Distraction ideas for long lines

[italianfamilia]

Looking for ideas on how to distract small kids while waiting in long lines? I read about bubbles; anything else?

 

[CraftyCrissy]

An egg full of Silly Putty. Its easy to throw into a bag (or 3, in my case!), comes in different colors, is a decent amount, doesn't dry out like clay will and can be stretched, rolled, flattened, etc. You can even bounce it (but then it will get filthy quick!) And best of all - its about $1.19 at A.C. Moore!

 

[Princess Roo]

Snacks, pipe cleaners to bend into shapes, looking through the pictures you have taken on the digital camera, looking at the Disney map and deciding what to do next, counting all of the _______ that you can see, the alphabet game, 20 questions, i spy. ...

Actually, there is so much to see from the lines (or in the line at some of the attractions) at Disney, that you may find your children don't mind being in line.

**Please be careful about bubbles and at least buy 'name brand'. Some of the cheaper ones stain some fabrics (I have had two dresses ruined at weddings now!) and some children (mine, included) have reactions to the chemicals in them when they get on their skin.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I always kept a small makeup bag full of distractions when my kids were little. Top on the list was always small doodle pads/coloring books from the Dollar Store and $.25 4 crayon packs of Crayola Crayons. Also, the Dollar Store now has lots of foam craft packs like door hangers and separate bags of foam stickers to go with them, keep a baggie to put leftovers in and another for the sticker back trash. Silly putty never failed. Magna Doodle knock offs from the Dollar Store also were a reliable hit. Super little kids might also like the Crayola Wonder kits. As the kids got a little older I'd rely on the tiny packs of the game "Uno" found in Wal-marts party bag section along with the Crayons.

Good luck

 

[jenrein]

The bubbles were great for us and we even shared with some not so happy kids next to us. The pics we already took on the camera were fun to look through. But like someone said- its not really boring being in line at a lot of the rides. They do a great job of tying everything together and its fun just to enjoy the scenery.

 

[Schmeck]

Princess Roo, I thought my daughter was the only one in the world with a bubble allergy!

Please do not use bubbles in line - as posted above, some people are allergic to the bubble solution. In the queue, one cannot avoid coming into contact with the bubbles as easily as in the open. Bubbles can also pop in your eyes and sting, cause stains on clothing, and little children can dart out under the queue ropes/chains to chase a rogue bubble, and the parent will not be able to get through as quickly.

So, please save your bubbles for open spaces!

 

[Perditamarie]

The best suggestion I've read about long lines is to discuss your day...what you're doing next, the most fun thing you've done, etc. It would be great to do "interviews" with the camcorder and get the answers to those questions on tape...especially since kids have the most unique perspectives!

 

[baby<3]

For older kids, I'd suggest an iPod. I know that my iPod would definitly keep me occupied.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Another one requesting no bubbles. The lines are often too crowded to blow them or wave them without getting the bubble stuff all over the people around you. I'd leave the bubbles at home.

 

[livndisney]

Bubbles I can handle while waiting in line, I wish people would stop smoking in lines!

I bought a few of the small etch a sketchs, they come on like a keychain so they are easy to get to while standing in line. I second the snack suggestion (also small bottles of water). I also bought some little coloring books with disney characters on them (about the size of an index card), they even had stickers in the book.

 

[Princess Roo]

Princess Roo, I thought my daughter was the only one in the world with a bubble allergy!

Bubbles are basically soap and water, so people that have reactions to various soaps can also have reactions to bubbles. We have to be very careful about soaps, detergents, lotions, sunblock, etc. with DS. For bubbles, he has no trouble with 'crayola' brand and one other brand in our garage that I can't think of, but the dollar store stuff makes him break out in a rash. We've had to ask his daycare to stop using the brand they had been using. (We happily donated a bunch of the stuff he doesn't react to to help out.)

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Princess Roo, I thought my daughter was the only one in the world with a bubble allergy!

Please do not use bubbles in line - as posted above, some people are allergic to the bubble solution. In the queue, one cannot avoid coming into contact with the bubbles as easily as in the open. Bubbles can also pop in your eyes and sting, cause stains on clothing, and little children can dart out under the queue ropes/chains to chase a rogue bubble, and the parent will not be able to get through as quickly.

So, please save your bubbles for open spaces!

I was just thinking the same thing.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I was also trying to think of some ideas since my son will be 2 when we go back this fall. I was planning on bringing a small doodle pro or something similar for him. He also loves a light up spinning mickey toy we got when he was 6 months old. Now he can push the button himself and he still loves it. We were just at the disney store this weekend and they had these little fans that also had lights - they hurt if you put your finger in there so I'm going to look for the same thing only less potentially harmful. The fan could also help to keep us cool. Other than that we'll just have to be creative I guess!

I hadn't thought of bubbles mainly b/c he loves them and is that child that would dart out to try and catch them so I wouldn't have brought them anyway and now that I know kids can be allergic - I definitely won't bring any!

Laurie

 

[crazyredhead]

When DD was 16 months old we brought sheets of tiny stickers from the dollar store. It occupied a lot of her time. She lover picking the stickers off and then sticking them all over herself, her parents and grandparents and her stroller. They were easy to pick off once we were out of line.

 

[left210]

When we went our DS was 4 at the time and had just gotten a Gameboy and it was a lifesaver in long lines.

 

[TheAdkins']

I recently purchased small Disney toys at Family Dollar for the kids to play with while waiting in line or for parades to start. I got a small princess wand that lights up and plays music and toy cameras(they had princess and toy story). My 2 year old loves them.

 

[italianfamilia]

Great ideas. Didn't even think of the allergies...okay no bubbles. I do like the silly putty idea...just to break the bordom when they get antsy later in the day. We like looking at the pictures and stuff too and all the things around there...

Regarding the smoking...are people allowed to smoke in the park? in the lines? that is the thing that concerns me as one of the kids has a strong reaction to smoke, totally irritates the eyes and has a hard time breathing!

 

[all4fun]

Regarding the smoking...are people allowed to smoke in the park? in the lines? that is the thing that concerns me as one of the kids has a strong reaction to smoke, totally irritates the eyes and has a hard time breathing!

Disney has designated areas for smokers. Check your guide map for where they are. Some are very close to pathways so if you need to try and avoid them then your guide map will at least let you know where they are so you can either skirt around them help mitigate the smoke issue, or avoid them altogether.

Occasionally we do see people smoking in non smoking areas but in all our trips it hasn't been all that bad. I think for the most part CM's aren't afraid to direct smokers to the correct areas when they see someone in a non smoking area light one up.

hth

 

[aksunshine]

We were just at the disney store this weekend and they had these little fans that also had lights - they hurt if you put your finger in there so I'm going to look for the same thing only less potentially harmful. The fan could also help to keep us cool. Other than that we'll just have to be creative I guess!


Laurie

I found the coolest Disney Fans at Big Lots! You hold the button and it is on, you let it go, it goes off. The center has lights that spin and BEST OF ALL, the "blades" are FOAM! No finger boo- boos! I got Princess, Tinkerbell, Ariel, and Buzz!

 

[Stick People]

Great ideas. Didn't even think of the allergies...okay no bubbles. I do like the silly putty idea...just to break the bordom when they get antsy later in the day. We like looking at the pictures and stuff too and all the things around there...

Regarding the smoking...are people allowed to smoke in the park? in the lines? that is the thing that concerns me as one of the kids has a strong reaction to smoke, totally irritates the eyes and has a hard time breathing!

If you have a digital camera you can play camera i-spy. Have eveyone close their eyes and the pic taker then zooms in EXTREMELY close up to an object that is in plain view of everyone in your party (like a sign or a sneaker, etc.)and snap a pic of it. Pass the camera around and see who can guess what the pic is of. You would be surprised how hard it is to identify an eveyday object when it is in extreme close mode.

This has saved us sooooo many times. Other people in line around almost always get involved too, so we make friends at the same time.

Have a blast!!