waiting in line - need tips please

[Jenny]

even though we're going off season (late jan/early feb)., i want to be prepared for some long lines...long lines for my almost 3 year old DD may be 5 min. - we'll see. one DD will be 2 yr. 10 mo. & the other DD will be 6 1/2 mo. I'm thinking of putting the infant in a Bjorn to save our arms plus she'll be snug on us as the ride goes along. The concern is the toddler. How do you entertain your toddler in line? thanks.

 

[striker3636]

We'll be there early Feb with our just 3 yr old DD and I am wondering the same.....How about bubbles? I am building a list of Hidden Mickeys (ok, I'm too cheap to buy the book), and am going to make a little reference book of locations, trivia, etc. I'm going to throw this in my backpack and use it as I Spy material to help pass the time.

Anybody else?

Annette

 

[dzneelvr]

Each attraction has things to look at as you walk past in the line. Be sure to point them out to your child. You could do a "character watch" with them to see if their favorite is going to come down the street. At the time of year you are going, the lines will really be short and just enough to get into the ride/attraction.
If it's a longer line do an "I spy" type of game...simple and obvious things.
Have a wonderful time

 

[dcmbshafe]

We've used bubbles in the past (just make sure you get a spill-proof container). Don't underestimate the visual stimulation available practically everywhere as dzneelvr points out.

 

[mmiller711]

Last time we took 2 year old grandson I had purchased Disney stickers at the dollar store. He loved to play with them in line and it is a quiet activity. They also worked for getting him to keep the rain poncho on in the stroller. It made a huge peel and stick sheet, he could put them on and take them off!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Fruit snacks are a good choice. Neat, easy and they can be really fun if your get disney shape ones. We have also made friends and encourages DS to talk with kids his age. Try to avoid lines with fast past and EE if possible.


Jordans' mom

 

[Twigs]

When my kids were little we played a lot of eye spy.

 

[tjmw2727]

We met my sil and bil at MK in October and we were all wondering how my 3yo nephew would do in lines - he is a busy guy! We didn't have to use any of the tricks sil had in the bag he did just fine. We used FP and tried to make sure we always got one before using ours and did shows in between. Even when waiting in the line they are always kind of moving and with so much to look at. When he did get antsy we would just talk about what we just did or what we were about to do and keep him distracted. We did make sure to stop at the playgrounds and gave him every opportunity to run and play when it was safe - this way he was less likely to get antsy when it wasn't safe to run free.

During the evening he got one of those spinning light up toys and that was all he needed the rest of the trip, buzz lightyear of course!

Have a great time.
TJ

 

[TriMom]

A little off topic, but I took my DS to WDW when he was 7 months old. We took both our Bjorn, and a sling. The sling worked soooo much beter. We had to take DS out of the Bjorn for rides with a bar like Peter Pan, but we had no problem leaving him in a side carry in the sling.

You will have a blast with your little ones, don't let anyone tell you 6 mo. is too young to take a baby. It was one of our most enjoyable trips.

 

[BevS97]

in jan/feb you shouldn't need to wait in many lines at all - use Fast Pass a lot and you should be fine.

We did wait in a few lines this last trip, and mostly we just chatted about our day and looked at things, but we did use a quiz that we got in Chick-fil-a which was quite good (99 questions and a clip to hang it off my waist pack) and we saw kids with gameboys - I don't mind a quiz, but a gameboy is such a solitary activity it seems a shame to use one on a family vacation (but better than arguments I guess).