What do your kids do while in line?

[NDtoDL]

I have been trying to imagine my kids waiting hrs in lines..and really sounds hellish to be honest but we know to just expect it and deal with it..but to make it as pleasant as possible WHAT DO YOUR KIDS DO?

I WAS THINKING DS's with Games should occupy them but really not sure Also what kinda bags/fanny packs do you guys use?

and if this info is already somewhere..i apologize and just send me a link

 

[PoohsFan1]

We utilize the FPs a lot which help out with not waiting in long lines, but if we are fortunate enough to wait in a semi long line (won't wait more then 30 minutes for a ride), then my kids either just look around at the surroundings (mainly looking for hidden Mickey's), or they like to play on either DH or my iPhone because we both have Disney trivia apps on there. What is fun about those is that the families around us get in on the trivia too.

Wanted to add that both of my kids have their own backpacks that they put their wallets, autograph books, pens, sunglasses, and if we take ponchos, they put those in there as well (my girls are 11 and 9). DH and I also carry a backpack (we share) where we put our own things in plus any water bottles that we all have.

 

[jojomojo]

We use FPs, typically don't wait more than 30 minutes either.

We've always just talked and took in the sights (first trip kids were 3, 6, & 12). Never used any gadgets to play with in line, but that Disney trivia sounds kind of fun!

There are a few "favorite bag for disneyland" threads, you'll find lots of bag suggestions!

 

[lana772]

I would skip the Nintendo ds's. Try to do most lines FPs, but for when you do get stuck in a line trivia and hidden mickey searching is great. Several great aps for phones and you can always buy the hidden mickey book when you get there. World of Disney sells it.

Lana

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Arrive at park entrance 30 minutes prior to park opening, Disney is not for sleeping in, most people are in the mind set of "I'm on vacation, I'm sleeping in."

When the park opens at 8am it often fairly empty for the first hour or two.


Take advantage of fast pass and single rider lines if your kids are 7 and older.

 

[trill]

I don't know how old your kids are, but my dd is almost 5 so there are plenty of things to point out and talk about.(especially as we near the front of the line!)
It is fun for me to notice the small detail disney puts into things that I would normally overlook.

ie. "Look at the mouse on top of Dumbo. He is really up high. What was his name again? How do you think they got him all the way up there? Do you wish you had a magic feather too?" The answers are sometimes very funny and creative!

And my dd climbs anything that looks remotely like it could be climbed, or swung on, or hopped over. Mostly railings.

 

[mamaCta]

I was thinking about using a small backpack for carrying in lines since we will using a stroller. I was going to put in some snacks, drinks, small notepad and crayons, the Leapster, and of course we will have our phones.
I'm not too worried about DS6, but DD3 has a short attention span.

 

[NDtoDL]

okay so maybe it won't be as bad as everyone keeps telling me..my hubby went to WDW as a kid before FP so he had horror stories of 2hr waits. And we are going week of Xmas so I know its busy..but 30 min psh..no problem.

 

[SweetAlex]

I wouldn't worry about it. So much to see and people everywhere so lots to watch. It's funny when you think about it, 25 years ago when I was a kid, there was no way my parents would ever worry about how to entertain my brothers and I while in Disney. But with all the technology available, our kids get bored so fast... or at least we anticipate they will

When we were there a few weeks ago, our girls never once commented on being bored. They played hand games or talked about rides. We visited with those around us or planned out what we would do next. It's all good.

 

[larina]

okay so maybe it won't be as bad as everyone keeps telling me..my hubby went to WDW as a kid before FP so he had horror stories of 2hr waits. And we are going week of Xmas so I know its busy..but 30 min psh..no problem.

Lines will be longer Christmas week, but utilize FP when you can and you'll be okay.

 

[Malcon10t]

We frequently travel with nieces and nephews ages 3-12. We usually play I Spy type games with them. Or find Hidden Mickeys. I wouldn't do crayons or stuff, because you rarely have the ability to sit and do something. You are usually standing and moving. We have done bubbles when the kids were little, but then we do the "You can't bother others." The kids know they have to wait in lines, just like they do at the park for the slide, or baseball for their turn. It has never been an issue for us. My daughters have brought books in the past for themselves, but they usually just enjoy sitting in NOS and reading sometimes. Or when waiting for a show. When waiting on Fantasmic! or a parade, my kids have been known to break out a deck of cards and play Phase 10.

 

[jaydoe]

Well, like many of you (I'm sure), I work full-time. My DD is in school and then of course has all her other extra sports outings and sleep overs with friends, etc. Basically we are busy, busy, busy! When we are at DL, I actually enjoy the times in line! It gives us time to talk and just reconnect.

 

[hootey]

The wife makes sure to bring the "DS" gamepads for the boys.

 

[Jaina]

Ours are 6, 5, and nearly 3. I don't think we used any electronics in line (though we had our phones if things had gotten dicey). We didn't get in any line that said it was over 30-40 minutes (with a decent waiting area - we wouldn't wait that long in in a hot sunny line like Autopia or Dumbo!) We had conversations with them (about the things we could see around us, what they had been enjoying, what they wanted to do next), took silly pictures, and our best "tool" was snacks. We brought -lots- of easy, non-messy snacks with us, and waited until we were in a line to pass them out. There are usually trash cans around for wrappers.

 

[summerw]

Small cars or figures that can drive, dance or walk over the new surfaces as we move along always work. My kid's so friendly he usually ends up making friends with someone. We have resorted to letting him play games on my phone if the line is really long. A small stack of Disney trivia cards would be fun if they're old enough to read etc.

 

[yoyo93]

I don't have kids, but when we were in the parks I noticed a lot of parents let their kids play with smartphones. What I really think was awesome though, was in a 2 1/2 hour wait for IJ a woman had a book called 'disneyland secrets' or something similar to that, and she was reading and pointing out a bunch of stuff to her kids and they looked like they were having a blast! It seems like a lot of it is just making sure they're not just standing there screaming because they're so bored.

 

[sherilaine]

If you have younger kids then trying to entertain them might be an issue but there is so much to distract in many of the lines it is not really needed.

We visited early last March, so lines were not long. The longest line we did wait in was for Star Tours, they were having some technical problems so even though we were in the FP line we had to wait 30 minutes. But there is lots going on so it made the time go by much faster.

I gather that Carsland has ramped up things a bit and we might see more lines this time around, even on weekdays, but I am the one that needs the patience not my kids, which is why we go during the off times. Although I have to admit Christmas, with it's own magic, might give me a bit of the patience to deal with the crowds.

My kids seem to think being in line at Disneyland beats not being in line at school so they did not even say a word!

 

[babyatlas]

when we went last time i brought a sheet of disney stickers. i would have my girls close their eyes or look the other way and then i would hide a sticker on myself, husband or one of the kids and they would have to find it while we moved along in the line. we also played I-spy, "i'm thinking of someone" (using disney characters) and talked about what we did or what we still wanted to accomplish. yes, sometimes it was a bit boring and sometimes the lines seemed long but i think disney does a pretty good job of always keeping you 'moving' so you at least think you are almost getting somewhere...until you round the corner and see another huge chunk of the line

 

[crystal1313]

We like to point out all the details around us. The music, flowers, trees, characters, other people, especially younger kids and kids their age (they love babies and kids their own size). We talk about how fun the attraction will be. What we want to do next. We usually bring a snack too. It's usually not too bad. (my kids are 3 & 5)

 

[Mugglemama]

In all the years we've been going to DLR, I've never really noticed kids acting "bored" in line (whining, moping, dragging, etc.). Any upset I've seen usually involved a kid who didn't want to go on the ride. And even when mine were very small, and were in the parks as often as once (or even more) per week...they never acted bored in line. Granted, we don't wait in lines longer than 30-40 minutes, either. But maybe you don't have as much to be concerned about as you are worried you will. Disneyland is a busy place...lots for the senses to take in, even while standing in lines.

My kids have their ipods this year, and will probably be glued to them in lines...but in all the years we've been going we've never used electronics or books or anything while waiting (although I think they'd have a blast with the hidden mickeys so I really think I'll get that book next time we go!)

Have a great time!