Where to let the Little Ones Sleep???

[Kuffam]

I agree heading back to the room to let my 3 yr old and 5 month old take a nap seems to take a big chunk out of off- season park hours.

Does anyone know of good spots for the 3 yr to have some down time?? A 1/2hr nap is enough to get her until bedtime?

 

[swilphil]

I would ride the monorail, or bus, if your child will sleep there. My 3 yo did sleep some in the stroller, too.

 

[skiwee1]

My then 3 y/o never seemed to sleep at WDW! We always go during off season and it was nice. Because we were not in the parks all day and night due to shorter park hours, my DD handled it quite well. If anything I needed the nap! There was no way she would have taken a nap back at the room as there was too much excitement. When she was tired she fell asleep in the stroller for a little bit and that was all she needed to be refreshed and ready to go. There are plenty of benches to sit and relax a bit when she was sleeping in the stroller. Are you taking a stroller for her?

 

[castlegazer]

The Baby Care Centers have rocking chairs and TVs where you can, at the very least, have a little down time just rocking together away from the hustle and bustle. In addition to some of the areas I mentioned in the other posts, the Hall of Presidents works well because its quiet and dark and others have said that they nap on the TTA. We also used the Monorail, inadvertently as I wish my DS was awake because we were piloting with the other little girl in our party and he would have loved it, but away he slept in his stroller with DH in the passenger compartment. The Main Street Cinema is a nice place to sit and relax too and hold your child while you watch quiet movies.

Those are my best bets in MK (Baby Care centers are in every park though) - but my DS sleeps in his stroller if he feels the need for a little nap. I do think that most parents will be amazed at how worn out they get and how even the ones that don't sleep well in strollers will conk out. That happened to our travel partners and their daughter. She fell asleep just fine when she needed to even though she never did this at home.

 

[disneydude]

We use the baby care centers at the parks for "nap times" with our 3 y/o . While she naps my wife and I take turns sitting with her while the other one shops or rides "the big people rides". We love the baby care centers.

 

[disneydude]

We use the baby care centers at the parks for "nap times" with our 3 y/o . While she naps my wife and I take turns sitting with her while the other one shops or rides "the big people rides". We love the baby care centers.

 

[MinnieGi]

We have ridden the TTA around and around some more to coax DD (3yo) into a nap and giver her "down" time. Its worked like a charm and usually TTA is never crowded and we just ask to stay on and they oblige no problem. We usually only do this on the day we are leaving if we have a late flight.

The other days we do go back to the room in the afternoon for a nap. DD loves to swim so we would nap and then swim. We also always go during the off-season and usually in the evening park hop to Epcot or visit DTD or MK if it is open late like on Saturadays.

 

[Lewski709]

I have used any show, the monorail, the bus and the old cartoon movies are a good spot too.

If your little one is tired enough, imho.....they will give up. Probably when you least expect it.

It has been my experience that if your little one fights a nap at home, they probably won't take it at WDW no matter where you go. If you are going to the parks daily, the excitement may wear off a bit by the 3rd day then your toddler may decide to give nap opportunities a second thought.

 

[deb305]

Our 1yr DS slept anywhere anytime at WDW as long as it was in his stroller that fully reclined. Both times we took DD at 3yrs and 4.5yrs we rented a double wide disney stroller. She took a nap in there a few times. More importantly by not having her walk she was well rested and lasted the whole day. She couldn't understand why Mom and Dad were so tired at the end of the day. She'll be 6 next time we go and a rude awakening awaits-no stroller for her. DS, who'll be almost 3, we have a Disney double stroller and he is not known for his ability to share.

 

[Kuffam]

Thanks everyone for your ideas. On another note, has anyone ever ship a package from WDW. We're thinking a shipping a package to ourselfs there and wondering how to ship it back??

 

[KathyFP]

DD was always very good at taking a nap inher stroller. DH & I would then head for adult rides or wait for a parade depending on when she fell alseep.

 

[WhispyPixie]

Our youngest is 5 and she still takes naps in the parks. I will admit, she is a dream, she wants her stroller, lays down and 5 minutes later she is out light a light, but to help keep her asleep many of the fast food areas have hole on the wall spots for us to get a drink and let er sleep without loud noises. It also gives us a chance to rest and regroup for when she wakes up. Its nice to have some adult talk sometimes!

Pixie

 

[Ali]

Just a bit of advice - The Hall of Presidents pre-show area is a great place to cool off, but there are no strollers allowed inside the building. We tried to use it as a napping place when my son was 18 months old, but taking him out of the June sun, out of his stroller, into the cool air refreshed him so much he wouldn't think about napping. And there in no where to nap, because the pictures of presidents are all over the walls, so even camping out at a space near a wall means people will be walking over you to see the exhibits. But the AC feels good, so going inside is a nice thing. I didn't try going into the show area itself, because I asked if we could stay more than one sow and was told no, so i didn't want to be carrying a sleeping (hopefuly) boy out into the bright sun afer a short reprieve.

 

[chico]

DS was 2 1/2 last time we went, and was used to napping mid-afternoon. In MK we found a shaded spot behind Liberty Square, near where the characters enter and exit, that was ideal for a cool-down and nap.

He slept a good half hour, while we relaxed and visited with a the few CM's who passed by. If memory serves me correctly, we had to wake him in time for the afternoon parade. made the day that much more enjoyable to have him refreshed and ready to keep going. Good Luck!