WRITER’S NOTE: This article has been updated to more accurately reflect Universal’s policy for carrying smartphones onto rides. At this time, coaster attractions like the Incredible Hulk and Rip Ride Rockit are the primary cases where a guest can’t keep their smartphone on them. On other attractions with lockers, guests simply have to store bags and large accessories. While a lack of pockets may still leave you without your phone, it is at least possible to keep your phone in these queues.
It’s every modern theme park visitor’s worst nightmare: facing an insane theme park line with no smartphone.
This is actually a scary-common scenario, both at Disney parks and at Universal Studios. At Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the culprit is usually a dead phone battery. Both My Disney Experience and the Play Disney apps are serious battery hogs that strain even the fanciest new phones. Another issue is unexpected battery drain from hopping between Wi-Fi hubs throughout the parks. Add to that the problem that electric outlets are crazy hard to find in Disney parks and you have a recipe for a long line without the glowing comfort of your smartphone.
Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure have their own brand of this problem, and it’s even worse. While Disney embraced guest smartphones with open arms, even providing convenient bins to store them on most of their bumpier rides, Universal decided they weren’t having any of that. After some unfortunate incidents with falling objects on their coasters, they took a hardline approach forbidding guests from bringing any objects on their high speed or bumpy attractions. They even employ metal detectors to ensure guests can’t sneak any in.
Image: Universal Studios Orlando
Before getting in line for most Universal thrill rides, guests have to store their belongings in a free locker at the beginning of the queue–for coasters like The Incredible Hulk and the Rip Ride Rockit, this includes your ever-helpful smartphone as you’re not allowed to just shove it in your pocket. It’s a side issue that these lockers are one of the most frustrating elements of a visit to Universal’s otherwise-awesome parks. The locker bays–especially in claustrophobic attractions like Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey–usually involve navigating a sea of frustrated fellow park-goers crammed into sardine-can conditions. It’s a social-anxiety nightmare, and it can also mean heading into queues without your phone.
At either theme park, these scenarios can mean 1-3 hour lines without access to any of the popular diversions we get from technology: no social media, phone games, audiobooks, or trip-planning apps. While we’ve discussed how to unglue from our smartphones to play pretend with our kids, we wanted to tackle a much tougher challenge.
How do you survive an insane line with no smartphone at all? Here’s six tricks we found to keep your sanity intact…
1. Pay attention to the details
Image: Michael Saechang, Flickr (license)
A well-designed theme park queue gives guests plenty to keep their mind occupied during a long wait. One of the best examples of this is the queue for Avatar: Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests frequently comment how even multi-hour waits seem to fly by thanks to the intricate storytelling in the queue area. Another example of this is the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland. When this attraction first opened, guests were given a small codex they could use to decipher writing on the walls of the tunnels. There were even sections that were booby-trapped (like the famous-but-now-broken spike ceiling).
The first and best way to pass time in a line with no cell phone is to look for these details. Instead of zoning out, go out of your way to pay attention to your surroundings and search for Easter eggs hidden by the designers. Pay attention to every prop, sign, and even the designs in walls and ceilings. At Walt Disney World, the most common Easter egg is hidden Mickeys. You can look for hidden Mickeys almost anywhere, and perceptive kids tend to notice them everywhere once you get them into the game.
Also make it a point to read all signs—even those that just look like legal jargon. There are a few signs in the queue for The Incredible Hulk at Universal’s Islands of Adventure that include some hilarious safety language as well as some great references to Marvel characters past and present.
2. Play a game
Image: Disney
Especially if you are visiting with kids, good old-fashioned word games can be a great way to pass the time in theme park lines. Sure, you could play paper-rock-scissors (or paper-rock-scissors-lizard-Spock), but there are some other games that are much better picks for themed ride queues.
The easiest classic is I Spy, especially if you use our previous tip to search for details. Find something really obscure, say I Spy, then describe the object in question as vaguely as possible. Your party then take turns asking yes or no questions to figure out what it is. You can keep kids (and easily entertained spouses) going for a good while trying to figure out just what you’re describing.
Similarly, a game of 20 Questions can make for extended fun, especially if you tie in park themes (superfans could have a lot of fun with this in Marvel, Star Wars, and Harry Potter areas). You simply have one person choose a character or famous person but keep the identity to themselves. The rest of the party takes turn asking simple yes or no questions to try to figure out who the secret person or character is.
Similarly, you can also use “keep the chain going” games from road trips. For example, one person picks a Disney character—let’s say “Belle”. The next person has to pick another character that starts with the last letter of the previous character’s name—like “Elsa” or “Edna Mode” (you can optionally come up with a special rule if the next name starts with the same letter). You can find tons of great games for lines by looking up road trip games, as well as improv acting games.
3. Have some good conversation
Image: Michael Stern, Flickr (license)
This one’s a little obvious, but it really goes without saying—one of the biggest benefits to putting away the smartphone is getting to have some real conversation with friends and family. A great conversation can seriously fill the time in a long theme park line.
But I’m socially awkward! That’s why I usually have my PHONE!
If you’re… not great at conversation, don’t feel ashamed. It’s actually a common issue. Daniel Wendler, author of Improve Your Social Skills and Level Up Your Social Life, describes a good conversation like making a sandwich together. It’s like you’re all standing around a table, and each person in the conversation has ingredients that can be added to the sandwich. One person starts the conversation, perhaps with a question—“What’s been your favorite part of the trip so far?” or “Where would you like to eat tonight?”. It’s like starting off with a piece of bread. Then the next person adds another ingredient by answering: “I loved Soarin’, but the crowds are driving me crazy.” It’s like they added some mustard and a little turkey. Then you or someone else can chime in on that topic and the sandwich grows. If things slow down, look for another question to ask (avoid yes/no questions if you can) to keep things going. Share experiences and friendly opinions, but most of all, be a good listener. Don’t dominate the conversation (that would be like making the whole sandwich yourself without their input), but also don’t shrink away entirely. This is actually a great way to learn how to converse.
You can also use social cues, like looking for body language that suggests comfort or discomfort. If someone seems to be getting into the conversation, leaning in, paying close attention, and relaxing, keep going. You’re doing great. If they seem twitchy, like they are turning away or looking all over the place, showing signs of discomfort like rubbing the neck or not making eye contact, change gears a little bit– maybe let them talk for a bit or change the subject. You don’t have to fill every moment of a queue with conversation (some peace and quiet is nice), but you can fill a lot of the time and improve your social skills while you’re in line. Most importantly, you can get to know each other a little better.
Traveling alone? Don’t hesitate to strike up conversation with friendly cast members. As long as you don’t distract them from their job, some have some really great stories and tidbits they can share if you just ask!
4. Plan details of your trip (yup, without an app)
Image: Universal Studios Orlando
One of the easiest ways to fill time in a theme park queue is to plan the next part of your trip. You’re already in the headspace for it! Sure, this is easier to do with a smartphone to look through your options, but there’s actually something kind of nice about just brainstorming ideas without My Disney Experience or the Universal Studios app giving you all the answers.
You can do a “trip checkup” and see how everyone is enjoying the vacation. Is everyone getting to do some things that they like? If someone is feeling a little neglected, maybe you can plan to visit something that fits their taste better. Are there some new restaurants you noticed that you want to look up menus for after the ride? Maybe there’s a specific souvenir you’d like everyone to help you keep an eye out for. Have some freeform brainstorming time to plan what you’ll do after the ride or on upcoming days if you have some flexibility.
5. Role-play or write a story in your head
Image: Disney
For creative types, especially creative introverts, theme parks can an interesting place to dream. On one hand, the huge amounts of people can feel draining, but for many, the stimuli to the imagination counteracts this. Richly designed environments like the interior queues of Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey, Avatar: Flight of Passage, Expedition: Everest, or even Space Mountain can prove a great space to let your creativity wander.
What would you do if you were a character in this environment? Play pretend while you’re in line. Use the same tools that kids use all the time. What is your story? What brought you to this place? What led you to climb Everest in search of the Yeti? How did you end up on Pandora? What’s your character’s tale in that galaxy, far, far away? For writers, role-players, or even just fans of good fiction, a little down time in a theme park queue can be a great time to massage the imagination and come up with new stories.
6. Practice mindfulness and acceptance
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
One of the biggest issues with long lines is that they can be very, very stressful. The sheer combination of cranky people and boredom can test anyone’s sanity. If you try everything else we’ve mentioned and you’re still having issues, there is another tool you can use to keep your sanity.
Relax, breathe, and practice a little mindfulness.
While this may sound a little yoga-pants-and-mason-jar-kale-water for some, mindfulness is actually an easy mental-hack anyone can use. In its base form, it simply means centering yourself in the moment. Focus on steadying your breathing and become aware of your surroundings. Don’t worry about the length of the line or the stress of the past—just be in the moment. Observe the details. People watch (without staring lol). Accept that the line is part of the journey to get to the ride and go with the flow. Reflect on your surroundings, your posture, even the rhythm of the line. You can even practice calm breathing—try breathing through your nose for five seconds then out for ten. This is actually a common trick used for people having anxiety attacks. Long lines are boring, but that’s okay. You will reach your destination.
What’s your favorite way to keep sane in long theme park lines with no smartphone?
