Finding A Spark of Disney Magic 

How do you entertain kids while waiting at Disney? Let them make their own magic. 

One of the best things about a Disney trip is experiencing the Disney magic. Whether it’s an escort to the front of a line on your favorite ride, which happened to us on Haunted Mansion, or a special surprise from a cast member that you didn’t expect, there is always a desire to wrap up a vacation having been pixie dusted with special moments. 

However, I believe that Disney is not the only one who creates magic. If you visit the parks expecting Cast Members to shower you with freebies, you will leave disappointed. Walt Disney created the parks to encourage adults to come and be kids again, which makes us, the visitors, active participants in the magic. 

What isn’t magical is the amount of waiting that occurs. I try to organize our ride selections based on a wait time of 40 minutes or less, but for a child, that 40 minutes can feel like an eternity. For parents, it’s a challenge to keep them entertained while they wait so they don’t become a nuisance for other guests. I am committed to minimizing my child’s time on screens and only use it sparingly while standing in long lines. So what do we do to fill in that time?

Creating Disney magic

Before we leave for our trip, I take my child to the store for the party supplies. They will pick out those little ball mazes, some bubbles, some small fidgets and some slider puzzles. When they pack their park bag for the day, they will include a water bottle, some small snacks and a bag of party favors. 

When standing in line, my child will reach into their bag and pull out an item. Then they will observe the other kids they pass as we snake through the line. If they spot another child watching them, and being well-behaved while in line, they will ask the parent if they can share a toy with their child. We have yet to have a parent say no. My child will reach into their bag and offer an item to the child. They may talk for a bit as they pass by and that gives the kids a chance to connect with their peers.

Watching the magic happen

Bubble-blowing for the first time.

One of my favorite memories is when we were sitting outside of Skipper Canteen, waiting for our table. My child decided to blow some bubbles. After a few minutes, they noticed the kids sitting nearby were watching and the parents were busy organizing their things. My child politely asked if they could share bubbles with the kids, to which the parents said yes. Turns out, the kids had never had bubbles before and had no idea how to use them. So my child spent some time showing them how to blow different sizes of bubbles and when the kids did it, their faces lit up. It gave the parents a moment to focus on what they needed to and then they joined in with their kids as they blew bubbles. That’s magic. 

Pin trading with a bit of magic.

Our child also loves pin trading and displays their pins on their lanyard (which is one of the best things we have purchased for their magic band). They will also spot others with pins and strike up conversations about them. We once had a magical moment where my child started a conversation with a lovely lady from Boston while we were in the People Mover line. After talking for a few minutes, the lady noticed my child had the Tangled slipper pin and asked her about it. My child had just acquired that pin from the Sir Mickey’s mystery pin board. Keep in mind that over 45,500 people visit Magic Kingdom (Orlando) daily. 

The lady smiled and said, “I just traded that pin to Sir Mickeys! That was my pin!” It was a unexpected moment of connection that we never would have discovered if I handed my kid a phone and let them zone out. Magic. 

Little bodies, big tasks

Disney can be overstimulating, even for me. But for a child, surrounded by crowds of adults, getting through of day of thousands of steps and hours of waiting can be a big task for little ones. Finding ways to join in and create some magical moments or be open to some magical surprises is a great way to make the most of a Disney trip with children. 

What tricks do you use to help your kids with long wait times? Share in the comments.