Hi all! We will be going to DL on Sat. May 26th. I know it will be sooo busy, but we are meeting family there to enjoy DL for one day. The problem that just came up is that the family will now not be in the DL area until later in the night. Our hotel is in Irvine, so going back is not an option. We want to go at around 10AM, so does anyone know of any great spots to rest. We have three kids, ages 7, 5 and 2. The 7 yr. old has no problem (she could stay there the whole day if she wanted to), the little one just sleeps in her stroller. It is the 5 yr. old that gets tired all the time and really cranky. Any suggestions would be a huge help. Thanks!

My kids have taken many naps in the lobby of the GCH. It is very large and relaxing there, we really like being in front of the huge fireplace. Every time we've gone there to rest, quite a few other parents were doing the same thing.

In DCA there is a Water area to play around in and there is also the Brother Bear park which is nice and shady. You can watch your 7 and 5 year old play on the slide or ropes and have a more low-key time.
You can also head into the hotel lobbies of the GC or DH and grab a comfy chair to relax in.

ETA: Sometimes it is overstimulation or waiting in lines that causes crankiness... that is why I suggested the park-like areas. They are "go at your own pace" which can often be relaxing when napping isn't an option.

There's also Fowler's Landing in DL, but it might not be open back there since they've been working on the Mark Twain. Fowler's Landing is behind a restaurant across from the exit to Haunted Mansion, I didn't even know it was there until I took a tour a year ago. Very few people seem to go back there.

my favorite at Disneyland is the lower floor of the Hungry Bear restaurant - its shady and one of the cooler spots in the park as it's next to water. there are plenty of ducks around too which the tykes will enjoy, as we, errr, i mean the kids ;) , recuperate..

Would they nap on a couple of laps of the rail road?

I second the water areas at DCA. Relatively quiet, very low key and a nice way to rejuvenate. The adults can take turns heading out on other rides if desired; or take the older child.

My boys took a nap in the back of the Hyperion Theater in DCA. The show was loud, but it was dark and they were tired so they slept through it. They have also napped during an extra long ride on the monorail. Good luck.

When we need a "time out" we go to the Muppets 4D lab. You get to sit down in the "waiting area" on the floor. My daughter usually lays down. For more active ones, there is stuff to look at, a TV loop that runs, but it is still low key enough that you can rest. Sometimes we have just stayed in this area for about 30 min, then we went into to show and left feeling recharged.

The lobby of the Animation Building in DCA. It's air-conditioned, dim and you can watch the big pictures on the screens.

The lobby of the Animation Building in DCA. It's air-conditioned, dim and you can watch the big pictures on the screens.

Yep! I was going to suggest this too!

Innoventions over at DL too. Darker, A/C, some interactive stuff to look at.

my favorite at Disneyland is the lower floor of the Hungry Bear restaurant - its shady and one of the cooler spots in the park as it's next to water. there are plenty of ducks around too which the tykes will enjoy, as we, errr, i mean the kids ;) , recuperate..
We do this EVERY trip--as we did today for about almost an hour.

GCH lobby is also great! That's where I wheel my toddler after she falls asleep. I read with a beverage, and she wakes up to the sound a piano player successfully making Disney melodies sound classical. Then we hang out by the fireplace, where--at night--a folk singer skillfully entertains the kid in everyone.

In DCA we spend about 20 minutes in the spacious lobby watching the clips. In Disneyland today the Opera House (former Linclon/Walt Disney Story location) is uncrowded, and my toddler happily sat through the Steve Martin/Donald Duck Disneyland film. (I wouldn't mind if that ran for a couple more years--but I'm probably alone on that.)

P.S. Let's keep uncrowded the Hungry Bear "basement" just between friends.

Oh, yeah, jcruise, that is a great spot too! Thanks for reminding me about that one!