To Nap or Not to Nap

[cfrith5]

Every time we've been to DLR over the years (we usually go for about 3 days) we never take the advice of going back to the hotel to rest/nap during the day. Even with two little kids we just let them take naps in the strollers. Of course we were exhausted by the end of the day (leaving around 10) but since we only visit every few years it feels like a waste of time taking a break during the day. Are we crazy? This year our kids are 13, 10 and 4.

 

[Escape2Disney]

Every time we've been to DLR over the years (we usually go for about 3 days) we never take the advice of going back to the hotel to rest/nap during the day. Even with two little kids we just let them take naps in the strollers. Of course we were exhausted by the end of the day (leaving around 10) but since we only visit every few years it feels like a waste of time taking a break during the day. Are we crazy? This year our kids are 13, 10 and 4.

I used to feel the same way. Now instead of 3 days, we extend the trip and ALWAYS include a mid-day break from the parks. For us, it works much better to break up the day. I wish I'd have done it when the kids were younger. I would have enjoyed the trips a little more I'm sure

 

[ArchOwl]

Depends on the hours of operation for me. If the park is open late, I will usually take a nap because I also do rope drop. So if the park opens at 8am, I am at the park sometime after 7am. If I also want to take advantage of late park time, I am probably going to need a nap, because I am not a teenager anymore!

If the park is only open from 10-9 or whatever, then I won't take a nap. Might schedule a nice leisurely lunch or something, but won't nap.

 

[dzny12]

Take the nap or take lunch and a swim..but only if you are on site or within easy walking distance. the kids probably won't like it.. but a couple hours of decompressing time makes a huge difference in your day. ride the monorail back into the park or do 1 park in the morning then a different park in the pm. maybe not every day but give it a try .

 

[mouseymommy]

When always take a nap. With our two little ones it is very necessary. When we go in October we won't nap. It's a birthday trip with just our oldest and his #1 request was NO NAP!! We usually go during spring break and get there before opening, nap, and stay till close, at 12.

 

[lwilkison]

Every time we've been to DLR over the years (we usually go for about 3 days) we never take the advice of going back to the hotel to rest/nap during the day. Even with two little kids we just let them take naps in the strollers. Of course we were exhausted by the end of the day (leaving around 10) but since we only visit every few years it feels like a waste of time taking a break during the day. Are we crazy? This year our kids are 13, 10 and 4.

On our first visit we never napped but we learned to always rest.

It made the trips easier and way more enjoyable taking breaks!

We didn't argue/fight as long as we paced ourselves and took breaks.

Either way I hope you have a great trip!

 

[WaltsMartini]

I love the napping It makes me so much more refreshed for the evening shows. I usually hit all the etickets in the morning, lunch and nap at the hotel, and get back in time for the 3 pm parade, shows, and dinner.

The nap can be a money saver too - if you can eat/ snack outside of the park, you will almost definitely save money.

And there's just something about a beer by the pool and then a nap in the nice air conditioned room that makes it seem like vacation

 

[road2disney]

When our kids were young enough to be in strollers we just napped them in the stroller. Went to a quiet place and just relaxed. They had different nap times so it worked out okay. These vacations were mostly in May or Sept. [kids' birthday months] and we were back in our hotels by 8pm or 9pm.

Our last trip was in July 2010, which was our very first summer trip. The kids were 7 and 5 and it was our first trip without a stroller too. With the summer heat, summer crowd and no stroller to wheel them around, we needed to head back to the hotel to nap/rest. We are headed to Disneyland again this summer in August. Kids are 9 and 7 and we will again nap/rest in the afternoon but then stay up later.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We always nap/rest--even though my kids are now much older! Even if we just go back to the room mid day in order to lay down and look at our computers (quiet time)--it is SO necessary for all of us. We often change clothes (walking all day in the same outfit can be gross), and take showers, too. It helps us to all re-group for the evening.

When my kids were little we often stayed on property (usually the Disneyland Hotel), but now we can either stay on property or off (sometimes even needing a shuttle) but we still always take a break mid day.

 

[isisisme]

My previous DL partner never wanted to take breaks and we were in the park close to open to close. I would be exhausted by the time our fast trip was over and be kinda grumpy. I did that the first time I took my now DH to the park and he was grumpy. Now, we always take a break no matter how long the park is open, and we stay for more days. We are more relaxed and enjoy actually being there.

 

[minniecarousel]

We usually go for 4-5 days (those days include travel: 5-6 hour drive). We ALWAYS nap - and we have no little kids! Our older son & daughter-in-law are going with us next month and we plan to be in the Park at early opening - back to the room by noon, then back to the Parks around 5 PM. It is going to be so crowded, we'll need to do it this way.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

I agree- by 1 pm it is crazy- go nap, swim, enjoy your hotel, change your clothes relax... go back around 5- 6 and close the park down!

 

[Jacie]

We always break back to the hotel for the day. Stroller naps are not the same quality (in my opinion for my children!) as in bed naps. Between loud noises, being bump, being hot, and not being too comfortable- it's just not the same.
I never feel like it's a waste of time. (Although at WDW it's kind of a pain just because of all the bus waiting involved, but DL it's so simple!)

I also want to add that this last WDW trip, I made 8 year old DD nap too (and sometimes dad and I would as well.) It helped all of us keep going. I'd rather lose a few hours during the peak of the afternoon over having cranky kids near the end of the day and leave when the gettin's good! We will probably continue the mid day break even after DS has eliminated naps, at least until he is about DDs current age.

 

[silence]

When we are there for peak hours, we always nap, ALL of us. We typically are at the gates before park opening, spend the morning until lunch time or just after in the park. We head over to DCA, pick up a FP and then head to the hotel for lunch, swim & nap. Head back in late afternoon/early evening to use all the FP we have collected and stay close to closing. My kiddos used to fight the naps, and may again when we go in July, but they ALWAYS fall asleep.

 

[CamoMama]

I don't nap, but I do return to the hotel around dinner time. If it's particularly hot or I've overdone it I'll take a quick shower and change clothes for the evening. It can get quite chilly in southern Caliofrnia after dark, even in July. So I switch from shorts or capris to jeans and add a sweater, and switch from flip flops to tennis shoes.

 

[tanyaewa]

We have been for 5 days each time first my boys were 5 and 7, second time 6 and 8.
We have never napped...or even left the parks. We are warriors.

 

[BryANDJessMom]

When my kids were little and they normally took naps we would go back to the hotel...but when they were about 3.5 or 4 they stopped with the naps. So, the last few years we don't go back to the hotel. Instead, I make reservations for a late lunch at BB or some other place and we do a leisurely lunch to recharge. I also plan things like Aladdin for around 3 when they need a bit of down time. We usually leave right after the first WOC or fireworks. We are there at rope drop...usually only about 10 before.

We did this for 7 days last year at WDW too. Oh my kids are now 7 and 9.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We do *when park hours are 8am-12am, which they have been for our past few visits, this Oct hours may be shorter, if so I doubt we will.

 

[hlbtimes2]

We always nap mid day. Its typically about a 2 hour break. We relax in our room and usually sleep at least part of the time. Some trips we've used the time to swim, our trip last week we just rested/ napped, we never did use the pool the entire trip.

During our break we usually change shoes, grab jackets so we are ready for the cool evenings, and just freshen up a bit.

Last Saturday the park was open 17 hours. We spent 15 of them in the park. The two hours in the hotel were much needed and did not feel like a waste of time.

 

[Jacie]

I'll never forget standing in line waiting for the Princess Meet N Greet to open, and a mom there with a little boy who looked about 4/5 and a girl who looked about 6/7. It was 8/9am and they both looked miserable. She kept telling me how they were there from open to close the day before (Midnight closing) and got back for MM hours this morning and planned to stay until close.
Both kids just looked so tired and so worn out, but especially the little boy. (No stroller since he was older, too.) I felt so bad for them! Hard to have fun when you are super exhausted!

(We all know our children best, of course! But I know sometimes we just get so Disney excited!)