Boredom Busters For Walt Disney World
Right off the bat, I know that there are some people out there reading this right now with scepticism in their eyes. [No seriously. . . . I can almost feel it straight through the computer screen.] They’re thinking “how can anyone be bored at Walt Disney World”! Well, Foolish Mortals, anything’s possible at the Happiest Place on Earth. . . . . even bouts of boredom.
Now, I realize that every family and every situation is different. There will be some families out there who have the stamina to fill every waking moment on Walt Disney World property with excitement, plowing from one experience to the next until they finally stumble with their luggage back onto the Magical Express. For the rest of us, it’s nice to have some downtime and take a breather. After all, this is a vacation! We can’t forget about weather either, which can sometimes have us taking shelter at our resort hotel or even in our rooms.
Whatever the reason, it’s in moments like these when boredom sets in. Whether you’re the parent who’s hanging out while the little one takes a much needed nap, the too-old-for-a-nap-too-young-to-be-out-alone child that’s stuck in the room or the entire family staying inside because there’s hurricane force winds outside, having some ways to keep everyone busy is not a bad idea. [Although, for the record, I’d like it to be known that you’re never too old for a nap. Just sayin’!] For some families, turning on the TV and proclaiming that “this is relaxation time, enjoy the quiet” might be enough to do the job. I’m not a huge fan of that route though. As an alternative, I like to have some fun activities locked and loaded for just such an occasion.
When it comes to choosing boredom busters, I think that the best way to ensure that you can grab the attention of your family members is to have a variety of activities to choose from. I know that it can sometimes be tempting to bring along a book and call it good, but that’s not always an ideal choice for someone who is still hyped up from a morning in the parks. Having a few different activities to choose from can make it easier to find something that is actually going to entertain that family member rather than feel like a chore.
Some choices that might be right for you and your family could include puzzles, coloring books [don’t forget the crayons, markers and/or colored pencils], activity work books or other crafts. Small crafts can be very fun during a Walt Disney World vacation as a boredom buster, because they double as a fun souvenir.
It can also be a great idea, when choosing your boredom busters, to have some activities that are outside of what you might normally do while at home. An example of this is something like painting suncatchers [which happens to be an activity that I found at my local Dollar Tree during one of my more recent trips] or journaling. These types of activities, which are new and out of the ordinary, can be a better choice than old faithfuls like smartphone apps and will keep you in vacation mode better than an hour of scrolling through social media.
We’ve talked about how boredom busters are a good idea. We’ve talked about what types of boredom busters you might want to get. What I’m sure you’re wondering now is where to get them, how much this is going to cost you and where you’re going to find room for them in your luggage.
All great questions!
The great thing about boredom busters is that you can get them pretty much everywhere, even if you’re hoping to add more magic to your Disney vacation by keeping them all Disney themed. I’m always keeping an eye out at retailers, shopDisney.com and dollar stores for things I think will be fun and interesting. The sooner you start looking, even if your trip is in the distant future, the more sales you’re likely to find and the more money you’ll end up saving.
Personally, though I might find a few things I like at department stores and shopDisney, my favorite place to get boredom busters is the dollar store. Especially if you’re taking a longer trip to Walt Disney World, your local dollar store is the best place to stock up on boredom busters. Not only is the price ideal for travelers who are on a tight budget, but with everything being a dollar, it’s not out of reach to have an entire bag full of activities to choose from. The price point also makes it easier to stomach leaving something behind if you can’t fit it back in your luggage for the trip home.
Whether you’re planning for downtime in the middle of every one of your Disney days or want to prevent a meltdown if something unexpected happens, boredom busters can be the way to go.