Tips for waiting in line

[sara1215]

I've seen suggestions of bringing activities or games to do with kids while waiting in line for rides or meet/greets. Any specific tips or products anyone may be able to suggest? I was thinking things like bubbles or maybe coloring books. My kids are 6 and 3 if that helps.

 

[Nancyg56]

I am trying to remember what my DD used to occupy my DGD when she was young, and really cannot remember. I do know that she used to keep an ipod thing for the little one to listen to in the stroller when she was resting, so maybe she gave that to her.

I know that we always kept Kady engaged by talking about her surroundings. If you check out the queues, you will find all kinds of inteesting things, especially if you look for hidden Mickeys. That child used to treat them like an ispy book, searching for those hiddden gems everywhere. Her Dad invested in a book prior to the first trip which helped him to play this game with her. They still do this and Kady is going onto 14.

I will ask that you forego the bubbles. They may occupy the kids but will probably annoy your neighbors who are also in line. A few years ago Kady and I were in line at the ETWB, which had just opened. The line was wicked long, and until you entered Belle's house, there was not much to engage little ones. In front of us there was a dad with a little girl about 6 and her brother, perhaps 4, and they were saving a spot for Mom, who needed to relax with her morning coffee before ventuing to the parks. (I know this because we listened to Dad talk about this to the kids for over 45 minutes.) ANyway, the boy was given an ipad to occupy him, and he was sprawled on the ground throughout the entire queue, sometimes on our feet, ssometime on other peoples feet.

 

[sara1215]

Maybe I'll save the bubbles for when we wait for parades/fireworks? Although maybe there will be too many people around then too. I'll use my best judgement and not be annoying. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Nancyg56]

Maybe I'll save the bubbles for when we wait for parades/fireworks? Although maybe there will be too many people around then too. I'll use my best judgement and not be annoying. Thanks for the suggestion.

Personally, bubbles do not annoy me so I would enjoy the kids, but if you look at any threads that folks discuss the bubbles in lines or at parades and firewoks, you will see that this is a hot button topic. I would purchase one of those light up things that are sold ecerywhere. They are fun at night, and a lot of kids have them, so the little will fit right in. My DD has purchased some already to give the two little ones who are coming with us in August.

You are not alone trying to figure out how to corral the energy little ones have. The two little girls who are coming with us are 5 and 6. They are cute as can be, and have been practicing their best good manners for months. So we are good for restaurants, their please, thank you etc are perfected. However.....the little one has no inside voice. Well, she has one but when compared to anyone else's it is LOUD! and she has energy that is boundless. The girls are as sweet as can be, and they are not fresh, but my DD has been trying to make a list of things to try to harness then, especially the little Tornado, during some waits. I am a little apprehensive, we took them to the Disney Store to start getting them ready for the trip, and HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!! They had never been to one, and were on fire! My 14 YO DGD told me she was exhausted after an hour in the store, LOL! I figure by the end of the day, I am going to need either an aspirin, or a glass of wine! LOL!

 

[Disney_Alli]

I wouldn't really suggest colouring books as you're not really standing in one place for very long. Since you're moving a little bit at a time fairly constantly there isn't really any time for colouring. I like I Spy or the alphabet game as options. I've also read pipe cleaners are good because you can bend and make them into different shapes but they're super portable, make no mess and are easy to store. Autograph books are fun to look through again. Hidden Mickeys are also really fun but might be a little beyond the 3 yr old.

 

[sara1215]

Oh, pipe cleaners. That's exactly the kind of idea I was looking for!

 

[Nancyg56]

I am adding pipe cleaners to our list!

 

[aretha30]

We play a version of "I spy"; basically we look for hidden Mickeys and when once person finds one we give everyone else a general area to look for it. Even if you are all just looking for the hidden Mickeys it passes the time. We also discuss what we want to do next, each kid has a map and they get to look at what they want to do and where they want to go. My boys are a little older (12 and 7) but we've done this for years.

 

[Nancyg56]

We play a version of "I spy"; basically we look for hidden Mickeys and when once person finds one we give everyone else a general area to look for it. Even if you are all just looking for the hidden Mickeys it passes the time. We also discuss what we want to do next, each kid has a map and they get to look at what they want to do and where they want to go. My boys are a little older (12 and 7) but we've done this for years.

WE do this as well. My DGD loved that hidden mickey search, and was always sporting her map. I honestly do not remember the waiting to be problematic for her, but as I said earlier, this time we have Rylee.....and as funny and cute as she is.....I am a little worried how she is going to be in the lines. My DD and I have already agreed that we will give up our phones for her to play a game if need be, because I am not going to be responsible for creating a headache for my neighbors in line. As much as she amuses us, she may be a bit much for people who do not love her! LOL! This trip my DH is not able to come, and I think we will miss him more than we can say. He usually perches the little ones on his arm like birds, and that keeps thim in one spot, off of neighbos feet, and engaged becasue they are up high enough to see everything.

 

[kelleybean]

My 7 y.o. son has autism and a lot of hyperactivity and I've noticed that the way the line moves makes a big difference with how he tolerates it. Soarin' is torture for him because you are stopped for long periods of time since it doesn't load continuously. But he does way better with something like Buzz or Small World. Even if it's a long wait, he's moving a lot.

For standing in line ... what about Wiki sticks? They are these bendable wax sticks that you can make into any shapes you want. We also talk a lot about what has been his favorite thing we've done so far, what we are going to do next, etc. This one probably only works for my quirky kid but he is obsessed with numbers so we give each other math problems to do in our head (sad to say that he beats me every time). We also play a game where we take turns naming something - animals, colors, etc - one at a time and whoever can't think of one when it's their turn loses.

Good luck! I'm glad to see that Disney has been updating their queues to make the waiting easier.

 

[sara1215]

Wiki sticks are another great idea!

 

[sara1215]

double post, sorry!

 

[DisneyLove2015]

When our son was younger we always had a travel magna doodle for him to color on/ write on in line. He loved it.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm kind of old fashioned but when DS was little we would just talk and look at things while waiting in line. He was always very curious about everything so time would fly with him just asking questions, he was also not a shy person so more often than not if there were other kids in line he would talk to them. I never carried toys or anything to occupy him, maybe I was just lucky but being there and seeing everything there was to see seemed to work. He was your typical little boy, full of energy and had only two speeds go like heck or crash. He never climbed on the rails during wait times or anything like that (again not because he was a little angel but because all I had to do was mention a trip to the bathroom where potty was not the goal and he would straighten right up). He never complained about standing in line, even now more often than not if we see a wait time of 40 min or so, he will just shrug his shoulders and say lets go for it.

 

[broncobill]

An old phone with games on or ipod type devices. One thing my daughter liked to do, was look for lizards. Especially when we are waiting by plants. She got really good at finding them too. She was 8 at the time.

 

[Chrisfilm]

I'm kind of old fashioned but when DS was little we would just talk and look at things while waiting in line. He was always very curious about everything so time would fly with him just asking questions.

We were extremely lucky as this is how my oldest was when we were there last year (at 3 years old). My youngest was 9 months so we just had him in a baby carrier and he was fine. Next year they will be 5 and 2 1/2. The oldest will still likely be the same, but our youngest, whew, I don't know what to expect with him. I don't think we'll be as lucky! So I'm glad to have found this thread with these tips. Truly, each child is different, haha.

 

[Kathryn777]

Our best time killer for lines (we skip long ones and rope drop) is snacks. We bring lots of goldfish, gummies, chips . Munchie snacks. They eat every 2 hours at school and my DH and I definitely do not. This usually kills 15 min or so

 

[sara1215]

I'm kind of old fashioned but when DS was little we would just talk and look at things while waiting in line. He was always very curious about everything so time would fly with him just asking questions, he was also not a shy person so more often than not if there were other kids in line he would talk to them. I never carried toys or anything to occupy him, maybe I was just lucky but being there and seeing everything there was to see seemed to work. He was your typical little boy, full of energy and had only two speeds go like heck or crash. He never climbed on the rails during wait times or anything like that (again not because he was a little angel but because all I had to do was mention a trip to the bathroom where potty was not the goal and he would straighten right up). He never complained about standing in line, even now more often than not if we see a wait time of 40 min or so, he will just shrug his shoulders and say lets go for it.

This would be an ideal situation but I want to be prepared in case they get bored or cranky.

 

[nilla]

We stole this idea from a young couple in line for the Disney Visa Character Spot, but the "Heads Up!" app is GOLD if you're kids can read.

It's basically the game "Headbandz", but on a phone, iPod, etc. A word appears on the screen, and one person holds it up so everyone but herself can see it. The others then try to give clues so the first person can guess what it is. Sort of like verbal charades.

They have a ton of categories, too, including "Disney characters".

 

[sara1215]

We stole this idea from a young couple in line for the Disney Visa Character Spot, but the "Heads Up!" app is GOLD if you're kids can read.

It's basically the game "Headbandz", but on a phone, iPod, etc. A word appears on the screen, and one person holds it up so everyone but herself can see it. The others then try to give clues so the first person can guess what it is. Sort of like verbal charades.

They have a ton of categories, too, including "Disney characters".

Thanks, they'd love that!