Line entertainment

[JJR4969]

I have read lots about making sure that you have some line entertainment for young ones and even some suggestions. I was hoping that anyone could provide me with some feedback on what worked best, what didn't work well and any other suggestions for keeping a young DD (5) entertained in the waiting lines for the rides. We will be going in May, if the time of year matters for suggestions! Thank you all for any input, it is appreciated!

 

[mikepizzo]

I've seen bubbles work very well. I'm 26 years old and bubbles still make me happy. Hidden Mickey books can work depending on where you are. Also, depending on how interested/curious your child may be, it could be worth learning some history behind the attractions. You can point out the little details in the queue and explain them. Have them search for details on their own and stuff too.

 

[gap2368]

play a child version of 20 question maybe you have to act out a disney charter and you can not talk and see who can guess it or maybe a ride. give her some pipe cleaners and let her make something out of them if she loses them oh well. find hidden mickeys talk about what your going to do next

if you plan your FP right and hit the rides right like get there at RD and do a lot of ride that are walk on or 10 minute wait then use your FP s and then when you are done get 1 more. and repeat

 

[JJR4969]

I have seen a lot about the Hidden Mickey, and have one of the books. Does anyone know if an app exists for them? How quickly do the books become outdated about them? I got the book from the last time I went to WDW about 4 years ago. I have always been interested in the Hidden Mickeys, so maybe I can get my DD to help spot them!

 

[minnie mum]

There is a hidden Mickeys app. At least there is for Android. Check Google store or App store.

 

[JudieB]

Is it obnoxious to play the "Heads Up"smart phone app?

 

[tzolkin]

I remember being convinced that we needed entertainment for the kids based on what I had read here, so I packed a bunch of stuff for our first trip (pipe cleaners, stickers, bubbles, etc). We never used any of it and after a few days I just left everything in the room. (Two younger kids were almost 4 and almost 2 at the time)

Our first two trips were in late May and our plan was really to just avoid waiting in lines rather than come up with ways to keep the kids entertained. We went to rope drop (usually EMH) each morning. All the attractions were walk-on. We did everything we wanted and were headed out of the park just as the huge crowds were coming in. When we went to the parks in the evening we either used FP, rode only the attractions with short wait times, and enjoyed the other aspects of the parks at a leisurely pace.

Never waited more than 10 minutes for anything, so my kids were content to just look around and talk about what they had already seen/done and what our plans were for the rest of the day. We have gone for two weeks each year for the last 10 years and never felt a need for in-line entertainment.

 

[andiraye]

Is it obnoxious to play the "Heads Up"smart phone app?

I don't think so, if you are not rowdy about it.

Fwiw, we didn't need to play games online. We just talked and looked at the details in the queue area. My particular favorites are under the sea, space mountain and star tours. One of my favorite things about wdw is the level of detail in creating the fantasy. You can't notice it all if you are too busy doing things.

Some lines have built in entertainment, including haunted mansion, dumbo and others.

We also used the time we were waiting on line to drink water and eat healthy snacks.

 

[Gracie09]

Bubbles are annoying to those around you and can leave a film on glasses, camera lenses etc. they can make kids run around in the enclosed area. I would pick another form of entertainment
We usually look at the map and plan the next ride. Talk about what we just did. Find hidden mickeys

 

[noahdove]

Bubbles are annoying to those around you and can leave a film on glasses, camera lenses etc. they can make kids run around in the enclosed area. I would pick another form of entertainment
We usually look at the map and plan the next ride. Talk about what we just did. Find hidden mickeys

I agree with this, plus, once the bubbles hit the ground, the ground becomes slippery..

 

[pooh4evr]

Talk, Heads UP, Hidden Mickeys, I spy, - we haven't ever packed stuff for lines. - but we time things well, and don't really wait too much.

 

[MissKIA]

Is it obnoxious to play the "Heads Up"smart phone app?

I don't think so! We did it in DL last year and it made time go by so fast, and it was fun. There is also a Disney Parks deck now so that makes it highly appropriate! I think we may have entertained people around us as well. (I'm sure it would annoy some people though, cause some people are annoyed by everything).

FWIW I do think bubbles an be annoying if they get in people's faces and dangerous as they make the ground slippery.

 

[aprilgail]

I remember being convinced that we needed entertainment for the kids based on what I had read here, so I packed a bunch of stuff for our first trip (pipe cleaners, stickers, bubbles, etc). We never used any of it and after a few days I just left everything in the room. (Two younger kids were almost 4 and almost 2 at the time)

.

I agree- we went the first time my daughter was 2 1/2 and then pretty much every year for years after that and never found the need to bring entertainment in for waiting on lines.

 

[julieFitz]

For kids, snacks!

 

[amyT123]

I brought small (party favor sized) containers of play dough for my daughter to play with while waiting in line or waiting for meals. It came in handy while waiting for a parade that had a rain delay.

 

[sunflowerfields]

Mine liked Madlibs but mostly did that on the bus to the parks. They didn't seem to need anything when waiting in line. The only long line we waited in was Winnie the Pooh and there was a lot in that que that kept them entertained. I found a set of cards on a clip that hooks to a belt loop or purse strap etc. with games on it. It has something like 100 games that you can do just standing in a line, so I will bring that just in case we need it. Kids are 4, 8 and 14.