7 year old riding alone?

[DebbieB]

I was riding Toy Story last year and there was a mom with an 8 and 5 year old. The 8 and 5 year old wanted to sit together with the mom on the other side. No deal. The cm said the 5 year old had to sit with the mom and the 8 year old alone.

 

[staceyeileen]

What does a CM usually do if a parent has 2 children under 7? (assuming 2 per car/row)

 

[HopperFan]

Are you saying that Disney DOES have a definition for "riding alone" and that some CMs may follow it to the letter and others not? Or, are you saying that Disney does not have a definition for "riding alone"?
Does "following procedure" = must ride in same row?

What does a CM usually do if a parent has 2 children under 7? (assuming 2 per car/row)

Disney DOES have a definition for riding alone. A child must be 7 years old or older to ride alone without supervision of someone 14 years or older. Some CMs will follow to the letter and some have not, and actually in the event of an issue resulting or another CM taking notice, they could be written up. As DD explained where there is an issue with a CM not following safety rules is seen, everyone on duty with them has to write a report. It is not taken lightly. In addition some rides have placement rules on where that child must sit on the attraction many times "to the inside" of the vehicle.

Procedure would be same row, as many of the PP have experienced. If your children under 7 were placed in a row without you that would have been counter to policy. Their published rule is below.

It is all about safety. Not just the pure physical as that is addressed by height requirements as well, but taking into consideration maturity and behaviors. Disney had to determine at what age they felt most kids were able to follow the rules, not panic, and be able to evacuate. 7 must have been the age determined that most kids could handle being without the supervision of someone old enough (Disney says 14) to be responsible for the younger child. A parent on another row of most attractions can not help calm a child, stop a child from doing something dangerous or wiggling lose and possibly aid in evacuation. I've been evacuated with my DS in a precarious situation where I needed to get him off calmly and following instructions. The evacuation procedure which had to be followed perfectly for the safety of everyone on the boat had to go one row at a time - it was a weight balance issue.

Many guests that are single adults with multiple under 7 children have reported they can not go on rides with restrictive seating such as 7DMT. Fortunately most rides can fit an adult and 2 small children. I think we are going to see more and more signs popping up such as the HM one that went up a couple months ago to reinforce the rules in writing so CMs have less issues. I understand how hard it is, I have 3 kids, but CMs are to follow the rules or it could mean their job.

 

[Kimly]

I have four who before December where all under 7. At the mine train I have been told that since the trains are attached to each other, I just had to ride with them in the same car, not the same row. But now that my twins are 7, they can ride alone. On the little mermaid, I've seen CM ask kids who look young how old they are just after being settled in their clam shell.

 

[shannon006]

Last January they stopped the little mermaid ride to put either myself or my husband with our 6 year old. Our 13 year old daughter was sitting with her. I think this is a newer rule. I remember years ago it wasn't like that.