Benches?

[TheGoofster]

Kind of a weird question, but do they have benches near most of the rides? My DD is not quite tall enough for some of the rides, so my DW and she will probably just wait for my DS and I as we do some of the rides, and I was just wondering if there were comfortable places for them to wait, if that's what they decide to do.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

There are usually places to sit by all the rides but depending on the crowds that doesn't mean that there will be an open seat available. It may be possible for them to go on another ride during that time and meet you at the exit.

 

[glavine47]

Yes, there are usually placed outside each ride. We have a DS2. Be sure to do the parent swap, that way you both came ride at separate times but it is alot faster.

 

[LoveMickey]

Have you thought of baby (child) swap option?

They can stay in line with you and when you get to the ride, they can swap off, you DW can go the next time around while you wait.

Of if she does not want to go, ask for the chicken exit. That way they can see the things in line.

And yes they do have benches or waiting areas where the ride exits.

 

[tripplanner]

The parent swap is great. When my son was too small to ride some rides, we would do the parent swap and my daughter would luck out and get to ride the ride twice - once with each parent.

When I don't want to ride also, we might wander in a store or get ice cream and sit on a bench. We've never had problems finding a spot to sit. I've really enjoyed having the few moments just hanging out with him.

 

[TheGoofster]

Thanks for all the replies.
As for the parent swap, it probably won't help, simply because most of the rides that my DD doesn't qualify for are rides that my DW would be more than happy NOT to go on anyway (we are talking about the 44" or greater rides). But the shops will definately interest her. Plus I keep forgetting that on our next trip we will each have cell phones. The last time we went on a real Disney trip (not just a single day adventure while visiting relatives) was in 1990, and small cell phones were things that only James Bond carried.

 

[lkjasd]

The one thing that really jumped out at us last week was that there is no shade near the benhces at the parks. (Animal Kingdom had lots of trees so that was the only exception)

Any time we needed to take a rest, there were usually 10 benches around. One, in the shade, was usually taken and the other 9 were in direct sun light. Not sure if we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it became a game for me to look for benches and see how many were in shaded areas. I can tell you it isn't very many.

May not be a problem for most but with my family's fair skin, we always look for shade.

 

[nevertez]

yea there are lots of benches but I would take the DD on a different ride like when they go on space mountain take DD on Space ranger spin. when you go on Big thunder mountain/splash mountain, DD and DW goes on Country Bear Jamboree.

Me and my DD (age 2) can go on the Buzz lightyear ride like 4 times in a row same with the many adventures of Pooh.

 

[G8RFAN]

Many of the big/popular rides will exit into an air conditioned gift shop. While there generally are benches or planter walls you can sit on throughout the parks, depending on the time of year, it may be pretty hot sitting out there as some have already mentioned. So a nice cool alternative is to have your DW and DD wait for you in the gift shop if there is one.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Another alternative to Space Mountain is the Tomorrowland Transit. There is NEVER a line for it, it takes the rider through Space Mountain, and it's cool because it's the first ride to ever use that kind of mover technology (making way for rides like RnR), though it's very tame. It gives a preview of several of the rides in the area, and it's in the shade.

Also, many arrtactions have a gift shop at the end - I'm again thinking of Space Mountain (has an arcade, places to get picture stickers) and Mission:Space (has indoor benches, a cool post ride area complete with a mini-playground for the kids, and a place to send a "space" email home for free). Plus if it's really hot, there a baby station near Space Mountain, meant for nursing mothers, but others can go in to get out of the heat, too.

Also, while doing a baby swap thing is a good time to use the restroom, especially where young kids are concerned.


Another thing you can do in this situation is to split up usage of the fast passes. If you have four in your party, and two want to ride, and two don't - use all four tickets to get fastpasses (TWo for splash mountain, and two for BTMRR) usually the times will be close, especially early in the day, and you'll minimize wait time for teh non-riders.

Another alternative to the mountains in MK is for the on-riders to head over to TomSAwyer's Island. There's a playground and a snack place over there. It's closer than CBJ, and you can time it almost perfectly, as soon as the others are off the mountains, the TS Islanders can hop back on a return raft (they run continuously).

At Epcot, there are Kidcot stations - Insdide the gift shop for TT, there is a place to sit, while the kids color. Also, beyond gifts, there are a bunch of cars for the little one and mom to climb into. there is a Kidcot station inside the Land too (though I highly suggest mom does a baby swap for that one), and in each of the WS countries.

 

[Daydreamer]

I agree with finding something of interest for DD around the big attractions and use fast pass as much as possible. With your DD and DW not being interested in the attractions you can double up on the fastpasses so that you and DS can take a couple of rides in the same amount of time or can fastpass two large attractions simultaneously.

 

[phisigprincess]

I would consult Dave from the planning video on that one!!

 

[mecllap]

To lkjasd -- that's one of the reasons I carry along a small, folding umbrella -- portable shade comes in handy a lot at WDW -- I'm careful not poke anyone with it (and it's also useful during those p.m. showers).

 

[WillCAD]

There are plenty of places to sit for a rest all over WDW, in teh parks, the resorts, Downtown Disney, everywhere.

However, as others have mentioned, the benches and walls are often not in the shade and can be hot.

An alternative is to check your park map for the nearest counter-service food place. Most of them are enclosed and air-conditioned, and those that are not are at least shaded. I love sitting in places like Lotus Blossum Cafe, the Electric Umbrella, Cosmic Rays, Tusker House, and Backlot Express with a cool drink and my notebook, and sometimes a refreshing snack like a Mickey Bar or a Dole Whip, or even a just a chocolate chip cookie.

 

[PortieOwner]

A couple of things: at Splash/BTMRR you can either use the kiddle play area under the rail station (great for 2-3 year old kids) or jump on the train. The train trip around the park is about the same as the tiume to ride Splash plus 10 minutes in the queue.

Portie