Disney World nap schedule for toddlers and babies

Hotel nap or stroller nap?

A hotel nap in a dark, quiet room is usually longer and deeper. It also gives the adults a real break from heat and crowds. The cost is travel time: you lose an hour or more getting back and forth, and you may miss part of the afternoon.

For toddlers, a stroller nap keeps you in the park and saves the commute. It works well for children who already sleep on the go. Expect a shorter nap, since noise, heat and stopping and starting can wake them. If your child only sleeps in a crib or bed, plan on the hotel.

• Choose the hotel nap if your child naps poorly on the go, the day is very hot, or you want to stay out late.
• Choose the stroller nap if your hotel is a long bus ride away or your child naps anywhere.
• Mix them: hotel nap on Magic Kingdom days, stroller nap on a short EPCOT day.
• Stroller naps are a toddler plan. Babies under one should sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface such as a crib or bassinet, so if a baby falls asleep in a stroller, carrier or car seat, move them to one as soon as you can, however short the nap.

Which resorts make a midday return realistic

The shorter the trip back, the more the nap is worth it. Three resorts sit on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop: the Contemporary (also a walk to the park), the Polynesian Village and the Grand Floridian. The monorail usually takes a stroller without folding.

The Skyliner connects Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach and the Riviera to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. BoardWalk, the Yacht Club and the Beach Club are a walk or short boat ride from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Bus resorts can still work, but strollers must be folded before boarding and the wait adds up.

Quiet places for a stroller nap in the parks

• Animal Kingdom walking trails are shaded and calm, especially away from the main paths.
• EPCOT World Showcase is a long, flat loop. Walk slowly while your child sleeps, and duck into a quiet pavilion if it rains.
• At Magic Kingdom, Liberty Square and the quieter paths away from Main Street work better than Fantasyland.
• Long indoor shows with air conditioning give you a cool, dim break. Strollers stay outside, so carry your toddler in; many doze on a lap. Sit near the back so you can leave quietly.
• Baby Care Centers in every park have a quiet space when the stroller nap fails.

Babies who still take two naps

Babies under one are safest sleeping on their back on a flat, firm surface, such as a crib or bassinet, and pediatric advice is to move a baby who falls asleep in a stroller or carrier when you can. With two naps a day, that usually means short park mornings and a resort close enough to go back.

If two hotel trips sounds like too much, plan shorter park mornings and accept a lighter itinerary. A rested baby is easier than a long day.

Handling the evening

After a good nap, many toddlers can manage two or three hours back in the park. Use that window for dinner, a parade or rides you missed. Fireworks are often later than a toddler's bedtime, so decide in advance whether to stay.

If you skip the late show, you can sometimes see the fireworks from outside the park or from a resort beach. Leaving before the crowd also makes the trip back much easier with a stroller.

Protect sleep at the hotel

• Ask for a crib or bring a travel crib your child already knows.
• Pack blackout material or clips for the curtains, and a white noise machine or app.
• Keep the same nap and bedtime routine as home: same book, same song.
• Use Early Theme Park Entry if you have it. It lets you fit more into the morning before the nap.