Family of 5, one kid always riding solo?

[Treysar]

Hi! This will be my first time going to Disney with my kids. 2 adults, 3 kids. An 8 year old and twin 6 year olds. The 6 year olds have autism, and will need to be with an adult rider for most rides. I know there are many rides that only seat 2. Does this means my daughter will most likely be alone on all of the rides, or is there a way to use rider swap to allow us to take turns? I'm not sure I really understand what rider swap is.
At Hershey park, we would take turns, my husband would take one child while I Waited with the other 2, then I would take one,then he would take one. Is there any way to do this At Disney? Or is there another obvious answer that I'm missing? I feel bad that my daughter won't be able to ride with us.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

Hi! This will be my first time going to Disney with my kids. 2 adults, 3 kids. An 8 year old and twin 6 year olds. The 6 year olds have autism, and will need to be with an adult rider for most rides. I know there are many rides that only seat 2. Does this means my daughter will most likely be alone on all of the rides, or is there a way to use rider swap to allow us to take turns? I'm not sure I really understand what rider swap is.
At Hershey park, we would take turns, my husband would take one child while I Waited with the other 2, then I would take one,then he would take one. Is there any way to do this At Disney? Or is there another obvious answer that I'm missing? I feel bad that my daughter won't be able to ride with us.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Unfortunately in your instance yes your daughter would have to ride alone on any of the rides that only seat two. However as a family of 5 I have noticed that the majority of the rides in Walt Disney World and especially at the Magic Kingdom will allow you to sit 3 across.

As for the child swap it does not work as it does in Hershey Park. With the child swap you will get one return ticket for up to 3 people and in general the child swap is only issued to parents who have children that are too short to ride which doesn't sound like your case. Of course you could always ask the cast member at each ride entrance because the wording on the website doesn't reflect how things work in the park and you may be able to get a child swap even though your 6 year olds are tall enough. But like I said you would only get one return ticket for 3 people so unless you feel comfortable taking your two six year olds by yourself And having your H ride with your daughter it wouldn't really help you.

 

[monorailsilver]

My oldest was 8 and she rode alone on a few rides or she rode with my then almost 5 year old and I rode alone..I was smart and let my dh ride with the kids...haha!!!

On Goofy's she was in front or between dh and I. But I think on pretty much all the other rides we rode we sat 3 but then again, my kids were 8, almost 5 and 2 1/2 on that trip so we didn't go on a lot of thrill rides.

 

[wilkeliza]

My oldest was 8 and she rode alone on a few rides or she rode with my then almost 5 year old and I rode alone..I was smart and let my dh ride with the kids...haha!!!

On Goofy's she was in front or between dh and I. But I think on pretty much all the other rides we rode we sat 3 but then again, my kids were 8, almost 5 and 2 1/2 on that trip so we didn't go on a lot of thrill rides.

Just clarifying that now the rules state anyone under 7 must ride with someone 14 or older so an 8 year old can no longer ride with siblings under 7.



To the OP yes in vehicles that only fit 2 across your 8 year old will have to ride alone. There aren't many in the MK (seven dwarfs comes to mind) as many can fit up to 3 especially if the 6 years old are average or small 6 year olds. I've fit 3 grown adults on Haunted Mansion and BTMRR and not all of us are small. On some rides it is possible that a single rider or odd number rider may be put with the 8 year old. The only place I haven't seen them fill the extra seat is Toy Story and I've been told that is because it is a bench seat so parents didn't want their children alone in the dark for so long with a stranger when there was no division to the seat.

 

[monorailsilver]

Just clarifying that now the rules state anyone under 7 must ride with someone 14 or older so an 8 year old can no longer ride with siblings under 7.

Hmmm..I wonder if the rules were like that when we went that year, it was 2008 and I recall she and my son rode Goofy's together. I think that was it but there may have been one or two other rides. Or it could be that they went on Goofys often while I sat with my 2 yo.

 

[wilkeliza]

Hmmm..I wonder if the rules were like that when we went that year, it was 2008 and I recall she and my son rode Goofy's together. I think that was it but there may have been one or two other rides. Or it could be that they went on Goofys often while I sat with my 2 yo.

I think previously there was only an unspoken rule. Now the rule is written out and online. It went to being spelled out in 2013 or 2014 can't remember when exactly.

 

[monorailsilver]

I think previously there was only an unspoken rule. Now the rule is written out and online. It went to being spelled out in 2013 or 2014 can't remember when exactly.

Good to know for when I have grand kids...in many years!!! Oldest is 15 so I can wait quite a bit longer!

 

[scrapquitler]

In many cases, three can ride together, so one of the adults can ride with two children, and the other can ride with one.

 

[Treysar]

Thanks everyone!