Will everyone judge me if we keep DS out late?

[OurLittleLove]

We just booked our son's first trip to Disney and we are super excited to bring him.
He'll be 2.5 at the time of our visit. We are usually very strict about keeping schedule with his daily nap and bedtime at 7PM. However in Disney I just don't think that's going to be realistic. I like to get him back to the room for a nap on most days but I'd also like him to see the nighttime parade and fireworks especially at Magic Kimgdom.

Am I going to get dirty looks and glares from other people around? I'm also afraid of the looks we'll get if our son throws a temper tantrum while we're out. I know Disney is obviously geared towards families, and most people have had to deal with a fussy toddler at sometime in their lives...but sometimes people forget what it's like to have a little one.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

Lol! Who cares what others think?! I'm sure we got plenty of "looks" when my girls were little because they frequently went to bed by 9:30... and then didn't wake up until 10 or 10:30 on a regular day, so it worked fine for our family! (Now they're in school so they go to bed at 7:30 ) So when we were at WDW, they definitely stayed up for the fireworks at night... although they also got great afternoon naps, and some evenings we went back early because waking up EARLY at WDW is hard on us for Rope Drop. There's no perfect answer, and there are plenty of little ones up late! I wouldn't stress what other people think... but I do think it's best to avoid a temper tantrum based on sleepiness (not just for others around you, for you, too!). I'd take it a day at a time, be flexible, and go with how your family is doing. Honestly, one of DH's and my favorite Disney memories is our girls going to bed way earlier than they did at the time and he'd go back and get us a treat from the food court of our resort and we'd chill with TV on Closed Captioning, "sneaking" the treat while they slept so soundly, haha! We generally do a week so we miss one of the fireworks for our day at that park, but get to go to the other... we don't make it a late night every evening, and take a longer nap the next day if needed because sleepy kids are NO fun for parents (or anyone else), but late night fun is part of vacation, too. Sorry for that long-winded answer!

 

[GusGus77]

My kids would close down MK on EMH nights starting at 2yrs old. (They would sleep in the next morning.) Those were the best times with the kids as fantasyland is empty at midnight and the kids could just ride whatever they wanted over and over. (I draw the line at three for non-stop rides on IASW!!!!!)

 

[smitch425]

We have seen kids of all ages into the wee hours of the morning for evening EMH. No one will bat an eye! Enjoy your trip! Only you can determine what is best for your kiddo. I have friends that put their kids to bed no later than 8pm on school nights, and mine (age 10 and 12) are up until at least 10:30, and as late as 2am on the weekends. Your kids, your rules! Lol!

 

[cjbcam]

I honestly would not care what other people think. Unless of course they are disturbing others. If your kid is having a tantrum for a long time and everyone within earshot is cringing, maybe it's time to go home to bed. If your kid is having a blast and going on rides why would you care if people thought you are out too late, you aren't bothering them. So I guess that's where I would draw my line.

 

[scrappinginontario]

My thoughts are I'll do what's best for my family and you do what's best for yours. Truly do not waste time on what others think!

My 2yo opened and closed the parks and napped when she wanted. We had the best time and have every year since too.

Go, enjoy your family and don't give others a second thought!!

 

[Disneylover99]

No one will notice or care. I'm assuming you'll have a stroller for him to fall asleep in anyways.

 

[travelgirl06]

We had our DD on Dumbo around midnight at WDW at age 2 - we had fantasyland to ourselves and got in some great character meets, too! Cute pictures, great memories. She also opened and closed DL during our visitin there when she was 1.5. Our logic is that as long as the kids are happy and not bothering anyone they can stay up as late as they/we want on vacation. We go into it with the approach that we could have to leave at anytime and we have to willingly accept any "backlash" (after a long, amazing day at DL with great behavior we got a pretty epic meltdown walking back to our hotel - we considered it the price to pay for a day completely full of fun). I'm pretty sure most days we stayed out late we did take a long break at the hotel midday.

 

[aaarcher86]

If you're out late and your kid is throwing a colossal tantrum, yeah, I guarantee you'll get some eye rollers.

It's up to you if you let it bother you, but I'd just really read off your kid and do what makes them feel comfortable.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Who cares? Our DD, 2, is and always has been a night owl. She stay up until 10 or 11 most nights and sleeps in late in the mornings. We keep her at WDW until the parks close. We have the best time at night. There is an extra magical feel to Disney at night.

Go, keep your kid out late, have a blast. Don't worry what anyone else thinks. It's not their vacation.

 

[katyjeka]

I wouldn't worry about what people think. Do what's best for your family. I guarantee you he won't be the only 2 year old up. Have a great trip.

 

[HoneyLemon]

My kids would never stay up that late. I would be thinking you must be from a different time zone. People come from all over the world to Disney. I wouldn't think anything bad about seeing a toddler up at 1am.

 

[BlueHippo]

There are a ton of kids at wishes. I wouldn't worry about it, but would just prepared to leave if they have had it. For us at least, there is at least one colossal tantrum by someone on our trip. It's happened late at night, in the morning, or the middle of the day. Just be ready to make adjustments as needed with a little one. Also, I know some people swear by going back to the room for naps mid day. That just has never worked for us. The kids were to amped up and wouldn't nap. We've had better luck just letting them nap in the stroller. Do what works best for your family!

 

[msmama]

If you're pushing your kid to do something that he's obviously too tired to do - yeah, I'd judge you. But I'd do it from a distance and would never actually say anything to you so I'm guessing it wouldn't affect your vacation at all.

I'm of the mind that a happy child at Disney is better than anything we might see or do, and for my child to be happy, he needs his sleep. My son is 7 and we've yet to see MSEP or Wishes in his 6 trips.

Parades and fireworks aren't going anywhere. I'm not willing to risk a possible 2 miserable days (keeping him up day of fireworks and then the next day too).

That said, I understand that every child is different so maybe yours does better with less sleep.

 

[Minniesgal]

why would you care about what other people think of decision you make for your child?

 

[Jess_S]

I agree with everyone else. Don't worry about what others think and do what's best for your kid. I find that my son takes a mid-day nap on vacation because the excitement wears him out so he's able to stay up later than he would at home. I'm still not sure if he'll make it late enough for Wishes. But if it turns out he is still going strong some nights during our trip, I would not hesitate to take him.

 

[disneyworlddreaming]

I'm going to agree with the "who care's?"!!
We have been when our kids were 15 months & 3. Then again when our children were 14 months, 3 & 5, then again at 2 1/2, 5 & 7. We have never questioned staying out late. We always close out the parks, even EMH that run late into the night! Yes my kids get tired, but as long as we have a stroller for some rest they are excited to be there and usually don't want to leave anyways.

 

[tink9702]

not from me! I'd be giving you a very jealous look as I'm leaving the park early! lol If your child can handle a different schedule go for it! Mine are horrible when up late and never sleep in so it's not pretty. I'm planning on 1-2 nights out but expecting them to be cranky the next day. *sigh*

 

[ktlm]

No. 1= who cares. No2= there are a ton of little kids out at all hours of the night at WDW. When DD was 3, on MVMCP night we carried her out of the park kicking and screaming at 11:30 p.m. because she wanted to ride barnstormer one more time and was not ready to go back to the resort. Before you feel sorry for her- she had already ridden it 14 times in a row without getting off! There was no line for it, and the CMs were just letting her stay on and go in circles. I couldn't take it anymore and got out after 11 times. DH made it to 14 before he couldn't take it one more time! She, on the other hand, was having a fantastic time and was not ready to quit. We still have the "frequent flyer" card the CMs gave her that night! I'm sure people that saw us carrying her out mistook her toddler anger at being forced to quite riding and leave (which would have happened the same at any time of day) as being over tired.

At age 2, the early MVMCP parade was too crowded- it was a sold out night and we could not find a spot anywhere on the parade route an hour before the parade- so we did the 10:30 parade and found a great spot on Main Street for it. She slept in the stroller while we sat and waited. We woke her up and she was excited and happy and loved the parade. We didn't make it to the front gate of the park before she was out cold in her stroller. Don't think twice about having him in the parks late! There will be a ton of kids there still.

Don't worry at all what other people think! My one concern for you is it sounds like you are really rigid in his schedule and sleep times. You may want to switch him around at WDW- but his little body's time clock might not agree- so be prepared for that. My DD was always flexible and we purposefully always went by her cues instead of a rigid schedule- so she adapted very easily at WDW or really anywhere at anytime. She took stroller naps in the park when needed, and was good to go even late at night. She is also a night owl by nature, so that helped. Sounds like you have a VERY early to bed kid who is used to a strict schedule. My niece was like that and any change in schedule would send her into a tailspin. She did not do well with the change or late nights at WDW, or really with any changes in her schedule or bedtime even in her grade school years. I'm not sure if you have any time change for your trip that might help? Maybe if you let him sleep in his stroller for part of the evening, he will be able to stay awake for the evening entertainment? Just be prepared to be flexible depending on how he reacts. He might roll with it, or he might not. Also, if he does throw a fit- don't worry about it! WDW is full of preschoolers- preschoolers throw fits- it happens! Most of the parents around you will empathize and will just be glad it isn't their kid at that particular time! Anyone who gives you a dirty look either doesn't have kids, or doesn't remember what it is like when they are small.

 

[scrapquitler]

We just booked our son's first trip to Disney and we are super excited to bring him.
He'll be 2.5 at the time of our visit. We are usually very strict about keeping schedule with his daily nap and bedtime at 7PM. However in Disney I just don't think that's going to be realistic. I like to get him back to the room for a nap on most days but I'd also like him to see the nighttime parade and fireworks especially at Magic Kimgdom.

Am I going to get dirty looks and glares from other people around? I'm also afraid of the looks we'll get if our son throws a temper tantrum while we're out. I know Disney is obviously geared towards families, and most people have had to deal with a fussy toddler at sometime in their lives...but sometimes people forget what it's like to have a little one.

You are going to be on vacation, surrounded by strangers, why would you even think about or car what they are going to think??? Anyway, your son will not be the only child out late in the parks, so if someone is going to be judging you, they'll be wasting all their time because they will have to judge half the people in the park the same as you.