Midday Break When Parks Close Early?

[jkl2000]

We're staying at POFQ in mid October. Because we have a 4 year old, I've been assuming we'll go back to the POFQ (by bus) for a rest most days, but since it seems like parks aren't open late in October, is this realistic? I'm just wondering if busing back to POFQ, spending a few hours swimming, resting, etc., then busing back to a park is going to seem more like a hassle than a rest. I keep reading trip reports about parks being open till midnight, etc. but I don't know if the reality is that the parks will in general close so early that we'd get back to the parks too late to do anything. This is also when the Halloween party is running, so the MK closes at 7pm several days.

The only alternative really would be either splurging for a monorail resort, or renting a car which might make things speedier.

 

[KCheatle]

You know what has been a life saver for us? Do you think your kiddo would sleep in a stroller in the parks? When we've stayed at the Pop or CS, the bus ride was a hassle, so we would take our daughter 3 one year, 4 the next time, into the baby center and have her sleep in her stroller there. It's quiet and the people there have always been welcoming. THey also have rocking chairs if they're still small enough to hold them? When my daughter was 3, she was light enough to hold, and my DH and I would switch holding her while the other would go on adult rides (BTMR or Space mountain or splash), while she slept. Admittedly, she didn't sleep as well as she would have in a dark room in a bed, but she still slept enough that she wasn't crabby and we got some free time too.

 

[bgraham34]

Don't forget its entirely possible that your 4 year old might not require a nap anymore by then. I know kids who gave up their naps at age 2. So anything is possible. You can always see how things go on the first do without having to go back to the room for a nap.

 

[Zman-ks]

Don't forget its entirely possible that your 4 year old might not require a nap anymore by then. I know kids who gave up their naps at age 2. So anything is possible. You can always see how things go on the first do without having to go back to the room for a nap.

Agreed....anything is possible...so go with a flexible schedule in mind.

 

[MountainMedic'sWife]

When our kids were little and the parks closed early, we simply stayed as long as we could and skipped the fireworks that trip. We kept them on their schedule and had them in bed around 8:00. Now, we were in a condo so we had a place to hang out once they were in bed so this may not work for you, but, it gives you some other ideas. I think your idea of a car might be good too. If your little one starts to melt down all of a sudden, you can make a quicker exit than having to rely on bus transportation. Good luck.

 

[Hot Lava]

Maybe try it for the first day and see how it goes? Or maybe do it one or a few of the days, and naps on other days? Some days my son doesn't take naps and he is ok, others he is a cranky, amped up mess by 4 and literally falling asleep in his food by 530.

Remember you also add the heat and humidity, even in October. The combo will take a toll also.

 

[bethram]

We took our first family trip to WDW when DS was three and a half. He fell asleep in the stroller almost every day, napped for a couple hours while the rest of us still did our thing, then he was fine afterwards and ready to go as long as we wanted him to. When we went again when DS was about to turn five we went back to the resort most days for a nap, but he rarely slept. We only used the stroller once that trip - when he fell asleep 20 minutes before we needed to return to MK for a fast pass.

Just play it by ear and figure out what works best when you get there - flexibility is important.