SUGGESTIONS for bedtime??

[MOMOFMNM]

How do you all handle the bedtime routine with little ones at WDW??? We have three little girls and we have a 4 br house so we are not really acustomed to the sleeping together thing...my dh is deaf (not literally) and is kinda a night owl...he has a dvd w headphones for himself to watch movies...but how do you all find "me time" or "us time" when having the whole family in one room??? I have requested a ground floor at CR hoping to get a patio to help out a little...any ideas??? Thanks!

 

[GoingtoDisney]

We just returned and are a party of 5 as well. My kids did have a bit of trouble settling down a few nights. We kept our routine of books, etc before bed (unless someone was already asleep...this happened when we stayed out late to see fireworks, Illuminations, etc) and then we either went to bed at the same time or I hung out a few nights in the bathroom area (it's curtained off at POFQ) reading until the kids were asleep. Dh even worked on his laptop in the dark. I think I saw that they have bedtime stories or Disney movies at night on one of the channels, but we never had time for that.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

HOW did you get 5 in the pofq? I thought you could only have 4??? just curious...do they count the 2 yr old as an infant

 

[soccer mom]

We stayed at the FW cabins when the kids were little. That was great to have a separate room for them. As they got older and bathroom time became more of an issue we switched to two connecting rooms. That is the best!

We tried years ago to do the all in one room arrangement and hated it! We would be going to bed with the kids trying to get them to go to sleep because they were use to quiet, dark rooms with doors shut. We finally bit the bullet and got two rooms.

 

[gigi1313]

we've done a few different things w/various degrees of success... depending on the ages, we've divided and put the littlest one to bed first while dh/oldest would take a walk around the resort for a few minutes... another time we walked the little guy in the stroller 'til his big sis was asleep in bed and he was asleep in the stroller and just transferred him... that's how it used to work when they were smaller...

when they were 4 and 6 we just turned down the lights, put the tv on softly, and usually put a kid/adult in each bed so they could get a little backrub and some "shhhh'ing" if they would start to chatter...

sometimes dh would be more successful w/getting them to sleep when i wasn't there, so i'd go do laundry... or i'd put them to bed and he'd go have a drink at the pool bar!

once they were asleep, if we wanted to hang and chat, we'd drag the chairs from the room out to the walkway (mods and values) and sit out there w/a drink or a snack...

on our trip last year (they were 7 &9 yo) we got two rooms at a value so they could put the tv on, watch whatever they'd like and fall asleep to it... it also afforded dh and i a lot more privacy (and we could watch whatever we wanted to fall asleep to on our tv LOL)

the best recipe to get kids to fall asleep at wdw is to tire them out! if the parks don't wear 'em down, take 'em swimming! LOL!

 

[lmhall2000]

You're at Disney!!! They have this magic dust at the front desk that you sprinkle on them otherwise known as WORN OUT sleeping dust...all you have to do is sprinkle it on them before you head for the parks...then...

1. Have them point out all the wildlife along the way so they won't be reminded of the walk to the monorail and ask to be picked up.
2. Bee-line it over to the Barbershop for their first hair cut at Disney so they avoid seeing the stroller line and realize "Hey, my little legs are already sore."
3. Strategically plan your amusement rides. They haven't a clue where things are and how far...tell them right after Splash Mountain that y'all have fast passes for Space Mountain...vice versa...do this a few times.
4. Just when they think they can't go on...show them the line for Ariel's grotto and promise them a Mickey bar while they wait for an autograph.
5. Eat lunch...this always revives them.
6. Do #3-#5 except add dinner this time
7. Watch the fireworks and head to your room
8. Make sure everyone has gone potty...and if you're like us..since you're the last to get to the potty...by the time you're out you'll find 3 little munchkins sacked out with pajama bottoms on and their shirt half on with a big smile on their face.

Then you and dh can tuck them in...send him for some refills on the mug and sit outside and chat about a wonderful day. Or, if you're like me turn on the Home and Garden channel while your dh is socked out next to the kids.

Tara

 

[GoingtoDisney]

HOW did you get 5 in the pofq? I thought you could only have 4??? just curious...do they count the 2 yr old as an infant

Yes, it's 4, plus an infant--which they consider a child under 3. She was in a pack and play/crib, dh and I had a bed and my ds and dd shared the other bed. I'm bummed because next time we go we'll have limited options on where to stay for the price we got this time.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We spent 10-days at WDW at the end of May with 3 children -- 12 yo, 4 yo, and 2.5 yo. While my 2 younger children stick to a schedule of naps and bedtime during the school year, naps and schedules didn't work at WDW. Generally, the two younger children, dh, and I would collapse at about the same time. (Note that I didn't include the 12 -- almost 13 -- yo, who only sleeps during daylight hours any more.) The novelty of the bunkbeds at AKL helped. The two little ones ended-up sleeping in the top bunk together. Neither one was too crazy about climbing out without help; so, once they were up there, we didn't have to worry about them going anywhere. "Us time" for us became smiling at the same things the kids did or said while on vacation. Thus, dh and I are taking a short trip without the kids to WDW at the end of July. I highly recommend this strategy.

 

[mjslvswdw1]

Kind of off subject as to how to get kids to sleep...POR is the only moderate that can fit five. I know this because my best friend is there right now with her 4 kids..17,15,9, and 7. I booked her trip for her and they are at Alligator Bayou! HTH!

MElissa

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Because of this I have bounced back and forth so many times!! 1st had a POR AB room booked but it looked small and cramped with the trundle out...then asked for a value w ajoining rooms and TA said WDW would not guarantee that!! Well I can't take the chance of two rooms being far away and not joined with 3 small kids can't live wo any of them or dh not near me during our trip...so then for cost effectiveness and happiness I have booked a wing room at CR AND crossing my fingers for a floor room with waterview, I paid extra for, so at least we can sit outside for awhile. Shouldn't be so concerned, I am sure I will be as worn out as they will be...I have no concerns about any of them falling asleep, it is just that we usually rent a suite when we travel but I really can't afford one at WDW and can't get free dining renting points from a dvc member!!! I am sure we will be ok. looking forward to being soooo close to the MK!!!!

 

[3lilprincesses]

this is what I loved about GF -- turn down service! we would come back at night, the lights were dimmed, the tv was on quietly, playing stories, the covers were turned down. the girls couldn't wait to crawl in! then DH and i would sit out on the balcony with a glass of wine and watch the castle change colors! it was MAGICAL. don't think we'll get so lucky w/ the view next time, but still plan on taking a glass of wine onto the balcony and relaxing.

also, i bring a book light so i can read in bed and not bother anyone. works like a gem!