little kids & long lines- how do you deal?

[pinktink83]

Is there even an answer to this?! LOL I'm curious what the Disney buffs have done when they're cartin' around 2-5 year olds who wont be thrilled to stand in 15-30-45 minute lines. I'm scared my DD3 and DS5 will end up throwing a fit! Are they even gonna have fun?! Or will it be a bunch of standing around? Does anyone have tips or tricks?

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Fanny pack or back full of snacks. Try a small bottle of bubbles if all else fails. I keep one in the back pack but so far haven't needed to use it - we just wind up skipping any long lines!

 

[jetprincess]

I was really worried about this too but it ended up being a non-issue. We used fastpasses and went for morning magic hours. When we did have to stand in line, there was usually enough going on and new "friends" and people to talk to...well it just all worked out.

 

[DVCLiz]

If you are thinking of Fantasyland, your best bet is to get to the park at opening time. Get a FastPass for a popular ride (either Peter Pan or Winnie the Pooh) first thing, then go and get in the line for Dumbo. After Dumbo, ride the Carousel and then get in line for Winnie or Peter Pan - whichever one you don't have the FastPass for. After that, you'll be able to ride Small World, the teacups, and see Mickey's Philharmagic without much waiting, then you can ride your FastPass ride. You can usually do all of Fantasyland in about two to two and a half hours if you get there at opening. There's plenty to distract young children at that time of the day - they are still fresh and excited. Later, when crowds and lines biold, you can do things like the Tiki Birds, Country Bears, etc. that are less popular, less crowded, and air-conditioned. Have fun!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Always to MK EMH in the morning and get there when it opens. Like DVCLiz says, get there when the park opens. Use fast passes and ride all the rides you want in the first two hours. Then get something to eat. After that do the shows like Philharmagic. Then head back to the resort to swim and nap.

Never get in a line that says wait time is over 15 minutes. You can always do better than that.

About bubbles, not everyone standing in line likes bubbles, especially if they get on them or in their eyes. Bubbles are not always the best in crowded areas.

 

[snickerboo]

Go early, like an hour beffore opening. As you've just read above, if you want Dumbo at all, go straight there and do it first. If you're there when it opens, you'll be amazed at what you can fit in with little or not wait in those first two hours. Follow Bill and Deb's advice-that's exactly the advice I'd give, too. have you picked up the Unofficial Guide? It's a great resource.

I also took a lot of snacks and travel-sized magna doodles. My 3-yr-old can be cranky and he did fine. They'll probably be fine, too, because they'll be excited about what's at the end of the wait. Also, the lines are usually moving when you're in them, even if they're long. Rarely are you just standing still (this olny happened to us at Ariel when she went for a 15-minute break).

 

[linda_loo]

ITA with DVCLiz and others. We used TGM to plan our trip and only waited a few minutes for each ride (5 or less).

Short of that... I had a big bunch of pipe cleaners in my bag, my girls loved playing with them.

 

[camouseketeer]

I carry 3 pipe cleaners, two crayons, a small pad of paper and some stickers in a baggie for each child (DD's ages 2 and 4). Whenever their (and/or my) patience runs out, I pull out the baggie and offer one of those three things. Worked fine on this last trip.

I also have a small baggie of snacks for each child.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

I agree with what everyone has said.

Fastpass is everyone's best friend. Also, there is a wonderful Pooh's Sprayground/Playground. It's a great place to let the kids just to be free. Really super.

 

[luvlumpy]

I agree with everyone. Get to the park's opening. Use the fastpass whenever possible. If you are wanting to ride Dumbo do it first. I would suggest investing the $18 in Tour Guide Mike. It was well worth every penny!! I was amazed at how right he was about everything!!!

 

[TikiGoddess]

Our last trip we went with our 2 & 4 yr. old. I agree about the getting there early thing for Fantasyland. We did this and it was not crowded at all. By noon we passed back through to get to Frontierland and it was a madhouse. We also do the snacks, but I would also suggest a Pal Mickey. My boys loved his corny jokes and informational tips. They also enjoyed looking through their autograph books at the signatures they'd gotten while we were in line. Since we rented a double stroller, they weren't tired of standing or walking by the time we got in line so that also helped. They will completely enjoy it. Every day at nap time when I lay down with my youngest he wants to talk about Disney World and all his favorite rides. He was 2 at the time...all those people who tried to tell me he was too young were soooo wrong. FYI, we did not do afternoon naps back at the hotel, we tried it one day and it was so not worth it for us. The boys wouldn't rest and were all keyed up about why we'd left a place they were having fun. It just ended up being a complete waste of time for us. We tried to alternate our long days instead. We're going back in Jan. and we're not doing breaks this next time either. I will say that we tried to alternate rides with shows and take mini breaks throughout the day. That seemed to rejuvenate everyone. Have fun!

 

[*disneyclaire*]

I'm going in June with my 2 year old and her 4 year old auntie and I'm getting a little nervous myself about this same thing.

 

[tmarquez]

We go often with my DD 3 1/2, and we never wait more than 10 minutes for anything...ever! Go at opening and always use fastpass. We always have plenty of time to ride everything we want to.