How to entertain five year old in lines

[ejmbibb]

Hi. I'm the E in EJMBibb and this is my first post. I wanted to hit you all up and see if you had any ideas on how to entertain a very rambunctious five year old while standing in lines. Also, anything to entertain the J would be good, too.

Thanks!!!

Oh, and 20 days to go until we leave the tundra.

YIPPEE

 

[LONE-STAR]

I use candy for my nephews. But after the ride I give them back to my sister.

 

[momoffive]

Play the name game. Try to use the alphabet and name characters that she/he would know, and since in Disney, must be Disney. It may be a bit much for 5 but you can alter it by naming a movie and seeing how many characters he/she can name from each. This kept my crew on their toes to remember more than their brothers or sisters.
momoffive

 

[CottontailCurl]

Have you been to Disney before? I've found the best way to keep everyone entertained is to stand in line as little as possible. Fast pass all the popular ones and walk on fast loading ones. That way when you go on the ride with your fast pass you should have the more interesting parts of the line to look at for hopefully just a few minutes.

My kids were all small before Fastpass and I can't even remember what we used to do. My daughter said she would carry a small (2x3) spiral notebook and pencil in her fanny pack for writing down things she saw and for drawing. Oh and healthy snacks in their fanny packs that they could decide when they would eat helped with keeping meltdowns to a minimum because they weren't running out of energy. Most of them could be eaten in line (baby carrots, trail mix, apples, granola bars, etc. I only asked them to put them away when we got inside the building part of lines).

 

[CaptKen]

Duct Tape? Or should I make that Daffy Duck Tape.

 

[Escape Artist]

Tootsie rolls, Smarties, little boxes of raisins and hard candy.

And I avoid any line that's longer than about 20 minutes.

Honestly, the lines keep moving along enough that there's always something new to look at and talk about. It's not like you're standing in one place the whole time. It's not really as hard having them behave in line as it seems, and I've done it by myself with toddlers and a special needs child. Also, learning to stand in line politely and take turns--without having to be constantly entertained by someone else--is a good skill for life!

Have a great trip!

Sue in Texas
...so glad I don't have 2 in diapers anymore!

 

[Escape Artist]

I forgot to add--check the park hours in advance and get there for park opening (or before!), to ride before the crowds build up. Then when it gets close to lunch time, take some time out to eat, watch sit-down shows in shade and air conditioning, or head back to the fort and go swimming.

Unless you're there during a really quiet week or don't want to ride anything, never enter a park around noon! You might want to check out the Unofficial Guide or TGM to see how to do the parks with a minimum of stress. When the 5 year old is happy, everybody's happier. And vice-versa!

Sue in Texas

 

[Sonoma]

We never waited in line to long, but we did play "I spy". Even our 3 year old could play that game. We also used smarties (no tootsie roles because that leads to chocolate drool ). I also had some little bottles of bubbles (from a wedding) and that was a good distraction too.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I gave my 5 yr old a smack in the head and an elbow to the ribs!!! Just kidding....we didnt plan ahead and didnt bring anything for "line entertainment" but what a good idea. Thankfully....she was alot calmer than we expected...she did alot of "people watching" , especially when kids her age were around which is MOST of the time at Disney. Personally, "I", as in ME, would NOT give my kid candy in hopes of it keeping her calm....my kid goes NUTS with even a little sugar (thats why LoneStar gives the neice back to his sister so quick after the ride!!!!)....my kid DOES share a bit of darkness, like dear old dad...and we kinda quietly made fun of people in line with us....IT WAS A BONDING EXPERIENCE FOR US!!!!

 

[RvUsa]

Nice Rog, making fun of people, She is gonna grow up to be a spitting image of you, except with hair!!!

 

[bxtx]

Hi E - we're going to be there the same time as you - I have 3 boys - 6, 3 and 6 months. I'm not too worried about the 6 yo but the 3 yo, that's a whole other ball game!

I have been storing Chik-Fil-A games/books for a little while - stuff that can be tossed easily. We like Eye Spy - if we use colours even the 3 yo can join in; 20 Questions; people watching; making clouds into shapes; food (Carrots, brekkie bars, raisins etc)

Specifically for this trip, I'm also counting on Hidden Mickeys, reviewing our autograph book (prob. when waiting for sit-down dinners) and short lines!

And a bucket of patience for me and DH!

Bex

 

[ejmbibb]

Duct Tape? Or should I make that Daffy Duck Tape.

Shouldn't that be "Donald" duct tape?

 

[PolynesianPixie]

One of the great things about Disney is they sure do know how to make a line as fun as possible! there's always a bunch of stuff to look at. I'll reiterate what another poster said and tell you that we always bring bubbles. One person got annoyed with us once, but for the most part, we end up entertaining other peoples kids, too! We talk about what the ride will be like, where we are going to go next, etc, etc. Little portable games are good, too. Rubiks cubes and things like that.

 

[CaptKen]

OOPs , you're right with Donald, I was in the wrong cartoon series.
Yo Rog, just tell them that only perfect heads can pull off the bald fashion statement. I to am becoming hair challenged myself. The comb over using the hair on my back just ain't working out.

 

[Escape Artist]

Nice Rog, making fun of people, She is gonna grow up to be a spitting image of you, except with hair!!!

Yeah, he hopes so!

I bet bald girls attract a different...element...

Sue in Texas

 

[BigDaddyRog]

OOPs , you're right with Donald, I was in the wrong cartoon series.
Yo Rog, just tell them that only perfect heads can pull off the bald fashion statement. I to am becoming hair challenged myself. The comb over using the hair on my back just ain't working out.

I am cursed with a full head of hair.....wish I was going bald.....ya'll dont have to shave as often, and sweat from New Orleans humidity on a freshly shaved head can burn like the dickens!!!! I did let it grow out a little last year....but I had so many grey hairs it made me realize that Im not the immortal 18yr old I often THINK I am, so bald and not so beautiful I will remain!!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I am cursed with a full head of hair.....wish I was going bald.....ya'll dont have to shave as often, and sweat from New Orleans humidity on a freshly shaved head can burn like the dickens!!!! I did let it grow out a little last year....but I had so many grey hairs it made me realize that Im not the immortal 18yr old I often THINK I am, so bald and not so beautiful I will remain!!

Ugh! Don't get me started on grey hair! I like to think of myself as the young thing, too. One day, I was visiting my mom and she complemented me on my highlights. I said, "Mom, I haven't gotten any highlights!" What a shock to both of us that it was white streaks in my hair!!!! If I'm old that just means SHE is that much older!!!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Now what the heck did that have to do with 5 year olds?

 

[CaptKen]

Children have been known to cause the loss of hair. You can find the missing hair lining the walkways of MK.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Children have been known to cause the loss of hair. You can find the missing hair lining the walkways of MK.

yup...and its used as a space filler in FWguys soap!!