any of you with small children, how do you handle, what is your experience? My kids are not nappers.

 

[jwfla422]

When went back in November it was my 2 1/2 yr old DD's first visit to WDW. We were back in the hotel all nites by 9-9:30, her normal bedtime then was 7-7:30 however being at WDW she was able to stay up later. Her bedtime at home was basically hers by choice.

We didn't see the fireworks while we were there, she was a little apprehensive in the stroller at nite at the park (EPCOT), so we got her a Minnie flashlight and she was busy playing with that the whole time. (she would have been happier with that than watching fireworks).

When we got back to our hotel room she was bouncing off the walls. (even if she started to fall asleep in the stroller on the way back). It's very overstimiluating for very young ones (the whole experience), but she slept like a log (and I never would have thought she'd sleep in a portacrib prior).

Make sure to take an afternoon break if you can. Since they aren't nappers I would still have them rest or maybe go back to the room and watch tv for a bit, something that gets them out of the sun and the craziness of the parks. This will help with them be happier later in the day.

But, I do recommend to not push them past their limit. It's not worth watching fireworks with a cranky child. Your best bet is to just go with the flow the first few nites and see how they do. (the first nite they are usually tired from the travel day to WDW), but on the second nite try to plan something maybe closer to your hotel that nite to see how they handle staying up later.

 

[jasmine206]

Honeymom -

We went last Oct. with DDs 2 and 4. We planned 2 later nights, one for the Electrical Parade at MK followed by the fireworks, the other for Illuminations. Both of those days were easy during the day, we always went back after lunch for nap/rest, didn't return to the park until late in the afternoon or after dinner. All other nights we were back by 7-7:30 for bed. The day after the late night at MK was our rest day, we didn't go to a park until evening for Illuminations. We knew we'd be returning again this Oct., so we weren't in a huge rush to see everything. We did what we wanted and what the kids handled, and called it a day around their normal time. The girls were happy and not so overstimulated that they didn't enjoy what we did do. Agree with previous post to take it easy on the travel days and go with the flow! If you plan only 1-2 late nights, the little ones will probably do fine. That age was great for the shows at MGM (B&B, Beat, Little Mermaid) and the parades, as well as the Fantasyland rides. Take advantage of Fastpass whenever possible, and hit Dumbo first thing in the AM! Good luck and have a great time! inkbounc

 

[Coll0610]

When DS was 4, he never napped at home. At daycare, he frequently got in trouble for "talking at naptime" and the teachers told us that at least a couple days a week he would never fall asleep. When we were at WDW, he slept like a rock for 1.5 to 2 hours ever day. I couldn't believe it. He was also sleeping more at night than usual. The next trip, when he was 5, he never took a nap even if I made him lay in his bed in the dark with no toys.

There's something about WDW that makes kids act in ways that aren't normal for them, so maybe your non-nappers will want naps while they are there.

 

[PattiPB]

Last trip my kids were almost 5, 3 & 1, and by the third day, I threw my plans in the garbage! They much preferred sleeping in every day to getting an early start. We went to the Parks about 10 am, took a nap every afternoon, and stayed at the parks late---including a 1 am E-night! They fell asleep in the strollers at night.

These are not night owls! They wake up at 6:30 every morning with no prodding, believe me! I think part of it may have been the level of humidity that drained them during the day.

My point is, I was really surprised by what worked well for our family last time, so you may be, too. The important thing is to go with the flow! Do whatever keeps them from being cranky!

Patti

 

[honeymom]

Thanks for the great advice. In my mind, this trip is for my kids. My husband and I used to live in Southern California and we seemed to have worked out the Disney bug back then. There's very little if anything that I feel a pressing need to do or see that they can't do with us (I would really like to sneak off for Rock and Roll Roller Coaster without them but that's about it). Otherwise, if its a playground they want, fine with me. I think the getting up early will work in my family (with the possible exception of my DH). We do like to beat the crowds and I think they would enjoy playing by the pool each day so I want to make sure we can do it. I am less concerned with the evening stuff.

 

[jwfla422]

Coll0610-you are so right about kids doing things different at WDW, my DD is a good napper, but only in her crib or car seat if it's a long trip at naptime. She only slept in her stroller (in her carseat) when she was a baby. At MGM, she actually fell asleep in her umbrella stroller, that was a first! Poor thing, her head would just bob from side to side

Honeymoon- try to sneak off to RnR if you can, it really takes your breath away, literally...just don't eat too soon before you go ...and definitely get a Fast Pass. (I don't know if I'd do it alone).

Just 17 more days til WDW...

 

[honeymom]

I love roller coasters so doing them alone is fine.

Many years ago my dh and I went on a coaster named Viper at Magic Mountain in LA based on a friend's recommendation. It was only after we rode it that our friend bothered to tell us that he really didn't remember much about it because he passed out on the first loop!

 

[jwfla422]

Oh no, of course your friend wouldn't tell you about that part!

I always loved rollercoasters myself but my DH doesn't like them, so I haven't been on one in years til RnR. Luckily my brother's family was in WDW with us so I got to ride with my sister n law (after she went on with my brother).

It is a real rush, that coaster, but I have to admit, I must be getting old, we were in the last car and I really thought I was going to lose it (and I'm not one to get sick on rides either) when the coaster took off, (I could feel my heart hit my back) but, the rest of the ride was such a rush. (it is a fast ride though). Very cool! (if you like Aerosmith, don't miss it).

I'm not sure you can do "baby swap" with 2 kids (to ride with your husband, although not sure if you're 5 yr old will appreciate that), otherwise, get a Fast Pass and have them take a break outside (that's what we did and we went in shifts). If you just go yourself with a FP you should be in and out of there in 20 minutes or so. It's a good place to watch the Tower of Terror (now that one I couldn't take at all again).

Enjoy and just go with the flow at nite with your little ones.

Just 17 more days or is it 18, can't count, but I know it's coming up soon!