What to do while Toddler Naps in Room?

[KroppinK]

Has anyone come up with creative ideas of what to do while your child sleeps in your hotel room?? ...without waking them up!

Our 2-year-old son still takes 3 hour naps, which is why we're paying for the convenience of the Polynesian. And he'll be going to bed at 8:30pm. It will be hard for him to go to sleep if he can see us in the room... I'm wondering if there's space to put the crib between a bed & a wall... Or maybe I need to put a blanket over the crib to block his view! (We'll be bringing a crib tent -- so we could secure a blanket over it.) And obviously we have to be quiet. ... so we can nap, read a book or surf the web, I suppose.

I'm thinking that one of us can leave the room to go do something & we'll alternate days. But I am afraid that the door to the room would be too noisy for us to be able to return. Same goes for using the balcony. I wonder if the crib is going to have to be next to the balcony? And if we go out there before he's asleep, if we'd have to STAY out cuz the sliding door would be too noisy! So many worries, so little time.... ha!

Just wondering if anyone came up with good strategies for keeping your child asleep & not getting bored out of your mind while the world of Disney awaits outside. (aside from splurging on a suite! )

 

[monorailsilver]

Request a bottom floor at the Poly. That is what we did.

The first time we took a napping child in 2002, we did have the bottom floor. She was our only kid at the time so we weren't so tired!

While she napped, dh & I sat on the lanai. We swapped turns leaving. I kept the slider cracked so I could hear her if she woke up.

We did laundry, dh played video games & we filled up our refillable mugs many times. I think I even left him after he came back from playing video games to go swimming & sunning for a bit.

We locked the front door too when we did that.

When we went in 2005, we had 2 kids. We did not get a bottom floor room since my parents got there first & they picked the room per say.

But it wasn't bad. I was able to leave while my dh & both kids slept to do laundry out the front door with out waking them.

When we go next year cool1: , I can say next year finally!), I will request a bottom floor because we will have 3 kids with us & the baby will still need a nap but my oldest hopefully will not need one.

 

[Love the Mouse]

When we went in Sept. our 2 year old didn't take naps at home, but she did take them down in Disney...a good 3 hours each day. What we did? Nap with her...LOL. I have to say, we needed it almost as much as she did. DH always napped with her, one day I didn't. I showered upinterrupted, did a little SUDUKO, took advantage of the quiet time by myself. But, you may find that getting a nap in here and there isn't so bad.

Good luck and have fun.

Michaela

 

[dreamalittledream]

I don't know if there is room for the Pack n Play between the wall and the bed now that they have redone the rooms. I think in the old layout it would fit. But watch him using the bed to climb out, he may learn a new trick.

Our DD was in a bed when we stayed there but she napped every day as well. We had a balcony so we went out there until she fell asleep, had a few adult drinks and just relaxed. When she was asleep, we could move about the room.

I loved nap time, I know I'll miss it when my girls think they are to old for their naps.

 

[frannn]

DD4 never napped for over an hour and a half at most, so we had some down time, but not too much. We either let her nap in the stroller (a medium sized one with a good visor), while we watched a parade or show, or enjoyed a snack. When we decided to go back to the room for a break (probably more for DH than anyone else!), I broke out my book, or gameboy (with a new game that was purchased specifically for the trip), put on TV on mute, took the time to wash up for dinner, or did some cross stitching. These past few years, I have only utilized a book or tv, since it's a quick way to change focus from the RUN RUN RUN of WDW, and easy to get right back into focus. Having DH run to the food court for a drink is a good way to kill time, so I can get the remote!

 

[bkaz]

I agree...request a first floor room! When we stayed at WL our kids were 5 and 2. We would put our 2 year old down for a nap, then the rest of us would head out to the patio. Our 5 year old could play, run around, one of us could take her for a snack or a trip to explore the hotel...while the other sat in blissful silence reading on the patio!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hit the parks!!!! You can do so much without the hindrance of a toddler. Just make sure the door is locked and you put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

 

[Stephres]

DH and older child would go to the pool while I would watch Lifetime movies with the cc on and sound on mute. Sometimes I would nap too. I enjoyed the break in the middle of the day.

 

[MinnieGi]

I know my 2yo once he is asleep is not disturbed by small noises such as doors opening etc. You may very well treasure nap time! We get to the parks early and are ALL ready for a break mid-day. DH or I would lay down with DS to get him asleep for his nap and the other would go swimming with 5yo DD. It was so nice and relaxing. Some days if we knew we had a late night ahead of us we'd all take a nap.

Before we had DS, I would love sitting on the balcony of our resort and reading, writing, or just people watching while DD and DH took a nap. Or I'd take the time to do some alone shopping or swimming.

 

[mtemm]

we were at the yc in october and all 3 of my kids took a nap each day (2 year old twins and 4 year old). my 4 year old doesn't normally nap anymore, but we had him lay down for a bit and he was out in 5 minutes. lol. as for what dh and I did, some days he would head out for a bit, or I would head out for a bit (I loved to stroll over to epcot and kick around world showcase, he would hit the arcade or head over to the espn club, once he did laundry). the parent who stayed with the kids usually headed out to the balcony (read, people watch). none of my kids were in a crib, so not sure if that made a difference. my oldest son was on the daybed, which was right near the door to the balcony, and opening it/closing it once they were asleep didn't seem to bug them. same with the room door.

good luck!

 

[becca011906]

Hit the parks!!!! You can do so much without the hindrance of a toddler. Just make sure the door is locked and you put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

Are you actully saying to leave the child alone in the resort room and go to the parks???? I really hope that's not what was ment???

 

[PrincessasMommy]

My little ones napped for 3 hours at a time when we went the last time too, but we never had to leave the park for them to do it. they were exhausted from all the excitement and slept in the double stroller side by side for hours while we still had fun!

 

[lindakmonty]

Are you actully saying to leave the child alone in the resort room and go to the parks???? I really hope that's not what was ment???

I think the wink meant it was a joke ... I would go for the 1st floor room and go out and relax w/the door open enough to hear.

 

[LaraK]

We took family naps the last two times we went and I am sure we will do so again. I think I need nap time more than the kids most days.

 

[snowwite]

Has anyone come up with creative ideas of what to do while your child sleeps in your hotel room?? ...without waking them up!

Our 2-year-old son still takes 3 hour naps, which is why we're paying for the convenience of the Polynesian. And he'll be going to bed at 8:30pm. It will be hard for him to go to sleep if he can see us in the room... I'm wondering if there's space to put the crib between a bed & a wall... Or maybe I need to put a blanket over the crib to block his view! (We'll be bringing a crib tent -- so we could secure a blanket over it.) And obviously we have to be quiet. ... so we can nap, read a book or surf the web, I suppose.

I'm thinking that one of us can leave the room to go do something & we'll alternate days. But I am afraid that the door to the room would be too noisy for us to be able to return. Same goes for using the balcony. I wonder if the crib is going to have to be next to the balcony? And if we go out there before he's asleep, if we'd have to STAY out cuz the sliding door would be too noisy! So many worries, so little time.... ha!

Just wondering if anyone came up with good strategies for keeping your child asleep & not getting bored out of your mind while the world of Disney awaits outside. (aside from splurging on a suite! )

I would nap too!

 

[karibritt01]

I read on a post the other day that the closet at Poly is big enough to get the crib mostly into it, with only an end sticking out. (Never stayed at Poly, so can't guarantee it!) She said it made it dark and quiet enough for her child to sleep, but they could still stick their head out and see the family when the child woke up. It would probably block a lot of noise that way - maybe enough the TV or door wouldn't disrupt the nap. I take a small fan to run for 'background noise' for my kids, so we can talk without disturbing them.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My idea of vacation heaven is to spend hours reading with out the guilty feeling of knowing I've got work to do or laundry to fold.

I don't have a child that naps midday anymore -- but if I did I think that might be my favorite part, lying on the bed, watching them sleep and reading book after book.

 

[Minnie & Me]

Catch up on Movies on the Laptop! Darken the room, plug in the headsets, lay back and watch until our 3 year old wakes up from his 3 hour naps. Just make sure the screen is not facing him!

 

[las3888]

Nothing creative here...I just will note that DS's naps are much different on vacation than at home. Sometimes they are much shorter, but sometimes they are longer. No way in telling either. We have DVC so we have the luxury of having a separate room. I definitely agree with a 1st floor room. We stayed at BCV once and were on 2nd floor. I thought if we were on 1st floor, I could practically lay out at the pool with the door open with no problem.

DH is addicted to watching the financial markets, so he is watching squakbox or whatever it is with the sound off, with laptop in hand. I have found a good book or as PP mentioned, a movie on laptop if possible would be great. On a recent trip I was so worred about getting everything involving DS that on day 1 when he went to take his nap, I realized I had absolutely nothing to do. I did make it out in the resort gift shops at least. Found a book...good luck!