How young for single rider?

[Samdari]

I am asking for two answers to this question I suppose.

The first is, does Disney have a rule in place for how old kids must be to use single rider lines?

And second, since when going with kids, you are likely to be separated from them in the line or waiting after the ride, how old have your kids been when doing single rider lines "with" them?

 

[Disney_Alli]

The rule for single riders - no matter the circumstances - is that they must be 7 years old.

 

[kwdw]

We did single rider at Test Track with my 7 year old niece our last trip.

For that - we waited in line with her - since we were riding it, too.

First time through the line - she was placed by the CM in the same car as one of us.

The second time through the line - she was placed in one car - and her mom was in the car behind. She clearly wasn't quite comfortable with the idea (we think she would have survived - but she was clearly not totally comfortable) - and another single rider was nice enough to quickly swap and that put them in the same car again.

So - for us - we learned she wasn't REALLY quite ready. She was FINE being in a different row - but not in different cars. So - we didn't try it a third time!

I think after this "baby step" - understanding she could get separated and how that felt - I think the next time she goes - which will probably be 8 or 9 - she'll probably be just fine.

I've definitely seen kids at 7 handle this awesome - like pros - and I've seen some even clearly older than 7 freak out when the split actually happens.

I think all the single rider lines keep your party together until the end when boarding happens. And if your young single rider wanted to ride but you didn't - you could exit at the boarding point after waiting in line with them if you wanted.

And I think they have to be 14 to be in line alone???? Maybe someone else can verify that.

 

[goofyintoronto]

The second time through the line - she was placed in one car - and her mom was in the car behind. She clearly wasn't quite comfortable with the idea (we think she would have survived - but she was clearly not totally comfortable) - and another single rider was nice enough to quickly swap and that put them in the same car again.

In this situation, it wouldve been better if the mom went in the first car, and the kid in the car behind. That way the mom is waiting for the kid to get off the ride (the reverse would mean the kid is waiting alone for the mom...which isnt ideal).

 

[belle1986]

In this situation, it wouldve been better if the mom went in the first car, and the kid in the car behind. That way the mom is waiting for the kid to get off the ride (the reverse would mean the kid is waiting alone for the mom...which isnt ideal).

We did this last week at test track. Dd (7) and I ended up in the same car but the cm at the front made sure I knew that we could be split up, which she was ok with. Dd knew that I'd be waiting on her afterwards if we had been split.

Also 7 is old enough to ride totally alone. If there is an under 7 wanting to ride they have to be accompanied by someone 14 or older.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I am asking for two answers to this question I suppose.

The first is, does Disney have a rule in place for how old kids must be to use single rider lines?

And second, since when going with kids, you are likely to be separated from them in the line or waiting after the ride, how old have your kids been when doing single rider lines "with" them?

As posted, the official rule is that kids have to be at least 7 to ride alone, so that should be the minimum age to use the single rider line. I have seen kids younger than 7 in the single rider line and be allowed to ride, but that's not something I would have been comfortable doing with my child.

 

[AngiTN]

We use single rider quite often.
We always have one of the adults ride first so they are waiting for the child at the end vs. the child waiting for the adult at the end.
If they have to be left alone being left at the ride queue is a better location than at the exit

 

[bumbershoot]

And I think they have to be 14 to be in line alone????

Nope. Still 7!

Can't enter the park alone at 7 bit once inside there's no rule about that.

 

[Samdari]

Mine are 11 and 12 (and he's taller than the average 14 year old). If we all go in it together, it appears disney will let us ride.

If they have to be left alone being left at the ride queue is a better location than at the exit

That's what I was really wondering. We have two kids one parent and I was curious about the logistics.

Thanks.

 

[AngiTN]

Mine are 11 and 12 (and he's taller than the average 14 year old). If we all go in it together, it appears disney will let us ride.



That's what I was really wondering. We have two kids one parent and I was curious about the logistics.

Thanks.

They way I view it, the queue is sort of contained where the exit area isn't so I never worry about leaving her alone in the queue. Not that I expect the CM to keep an eye on her, I do not. Just doesn't seem to be as risky a location to leave a child unintended in my mind, if that makes sense. We let DGD go off to ride things alone all the time, while we wait for her in the exit and she's always been fine. I guess we view using single rider the same as that.

 

[Samdari]

I guess that makes sense. If someone is going to grab a kid, the front of a ride line seems one place where you could guarantee the most people noticing.

 

[AngiTN]

I guess that makes sense. If someone is going to grab a kid, the front of a ride line seems one place where you could guarantee the most people noticing.

And it would be pretty hard place to get out of too. Either get on the ride or walk back out through the line of people

Though I always say if someone grabbed DGD at Disney they'd be bringing her right back. She asks for everything and eats a lot. She's break them in 5 min flat

I mostly look at it like she can't wander away and me have to go find her if she's in the line.

 

[famy27]

I don't worry about first or last off. However we end up in line is fine. Older DD has been riding alone since age 8 and we've had no issues. She prefers to be the first one on because then if there is a breakdown, she isn't stuck waiting and potentially not being able to ride if the ride gets closed down. But we've done it in both orders.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

If you have several adults or a younger and older kid, you can also increase the odds of being in the same car. I have my older one first in line. If the first one comes up where there will be two seats "together" then I push him back and take the younger one with me. If the first one comes up as a single, I send him alone and wait and hope that the next one comes up with a "pair" of seats. If that one is still a single, she's got to go alone and I bring up the rear. But I'm trying to increase the odds of a pair and so far it's worked out great.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I am asking for two answers to this question I suppose.

The first is, does Disney have a rule in place for how old kids must be to use single rider lines?

And second, since when going with kids, you are likely to be separated from them in the line or waiting after the ride, how old have your kids been when doing single rider lines "with" them?

Not apart in the line at all and you are all riding single rider, until you reach the seating CM who puts you in the smaller lines facing the car or seat you will be going in and from there it can be anywhere. We do this a lot, ever since my youngest turned 7 and my kids absolutely love it, it allows us to ride so much more and many times!!! It all depends on your kids because mine have never not liked it and my daughter met one of her current pen pals this way! LOL

 

[DebbieB]

Nope. Still 7!

Can't enter the park alone at 7 bit once inside there's no rule about that.

Have to be 14 to enter the park alone. Under 7 has to be with some 14 or over to ride.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

My DS9 rode TT in the single rider line for the first time when he was 7. You go through the line together and then the CM who loads the cars will separate the single riders and place them in spots as they need to fill cars. The first time we did this, DS and I picked the exact spot we would meet (under the exit sign as you exit the ride area). The TT exit becomes very chaotic IMHO so it was important for us to have an exact spot. I'm so glad we did this because we were loaded quite quickly and he ended up in a car in front of me. I was terrified the whole time that he misunderstood where we would meet and I would lose him! I was so relieved to see him standing there when my car unloaded. After that, we don't do TT as single riders anymore! (part of the fun for us is designing the car and trying to get first place in the car categories as we go through the ride). He does, however, ride Space Mountain and EE by himself, but I still go through the line with him to make sure he gets through the entire line and is boarded into a car. (We once entered Space Mountain and it went down as we were approaching the boarding area - so glad I was with him as I'm not sure how I would have found him otherwise.) Anyway, long story, I would just suggest always picking an exact meeting spot or having your kids carry a cell phone so they can call or text you if they are separated from you.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Have to be 14 to enter the park alone. Under 7 has to be with some 14 or over to ride.

This exactly.

And I think they have to be 14 to be in line alone???? Maybe someone else can verify that.

You dont have to be 14 to be in line alone. That is false. To ride alone, you have to be 7 or above. If the kid is under 7, they need someone 14 and above to ride with them.

 

[maltdizzy]

The questions have been answered.

• Age 6 and under must be in the same row with a rider age 14 and over
• Age 7 and older ride alone in a row and/or use single rider line
  
• Age 10 to pay full price
  
• Age 14 to enter park alone

Some parents might tell their coaster-crazed 6-1/2yo's to lie about being 7 so they could ride RnRC and EE another 6 or 7 times (in a row) after those parents had their fill. My DW and I do not condone this behavior, but we did enjoy the rest. That said, at age 9, DS went through single rider line at Test Track and we failed to find an ideal spot for rendezvous afterwards, causing a little worry since it took a lot longer for him to get through the line than estimated.

 

[bumbershoot]

As DebbieB had indicated, you have to be 14 yrs old to enter the parks alone...to ride alone, you have to be 7 or above. If the kid is under 7, they need someone 14 and above to ride with them.

Except the question was "And I think they have to be 14 to be in line alone????", and the answer to THAT is "nope, you can be 7 to be in line alone".

The stuff about entering the park is extra, and not-bad info, but it blurs the answer to the actual question asked IMO.