What low key activities for kids?

[annainohio]

When all the stimulation is just too much for the little ones (preschoolers), what should we do? We are staying on site and my intuition tells me heading back to the parks isn't a good idea.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

All of the resorts have pools and play areas for little ones. I would definitely maximize on this with the preschoolers. They also have activities during the day (games and stuff) and playgrounds. Just ask the front desk at check in for a list of times and activities

 

[annainohio]

All of the resorts have pools and play areas for little ones. I would definitely maximize on this with the preschoolers. They also have activities during the day (games and stuff) and playgrounds. Just ask the front desk at check in for a list of times and activities

This might sound crazy, but the pools might even be too much. I mean, there are giant figures and loud music. Maybe the play ground.

 

[margaret07013]

it really depends on you and your kids. We went in May and even though we could have sleep in a little bit longer - we always went early for RD to avoid the heat and crowds. Kids lasted about 3-4 hrs. by noon - we needed a break. lunch and heading back to the resort. I made the nap mandatory. yes, there were arguments for 5 min after that - both were sleeping. 90 min and we were heading back to the park around 5pm.

if not - we went to the pool, movie on the beach, bonfire etc.

but I made the nap mandatory. 5 min of them arguing vs 5 hrs of them being happy after it was worth it for me.

When all the stimulation is just too much for the little ones (preschoolers), what should we do? We are staying on site and my intuition tells me heading back to the parks isn't a good idea.

 

[Beer Me]

We used the resort pool a lot when the kids were little. Always took an afternoon break.
In the parks I remember spending lots of time in the playground in mickeys toontown and the dinosaur playground in AK. Those might not be considered low key for them but it was for me and it was a break from lines and rides.

 

[prisjoyce]

it really depends on you and your kids. We went in May and even though we could have sleep in a little bit longer - we always went early for RD to avoid the heat and crowds. Kids lasted about 3-4 hrs. by noon - we needed a break. lunch and heading back to the resort. I made the nap mandatory. yes, there were arguments for 5 min after that - both were sleeping. 90 min and we were heading back to the park around 5pm. if not - we went to the pool, movie on the beach, bonfire etc. but I made the nap mandatory. 5 min of them arguing vs 5 hrs of them being happy after it was worth it for me.

This, exactly. My kids were 8 & 10 on our last trip & I still made the nap mandatory! lol

We make rope drop, and stay until around lunch. Then we head to the hotel for a nap & maybe some pool time. Then we go back to the parks & stay past their bedtime. Then the next day we do it all over again!

Where are you staying? Caribbean Beach has a little beach area that is quiet & POFQ has a nice path along the water. My kids enjoyed sitting on one of the benches near the water & waving to people on the boat as it went by.

Let the kids be your gauge and have a great trip!

 

[*pixie*dust*]

it really depends on you and your kids. We went in May and even though we could have sleep in a little bit longer - we always went early for RD to avoid the heat and crowds. Kids lasted about 3-4 hrs. by noon - we needed a break. lunch and heading back to the resort. I made the nap mandatory. yes, there were arguments for 5 min after that - both were sleeping. 90 min and we were heading back to the park around 5pm.

if not - we went to the pool, movie on the beach, bonfire etc.

but I made the nap mandatory. 5 min of them arguing vs 5 hrs of them being happy after it was worth it for me.

This is exactly what we did when DS was a preschooler. He's now 9 and he will still take a nap about half of the time

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

This might sound crazy, but the pools might even be too much. I mean, there are giant figures and loud music. Maybe the play ground.

May I ask where you are staying then?? If it is a Value, than yes there will be lots of larger than life themeing. If that is the case then you may want to consider switching to a moderate or deluxe resort with a more "toned down" theme. A lot of the Mods & Deluxes have both feature pools (with large figures/themes) and quiet pools (no large themes). The one that is coming to mind at the moment is POR, with the trees and water it has a less stimulating, relaxed feel.

Something to consider if you imagine spending more time at the resort.

 

[jfeasel]

I've been taking my kids since they were 18 months and we always came back to the room, napped and swam and then went back at night. Because we stayed on site like you are doing, it was easy. Another idea is to skip a day at the parks and just hang out at the hotel. Downtown Disney is another idea as you can take Disney transportation and it is free. We've gone to a movie at Downtown Disney on our day off from the parks.

Depending on where you are staying, it's also nice just to walk around the hotel. Coronado Springs has a great walking path all the way around the resort and we always see lizards on the sidewalk and sometimes alligators in the pond.

BTW my kids are now 19 and 23 and when we went this past Christmas, we still came back and took a nap, but then we stayed at the parks until 2 am!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Something I find relaxing is to take a boat ride around Bay Lake. All the way around. Especially if you get one of the smaller boats, it gets you away from the crowds and the constant inundation of all the sights and sounds. This assumes, of course, that you find boat rides relaxing. Taking a spin around the resort loop (and even going to Epcot and back from the TTC) can be relaxing if you go in the middle of the afternoon when the monorails aren't that crowded.

We also do mandatory naps...but I hope to actually get my kids to sleep one day! They have to lay down and be quiet for at least an hour, with the shades drawn and the room completely dark and quiet.

Also, there are some in-park places we go for a break. At DHS, the Streets of America are generally not crowded. In MK, we like to go to Tom Sawyer's Island and just chill for a bit.

 

[owensamo]

When our DD was a preschooler, we would enforce a nap - but we did it in the parks. We basically walked her around in her stroller until she fell asleep, when DH and I would find a nice, cool counter service restaurant where we could sit, have a cold drink and people watch for a couple of hours. I think we did this until she was 4 or 5 at least - there were some days when it was harder to get her to fall asleep, but she eventually did, and this way we didn't end up spending an extra hour+ on the bus going back and forth to the resort.

As she got older (and out of the stroller) we started including longer lunch breaks (in the AC), or mid-day monorail trips or resort hopping to give a mental break without necessarily having a nap or going all the way back to the resort. We haven't been to the parks since she was about 7 (going later this year! ) but it's what worked for our family.

Enjoy your trip! You never know - your kids might surprise you with how they react to everything!

 

[FutureDis]

When my son was a preschooler, we also did mandatory naps. If you want something else (like after nap time but still not back at parks), there are tons of great things listed here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/

Campfires
Surrey bikes
Wagon ride (actually pretty cheap!)
Playgrounds

Never underestimate just letting a child wander and discover at a resort. SO many things to see if you just slow down and enjoy. Take a trip to one of the deluxe resorts and just soak in the atmosphere, get a snack or a drink.