How to Keep Kids Busy in Lines at Disney World
I’d venture to say that not too many people enjoy standing in line. That’s why they invented the Disney Fast Pass, right?
Although I’ll do everything in my power to keep your wait times to a minimum, sometimes you end up spending more time in a queue than you would like.
So how do you pass the time with impatient, excited kids who just have to see Belle (or ride the “tee-tup” (toddler speak for “tea cup”)) ride right now? Read on for a few tips to avoid mid-line meltdowns so you can focus on the fun!
1- Take Everyone to the Bathroom Before
Think of Disney like a family road trip: even if the line says 30 minutes, always—always—make time for a potty break first. There’s nothing worse than finally getting halfway through a line only to hear, “I have to go!” and starting all over again.
But don’t let a fear of mid-line potty breaks stop you from bringing water — make sure everyone’s water bottles are filled! Even if you visit Disney during the colder months, constantly walking around leaves anyone tired, thirsty, and a little cranky. A bit of preparation goes a long way!
If you’re hoping to skip the lines altogether, I’ve got you—check out my video on 5 Things to Do at Disney World Without Lines.
2- Take Care of Business
If you’re anything like me, you want to make every second spent at Disney count. But being constantly on-the-go doesn’t leave much room for the essentials, so use those little pockets of downtime to reset—reapply sunscreen, grab a snack, sip some water, and keep everyone feeling refreshed and meltdown-proof.
Long lines are also the perfect moment to check in with your kids about what they want to do next (or later if you’ve got something planned right after). And if a quick-service meal is coming up, pull up the menu and place your Mobile Order now—it’ll save you another wait, and future you will be so grateful.
Then, when you step off the ride and you’re near the restaurant, just tap “I’m Here,” and Disney will fire up your order. It’s the easiest way to keep the day moving smoothly without anyone getting hangry (including you—trust me, I’ve been there!) .
3- Look For Hidden Mickeys
Mickey is everywhere in the Disney Parks—tucked into murals, ride décor, and even the pavement if you look closely enough. There’s an entire guidebook dedicated to spotting them in obscure places!
While you’re waiting in line, turn it into a little game: challenge your kids to find as many Hidden Mickeys as they can around the queue before the line moves. It keeps them entertained, sparks a little magic, and makes the wait fly by.
4- Play Disney Trivia or I Spy
Before I had kids, I used to print out Disney trivia and glue them onto index cards. Now, I just toss a set of kids’ Disney trivia cards from an old board game into my park bag—you can easily grab something similar from Amazon.
If the do-it-yourself approach doesn’t appeal to you, try Geek Out, a fun pop-culture trivia game that challenges players on trivia from countless pop culture topics, and they even have a Disney version!
Even if a trivia game is too much to haul around, you could download a game on your phone, look up Disney trivia questions, or play I Spy!
5- Play the Categories Game
For a more low-tech option that doesn’t require a set of cards, try the Categories Game! Here’s how it works:
1: One person thinks of a category, such as Disney Characters, Disney snacks, Disney songs, Disney villains, Disney rides, etc.
2: Everyone takes turns (in order) thinking of something that fits the category.
3: If an item is repeated or if the person can’t think of something, they’re out!
4: Keep going until only one person, the winner, is left.
There are lots of variations of this game you could play — you can add a time limit, challenge players to think of answers that start with a certain letter, or even use a random word generator to pick a category. The possibilities are endless, so just have fun!
6- Journal Your Memories
A small hardcover spiral notebook is perfect for jotting down special memories throughout your trip.
This is also a great activity to do while waiting for a meal to arrive at a table service restaurant, or while waiting to check into a hotel.
At every new line, pass the journal to a new family member so everyone has a chance to share their experiences!
For little ones who can’t write yet, have them draw a picture of their memories, or ask them questions such as their favorite character they met or their favorite ride so far and transcribe their answers.
Then, on your next trip, ask those same questions to see how the answers have changed!
7- Have a Photoshoot or Organize Photos
Annabelle loves scrolling through photos of herself—honestly, I think most kids do! Waiting in line is the perfect moment to hand over your phone and let your little ones look back at the memories you’ve already made. Or, even better, have a mini photo shoot and let your kids take a few pictures of you for once! Once you’re back home, you can relive the magic by using your favorite photos in a photo book!
And if you’ve purchased Memory Maker, all your PhotoPass pictures will pop right into the app, making it easy to revisit the fun. It’s one of our favorite ways to pass the time in line, and even if we don’t have that many photos (although, let’s be honest—I have more than enough), your kids will love using your phone to take photos of themselves, the ground, or any out-of-focus birds that happen to fly by!
If you’re not sure whether or not you Memory Maker is worth it, my blog post has all the advice you need.
8- Phone Games and Apps
Annabelle would happily sit with my phone and watch YouTube for hours if I let her. And while I try to keep our park days mostly screen-free, I always keep an extra phone on-hand to keep her occupied during long waits. Because it doesn’t have a SIM card, it only works on WiFi, so I I keep a few of her favorite videos and games downloaded for those moments when a meltdown is brewing and everyone just needs a breather.
Even before I had kids, I loved playing Ellen’s Head’s Up! app in line—it’s basically charades with talking, and the best part? You can download the Disney pack for free when you’re on Disney WiFi.
The Disney Play app is another great option. It turns the parks into an interactive playground and makes the waiting feel like part of the adventure, letting your kids interact with everything around you without worrying about spills, drops, or damaged property.
9- Bring Some Toys
Toys are always a great option, but they don’t have to be expensive—you can pick up some great finds at your local dollar store!
Rotate what you carry with you each day so the kids won’t get bored with just one thing. Here are my recommendations:
Bubbles: I am yet to meet a kid who doesn’t love bubbles, so I always carry the mini party favor ones with me.
They are much less annoying for the people around you than the traditional bubble wands, and they might even help your child make a few new friends!
Cars/trucks: These are great for keeping little hands busy and off of railings.
Small notebooks and crayons/colored pencils: These are helpful to have if you’re using rider swap, where one parent waits with one child while the other parent is riding. You could ask your kids to draw the things around them, their favorite Disney character, or even play Hangman, tic-tac-toe, or flex their spelling skills. If you’re worried about fitting an entire notebook into your already-stuffed purse (At this point, I think some of those crumpled receipts are load-bearing!), you can shop some of my favorites here.
At the end of the day, waiting in line at Disney is just part of the adventure—but it doesn’t have to be the part that drains your energy or tests everyone’s patience! With a little creativity (and a few tricks tucked into your park bag), those in-between moments can become some of the sweetest memories of your trip—full of laughter, connection, and even a little bit of Disney magic.
And if you ever feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start, that’s exactly what I’m here for. I’ll help you plan a trip that keeps the joy high, the stress low, and your whole family excited for whatever comes next… even if it’s another line.
Who is Christina?
Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists. After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation, too!
She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, and Europe, and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old, Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.
