We Go to Disney 20+ Times Per Year-Here’s How I Keep My Kids Happy in Line

Waiting in lines can sometimes be an unavoidable part of any theme park vacation. But wait (not literally!)…there is always something to do while you wait in long tireless lines! Here is our go-to list that is designed to keep everyone in your party, from young ones to adults, entertained while you inch your way onto any attraction. These are the top 10 things to do in line at Disneyland and other theme parks!

Find Hidden Mickeys

A popular game to play while waiting in any attraction line is to find and point out all the Hidden Mickeys! Trust me, there are tons of them just waiting to be found.

What is a Hidden Mickey? A Hidden Mickey is an image of Mickey Mouse’s head and ears subtly incorporated into the environment in and around the Resort. A Hidden Mickey can sometimes be obvious, but they are not called “Hidden” Mickeys for nothing! These little guys can be found in many queues (spoiler: the picture above was taken in the queue of The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure. You can see the lights above positioned in the shape of Mickey's head!) on signage, lampposts, or anywhere you can imagine!

Review Your Disney Pictures

Something you can always find me doing while waiting in line is reviewing all the photos I have taken of our magical vacation. I sort through all photos from the day, deleting any blurry or doubles. But most of all, I love to point out to my two daughters which are my favorite photos and why. I then love to hear their favorite photos and the memories that accompany them!

Download the Play Disney Parks App

A great way to pass the time while waiting in any Disney line is to immerse yourself and your group in the Play Disney Parks app. Designed for families, large groups, and single-users, the Play Disney Parks app turns wait time into play time! Select queues are set up with interactive elements to keep everyone in your party occupied while you wait in line. This app will surely keep you and everyone in your party busy with fun Disney trivia, playlists inspired by Disney Parks and attractions, and fun and exciting incentives just for playing within the app. This app is definitely a must to beat the boredom that comes with waiting to board any attraction!

Tip: Although the Play Disney Parks app is exciting and fun, don’t forget the real reason why you are waiting in line! As hard as it may be, make sure to keep the line moving while playing within this app.

Apply Sunscreen

Applying sunscreen may not be fun, but it has to be done, right? My daughters and husband are not pleased with me when I pull out the bottle of sunscreen at all the wrong times (like when we are speed walking to make our Fastpass times). I find that the best time to apply/re-apply sunscreen is while waiting in line. No more fumbling while walking! There is always plenty of time to reapply sunscreen while you wait.

Play a Game–or Two or Three

Tons of apps and games have been designed for the very purpose of keeping people preoccupied in Disney lines! You can take your shot at the daily Wordle or play your favorite mobile game (by yourself or with a member of your party.) Peruse the options before the day of your trip to see what looks interesting!

Tip: If you are short on battery life on your phone, stop by any Portable Phone Charging Systems Kiosks before heading into line to pick up an extra battery.

Recharge Your Cell Phone

While we are on the subject of cell phones, use your wait time to charge your cell phone. Yes, you might not be able to play a game or do all the other fun things on this list, but just think of all the magic you will be able to capture with a full battery life!

Tip: If you do plan on recharging your cell phone battery, pick up a paper map to utilize as a “game board” for bored kids! The possibilities are endless for fun games to play on paper maps. Play seek-and-find games or have your child close their eyes and point to a spot on the map. Wherever they point to is where your family can head to next!

Download the Disney Mobile App

Use your time wisely while you wait! Take advantage of the loads of useful information that the Disney Mobile app offers! Plot your next course by viewing up-to-the-minute wait times, character experiences, entertainment schedules, and much more.  Even little ones can join in on the action and explore everything this app has to offer!

Tip: Use your imagination when using the Disney Mobile app by inventing fun seek-and-find games for your antsy little ones. Keep kids off the railings and line dividers by occupying them with games you can create yourself with the map feature! For example, have your child point out every attraction in New Orleans Square. Your imagination has no limits as to whatever clever game you can invent when using this fun app!

Mobile Order Your Next Meal Right from Line

Be productive while you wait and pre-order your next meal or snack with the Mobile Order feature of the Disney Mobile app! I absolutely love mobile ordering meals so that my family and I do not have to go from one long line for a ride right into another long line for food. I can’t stress enough the convenience of this time-saving feature!

On our last visit to Disneyland (and frankly on every visit), my family and I waited in the long and winding Pirates of the Caribbean line. We were starving. I opened the Disneyland app and mobile ordered our entire lunch from the Hungry Bear Restaurant. After riding the attraction, we walked over to the Hungry Bear Restaurant and right up to the counter to retrieve our lunch. No wait required!

Have a Snack and Rehydrate

With so much to see and do in the parks, use wait times as a convenient opportunity to have a snack! Pack some in your bag or grab a churro before getting in a line. Pull out that water bottle and re-hydrate while you wait!

Just make sure to finish your snack before you board the attraction, because snacks are not allowed on most attractions. Every queue has plenty of garbage cans throughout so you will be able to throw away your trash.

Get to Know Other Guests in Line

Now I’m not one to do this, but on some occasions I have gotten to know the people around my family in line. Of course, not everyone is willing to socialize, but it can (and has been) fun to learn where other people are visiting from or what attraction is their favorite!

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