[WDWMom]

Suggestions please for helping kids tolerate the wait in line (besides "I Spy", bubbles, & snacks).

[Erin]

gameboy advance SP.

I specify SP because it has a lighted screen that can be tilted. The regular gameboy advance needs ALOT of direct light to be able to play it.

ANyway. Handheld games = my sanity.

[woohoo]

you got me!
I had them sing disney songs and luckily the long lines were not bad at all- also we would have the adults hit the ride first and take a rider switch pass so when they were done we could take the kids with no line. Then we would take them to do something else while the adults were in line to keep them busy-

[BDavis932]

Originally Posted by Erin

gameboy advance SP.

I specify SP because it has a lighted screen that can be tilted. The regular gameboy advance needs ALOT of direct light to be able to play it.

ANyway. Handheld games = my sanity.

My thoughts exactly, Erin. Have the kids wear a fanny pack and keep their gameboy in a ziplock bag when they are not using it (because of rain or water rides). Best $79 we ever spent!!!

[WDWMom]

Great suggestions, thus far! Each of our kids have SP Gameboys and I was planning to buy the Disney Princess SP game and Disney Quest 1-3 SP series as something new and exciting for our upcoming trip. I was mainly thinking of having them for the car trip, but bringing them to the parks may help. I also liked the idea of using a kid swap pass to get the kids through the line quickly. Thanks!

[Baloo85]

Search for hidden mickeys while in line, talk about how the Jungle Cruise is the best ride on the property, have a quick bite to eat, scratch their ears, make sure their laces are tied, have them tell you how much of a great time they are having, have them ask you to ride Jungle Cruise for the twentieth time, tell jokes especially Jungle Cruise ones, count freckles or "connect" them...if they have them, jump up and down like tigger, play patty cake with them, ask them where they want to go after Jungle Cruise, ask them where they want to eat dinner, and as a family, discover the meaning of life!!!

I hope that helps!

[Metalfan]

I also vote for the Game Boy! Heck it keeps me from going crazy in those long lines! lol

[Dopey]

Talking and listening to them is fun. I am always amazed at what is in those small people's heads.
Also, fun math problems.
Also, embarrassing them with little stupid things my DH does works.

[jk8]

I brought little hand held games for my 4 1/2 yr old. We used them once or twice. Believe it or not in the middle of July we timed things so we hardly had to wait in line. We talked and looked at things and that was all it took for him. I was amazed. He did like using a spray fan.

[anaheimboy]

Originally Posted by woohoo

you got me!
I had them sing disney songs and luckily the long lines were not bad at all- also we would have the adults hit the ride first and take a rider switch pass so when they were done we could take the kids with no line. Then we would take them to do something else while the adults were in line to keep them busy-

HAHA! My little bro LOVES singing Disney songs while waiting! Or he just plays his Gameboy. Me Being a Disneyland lover (and other Disney parks too) I always can amuse myself by just looking at the scenery and enjoying the day and enjoy the fact that Im in one of the best places in the world.

[Jen]

Here's some tips that helped us (thought we didn't spend too much time in line, crowds were low)

* each child had their own map of the park we were in. The enjoyed looking at it.

* I agree with Erin. I banned the SP's for the first few days (geesh ~ we're in DISNEY ~ turn that thing off!) but it helped out when there was a long line or if I was waiting with one or two the kids for the others to get off the rides.

* The Offical Guide to WDW came with us everyday. There's lots of information about each attraction that the kids enjoyed reading online.

* Alot of times we'd play "Where's this line from" and one of us would recite a line or two from a movie and the group would try to guess it.

*USE FASTPASS AND DON'T WAIT ON THE LINES!

Good luck. Waiting in line isn't much fun and I would not suggest waiting on long lines late in the afternoon when kids are cranky. Hit the big lines first thing in the morning.

Jen

[gingles]

If you can get your kids to keep up, go early, do Unofficial Guide tour plans, and of course use fast pass.

We rarely have waited more than 15 minutes for any ride. (and we always go in the summer).

UG's "chuck bubba relay" is a great trick for small ones to ride stuff like Dumbo.

[PrincessJill]

I saw one girl reading a book in line on my last trip... kind of a good idea, I guess. I would have run into a wall trying to do that but she managed fine. :)

My mom, my grandma, and I used to play a game where one of us would start a story, then cut it off in the middle and pass it to the next person to continue. For example my mom would say, "Once upon a time there was a princess who..." and then my grandma would continue, "...who refused to eat chocolate chip cookies." And we'd just go in circles making up crazy stories. It was kinda fun, and you can go for a while before your story gets completely off the wall, or you all get bored of it.

Or, for a more conventional game, there's always the Picnic Game. "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing..." and you work your way down the alphabet. Or, as I like to play, "I'm going to Disney and I'm bringing..." and you can only name Disney objects.

Hope some of that helped... :)

[anaheimboy]

One thing I always do with my good friend Charles and his parents when I take them is we play card games while waiting in line. It sure does pass the time quickly in those long wait lines and is always fun! We always have a blast doing that.

[BDavis932]

Those games sound fun, princessjill. I'll have to remember those! In the car or when we are at a sit down meal at a restaurant we always play "guess the animal". One kid gives a clue...then we try to guess, then another clue, until we have guessed the animal, then it's the someone elses turn. I have never played either of the games you mentioned, but I know my kids will really like those! Thanks!