How to prepare kids for longer lines and lowering expectations?

[DSNY4ever]

You could do the positive reinforcement method - maybe for every half hour the family waits in line, everyone “earns” $2 towards a snack. Then you can play it up as a “win” if you’re getting close to a bigger better snack, not a “lose” because you were in line for so long. They might even start to hope for more wait time if they feel like it earns them a bonus of sorts.

Another idea might be to let the kids judge trade offs for themselves. Wait two hours for a headliner, or do a tour of the “B list“ attractions with much lower waits? If they feel like they made that call they may be happier with it.

That's a great idea! Maybe I'll even let then look on my phone for what snack or treat they get once we're done. I am worried about our phones dying though since we have to rely on them for everything it sounds like? My phone just barely makes it through a full day at home...and I'll be taking pictures and videos, so I'm a little nervous.

 

[KittyKitty]

Have a game you can play in line. "I see something .....", Disney game on phone, Heads up.

 

[JLTraveling]

Do what parents used to do in the pre-FP days. Enter gate. Turn left (most people go right, so you're working against the crowd). Do one ENTIRE land at a time. Not just the headliners, but the B listers with short waits. Look around and soak up the atmosphere and let yourselves be immersed. Eat a snack. Sit in the shade and people watch. Then go to the next land in order. Wash, rinse, repeat. When you get hungry, eat. Wherever you happen to be. If you couple this with an open to close schedule (or reasonably close, my family rarely made rope drop since we had an hour's drive in the morning), you likely won't hit EVERYTHING. But you'll hit most things, and more importantly, you'll break up standing in long lines with periods of just having fun and enjoying the moment.

 

[Elephantay]

Do what parents used to do in the pre-FP days. Enter gate. Turn left (most people go right, so you're working against the crowd). Do one ENTIRE land at a time. Not just the headliners, but the B listers with short waits. Look around and soak up the atmosphere and let yourselves be immersed. Eat a snack. Sit in the shade and people watch. Then go to the next land in order. Wash, rinse, repeat. When you get hungry, eat. Wherever you happen to be. If you couple this with an open to close schedule (or reasonably close, my family rarely made rope drop since we had an hour's drive in the morning), you likely won't hit EVERYTHING. But you'll hit most things, and more importantly, you'll break up standing in long lines with periods of just having fun and enjoying the moment.

We always do this, even when we had fast passes. Its a great way to just enjoy, and we've done some lesser known things/less headliners etc. and it does break up the day. Love Country Bears, Goofy jellybeans, etc. Never ridden that steamboat though!

 

[Elephantay]

Also, we dont actually ever wait for more than 30 minutes. For anything. We just move on to something else and try again later. For our must-do's we rope drop ( or have used fast passes).

 

[JLTraveling]

We always do this, even when we had fast passes. Its a great way to just enjoy, and we've done some lesser known things/less headliners etc. and it does break up the day. Love Country Bears, Goofy jellybeans, etc. Never ridden that steamboat though!

Do the steamboat!! It's fun and relaxing

 

[Elephantay]

Do the steamboat!! It's fun and relaxing

I will! I'm going to make a point of it next trip! I love the people mover- seems similar in some respects. I'm going to leave my people and do it alone if I get any pushback...

 

[DisneyAuntie12]

That's a great idea! Maybe I'll even let then look on my phone for what snack or treat they get once we're done. I am worried about our phones dying though since we have to rely on them for everything it sounds like? My phone just barely makes it through a full day at home...and I'll be taking pictures and videos, so I'm a little nervous.

I hope it helps! I work in a school and have found that elementary aged kids love the concept of earning “points” for almost anything. It can be a tiny “prize” but they generally like the concept at this age.

For your phone, I would buy a couple of power banks for sure! Last time I invested in one nice one and then brought a few of the $5 Target bin ones. The Target ones may break but they are inexpensive enough to have as backups for a vacation (long term use they’re pretty much guaranteed to break, but for a week or so there’s a good chance they’ll last.)