We will be in DL the last week in April for our first family Disney trip. We have 2 boys, 3 and 5 yrs. I'm hoping the lines won't be too long but does anyone have any ideas to keep kids busy or occupied while standing in line? Thanks!

I have a book that has tons of games to play while standing in line. If you start playing them now, the kids will "cue" in to pay attention. I'll see if I can find the book, but basically they were the traditional "I, spy" games, and can you find something that starts with the letter "b" or whatever.

I'd plan on using fastpass well, liberal breaks, spend time on...oh, what did they "rename, retheme" Tom Sawyers Island??? anyway, places where the kids can blow off steam. If I were you, I'd go into the parks early, leave at lunch for naps and such, and return in the evening. You might also consider Ridemaxx, so you can minimize wait times in line.

My older kids are 2.5 and 5 (I've got a baby too, but she's not too concerned with lines yet) and overall the lines they wait in aren't all that long and unbearable. Peter Pan is the longest usually and they are close enough that they entertain each other pretty well. We have one adult ahead of them in line and one adult behind them in line, at minimum, and we just give them a little extra space to stand in and play around in. I've tried playing games or bringing flash cards and stuff like that, but there's usually too much "stuff" to mess with and I find it's easier to just give them their space.

Elizabeth

We like to eat our snacks while waiting in the longer lines. Mini oreos, nutter butters, individual applesauces, crackers with the cheese in the can, fig newtons--stuff they don't get at home. I bring a mix of different things everyday to keep it a little new. It makes the time pass quicker and keeps them from getting overly hungry. And I pack a small bottle of hand sanitizer.

Try Ridemax to minimize your wait time :)

We were just there this weekend with our very active 2 year old. WE waited in a 30 minute line for both Dumbo and Storybookland and she was pretty good. And she is very very active. We spoke to her alot. We talked about colors, numbers. But really she was so caught up in her surroundings she could not have cared less.

The one thing that I did learn... We were in the park 2 weeks ago after not being there in a year... I had to force her to eat... Which is never the case at home. She was so overwhelmed she did not want to eat, she wanted to look around.

She had a really bad meltdown. Once we got some food in her she brightened right up.

I was much better this time. I offered alot of food, NO SUGAR and found as out of the way spots as possible to eat them. Eating in line sounds like a great idea! I will use that when she starts riding more rides.

The one thing that I did learn... We were in the park 2 weeks ago after not being there in a year... I had to force her to eat...


I also have to remind my 5 year old to drink. So when we are in lines I take the opportunity to offer him drinks of water as well as snacks. Also be sure to schedule potty breaks before getting into a long line. I can't tell you how many times we were almost to get on a ride and my son had to go potty NOW.

I would also recommend offering your kids snacks and/or water while waiting in line. It's a nice way of passing time. :) Additionally, you could discuss what attraction they want to ride next, because that tends to take some time to decide on!

What takes time in discussing attractions is convincing them the order shouldn't be Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Tours, and then Indiana Jones!:p

When I was little, I usually just stood in line and thought about stuff :p Nothing horribly excting for a little kid, but for those days when I got tired of waiting, my parents would keep me occupied by asking me what I wanted to do for the rest of the day. Sometimes they'd come up with little mini games, like counting how many people in line have mickey ears on, how many mickey-shaped things you can find in the area, or having a little thumbwar.

Today, my and my friends keep ourselves occupied by singing Hannah Montana and High School Musical songs and doing the dances in place ;) Quietly so as not to disturb anyone, of course.

As for a big "don't", our pet peeve has been and always will be kids who roughhouse or run around in line and bump into you constantly in doing so. Tends to make us question what the heck the parents are doing, we don't mind it out of line because it IS Disneyland after all, but in line when they're running into everyone, it gets old. It sounds like you won't have much of a problem with that though. Hope you guys have fun!!

Wow those are great ideas! I am definately planning on the snacks, early mornings, and mid day breaks. I'll also be trying the games. What I don't want is my kids running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

I've never heard of ridemaxx. Is that the same as the fast pass?

I've never heard of ridemaxx. Is that the same as the fast pass?

ridemax.com

It's basically a program where you plan your itinerary. It will tell you the optimum touring plan to avoid the worst lines. It's awesome :) Print up several, and pick and choose according to your mood.

I didn't see anything mentioned about things to keep the active one busy, except for snack, which is a good one but won't work if they are not hungry. My granddaughter who is 2 and very very active a real climber is hard to keep standing in line. Last June when we went, she just turned two and we saw someone elses little one playing with pipe cleaners, I ran out and got her some for the next day and they worked. She was busy, bending, building, twisting, and playing with them and they kept her occupied for 30 to 45 minutes. They can not hurt those around her if she accidentally hit a bystander, they cost very little so if they lose them it's no big deal. It worked really good for her and since she had no language last trip it worked better than those games. We are going next week to WDW and plan on pipe cleaners to save us in lines again. Now almost 3 she still have very little language (she was born a preemie, but has done fine in every area except speaking, she just uses sign language although they say there is nothing wrong with her), so those games would not keep her very occupied. And she is one who would like to climb over the rails and hang on them so I hope that pipe cleaners work.

Pipe cleaners are a fantastic idea! I think my boys would love them. Thanks!

I think I have seen AdrienneK recommend pipe cleaners before. Also, little bottles of bubbles. MDM always has a book in line to keep her occupied.

Pipe cleaners (wikisticks are good too) bubbles, lollipops, stickers (little tiny ones are lots of fun!). We also carry a small magnadoodle, play I Spy and count stuff. I also carry my iPod with audiobooks on it for really long lines. DS has been known to sit completely still for an hour for a good audiobook!

I was much better this time. I offered alot of food, NO SUGAR and found as out of the way spots as possible to eat them. Eating in line sounds like a great idea! I will use that when she starts riding more rides.

I've actually found that a controlled amount of sugar helps keeps all the kids' energy levels up. My kids get very grumpy when they run out of steam, but don't want to take a nap. I'll keep some sour balls in my backpack, and give out a few to anyone who is behaving in a long line.

We talk with our kids beforehand and during visiting about "line manners". No bumping other people, no passing people. Not to climb on the rails. Being attentive and keeping up with the line. Then praise, praise, praise each day about good line manners. The food thing is very important. Just take 20 mintues to sit and eat and recharge. When they've had it for the day, leave. You'll all have a better time by going to a quiet place. Sometimes I'll go back into the park and you can see the kids and parents who have been there all days without a break. You'll see the slumped kids and the breakdowns. Best to avoid that--for everyone's sake.

And, if anyone has a meltdown, head for either food or a "play area" so they can refresh!! That has usually helped us.

In line, my daughter loved to eat fruit streamers - kind of like the licorice that pulls apart. It took her forever to eat one since she ate it one strand at a time, and there were like 8 LOOONG strands! I think "twisties" as we call pipe cleaners will work this time now that she is 4 - she loves to make bracelets and everything else she can imagine with them.

But look for us in April, we'll be the one with the 2 year old running around knocking into everyone :rolleyes:

Haha I like the tips in here. I have one even thought this is what my husband and I do...no kids, but I think kids would like it.

We play "First one to spot." We each take turns and we say something like first one to spot someone wearing pirate mickey ears, or first one to spot a little girl in a princess costume...as the game goes on we make it harder and harder and we keep score throughout the whole day (with adults you can make it funnier like- first person to spot someone wearing socks with sandals). But with little kids you could make easy things to spot like a mickey ears hat or a balloon or a red sweatshirt. It is great to play while waiting for parades too.

If no one spots what we are looking for after 15 minutes, we call a truce and pick something new to hunt for, and we have rules that the game stops while on rides and doesn't start again until we say start. Yes I know we are crazy :D:p:D

I could use your advice on this. I will be bringing snacks, but they can't eat ALL day, lol. Thoughts?

We are talking almost 2, and 3 1/2 boys. VERY BUSY boys. What am I getting myself into? lol

I've merged your post with an existing thread on this topic.

Adrienne

OK, adrienne. Thanks. Only thing is that these answers are really geared toward the older one, and not the 22 mo. old. I would also love if anyone had ideas for that little guy. Do the bubbles bug other people in line?

Do the bubbles bug other people in line?

I've carried bubbles before. I've used bubbles before. But. I try to be very aware of the people around me first. In a really close line like Dumbo, I wouldn't necessarily use them unless we're on an outside 'edge' or unless I talked to the people around me first.

One time we were in line for Dumbo on a warm day when some people in front of us had spray bottles. I would have been fine if they'd just sprayed themselves but they were VERY into their spray bottles and decided on behalf of everyone in line that these were the best thing EVER. I had a baby in the baby bjorn. I had no desire to have my baby sprayed. I don't like being sprayed, baby or not. So while we stood there in line, Exceptional Mom Mary and I tried to shield the baby until they decided to start spraying everyone else in line DIRECTLY WITHOUT ASKING FIRST. At that point, EMM asked them (or rather, politely told them) to stop spraying us because we really didn't want the baby wet. :rolleyes: They were VERY self-absorbed.

Based on that experience, I would still take bubbles but I'm very aware of the people around me.

For whatever reason, I don't feel like we've ever had to entertain the kids in line. They entertain themselves interacting with each other. I take my camera in line - much easier in 2008 with my digital than it was when I had to use film - and the like to ham it up for pictures. The kids talk to each other and play with each other in line. And that includes the 2-y/o's. When they've been toddlers, having a toy to hold on to has helped. Something that's not a weapon. ;) My boys love Toy Story and Cars so action figures from those movies have always been very popular toys to carry around.

Adrienne

having a toy to hold on to has helped. Something that's not a weapon. ;)

Adrienne

Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!

That would be another one of me and my friends' pet peeves: kids "shooting" you in line.