How do you keep your kids busy in line?

[ThreeMusketeers]

Any good ideas out there???

I have heard of bubbles..but the sticky factor scares me. What do you all do?
DD is 3.5
Thanks as usual.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't know--we've never had a problem. They just read their map and stuff, perhaps planned what to do next....but have mostly entertained themsevles. They do know if we pick up a "ticket" (fastpass) for certain rides, we don't have to wait .

 

[Colinsmom]

It is a good chance for portable snacks like a bag of cheerios or a box of raisins!

 

[Zoesmama03]

If your in off season its not a big deal unless weekend days when local families are out of work and school.

I lived south of Orlando for 6 months from August to Jan of 98 and whenever we went even Christmas day the lines were nothing.


I'm moving back in 9 days and can't wait. DD(2) will be Disney'd out in a couple years. I doubt it my neices have been there a while and love it still.

 

[Suzanne74]

We try to play little games like "I spy" and talk about what we will do next etc... for the most part, I never wait in a line that is over 20min wait, no only because dd is so young but it just wastes time. We tend to go first thing in the AM - do lots of rides first, see some shows, go back to resort for afternoon naps and then back again for some shows, parades, a few rides that aren't so long - we utilize fastpass too. You will never see me walking into Space Mountain with a 90min wait - no way, I will wait until the fireworks go off if I have to

Also - rides like Dumbo that are outrageously slow but have open area back and forths - DH tends to wait in line while I take dd on the carousel, go see Ariel or just walk around a bit. I then just hand her over to DH when he gets to the last rope. I see many parents do this, esp with real young ones - that Dumbo line is a claustrophobic, slow moving nightmare On the teacups, dd had to go to the bathroom one time and we took off to Toon Town while DH waited in line - worked out perfectly! Most rides have good areas with TV's, themed areas - stuff to look at etc so it shouldn't be too bad

 

[mickeymousemom]

We used bubbles last year, but after reading on DIS that some people are possibly allergic to the soap, I have decided to forgo that from here on out. I have a mini magna-doodle, and between that and just people watching and talking, we do pretty well. You could also look for other travel games that will fit well in a backpack, but even a small notepad and pen can help to pass the time. You can play tic-tac-toe and hangman...also..how about a deck of cards suited to the ages of your kids? These can be found in dollar stores easily. The snack thing works well also!

 

[mom2cookies]

Our children aren't that young, but we have friends who do. We play games.
For example..... 1.tell a story - you start, pass on to DD, who passes on to dad, etc. Everything is acceptable, except fillibustering (one person talking too long) and unsavorary story lines (eg. criticism, slander, murder, etc). Mom and Dad help keep the story on track.
2. "what are you doing" this is fun--- kinda need a little guts to play in public-- 1st person does some kinda movement ( eg. snapping fingers) 2nd person asks " what ya doin?" 1st person says ANYTHING but what they are doing (eg. "walking a dog"). 2nd person starts 'walking a dog'. 3rd (or 1st) person says " what ya doing?"to the 2nd person. 2nd persons says ANYTHING but ' walking a dog' (eg. brushing my teeth). 3rd (or 1st) person asks " what ya doin?" . keeps going until your done. if someone hesitates or repeats they are "out" last one in wins. the movement stops when next person starts doing their movement. this is an IMPROV game. It isn't preplanned, thot up as you go.

 

[msmom595]

We went to WDW when our daughter was 4 1/2. We only went three days, so you may or may not be able to do this. But I bought a new coloring book at the first gift shop I came to each day. I had a pack of crayons with, and whenever we had to wait in line, or we were waiting while DH went on a ride we didn't want to go on, she pulled out her new coloring book and colored. It really kept her occupied. And if we were waiting for DH, I pulled out the book I had stuffed in the backpack and got in some quiet reading time while she colored.

 

[trayletha]

Rock Paper Scissors....and 20 Questions

 

[russtwinsmom]

This has been the ticket since our kids were four. It's a memory game I made up called Mrs. Snodgrass. It begins, "Mrs. Snodgrass went to the store, and in her cart she put...". Each person begins with the phrase, repeats the previous list in order and adds one more item, so it sounds something like this, "Mrs. Snodgrass went to the store and in her cart she put, apples, lightbulbs, a television, peaches... and a kite!" The one who can go the longest with the list wins. We used to have to prompt our kids, but now they outdo us every time!

Make up your own new versions like, Mickey Mouse went to The Magic Kingdom and he went to The Haunted Mansion, rode the teacups, woke up Tinkerbell, got a hug from Goofy, walked through the castle....

 

[kelscross]

At the Dayton airport we found these magnetic paper dolls that were snow white and prince charming. My girls played and played with them when in line.

 

[VSL]

This has been the ticket since our kids were four. It's a memory game I made up called Mrs. Snodgrass. It begins, "Mrs. Snodgrass went to the store, and in her cart she put...". Each person begins with the phrase, repeats the previous list in order and adds one more item, so it sounds something like this, "Mrs. Snodgrass went to the store and in her cart she put, apples, lightbulbs, a television, peaches... and a kite!" The one who can go the longest with the list wins. We used to have to prompt our kids, but now they outdo us every time!

Make up your own new versions like, Mickey Mouse went to The Magic Kingdom and he went to The Haunted Mansion, rode the teacups, woke up Tinkerbell, got a hug from Goofy, walked through the castle....

OMG! I remember playing that when I was in Primary School (although we just used to say, 'Yesterday, I went to the store and bought..'). Changing it to a Disney theme sounds like a really good idea.

I'm all nostalgic now!

 

[Suzanne74]

This has been the ticket since our kids were four. It's a memory game I made up called Mrs. Snodgrass. It begins, "Mrs. Snodgrass went to the store, and in her cart she put...". Each person begins with the phrase, repeats the previous list in order and adds one more item, so it sounds something like this, "Mrs. Snodgrass went to the store and in her cart she put, apples, lightbulbs, a television, peaches... and a kite!" The one who can go the longest with the list wins. We used to have to prompt our kids, but now they outdo us every time!

I am stealing this idea, I love the disney theme, very cute - since we have already been there I will try and do a theme one related to the ride we are waiting for..

thanks!!!

 

[My2Cinderellas]

this won't work for preschoolers, but for slightly older kids it's great. we did this in the car growing up and my oldest is just about ready to start playing.

4-letter word game

no - not those 4-letter words!

someone starts with a word, like "bear" and the next person changes one letter. it can be in any position. so hear, sear, tear, boar, beer, bean, beat, beam etc etc are all acceptible 2nd words. keep going without reusing any words until someone gets stuck.

 

[taking6toDL]

Etch a Sketch Pocket size