what to do while dd naps?

[mommy2aidan04]

We are taking our first trip to Disney (staying at POP) in September. I suppose we will go to most parks in the morning and then take an afternoon break and then go back to parks/eat later in the afternoon. I am wondering what the parents do while the children nap. I have an 18 month daughter who will hopefully nap and I have a 4 year old son who will not nap.
Do most people just take turns staying in the room with the napping child? I wish we were staying somewhere with a balcony or something so I could at least sit on it while dd naps. That is what I did on our Disney cruise when my ds was little.
Just looking for suggestions.

 

[everylastbreath]

Last year we took my 2 yr old GS he napped in the stroller (will your daughter do this?) because then we had a really nice lunch someplace - it kept him out of the heat and gave us a nice break. If the only way she will nap is to go back to hotel, maybe you and your husband can take turns taking the 4 year old down to the pool?

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Laundry? Obviously not every day, and this is assumimg you'll be traveling with another adult. One could stay at the room, while the other does laundry, refills mugs, re-packs bags for that evening, etc. Anyway, just a few suggestions.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

When our kids were that age, we just kept going in the parks and let the little one sleep in the stroller (especially once we had two kids - older DD didn't want to slow down). We used that time to ride rides that the little one couldn't do (DH and I taking turns when it was just DD#1, but then taking turns with DD#1 once DD#2 came along).

On the days that we went back to the resort, DH would take DD#1 swimming, but that only worked if DD#2 didn't know about it. She wouldn't nap if she knew others were going swimming!

If you have to stay in the room, enjoy that time by resting yourself or by getting the maps out to plan the evening or the next day. That is usually what I do once the girls go to sleep - I pull out the map and determine the strategy for the next day.

 

[wrighter]

I doesn't really sound glamorous, does it? Just hanging out in the room while your child naps? At least that's what I thought, before our first trip a couple years ago. Little did I know how much I would covet that time!

My DH and I have tried it all different ways - napping in the stroller at the park, swapping pool time, we even took our DD for a nap in her stroller on the monorail! (The motion and lack of stimulation helped.) But I must admit that on the days we went back to the room, my DH loved to head to the pool with DS, and I loved staying back (assuming DD actually slept.) I would read, or get online, or plan for the next day - but it was always a welcome break from the mayhem.

Whatever you do - enjoy it!

 

[o2bacelt]

You might be very surprised to find that your usually non-napping child may actually nap for you at Disney. My DD (4) doesn't nap anymore (or I should say very very rarely) at home, however, she is usually so worn out by the Florida heat, humidity, and extra stimulation that she usually passes out once we're back in the room and cooled off.

If we have a late night we tell her without a nap we'll miss whatever it is that we were going to do that night, she'll fuss a little but she's so obviously worn out by the first half of the day that once we get her still she's out for a couple of hours and good to go the rest of the day.

 

[Wendybird55]

There's a good chance ALL of you will need a nap...Disney is a busy place to be and it's hot in Sept. If you get an early start to the day chances are all of you will want a rest in the afternoon - even your 4 yo. A nice cool shower to refresh you and some relaxation time will probably be welcomed after touring the parks with 2 young ones. Then all of you will be refreshed and ready for the evening.

 

[mamaLori05]

We stayed at pop end of April beg of may and found that it was way less time consuming and much easier just to let the kids fall asleep in the stroller. When it came close to nap time we would walk without stopping to see anything until they fell asleep (usually didn't take long at all). Once they fell asleep we would take turns hitting the big rides they couldn't go on, or find an air conditioned place to sit for awhile. We tried the first few days to go back to the room, but they would either fall asleep waiting for the bus or on the bus, and then I would be carrying two sleeping kids while my husband had the stroller and bags, and then by the time we would get back to the room one of them would be waking up from all the movement. It was a pretty long bus ride back to pop, and for us anyway, the kids took longer naps if we just left them alone in the stroller. The days we did try to go back we felt like we weren't getting to do anything at the parks. It would take a good 3hr chunk or more out of the day, most of that time waiting for and riding the bus back and forth. It was actually more relaxing and enjoyable for us to just stay in the parks.

 

[becky_AK]

We stayed at POP and my son was almost 12 months old. We don't have any other children, but here is what we usually did with him. If we were tired, we all went back to the resort and took a nice afternoon break. Son would sleep and we either took a nap or one of us would go down to the pool for an hour or so. If he fell asleep in the stroller we would usually just stay at one of the parks. During his nap we would go somewhere w/ air conditioning or find a place to sit down and eat lunch. I was actually really surprised at how well this worked for us. When I told people we were going to WDW w/ a 12 month old they thought we were crazy, it actually was much better than I had anticipated.

I think the key is to see how your children react. If they don't like sleeping in the stroller, then probably a mid-afternoon break at the resort would be the best idea.

Have fun

 

[Taja]

We didn't take mid-day breaks at all--the little guy with us just slept in the stroller when he was ready. That was in December--albeit a very warm December (mid-80s, not cooling off much at night). He pretty much maintained his home schedule--with a time change! We didn't get to bed until 1:00 a.m.--sometimes later--and he slept through the night, for the most part. He also didn't surface until 9:00 a.m. ET, since that was 6:00 a.m. PT, his normal time to rise & shine! *LOL*

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm guessing we'll all nap after a morning in the park and then a swim. But, if that doesn't sound like you, how about:

- tag teaming at the pool. You swim for an hour, then relieve your husband so he can swim. Or take turns exploring the resort.

- a book!! (or magazine or the paper if you prefer.)I would love time to myself to read!!!

- You don't need a balcony. Does your room have a desk chair? Plop it outside and crack the door open. People watch.

-One of you finds a poolside bar or something and gets 2 pina coladas (with or without booze, your choice) so you can sit and have an adult conversation.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We're all usually so tired that we all nap, including DH & I.

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

I went last September with DS (23) D-daughter in law, DGS(3), and DGD(18 mos). We stayed at All Star Movies. I had a rental car and we went back to the hotel each day after lunch. We closed the curtains and the room was quite dark. We all lay down on the beds (porta-crib for DGD) and rested/slept each day. What an amazing feeling to just relax! I actually slept a couple of the days. Son and daughter-in-law did pool one day, laundry one day and rested/slept the other 7 days too. We all felt refreshed after this. It is time consuming, but if you plan to do Spectromagic parade, Fantasmic! or Fireworks at one of the parks after dark, and plan to utilize early entry hours, you will be surprised by how tired your 4 year old will be. September is VERY hot! It is very important to get out of the heat and be able to truly relax for a couple of hours. I am going with DGS(4) in September, just the two of us. I still plan to spend 3-4 hours per day out of the parks to avoid the major heat of the day. He is going away from naps but I am sure he will nap most days. Even if he doesn't, a rest is very important for children. He will be refreshed and able to attend the evening festivities at the parks, the campfire and free outdoor Disney movie over at Fort Wilderness, or a swim in the pool, walk around the hotel grounds or Downtown Disney in the evening. Having the child sleep in the stroller does not allow for a truly restful sleep and you are still primarily exposed to the heat of the day. Take the rest, get out of the heat, and go back to the parks (or whatever you plan to do for the evening.) You will not regret it and when you get to feel how hot it is when you walk out into the noon time Central Florida heat...you will be looking for that nice break in the room. Have a great time. P.S I am staying at Pop September 10-20th. Will you be ther during that time? Have a wonderful trip.

 

[jessp1021]

we went last yr when dd was 3 1/2mo and me and her went back to the room everyday.. kids need a better rest than in the hot in a stroller.. I actually stayed quite busy though bc while she was napping I would take a cold shower (literally to help cool down) and pack her bag for that evening and get ready and by then it was time to go again!! I totally agree with feeling refreshed!! Oh yeah for those of you that have a wound up baby by the time you get back to the hotel, try giving them a low key cool bath.. needless to say dd was ready to lay down the second I got her out of the water!!! hth

 

[sk!mom]

Actually my DH and I would have been competing for the chance to stay with the napping child so we could nap, as well. The loser would have had to entertain the 4 year old at the pool. Park touring in the heat is exhausting.

Or bring a book or magazine and enjoy the air conditioning.

 

[Cheeseball]

Last time we went, my daughter was 10 months old. She took 2 naps a day, and napped in her stroller while we ate lunch/dinner at the park. It was cooler though, so she snuggled up with her blanket and bottle and snoozed away. We're going in Sept too, she'll be 17 months old and I planned on her sleeping in her stroller then too, just whenever she was tired enough to pass out. I'm going to try to find a little fan that clips on for her, and hopefully find a cool spot, and dh and I will take turns staying with her while the other does something with our older dd. We'll see how it works out!

Renae

Just wanted to add that we took a trip (not WDW) last month and I stayed in the room with dd#2 while dh took our oldest to the pool. I played on the internet and enjoyed the break! Can you take a laptop or borrow one to take with you from someone? Do you play Sudoku? Totally addictive and fun, makes the time pass by quickly and can be done quietly while the little one sleeps. Also relaxing to play while soaking your feet in a bubble bath!

 

[DisneySweetheart]

When my kidlets were small, we'd find a nice shady spot. (Usually over by the lunch pad when in MK) We'd buy them a milk and after they drank it, we'd just tilt the strollers back and they would be out like lights. We'd usually take turns riding Space Mountain after the kids went to sleep.

Hint: Sometimes a ride on the Tomorrowland Transit makes them sleepy. It's mellow and often you get a nice cool breeze while on it.

Good luck and have a MAGICAL trip!

 

[tzolkin]

we have a 9, 4, and 2 year old. the older two have not taken a nap since they were under a year old. however on our trip, we went back to the hotel every day and we all took a nap. we shut off the lights and all got in bed and everyone had to be quiet so that "the baby" could fall asleep. they were all out within 5 minutes and slept for up to 3 hours.

 

[floridaminnie]

There's a good chance ALL of you will need a nap...Disney is a busy place to be and it's hot in Sept. If you get an early start to the day chances are all of you will want a rest in the afternoon - even your 4 yo. A nice cool shower to refresh you and some relaxation time will probably be welcomed after touring the parks with 2 young ones. Then all of you will be refreshed and ready for the evening.

I napped with DD.

 

[WDWdreaming09]

Most days DD would fall asleep in the stoller and we would find somewhere cool if it was hot. This was a great time to look around the shops! No worrying about where she was or if she was going to break something.

It was just too much of a hassle trudging back to the room. But then again she is a heavy sleeper and when she is out nothing wakes her up.

Trouble getting her to go to sleep, we would head to the Hall of Presidents or similar show in the dark where it was cool and she would be out. Then again so would we. It is a running bet between DH and I who is going to be be able to stay awake the longest.