Strategy for Midday Naps

[westie55]

Midday naps didn't really work for my family. If my boys were tired, they wouldn't be able to make it back to the room to sleep and would fall asleep in the stroller or on the bus. For us, it worked better to park until we were parked out and then go back to the resort for the afternoon/ evening. This trip we will be staying at the Contemporary so poppin g back into the MK will be doable if we get a 2nd wind. From some of the resorts further from the parks, it's too much of a hassle for us with babies and strollers to go back in a 2nd time. Staying in close proximity makes it doable, though.

 

[thingwithwings]

Oddly enough, we skipped midday naps last time we went with OS, mostly because I was being a bit sillyheaded about it. He needed the naps (though I don't know how likely he was to have actually taken them), so he was pretty cranky towards the end of our day anywhere and never stayed even slightly conscious for fireworks.

Which is a lesson learned.

When DH and I went on our honeymoon, we did take long breaks in the middle of the day, and it made a world of difference. That said, I agree with everyone here saying that you'll need at least 4 hours for a two hours naptime because travel can get hairy.

 

[tinkerjo]

when We took my son’s family (kids were 2-7 months) they insisted they were keeping them on schedule which at the time was a ridiculous bedtime of 6pm. Needless to say it didn’t stick because grandma (me) refused to babysit every evening so they could keep their schedule. Obviously this is not the case here but I agree that even though routines work at home, it may not be totally feasible at WDW and you will eat up a lot of time trying to get a 4 yo to nap when soon he will go to kindergarten and have to give them up anyway. I would always buy an inexpensive stroller for Disney so they could catnap if needed and save their little legs when they were tired. Transportation can take a long time and honestly most kids are sleep before you get back to the resort

 

[ManmanMoana]

We just got back from a trip with our 13 month old who is on a 1 nap schedule. Obviously different from a 4 year old, but we went back to our hotel (yacht) everyday for a nap. It required more time to get back to the hotel from Mk or Ak so we used Minnie vans often. I know it's not in everyone's budget but really helped on saving time. Our little guy is the kind of kid that sleeps for 10 minutes in the car and won't go back to sleep once we hit the room.

 

[Aj1129]

Mid day breaks are a must for my family. We have been traveling in August and will take a break or pool break by mid afternoon. My DS will be almost 4 for this trip and we plan on doing the same. We rope drop and then by 12/1 we are ready for a swim and a nap. We stay at a MK resort so travel time isn’t bad to and from MK. He naps from 2/2:30-4:30. We then get dinner and go on more rides in the evening. There was one day DS did nap in stroller which he rarely does. Well he woke up the crankiest he has ever been. Our whole evening was a disaster. You know your family best and do what is best for your family. Even with breaks we get DS on all the rides that are important to him.

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

We just got back from a trip with our 13 month old who is on a 1 nap schedule. Obviously different from a 4 year old, but we went back to our hotel (yacht) everyday for a nap. It required more time to get back to the hotel from Mk or Ak so we used Minnie vans often. I know it's not in everyone's budget but really helped on saving time. Our little guy is the kind of kid that sleeps for 10 minutes in the car and won't go back to sleep once we hit the room.

How much time overall would you say it saved? I will take a Minnie Van for sure if it maximizes our park time. The cost of an Uber is exponentially less than the cost of our park tickets for four people!

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

Mid day breaks are a must for my family. We have been traveling in August and will take a break or pool break by mid afternoon. My DS will be almost 4 for this trip and we plan on doing the same. We rope drop and then by 12/1 we are ready for a swim and a nap. We stay at a MK resort so travel time isn’t bad to and from MK. He naps from 2/2:30-4:30. We then get dinner and go on more rides in the evening. There was one day DS did nap in stroller which he rarely does. Well he woke up the crankiest he has ever been. Our whole evening was a disaster. You know your family best and do what is best for your family. Even with breaks we get DS on all the rides that are important to him.

The crankiness is my #1 fear. Both of my kids are consistent with their naps, and I am so afraid the change of environment will already have him off routine. I’m thinking leaving the park is really going to be our best bet.

 

[ManmanMoana]

How much time overall would you say it saved? I will take a Minnie Van for sure if it maximizes our park time. The cost of an Uber is exponentially less than the cost of our park tickets for four people!

I feel it saves a lot of time. The pickup/drop off points are pretty close to park entrances (especially helpful at MK) and the average wait time for us was 4-6 minutes for pickup. Only once it was estimated a 20 minute wait time so we tried the bus. We regretted it after we got to our hotel later than the waiting and travel time for the Minnie van.

 

[DisLiss]

Honestly, with a toddler I wouldn't have my heart set on my touring plan. Kids tend to have a different schedule when at WDW no matter how hard you try to stick to your normal one. For instance, I found my kids took longer naps when we were on vacation than when we were at home, and they often weren't ready for them at the same times as usual, and that compounded as the days went by.

That being said, I'd try to make the nap and a small meal in your resort room/suite happen at the same time. That way when you're at the parks before and after the nap you're not spending the park time on lunch. You can have groceries delivered to your room, or whatnot, but it lets everyone eat, rest, and recharge so you can go have more fun.

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

Honestly, with a toddler I wouldn't have my heart set on my touring plan. Kids tend to have a different schedule when at WDW no matter how hard you try to stick to your normal one. For instance, I found my kids took longer naps when we were on vacation than when we were at home, and they often weren't ready for them at the same times as usual, and that compounded as the days went by.

That being said, I'd try to make the nap and a small meal in your resort room/suite happen at the same time. That way when you're at the parks before and after the nap you're not spending the park time on lunch. You can have groceries delivered to your room, or whatnot, but it lets everyone eat, rest, and recharge so you can go have more fun.

Great advice! I am trying to keep my expectations low with my touring plan. I mostly want to use it for time references and to get a general idea of walking time and organization of best order to visit attractions. We are staying in the cabins at Fort Wilderness for a portion of our trip, so I like the idea of having groceries delivered and recharging before the evening visit to the parks. I just have to remember to stay flexible and patient during this trip...easier said than done for a first timer paying a small fortune. Lol

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

I feel it saves a lot of time. The pickup/drop off points are pretty close to park entrances (especially helpful at MK) and the average wait time for us was 4-6 minutes for pickup. Only once it was estimated a 20 minute wait time so we tried the bus. We regretted it after we got to our hotel later than the waiting and travel time for the Minnie van.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I think this will be a great option for us, and not terribly expensive.

 

[mdmbfly]

I'll add MTCW...we LOVED doing naps in the middle of the day. Our boys always felt like they got 2 days out of each day. We all got to decompress a little. We would usually do a morning until time to eat lunch, head back to the room and nap a little, then hit the pool for a little while and go back in the evening when we were refreshed, relaxed and could enjoy all of the evening activities. NO ONE wants to be around a grouch - child or adult. Feet don't ache as much, you're not as tired, you get a little break from being around a million people and it kind of feels like a different day when you go back in. We NEVER felt like we missed out by leaving the parks for a little while.

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

I'll add MTCW...we LOVED doing naps in the middle of the day. Our boys always felt like they got 2 days out of each day. We all got to decompress a little. We would usually do a morning until time to eat lunch, head back to the room and nap a little, then hit the pool for a little while and go back in the evening when we were refreshed, relaxed and could enjoy all of the evening activities. NO ONE wants to be around a grouch - child or adult. Feet don't ache as much, you're not as tired, you get a little break from being around a million people and it kind of feels like a different day when you go back in. We NEVER felt like we missed out by leaving the parks for a little while.

Thank you for sharing! We hope to have a similar experience. I want to spend at least four hours outside of the parks each day for nap.

 

[ElenaRN]

I never thought my kids would sleep in the stroller. Esp at Disney where it is sensory overload. They did though and slept longer then they would have during a nap at home. My oldest was and is a terrible sleeper.

So you never know.

 

[joedplumber]

Years ago, we went when my DD was 6 and my DS was 3. We always rented the double stroller from the park. Anyway, the kids always did their napping in the stroller and we never had an issue. We would typically get into the park by 9am and leave around 11pm. The kids never got unbearable at that age though. Now they are 14 & 11 and can run circles around us. lol

 

[DisneyDoesMyHair]

Years ago, we went when my DD was 6 and my DS was 3. We always rented the double stroller from the park. Anyway, the kids always did their napping in the stroller and we never had an issue. We would typically get into the park by 9am and leave around 11pm. The kids never got unbearable at that age though. Now they are 14 & 11 and can run circles around us. lol

We are planning to leave each day for a few hours, but may adjust if the kids are hanging in okay. I figured planning it in and then not needing the four hour window is better than not planning and everyone being disappointed that we have to leave for nap time. My DH and older DD can always stay in the parks while I and DS leave for afternoon nap.

 

[mydisneyanytime]

We only went back to the hotel one time for a nap and it was a disaster! Once we got back the kids were wide awake and the adults were sleepy! We got very little done that night once we went back to the parks. My kids were in a stroller until they were about 8 or so. I know that sounds old but you can walk 10+miles at disney and kids (and adults) aren't always ready for that. We found that it kept our kids happy and they could nap if the smaller one wanted to. It also didn't force us to stop if they needed to rest and we were headed somewhere else. There was also shade with the cover pulled up and they could carry drinks and snacks more easily. I couldn't carry either of them for long even when they are small. I just found that it kept a happy family!! My son is now 12 and is in a wheelchair. He will actually still nap in the chair if he gets tired. It is alot more walking than you can imagine if you haven't been there.