Could I wait in line with my 8 yr old and not ride?

[2 princes 1 princess]

I may be traveling alone with an 8, 4 and 2 yr old. My 8 yr old loves splash mt. and space mt. He's been on all the rides many times before with an adult. I can't go on those rides this time because of the other 2 kids. Can I wait in line with my son just to get him on the ride and wait for him at the end? I'll have the other little guys with me and we won't get on the ride ourselves, I just don't want to let him go into the line alone because sometimes it's a bit of a wait - even with a fast pass. Once he is on the ride, I know he'll be fine. He has always wanted to go by himself and I think this may be the closest he can get to that experience. I just can't let him wait in the dark on space mtn. alone.
Does this make sense to anyone? Do you think I can do it?

 

[dis-happy]

Sounds good in theory, but on Splash Mtn. you'd have to exit on the other side of the boats (same with Thunder Mtn. I'm not sure about SM). Maybe you could ask the CM if it's possible to go in the back entrance (like someone with a GAC would do). It would probably help if you had a FP for him to use, and it would still be up to the discretion of the CM.

Maybe some other DISers will have a suggestion....

 

[dfarner]

Maybe you could also go up the "single rider" line on the rides that it is available. I've used those lines before and they've moved relatively quickly.
Also, here's a totally different line of thinking, but just a suggestion. If it is in your budget you could get a sitter from one of the agencies down there as a parent's helper to go to the park(s) with you.

 

[michboro]

I think that all of the rides have a "chicken" exit for people who change their mind and chicken out when it is time to go on the ride, and there is an exit for them. We have used this for many rides, when me or my husband don't want to go on some rides, but want to wait on line with the kids.

 

[Adi12982]

There is a chicken exit for SM right before the loading area . . . I am sure if you tell the CM's this is your plan they will help you as well as they can!!

 

[Princess Roo]

When we asked, we were told that they are not allowed to let anyone into the line who doesn't meet height requirements, "period". If they are enforcing that, then you wouldn't be able to bring your little ones. We asked 2 CMs (just to make sure the 1st wasn't confused), but we also didn't have as good of a reason as you did (I just wanted to wait in line with DH, holding our toddler, and exit instead of riding). I hope you can, but I wouldn't count on it, at least not 100% of the time.

 

[tjmw2727]

I had the same experience as Princess Roo - they won't let a child who dosen't meet the height restriction into the line. So unfortunately you can't do what you described.

My oldest wanted to ride RnRc and my youngest was to short - as the solo adult I had the same dilemma. They would not let my youngest into the ride line at all so my oldest chose not to ride as she would have to do the line, preshow and ride alone.

Depending on the 8yo and your comfort level and how badly the 8yo wants to ride you could use FP but it would be being separated for quite a long time. Its not something my dd's could have handled at 8.

I will say that out of all the many, many rides and attractions at WDW only a small percent are height restricted. So your 8yo can have a wonderfult time even if he/she dosen't ride the mountains. Good luck figuring out something.

TJ

 

[Bowen9475]

My husband and I were in WDW in January. I knew I was going back in February with the 3 kids (10, 7 and 4) alone. There were a few rides I knew the older 2 would want to ride that the youngest would not be tall enough for. I asked at Space Mountain and Expedition Everest when I was there in January if I would be able to walk the older 2 up, taking the youngest with us, and then not ride. I was told at both rides that they could work something out. It turned out to be a non-issue because the youngest measured tall enough and we all rode both of the rides together. And by the way he loved them both.

 

[2 princes 1 princess]

Thanks! Hopefully the CMs will be helpful and just let me stay with him until he is off on the ride. I think space mt. and splash mt. would be enough for him.
I don't want to send him off on Everest or R&RC alone even though he's been on them both before and loves them. As a mom I think they are so fast and he just shouldn't do that (because I said so )

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

I thought there was an age requirement for riding without an adult on those rides? I could be wrong, perhaps someone esle know for sure.

 

[tjmw2727]

I thought there was an age requirement for riding without an adult on those rides? I could be wrong, perhaps someone esle know for sure.

The mininum age for riding alone at WDW is 7 so the OP's child can ride alone if he/she meets the height restricitons (and the OP is comfortable with it).

I am sure that that the CM's will try and help you out if they can but I am also sure that they can not allow a child who dosen't meet the height restriction into the line or preshow. This is to prevent them from boarding the ride by accident, better safe than sorry.

TJ

 

[U2_rocks!]

I may be traveling alone with an 8, 4 and 2 yr old. My 8 yr old loves splash mt. and space mt. He's been on all the rides many times before with an adult. I can't go on those rides this time because of the other 2 kids. Can I wait in line with my son just to get him on the ride and wait for him at the end? I'll have the other little guys with me and we won't get on the ride ourselves, I just don't want to let him go into the line alone because sometimes it's a bit of a wait - even with a fast pass. Once he is on the ride, I know he'll be fine. He has always wanted to go by himself and I think this may be the closest he can get to that experience. I just can't let him wait in the dark on space mtn. alone.
Does this make sense to anyone? Do you think I can do it?

Another idea: meet up with another DIS family for a little while so that your DS has someone to ride with - maybe another family who has a child of a similar age who wants to ride without parents too? Just an idea - it's been known to happen many a time!

 

[Tink Wanna Be]

I think you'd be fine waiting in line with your son. Since many of the 'bigger' rides allow for the 'child swap', this would almost be the same thing. You'd be bringing children (and yourself) through the line with the intention of exiting instead of riding. In the child swap the CM shows one parent where to wait with the kids while the other parent rides. The waiting parent gets on the next ride while the first takes the kids out.

 

[northriver]

My parents used to leave me with a random family waiting in line - maybe the world was safer back then - but I bet my parents wouldn't hesitate to leave their grandkids with some random family even today! Also, at 8 a child might be willing to go alone in line and if you had FP or there was a singles line the wait wouldn't be too bad. Especially since he is familiar with the rides. It is good for kids to develop this independance and I think WDW is a pretty safe place. And lots of other families around that would be willing to lend a hand too.

 

[DisneyMama27]

I think you'd be fine waiting in line with your son. Since many of the 'bigger' rides allow for the 'child swap', this would almost be the same thing. You'd be bringing children (and yourself) through the line with the intention of exiting instead of riding. In the child swap the CM shows one parent where to wait with the kids while the other parent rides. The waiting parent gets on the next ride while the first takes the kids out.

I don't know about Splash, but we did this on SM - walked thru the line with DD5 and then waited at the child-swap spot. Just tell them what you are doing and that you really aren't trying to get on with the little ones (it should be obvious with a 2yo!)

I understand - I let DS talk me into letting him ride Mission Space by himself when he was 8 - I waited at the end with little sis (DH and other DD were at another ride, I guess), but I was a wreck the whole time, watching for him and worrying. He'd ridden it 4 times already, but always with an adult. It's not worth the worry - I'd say if you can't stand in the line with the little ones, just skip it this time.

That said, we let DD8 and DS9 ride EE w/o us - we had 2 extra FPs and there was NO line at all, so we let them go - they thought that was the coolest thing ever! (We had already ridden it with them several times)