Need Some Line Waiting Ideas

[Jo Jo]

WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY ON JULY 3 FOR 7 NIGHTS WITH OUR 6 AND 4 YEAR OLD AND OUR 22 MONTH OLD. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE VERY BUSY WITH SOME BIG LINES. I'D REALLY LIKE SOME IDEAS TO HELP KEEP THE KIDS ENTERTAINED AND FROM GETTING ANXIOUS AND IMPATIENT. PLEASE SEND THEM MY WAY!

 

[scrapbookworm]

"I spy" would be really good to play while waiting.
"Grocery Store Game" I'm going to the grocery store and I'm going to buy an Apple, (then next person repeats and adds a B, and so on)
Tell silly jokes. Other kids in line might like that too.
Take turns making up a silly story. Each child adds a line to the story.

Here is a good website Games to Play Anywhere

 

[ducklite]

Bubbles!

Just make sure that you blow them in a direction so they aren't coming back and getting all over the other people in line.

Anne

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't mean to sound silly or condescending--but we have never done anything special with our kids in line. They know that something fun is coming up. We do things to pass the time b/c it is fun, but not b/c I fear my children will be impatient.
I may have been lucky--but my girls don't require that much entertaining in line.

That being said--at Pooh--we read the story..at most any line we read the story if they have them. My daughter's are fascinated with maps, so we will review our plans for the rest of the day.

Fast Passes---if available, we get those.

 

[Del]

Our standard 2 things are...rocks, paper....and "what's been your favorite thing we did so far....."

Del

 

[tictoc]

Buy the hidden Mickeys book or download the Disney Secrets pages from this website and go over the ones for that ride or that land. This keeps my kids entertained very well. Even when the preschooler was a toddler. Now they know so much about the secrets and hidden stuff, but they still have fun pointing it out. Even after 47 trips!

 

[rlovew]

We like to play a guess where I am 20 questions game for places on Disney. For example If I am at Boma Restraunt they may ask these questions and eventually come to the answer:
1. Are we in a theme park? No
2. Are we at DTD? No
3. Are we at a Resort? Yes
4. Are we in a shop? No
5. Are we in a restruant? Yes
6. Have we been to this restraunt? Yes
7. Is at Shades of Green? No
8. Is it at the AKL? Yes
9. Is it Boma? Yes

Obviously with little onesa you need to make sure they know the places you are describing but you can get the idea.

 

[makinorlando]

Bubbles!

Just make sure that you blow them in a direction so they aren't coming back and getting all over the other people in line.

Anne

We did bubbles waiting for the AK parade last week. Not only did they keep my DD and DGnephew entertained, but also the other children that were near us. We were in a little "nook" outside of one of the stores that had some tables, and the stone walls, so we were out of the way - once more people started to come we put the bubbles away.

We have also played the "I'm Going on a Picnic" game - once in particular when we had no choice but to wait on line for Soarin' with an out of town guest. DD likes to do that!

 

[mrstomrice]

To be honest, my best advice is get to the parks at opening, and the lines won't be the issue. We were there during spring break...huge crowds by mid day. In the morning, we were able to hit every fantasyland ride with no wait at all...fantasyland done within 40 minutes. We even had our own boat on it's a small world. Then we were able to get to the Haunted mansion as soon as that section opened. It gave us time to hit the pool for the afternoon at the hotel, then go back in the evneing. Fastpass will also be a savior. I never thought I would be one to leave the parks, but it went so well, it will be our plan for all upcoming trips. have fun!

 

[disneyfansx5]

We took washable crayola markers and small coloring books. We used these markers for character autographs as well. The kids would sit and color while we waited. We also had some snacks (individual gummy packets, peanut butter crackers) that helped to keep them peaceful and quiet.

 

[Cruz91]

Getting to the park early is a no brainer to save lines, but what I would do is get to the park early and go to whatever your favorite ride is and before you get on, fastpass it. Then you can go ahead and get on while the line is short and SAVE the fast pass for later in the day when the lines are longer. Even if you're there early, your fast pass will be for an hour or so later - when the lines have grown. Then, religously re-fastpass as soon as your next window opens up. If you use FP wisely, you can ride other less popular stuff while you wait for FP windows to open up.....

Have fun, and don't forget plenty of H2O to drink while in line!

 

[sschro3]

Rock, paper, scissors is an all time fav. Most of the rides have such great theming that the wait is half the fun. Hope you have a great time.

 

[jenr812]

"I spy" would be really good to play while waiting.
"Grocery Store Game" I'm going to the grocery store and I'm going to buy an Apple, (then next person repeats and adds a B, and so on)
Tell silly jokes. Other kids in line might like that too.
Take turns making up a silly story. Each child adds a line to the story.

Here is a good website Games to Play Anywhere

Great link - thanks!

 

[Schmeck]

We played "ABC Disney" - each person takes a turn naming a Diseny character that starts with each letter of the alphabet - be warned, some letters have only 1 character, and they are obscure.

We also just talked about the attraction, and the last attraction we went on, and what we should do next, etc. It was really fun talking to the kids, especially when they were younger (2 and 5, 5 and 8) Now that they are 12 and 15, they don't want to talk to the parents

Bubbles in line - PLEASE, NO! - bubbles can stain clothing, pop in eyes and sting, and my daughter is allergic to some bubble solutions. Kids also tend to want to pop the bubbles, and may run after them, get out of line, crash into other people, etc. Bubbles are for large, open places.

 

[jensen]

My kids both love to sing and have learned lots of fun songs at daycare. I would sing with them while we were in line.

 

[Julylady]

Great ideas. Just have one more to add. If you are waiting in line with another family with children about the same ages as yours try to start a conversation with them. Begin by asking where they are from, etc. If they don't seem like they want to talk, by all means, leave them alone! But my experience has been that most people are more than willing to pass the time by talking with you. Have the kids tell each other about their favorite rides, their pets, their school.....the possibilities are endless. Its a fun way to pass the time!

Donna

 

[leylowe]

My DD did very well in the lines with no entertainment - all of the sights were entertaining enough. However, at 22 months, I think she would have been difficult - tired and overstimulated. We just got back this past weekend, and judging from the crowds in April, I know it will be even more crowded in the summer. My best recommendation is to get to the park as early as possible, fastpass as much as possible, then take a break around 2 o'clock when it is the hottest and the lines get longer. Head back to the hotel for some pool time. Stay away from the bubbles idea - not only would it annoy other folks in line, other little kids in line will want to play with them, too. Could set you up for temper tantrums. Crayons? I'm not sure I'd want to try to keep up with any kind of small items while standing in line, especially with a 22-month old in tow. Singing songs - GREAT idea! Of course, I'm a Musikgarten instructor, so it figures I'd love that one. But really, that's an idea that will not only entertain you and your kids, but other families around might join in, too. Go for it.

 

[Princess Glenda]

We like to play a guess where I am 20 questions game for places on Disney. For example If I am at Boma Restraunt they may ask these questions and eventually come to the answer:
1. Are we in a theme park? No
2. Are we at DTD? No
3. Are we at a Resort? Yes
4. Are we in a shop? No
5. Are we in a restruant? Yes
6. Have we been to this restraunt? Yes
7. Is at Shades of Green? No
8. Is it at the AKL? Yes
9. Is it Boma? Yes

Obviously with little onesa you need to make sure they know the places you are describing but you can get the idea.

We do that too! When DD was younger we used to jplay a variation...I'm thinking of something at Disney that starts with the letter T and then the kids would ask questions to narrow down the search. DS got the handheld 20Q game for Christmas and we have all enjoyed playing with it.

We've been lucky to go in May and September when the crowds have been light. But here are a few suggestions that we do when we are at restaurants...

Mini Magnadoodles
A keyring Tic Tac Toe board--this has rotating X's and O's so there are no pieces to misplace.

ENJOY your trip!

 

[DisDarling]

I like to pick my nails in line.....
OH you want HELPFUL HINTS??
Ok, I would sing songs, possibly a CD walkman, cellphone games, people watch, I SPY....
D.D.

 

[Suzanne74]

Since you are going to WDW for 7 nights, I am sure you will be going to MK more then once and I recommend hitting a few mornings - you need to be there at park opening, esp the days you are going...

Our 3 morning MK opening plan goes as this....

One, go right to Tomorrowland and go right to Buzz and get FP and head straight to Astro Orbitor and Raceway since they don't have FP and take FOREVER out in the heat sometimes. Then go back to Buzz and hop right on and unless they are huge Stitch fans I would bypass that horrible ride all together. This leaves the people mover which can be done at anytime and would save for later - after lunch at Cosmic Rays to digest is good. Next, head to Pooh and get FP and then go on Teacups. If your FP is ready for Pooh then get on, if not then play in the Pooh area right outside. After Pooh, have someone go get FP to Philarmagic and either try some rides like carousel or IASM (lines tend to be shorter) or play in Ariels Grotto. You can also skip the rest of Fantasyland if the crowds are crazy and head over to Toontown until FP ready for Philarmagic.


Our 2nd MK opening day we go straight to Fantasyland and someone gets FP for Peter Pan while we go straight to Dumbo, Snow White and anything else we have not hit the 1st morning. This can literally be done in less then an hour. We then leave there and go to Haunted Mansion. We then get FP for Splash or Thunder (depending on heat and who wants to go on what) and then hang out and enjoy non line things like shooting gallery, riverboat, Tom Sawyer's Island, Country Bear etc... As soon as we are done Splash or Thunder we will go get FP to the other one and stop and have lunch and go back to ride after.

Our 3rd morning there we go straight to Adventureland and get FP for Jungle Cruise and get on Aladdin's carpets and then head straight to Pirates. We then go back to Jungle. We may stop and do the Tiki Room but tend to pass on that. The rest of the morning is getting FP for rides we like to go on again and trying to actually "enjoy" the park and all it has to offer then running to get on rides.

The nights at MK are usually more laid back for us. Someone tends to hold spots for the parade right near the ice-cream shop on Main Street while someone else takes the kids to another round of Buzz through the back walkway thru the Noodle Station. If we are there a 2nd night we tend to try the rides in Adventure/Frontierland as they are usually empty around parade/fireworks time.

HTH