Having your kiddo wait while you ride ..

[Crystal824]

In my experience, the single rider line at EE is usually very fast. I really wouldn't have a problem doing this with a 10 year old. Just have her wait in the gift shop. There is no need for her to go through the line with you and use the chicken exit because the single rider line starts near the exit and you pretty much go straight onto the boarding platform unless the line is long. You will be able to see the length of the line before you get in it.

 

[tjmw2727]

This won't work if she wants to use the single rider line.

Why not?

Both mom and DD can certainly enter the single rider line together, chat while they wait and when they get to the front DD can ask the CM to show her to the gift shop instead of riding.

 

[SmallWorld71]

We've done this in varying combinations with various people. On our most recent trip, I was the one who chose to wait out a number of rides just because I wasn't feeling up to them. Sometimes I took the chicken exit, sometimes I just waited in the gift shop. IMO, waiting in the gift shop is easier as you don't need to involve the CM's. It's just less confusing in general. Just use the single rider line early in the day and you should be able to pretty much walk on.

 

[Cyrano]

I'm in the minority. I wouldn't have let my DD wait alone when she was 10. I wouldn't have felt comfortable and I don't think she would have either.

Ditto

 

[prudence64]

I think 10 would be my minimum age for doing this.

 

[bumbershoot]

there is no reason she can't wait while you ride something she chooses not to. Shows respect for both of you IMHO !

I agree.

Gosh only knows I've done a lot for my kid and disney and universal; he can certainly go on something with/for me or wait for me.

Although now you all have me thinking of the ride stopping while I'm on it and if THAT happens, I'd lose my $h!t!!! LOL

That's where the phone comes in.

My 12 year old has no intention of going on Splash Mountain with my wife and I. She says she is going to be happily watch us splash down from outside the ride and at the exact same moment pour a glass of cold water on herself to feel like she was a part of it.

That's hilarious. Also, why I wear a poncho on Splash. All the "ack I'm getting splashed!" fun, fewer of the hours-of-wet-clothes consequences.




Where's the 3 year old in the OP's story? Ah, it's in the first responder's.

 

[tcherjen]

I guess I worry too much. I wouldn't ever let mine wait alone either. Mine is 8, but I can't see me letting her do that when she is 10.

 

[Iowajes]

This won't work if she wants to use the single rider line.

Sure it can. You wait together, then when you get to the loading CM, she says "Oh, I decided I don't want to ride." They count you as one, and put you in the loading queue together and one of you steps past the seat, or if they don't load unload in the same place, CM points you to the chicken exit. Single rider line doesn't commit you to having to ride anymore than regular line does.

If she decides she does ride, they do both have to ride with strangers, but they can both ride.


Personally, if the line is like 5 minutes, maybe 10 minutes, waiting in the gift shop is fine. But longer than that, for me, I have more fun staying with the people in the group who are riding, and hanging out in line.

 

[KimK2006]

She can go through the single rider line with you, then go wait in the gift shop. I would have absolutely no problem with a 10 year old doing that. Give her your cell phone if it makes you feel safer. She can always call her Dad if she gets worried. It's a quick ride. Go for it!

 

[jaccceee]

Sounds like you only have 1 phone. Walmart sells Verizon flip phones for $10 and it's about 25 cents a minute. You could take that with you on Everest just in case it breaks down.