Play Time at Walt Disney World without lines

 
Going to Walt Disney World with small children is delightful and magical but can also be trying.  If your kids are anything like mine there is a point in time where they just won't stand in line any more.  Most people will tell you it's time to head back to our resort for a nap or an afternoon at the pool but what if your hotel is a long drive or maybe you have older kids that don't want to go back the resort? When I travel with my full family I have kids from 3-19 and we occasionally stay off property so we don't want to spend 2 hours of our day driving back and forth.
 
Here are a couple thing we like to do instead of heading back to the resort. 

Each park has an area where kids can just run around and burn off some energy and you can just sit, relax and post those cute character photos on Instagram.



This is a the toddler slide. 

This the excavation area
where the
kids play in the 'sand'

This is water feature in the Boneyard
Playground, there is a cave to
run through behind it

Animal Kingdom:  The Boneyard.  This is an amazing playground that is inside the Dinosaur Land side of the park.  There are slides, rocks to climb, a water feature and a huge 'sand' box (except with small pebbles not sand).  Our kids love to play in there and it has structures for kids from toddlers to elementary ages.   The entire play area is fenced in and there is a single in and out so it is hard for kids to escape and you can relax a little on the ever watchful eye bit.  --Sometimes Pluto comes in and visits so keep an eye out. 



I brought her swimsuit in a
gallon ziplock so she could change
quick and play. 

Magic Kingdom: There are two fun areas for kids that I highly recommend.  They are both inside the Fantasyland Circus area.  Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station is a splash pad, where circus train cars shoot out water and kids can run around until they are soaked.  There is plenty of seating on the walls (yes you can sit there) and a restroom directly across where you can change them in and out of water clothes.  If water isn't your thing than head for the stand-by line for Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride.  Once you get into the big top (normally a short wait but be sure to ask the CM at the entrance) you are given a buzzer to wait your turn to ride.  While you are waiting there is a large, indoor play area for the kids to climb and play in.  It's air conditioned and full of benches so it's ok to pass your place in line a time or two. 

Hollywood Studios: The Star Wars Launch Bay has character meet and greets but it also has displays that kids can look at and a couple they can touch.  This park doesn't have a play area and has a ton of construction so we usually try something else while we are here, like back to back Disney, Jr. shows.  You can (90%) of the time get in even if you are at the back of the line and walk in right at the start of the show, just ask a cast member to let you know when to come. 


Epcot: The world showcase can be a blast to walk around, eat, drink, and look at exhibits but my youngest travelers get antsy after a couple of hours.  We always end up in the aquarium by the Seas with Nemo & Friends.  There is a two story aquarium full of fish and aquatic mammals for your kids to look at and a smaller play area to explore downstairs.  If your kids are more the space explorer type there is a play area in the backside of mission space.  If you want to skip the ride you can enter through the gift shop, just walk to the back.  There is a game area at the end of Test Track that is fun, too, but more for the older elementary/middle school crowd.  There is a play area after the Figment ride you can access through the gift shop and it has computers, some sound carpets and a couple activities for kids to use their imaginations. 

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

She loves riding on the ferry.  Another big plus
is you don't have to fold up your stroller.

In Disney's case you are looking at trams, monorails, boats, and trains.  Sometimes my kids just want to ride and yours might enjoy a quick spin around the park. 

The Monorail runs from Magic Kingdom to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom resorts and parking area.  It is free to ride and you don't have to get off.

The Magic Kingdom train circles the outside of the park, you can get on at any of the stations and ride full circle.  My youngest fell asleep on it once and I rode 15 circles of the park while she napped.  She's a heavy sleeper when she's tired. 

Epcot and Hollywood Studios are serviced by boats.  You can travel between the two parks or between the parks and the resorts.  Magic Kingdom has a ferry that runs between the parking lot and the park.  There are also boats that you can ride between Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness. 

Each park has a tram (or two) that service the parking lot.  You can ride the tram to and from your car.  If you ask nice and the kids are having fun you can ride it around the parking lot. My cousins kids thought this was hilarious and spent 30 minutes just cruising up and down the parking lot. 

We can find a quiet spot in the parks to let the littles take a nap or read a story for some down time. 

Every park has a baby center which works great for this and here are a couple other locations:

It was between lunch and dinner so
we grabbed a seat in a quick serve restaurant
and I had a soda and fries while she napped.

Animal Kingdom:  The walkway between Pandora and the Lion King show or the bathrooms behind the Nemo show (both are quiet except when the shows let out).
Magic Kingdom: The walkway that runs between Fantasyland and Tomorrow Land.  The gift shop/waiting area by Tony's Town Square Restaurant (bonus there is a TV playing cartoons here). 
Hollywood Studios: In front of Pizza Rizzos, especially now that it is seasonally closed. The Star Wars Launch Bay has nice benches and some quiet areas. 
Epcot: The America Garden Theater is quiet if not in use and the Liberty Inn has covered outdoor seating that often has room during non-peak meal periods. 

Other ideas:

Check out KidCot activities at Epcot
Pin trade with Cast Members
Play Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Card game
Hit a restaurant for a snack

What do you do when lines are long and your kid's patience is not?