(Article last updated: January 4, 2016)
So you're about to leave for your Disney World trip and you want to keep your kids busy en route while getting them in the Disney spirit...
Or maybe your kids think the wait for their Disney World trip is sooooo long and need something to help pass the time...
Here are my favorite Disney-themed activities for kids to pass the time while they wait for their trip to start.
I have a tradition of packing my kids' backpacks before a trip with some surprises to keep them busy while we're on your way to our destination.
All of the items on this list are things that have ended up in their backpacks before a Disney trip and items I can recommend for your kids.
In this article
Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids
The Birnbaum's kids books are fantastic to prep kids for their Disney World trip. It's full of great pictures and ratings on the rides from a kid's perspective.
Highly recommended.
Price: $9.50
The Kingdom Keepers Series
For older kids (geared to kids ages 10+, although my son read them when he was 8 so you could go younger), this series of books is super entertaining. They are fiction books whose stories take place in Disney World. Each book in the series takes place in a different park (one takes place on a Disney cruise).
This first book in the series, Disney After Dark, takes place at the Magic Kingdom. You will never, ever look at It's a Small World the same after reading this.
Price: $8.99/each
Walt Disney World Guide to the Magic for Kids
This spiral-bound book is a combo of an activity book, autograph book and guide to Disney World for kids.
If you want to get a Disney World guide, I would pick between this one and the Birnbaum's Guide because you probably won't need both.
Price: $24.95
Walt Disney World Adventure: A Field Guide and Activity Book for Explorers
This activity book calls itself "curriculum-based" and it is definitely a very educational book.
I highly recommend it for kids who like a challenge and think it's fun to learn.
Price: $12.95
Upcycled Disney Journals
A few Etsy sellers have taken old Disney Little Golden books and made them into journals that could be used to keep a diary, a trip report or a scrapbook. Fun and unique for creative kids.
Price: $14.00
Disney Store Art Kits
The Disney Store sells art kits in many different characters (Disney princesses, Spiderman, Lightning McQueen, and several others).
Price: $14.50 - 19.95
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You can find more ideas in my article on packing vacation bags for various ages as well.
Shannon, which guide book would you recommend for a 3.5 year old and a 1.5 year old? Obviously the younger won’t understand quite as much, but I wanted to get the one that they would both love the most. Thank you!
Another Disney book that my kids love is the Junior Encyclopedia of Animated Characters. There’s 4 or 5 different editions (updated with new characters each time), with the next one due out in June. We have the 2009 version & I’ve ordered 2 copies of the 2014 one so both of my kids can have one to use as an autograph book on our WDW trip this fall. (Don’t you just love double-purpose items?) 🙂
You can pre-order it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1423189140
Another good book that incorporates the whole family as well as all the hidden mickeys in the park is “The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom” by Susan Veness.
Love your website it has given me some great ideas on planning our trip and some very helpful tips.