ISO Ideas to keep a toddler occupied while waiting in line

[RCBA]

We are taking our boys on a trip to DL next week We have been to WDW w/out kids...this is our first trip to DL. Please share your best ideas for keeping a toddler occupied while waiting in line.

 

[ter-moo]

One method that some people are fine with and others have no patience for, is to have one parent wait in the line while the other does something less "constraining" with the toddler. Then when you get to a place in the line where it's easy to do, you step in with the toddler. You might get some dirty looks from people in line, but IMO people should understand this when you've got a little one...

Other stuff we've done is play "I Spy" or find something to count (people, red shirts, etc.) and count it. There's usually something around to temporarily distract your child if you look.

 

[Hound 109]

The best way is by avoiding long lines if possible.

- Do FantasyLand during EE or during the first hour of a NON EE day. Otherwise the lines can be brutal.
- Know how FP works at DLR (it's different than WDW) & know how to effeceintly use it.
- Ride Rides early & enjoy the other magical toddler things as the park gets crowded.
- If you haven't done so, read ALL of HydroGuy's Tips, but especially his tips for WDW Veterans & his tips on FP.
- Take a rest mid afternoon (when lines are longest).
- Todlers love the bugs life area & the redwood trail area in DCA....check them both out.

Have fun.

hound -

 

[JennyW]

One word: Magnadoodle. You can spend hours with that. Drawing pictures together, learning letters and numbers, anything you can imagine. And there are small, portable ones.

 

[tinkerbelt]

When we to on Nemo, we bring the portable DVD player. They allow strollers in the Nemo line, so I'll turn on a movie for DD and she can sit in her stroller and watch it. Video iPods are also great if you are waiting an hour + for fireworks.

 

[heatherleigh]

Those are great ideas! It didn't even occur to me, to bring something to occupy the kids in line. The Magnadoodle wouldn't take up that much space either. I just bought a new stroller, and the basket underneath doesn't hold much, so we have to get compact things.

 

[DizneyMommy]

I second the Magnadoodle. My 2 year old loves ours, we have several in our cars, diaper bags and strollers. Target sells some really cute ones, and they are very small - perfect for a backpack or diaper bag.

 

[squirrel]

How about Bubbles. If you know you are going to be waiting in a long line how about a snack/treat (lollipop, candy necklace-take a while for a small child to eat).