Can you tell me if something like will work?

[csmom2015]

Taking 2 kids to the MK on Thursday and one likes coasters and one doesn't. In trying to balance what is fair I am going to let them each pick one top ride that we will all wait in line for. Obviously the bog one will choose thunder or space mtn. Can the little one and I wait with him and just not get on the ride? I'm not totally comfortable putting him in a long standby line by himself.

Thanks in advance for advice!

 

[BrianL]

You can absolutely wait in line for anything and then not ride, however your older kid must be at least 7 to ride alone. You can meet him at the exit.

 

[csmom2015]

You can absolutely wait in line for anything and then not ride, however your older kid must be at least 7 to ride alone. You can meet him at the exit.

Thanks!

yes, he is actually 11 and has gone by himself quite a bit but it was always at AK where they have the single rider line, or on a ride that we had fast passes for. Either way I knew he wouldn't be in line long and I could wait by the exit. I'm thinking that 30+ minutes would be a long time for me to contain the younger one and not worry about him.

 

[Alesia]

You can absolutely wait in line for anything and then not ride, however your older kid must be at least 7 to ride alone. You can meet him at the exit.

...and the younger one must be tall enough to ride in order to enter the line.

 

[minnie mum]

Can the little one and I wait with him and just not get on the ride? I'm not totally comfortable putting him in a long standby line by himself

You can only do this if your little one is tall enough to beat the height restriction. If he/she is too short, you can't enter the line, and would have to wait by the exit.

 

[2girlsmom]

agree with previous poster, but also wondering why you don't set up FP for the one ride each particularly wants to do in order to avoid the long lines.

 

[csmom2015]

agree with previous poster, but also wondering why you don't set up FP for the one ride each particularly wants to do in order to avoid the long lines.

I have thought about that but it is a total surprise trip and they don't find out until we are at the airport tomorrow night. I have fast passes for splash mountain (not going to tell the little one there is a drop because i love this one....and if he sees it and won't ride then the big one gets 3 times on it! This ride has been closed every single time my kids have been to MK!) that FP is 9-10 am. My thought was go there by railroad right when we get to the park and start there. Then we can jump into line for Thunder Mountain which I'm pretty sure will be my big guy's request ride. Then we have a 10-11 at Pirates, and then 12-1 at Peter Pan. It we hit that right at noon then we will try to get a 4th fast pass for something else....guessing space mountain. To be honest, on our first day we might just stay out of Tomorrowland and save that for saturday and sunday nights. (My kids LOVE the People Mover and .......seriously their favorite ride! I have heard that is fun at night. ) I'll have my husband with me then so we can divide and conquer.

Oh, and my little guy is tall enough for everything I think......just dosen't have it in him to try the coasters

 

[NeuroCindy]

Are you bringing spare clothes for after Splash mountain? I know it's not as cold in Orlando as most places (it was -3 here in Chicago this morning!), but still at 12:30pm in Orlando right now it's only 51 degrees.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks!

yes, he is actually 11 and has gone by himself quite a bit but it was always at AK where they have the single rider line, or on a ride that we had fast passes for. Either way I knew he wouldn't be in line long and I could wait by the exit. I'm thinking that 30+ minutes would be a long time for me to contain the younger one and not worry about him.

WDW parks have wifi, yes?

My son is 11 and has done lots of SR lines at DLR and Uni, and if I were thinking of your situation I might let him bring his "fauxn" (phone without a SIM so it only gets wifi) into the line and he could text me through whatsapp if he felt like it. That way I know what's going on and can let him know what I'm up to if I think he cares.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, and my little guy is tall enough for everything I think......just dosen't have it in him to try the coasters

Oh then everyone can go through the line, and you and the younger one will just exit as the 11 year old rides.

Are you bringing spare clothes for after Splash mountain? I know it's not as cold in Orlando as most places (it was -3 here in Chicago this morning!), but still at 12:30pm in Orlando right now it's only 51 degrees.

Yes, good idea. Either clothes to change into *for* Splash, or clothes to change into after Splash if people get soaked.

 

[csmom2015]

ok....i forgot about that! granted it was -33 here this weekend so 51 feels balmy, but o'd rather not be chilled all day. how wet do we get?

 

[NeuroCindy]

ok....i forgot about that! granted it was -33 here this weekend so 51 feels balmy, but o'd rather not be chilled all day. how wet do we get?

It depends who is sitting where in the boat and how much they weigh. However, you can get VERY wet.

 

[Alesia]

ok....i forgot about that! granted it was -33 here this weekend so 51 feels balmy, but o'd rather not be chilled all day. how wet do we get?

In January, not very or not at all. They turn down the jets in the winter.

 

[csmom2015]

In January, not very or not at all. They turn down the jets in the winter.

really?

 

[tink9702]

Just another idea (instead of waiting in line for something you won't ride) - we split up for Big Thunder, Space & Splash. One parent took DS on those rides and the other took DD into a store, on Tom Sawyer's Island or to meet a princess. Then the parent on the coaster just texted the other when they were done and we met back up. Made for a much more pleasant day versus the day where DD had to wait at Soarin' for over 30 minutes and was bored as anything!!!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

It is hard to judge how wet you may get on Splash. I would watch other people coming off the ride. The last time I was there in winter, the jets on or off varied from day to day.

ETA: I am a ride Space Mountain once type person, while DD is a ride it over and over and over type person. I walk her to the beginning of the line then meet her at the gift shop. When the line is long, I have taken bathroom breaks, met a character, and even ridden the People Mover. She knows the drill - if she gets to the gift shop I am not there for some reason, she would text/call me and wait there.

 

[alliecat523]

I've used the parent (or chicken, if you will) exits quite a bit. My DD loves the thrill rides, but they make me puke. So if there is an especially long line, I'll wait with her and the CMs will direct me to the exit prior to boarding the ride. Super easy.

 

[Alesia]

really?

Yes, at least when it's cold.

 

[tvsdisney]

So in December they would not let me wait in line with my 11 year old and my baby who was in a front facing carrier. I obviously want going to put the baby on these rides told them that but they still wouldn't let me walk with him on both EE and KRR at AK. I was a little annoyed to say the least but he did fine

 

[Alesia]

So in December they would not let me wait in line with my 11 year old and my baby who was in a front facing carrier. I obviously want going to put the baby on these rides told them that but they still wouldn't let me walk with him on both EE and KRR at AK. I was a little annoyed to say the least but he did fine

Correct. No one who is too short to ride can get in the line - no exceptions. It may seem obvious to you that you weren't going to try to sneak the baby onto the rides, but unfortunately, they can't trust that. Several years back, a woman in a wheelchair tried to sneak an infant onto Mission Space by hiding him under a blanket on her lap. Fortunately the loading CM heard the baby before they boarded the ride.