Hello, we are taking our 3.5 yr old son to Disney in March, and I'm a bit worried about keeping him occupied while standing in lines. My fear is of him getting so bored and impatient and breaking down. Anyone have any good advice, either from experience or otherwise?
Thank you!
There are ALL kinds of observation games you can play. Work on counting, colors, numbers, etc. Songs are good ways to occupy them, too. Who cares what other people think. Ask them to join in!
go right when it opens, head straight to fantasyland,(don't get sidetrack from the characters, use a stroller). (there is no fast past for fantasyland rides that is why you head their first and quick)Dumbo is slow, so head there very early, do all the rides there and then I would say head to tea cups (no fast past). Get a fast past for winnie the pooh, small world(Ithink has one)peter pan. Really the main group of rides for that age are in fantasyland so if you head there first the lines will be very short and shouldn't be a problem, if you wait until later you will be waiting forever and really snacks are the best. They do get distracted by watching the rides and everyone around.
Get the unnoficial Guide To Disney and plan your time in the parks around best days/times for everything. This book will tell you how. Also use the fastpasses.
FAST PASS!!!!!
In our experience, we had no issues with this, at all. We had kids ages 9 months through 12 years old. My 4 year old nephew never got antsy or whiney while waiting in line. There is soooo much to see, all the time. We did fast passes for everything. We went in January and it was a cold snap ('09). It wasn't super busy, but, we never waited for more than 7 minutes in line.
rent one of their strollers everyday if you don't bring your own. we went when my children were 3 1/2 and 7. Even the 7 year old was worn out and needed a ride. It really helps if he doesn't have to stand all the time. Use the fast pass system - it works really well for the rides that tend to have longer rides. Its free - just put your card in and it gives you a time to come back and then you don't have to wait.
We've been to WDW twice, once when the kids were 1 & 3, and once when they were 3 & 5. Having snacks in line was key for us. Little bags of pretzels, Goldfish, cashews, whatever. We would bust them out ONLY when we were in line. Both my kids were, shockingly, able to stand in lines from 5 minutes up to about 30 minutes. We didn't really try for more than that.
Go first thing in the morning when lines are short and wait times are no longer than 10-15 minutes often even shorter. When the park opens immediately head over to Fantasy Land (Its a Small World, Peter Pan, Mickey's Philamagic sp? 3D show, Winnie the Pooh, Snow White). We then go to on the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Carribean. Then off to the Haunted Mansion.
We are not morning people but it so great to have practically no lines. We leave the park around noon and have lunch at one of the hotels (much better food than the parks). We then spend the afternoon at the hotel pool, nap in the late afternoon and have a late dinner. We also love magic hours when the park stays open for Disney Hotel guest. We also love fast passes.
Also, I recommend bringing your own light weight stroller. My 7 year old was still in one last year. It is still a hike getting from the park to the monorail or busses and around the resort. Tie Bright ribbon on it too so it is easily identifiable because cast members often move the strollers. have a great trip!!!
You need to use the fast pass option and you shouldn't have to wait in line that much at all.
We just returned with our 3.5 yr old and 8 month old from Disney World in November. My 3.5 yr old had no problems with the lines. There was so much to look at and he was so excited that it wasn't an issue. We got there right when the park opened and used the "fast pass" option for a few of his favorites which helped. THe longest we had to wait was 30 minutes for something, but mostly shorter. Have fun-it was so neat to see him get so excited about the characters etc.!!
I took my daughter in June. Then 3.5y. I used a stroller (which you have to park in a common area) to get from place to place, and then a harness buddy that looks like a puppy to keep track of her. There is even a new Mickey Mouse one!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_26?url=search-al...
Also was a life saver in the airport. Although you do have to take it off at security. Also, you cannot take balloons on the plane. One parent bought their girls balloons between security and the plane and then was told they couldn't go on the plane. The girls were NOT happy!
Anyway, as for standing in line, they move pretty fast. We spent the time looking at the different things around us. Other people's outfits. Looking to see if you could spot characters, etc.
M.
This past summer I took my almost 2 year old and my 3.5 year old to disneyland. there is so much for them to look and do that it really wasnt a problem standing in line. and for the most part the lines keep moving. Make sure to use the fast pass option for some of the rides. He will really enjoy it.
Been there with my son at age 2.5 and 3.5 and will be going again this year at 4.5. Disney is great about making the lines seem interesting to young kids. Many of the rides that have a long line, have things to see or do while you wait, and the ones that have REALLY long lines you can fast pass. My suggestion is to fast pass anything that is longer than 45 minutes, and to be honest, that will only be a few rides. That time of year, your average wait should be 20 minutes or less. Talk about the ride that's coming up, watch what they have for you to watch, and talk about what they want to do next. Inevitably, the time will have passed before you know it!
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me. We go every year, and I love helping moms out with Disney stuff! :)
#1 - Fast Pass...
#2 - When you do wait, we play 'I Spy With My Little Eye....something.......________(fill in the color/object)
#3 - Only do the old, original rides (Dumbo, Peter Pan) in the back of the park early in the morning.
Be sure to facilitate a nap close to his normal schedule. Go early and have drink and/or small snack for waiting times. Be quick to point out things you see to hold his interest.
My son was 2 months shy of 3 when we went last time. He was FINE in the lines. Granted, we have two older ones who were 4 and 6 at the time and they all played together. We waited in line for over 2 hours for the Toy Story Mania ride at Hollywood Studios. Try to get Fast Passes..if not, the rides normally have things to look at while you're waiting. We waited for about 2 hours in line to see all of the characters at Epcot and there was an ice cream shop attached...my husband went and got ice cream so that kept them busy for a while and us just playing word games with them. It will work out great! Enjoy and don't stress!!
Fast pass comes included with your ticket so use that where you can and go on rides with shorter lines while you wait. You are going in march so it probably won't be too bad. If he has a break down time to go back to the hotel for a nap.
