Standing in line

[muffinstuffin]

We are planning our trip for next year and I want to start collecting things to bring to entertain DD while we are on the plane, on the bus to the parks and standing in line for rides. People watching will entertain her for a little while but I want to have some things in the backpack to hopefully avoid a total meltdown. She will be 4 when we go.
So far I have:
A travel sized Disney Magna Doodle
An travel sized etch a sketch


Also, do they have a disney I spy type book?

Thanks for your help...It will be a much different trip with kids than it was with just DH and I.

 

[churchpilot]

Has she shown that she needs entertaining in crowds? I know from reading these threads that most people didn't need anything. Some people bring bubbles, pipe cleaners, books, even small DVD players and most of the time they say they didn't need any of it and regretted halling it into the parks!!! Try just pointing out interesting things or play your own "I Spy". Our 3 year old never needed entertaining and we were there during President's Day week and the parks were crammed, so we spend some time in lines. However, if you have a Cracker Barrel anywhere near you, they have these awesome little sticker books for boys and girls. The stickers are repositionaly and can be used over and over. They have doll dress up, aquarium, robots, etc. Good luck.

 

[tzolkin]

I brought a few things (pipe cleaners, a few small toys, stickers, glowsticks, etc), but honestly it was a waste. After the first day or so I didn't even bother to put them into the bag to take into the park. My kids were 9, 4, and 2. I thought I would especially need to entertain the 2 year old because we did alot of waiting with rider switch, but really it wasn't necessary. We, however, did not wait in a line if it was too long. We went early in the morning and walked on most things and then came back for a little while in the evening and only went on attractions that had very short lines or used fastpass.

I would bring the few things you have just in case, but I wouldn't buy too much extra stuff. I'm sure you will have a great time.

 

[marlynnp]

Does she talk?

 

[jnzimm]

How about simple coversation, and letting your child know and understand there are going to be waits before you leave. IMO children find enough stimulation from just being there. Waiting is just part of going.

 

[crisi]

We've never needed anything either. The kids are pretty good at self entertaining - and line management (using Fastpasses, arriving early) is a good way to minimize lines.

 

[BostonRob]

Can we just not even suggest the bubbles? My 3 year old flips out when she sees bubbles, running around trying to pop each one. If that happened in a Disney line, I'd be less than pleased. Further, I don't want somebody's sticky bubbles popping on me.

 

[jlparedes]

We took DD 2 at the time to Kauai this past March. I wrapped up a couple dollar store type toys so it gave her something to unwrap and play with on the plane. I brought snacks to keep her busy (fruit snacks were good for her ears to clear at take off and landing). I brought our laptop with movies (she never watched this and that was a waste). I brought coloring books and crayons which he used often. Honestly, I was shocked but she slept most of the trip and when she didn't sleep she played with the seat belt in the plane haha.

 

[ajh88]

My DD can entertain herself for HOURS with a park map - we just make sure we have some pens/markers, maybe a small notepad, and a park map. Most of the time she hasn't needed entertainment, but we'd make do with something we already had on us (let her take a few pictures with the digital camera, find something to count, play an alphabet game - stuff like that).

 

[RyJMom]

Get Tour Guide Mike and don't stand in any lines at the parks. Our family motto for the last trip was "We don't do lines" - In Laws thought I was insane but by the end of the week they were believers!

 

[muffinstuffin]

Thanks for the suggestions. We probably won't need anything but I though you all would know if there are some can't live without items. She is a little hyper and I don't want her stomping all over everyones toes while we are waiting.
Love the suggestion for the park map. She loves looking at the disney maps, my inlaws brought home from their recent trip.
Don't worry I won't do bubbles!