10 year old and chicken exit

[JB212]

Our daughter who's 10 is not a huge fan of big thrill rides. Shes fine with waiting in line with us to ride, and then stepping off to the side and waiting while we ride. (We did this on the Matterhorn at Disneyland with no problems.) The two she's specifically mentioned not wanting to ride are Rockin Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. But on rides where you need to move to a different location if not riding will she be allowed to use the chicken exit alone? I'm ok with this, as both end in gift shops and shes mature enough to go stand by the cash register (where a cast member will be) alone for the 5 minutes that we're riding. Or will someone be like, "Um mam, you cant leave a 10 year old unattended." Id really prefer not to do a full child swap as that takes so much more time and walking around.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

She would be fine. The minimum age to ride alone in the park is 7. There would be no problem with a 10 year old choosing not to ride and waiting outside.

 

[LiveYourLife]

As long as you're okay with this, and she's okay with this, as well as mature enough, it will be fine.

The only suggestion I would make is to give her your (or your spouse's) cell phone, just in case you have a ride stoppage. This way you can still communicate with each other, and she (and you) won't get worried as a result of the delay.

Also, (because I know someone else will bring it up), the CM's are not there to provide child sitting services. I'm not saying that you have that expectation, but this does come up on threads such as yours.

In any case, have a great trip!!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Shes fine with waiting in line with us to ride, and then stepping off to the side and waiting while we ride. (We did this on the Matterhorn at Disneyland with no problems.)

With Matterhorn I can see it felt like just stepping to the side, but she would have had to actually exit. It's just that the exit is *right there* and she could have just stood there.

She'll be fine exiting and hanging out in the giftshops.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

one thing to think about is Tower of Terror she will have to get in an elevator and ride down to the gift shop. make sure she is okay with this. it can seem like she is going on the ride. can not help with Rock and Roller as have never used

 

[JB212]

Oh Im absolutely not expecting a cast member to watch her. I just feel like SHE would feel more comfortable with a cast member in sight instead of hanging out in like a back corner of the shop alone. (Plus "cash register" is a pretty easy thing to spot in most stores. I told her to just browse where she can see the person running the register. Even in the event that there are multiple registers, it narrows it down more than just "Meet us in the gift shop" ya know.)
The cell phone is an excellent idea that we will use.

 

[LiveYourLife]

Oh Im absolutely not expecting a cast member to watch her. I just feel like SHE would feel more comfortable with a cast member in sight instead of hanging out in like a back corner of the shop alone. (Plus "cash register" is a pretty easy thing to spot in most stores. I told her to just browse where she can see the person running the register. Even in the event that there are multiple registers, it narrows it down more than just "Meet us in the gift shop" ya know.)
The cell phone is an excellent idea that we will use.

I know you aren't expecting that and knew what you meant

You do realize that by allowing her to "browse" at such a young age, you might be creating a future shop-a-holic, right?!?!? LOL! That's where it all started for me

 

[chicagoshannon]

In Tower if Terror she can actually wait right where she would come off of the elevator. There are several benches and she'd be able to watch the pictures of people on the ride. It's a very nice option if it's a hot day.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I will be odd man out on this one and say there is no way I would leave my 10 year old alone like that. I would either talk her into riding or do single rider so someone could switch off being with her. I know it's Disney.... but for me.... no way.

 

[alliecat523]

On RnR the exit is right as you get on the ride. It's a short hallway that lets you out right where the ride returns and riders exit. If you start to walk toward the gift shop (about 5 feet), there is a little waiting area right by the photos. It's easy to find your party there. I actually can't do a lot of the thrill rides so I wait with my 11 year old and let her ride while I exit.

ToT you would get on the elevator right as riders get on theirs. You are let out where the riders are let out. There are benches to sit and wait on right by the photos before you even get to the gift shop.

 

[2PrincessesRmine]

My 9 year old literally chickened out at the last minute on RnR. He went out the chicken exit and I was very nervous. My husband convinced me he would be fine and he was. He had to walk down the hallway and we met him in the gift shop. He was fine. If you are all prepared, it will be fine.

 

[disnut8]

On Twilight Zone, don't worry about anything. Trust me on that one. In fact, before you board the ride, have all of you go into the gift shop, walk back to the photo area and then turn right. That is where your daughter will be waiting for you after your ride. You can do this before you do the actual ride and no one will stop you. There are benches back there (concrete) and you can even stand there for a few minutes and watch as other travelers get off their elevators so your daughter will know exactly what will happen.

Once you reach the seater person at Twilight Zone and say "X to ride and one to exit", your daughter will be led off to the alternative elevator which she will enter with a Cast Member on the way down (one flight). She will then be led off the elevator and into the area I just described above. After that, she will be on her own but she will have already scoped out the area with you and know where to sit. Very easy.

I will suggest she look around her on her exit as using the alternative exit is just about as good as the ride itself. No surprises but excellent attention to detail and it will still feel like she's in the hotel (which she is). It's not just a normal elevator and exit hall - it's all themed.

I used to take the alternative exit when I had a problem and I miss it now that I can go on the normal ride. One of these days, I will talk my husband into doing the alternative exit himself because that's how much I liked it.

 

[subtchr]

I think she will be fine!

Just FYI, even if you DID want to do the "full rider swap", you would not be able to, because she IS tall enough to ride. Yes, some people have reported that they have been able to use it with a child who merely did not WANT to ride, but the official policy is that it is only for families with children that do not meet the height requirement.

 

[lovethattink]

At ToT she'll exit through an elevator near where you look at photos. There are benches down there to sit and wait.

At R&R, she'll have to wait in the gift shop if you want her in the same building.

 

[tjmw2727]

My nephew didn't like a few of the thrill rides at that age and he was fine using the chicken exit. My sil would actually take him to the gift shop and they would decide on a meeting place prior to us all getting in line and him exiting. A few times when we had FP she set him up on a bench with an ice cream or soda to wait and he actually preferred that. On all these occasions he would have my sil's cell phone to contact us if anything came up.

Its a personal preference and I am sure you will come up with a good plan that works for your family when you get there!

 

[jmr0142]

When I was around the same age I took the chicken exit on ToT. I remember a cast member came with me to escort me to the gift shop area and I just waited there until my family finished the ride.