Can my 13 year old and 7 year old ride together?

[kyleandconnorsmom]

I'm kind of confused about whether or not it will be ok for my two oldest boys to ride together. I've read that those over 7 are ok to ride alone on most rides, but I've also read that you have to be over 14 to ride with a younger child. I have three boys (13,7, and soon to be 4) and will often be alone with them in the parks on our upcoming trip (DH is not going and the other family members we are traveling with would rather "play it by ear" than plan ahead). I am wondering if we all go on an attraction, is it ok for my 13 year old to ride with my 7 year old? And in addition, is it ok for me to send the two of them in line together for a ride like EE that YDS is too small for? I just hate for them to miss out because their brother is too small or scared to ride.

 

[2forMe]

Should not be a problem. ..doubt anyone will even question them.

 

[ccudmore]

Last year I took my two youngest kids (aged 14 and 11 at the time) and we had a couple cases where they weren't allowed to ride together. I didn't question the CM and switched us around. It seemed to be hit and miss.

 

[Ladcassidy]

Your 7- and 13-year-olds should be fine to ride together, as each could also ride alone. My DD was very excited to ride alone when she was 7, and we never had any problems with CMs letting her go without us. Your 13-year-old can probably also ride with your 4-year-old.

 

[kyleandconnorsmom]

Last year I took my two youngest kids (aged 14 and 11 at the time) and we had a couple cases where they weren't allowed to ride together. I didn't question the CM and switched us around. It seemed to be hit and miss.

What were the rides and the reasoning? I would have assumed a 14 year old would be fine to ride with whoever.

 

[ccudmore]

What were the rides and the reasoning? I would have assumed a 14 year old would be fine to ride with whoever.

CM didn't give a reason and I didn't ask - they just said they couldn't ride alone. They were fine together on Big Thunder but not on The Seas with Nemo at Epcot. Wasn't a big deal.

 

[kyleandconnorsmom]

CM didn't give a reason and I didn't ask - they just said they couldn't ride alone. They were fine together on Big Thunder but not on The Seas with Nemo at Epcot. Wasn't a big deal.

Well that's strange. We wouldn't have many options for rearranging. Unless all 4 of us could ride together. I guess if they won't allow that on Nemo or allow my 13 year old to ride alone or with the 7 year old, we'll just have to skip that ride. I just find it strange since your kid could be in the park alone, essentially.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Any CM that won't allow a 13 year old to ride alone is making up his/her own rules, because it's not park policy.

 

[ccudmore]

Any CM that won't allow a 13 year old to ride alone is making up his/her own rules, because it's not park policy.

They also look pretty young for their age. They may have just guessed at their ages.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Children 7 and up can ride alone. 14 year olds can enter the park alone. Any child under 14 must be accompanied in the park by someone 14 and older. Your children should have no trouble riding alone. They just can't be in the park alone.

 

[kyleandconnorsmom]

Thank you for your responses! I think YDS is 40 inches, so the only rides that I'm sure I'll have to send them on without me are EE and Space Mt. I can also see YDS chickening out on a few, so it puts my mind at ease knowing they won't have to miss out .

ETA: my poor 7 1/2 year old is not yet 48 inches, so I didn't include RnRc or Primeval Whirl.

 

[BlueFairy]

ETA: my poor 7 1/2 year old is not yet 48 inches, so I didn't include RnRc or Primeval Whirl.

They will ask a small-looking child how old he is. They will be sure to direct the question at him and not you. You are not breaking the rule, but don't be surprised when they ask.

. . . but I've also read that you have to be over 14 to ride with a younger child.

The confusion about the rule comes from the requirement that younger than 7 must have someone seated with them on a ride. This person must be at least 14. A child 7 or older does not require someone older, so your 7 and 13 are fine without someone over 14.

 

[bumbershoot]

OP they will be fine. If there's confusion, the 7 year old should pipe up to state that he is 7 and is allowed to ride alone and that means he can ride with the 13 year old.

Last year I took my two youngest kids (aged 14 and 11 at the time) and we had a couple cases where they weren't allowed to ride together. I didn't question the CM and switched us around. It seemed to be hit and miss.

You should have questioned it. That wasn't in line with the rules and there was no reason for them to do it. Both of them could ride the ride alone; therefore they could ride it together.

Your 13-year-old can probably also ride with your 4-year-old.

That's the one spot where the older needs to be 14.

Any child under 14 must be accompanied in the park by someone 14 and older.

To enter a park. 7+ can go all the way through ride lines alone, so really it's just that they have to ENTER the park with someone 14+.

 

[Carriemel]

A couple weeks ago, my 7 year old got on Nemo using a fast pass by herself...went through the fast pass line alone, got on the ride...nobody said boo to her.

 

[Klayfish]

Doesn't seem like all the CMs follow the park policy...whatever it actually is. We were there last summer when my twins were 7. Actually, they were 3 weeks away from turning 8. Our oldest at the time was 11, he's now 12. They frequently wanted to ride together. And who were my wife and I to complain about that...giving us a chance to ride alone? The first day, we repeatedly got told that the twins had to be 8 years old to ride alone or with their older brother. So by the end of the first day, our twins were conditioned to tell all the CMs they were 8. We never once had a problem after that and then on subsequent trips. In my experience, 8 seems to be the magic number.

 

[china mom]

I was told once, at RnR that my plenty old enough daughter wasn't tall enough for the single rider line. She was tall enough for the regular line. Sometimes, they just make things up.