If your 8 year old is the only one going to ride

[snowman]

Can you still escort them through the queue? Or maybe a better question is "should you escort them through the lines?" Neither my wife nor myself are small ladies. Our son has indicated a desire to do the Tommorowland Speedway on our trip next year. I am doubting it would be a doable fit for either Pooh sized parent and our little boy. IF he meets the height requirement I would be willing to let him ride on his own. He will be old enough by Disney rules to ride solo. Do we send him through the line alone or go with him?

 

[DWillowBay]

Just me, but I'd go with him. I'm sure he's a smart young man, but anything can happen. Eight is young to be responsible for yourself in a crowd of strangers.

 

[newdeal]

You might as well go with him, the exit to the line is right past the loading area anyway so you could easily escort him all the way to the car and then when he gets in just make your way to the exit instead of getting in the car with him. I saw a lady there during out last trip that was having similar issues except that her child was not large enough to ride alone and so she was on her cell phone looking distraught trying to get someone else to come over to ride with him. I can't remember the height required to ride alone but I do remember it being quite tall so you will certainly want to double check before getting in the line

 

[ginny_lynn]

That ride would be easy to go with him. The load/unload area are the same so once hes in the carjust wlk off and wait by the gate or in the stands.

 

[mom2rtk]

You should be able to wait with him if he isn't using fastpass. (You would need fastpass to enter the line at all). And I wouldn't send an 8 year old through the line on his own.

 

[mom2rtk]

The height requirement for that one is pretty high to ride alone if I remember properly. That's because it takes long strong legs to keep those pedals pushed down and they don't want him slowing everyone else down if he can't keep the pedal pushed down.

 

[Mitzicat]

If you don't mind waiting with him, it might make the time pass faster for him. You can always tell the CM that you don't want to ride. I just did a search on "A guide to Walt Disney world Attraction Vehicles and Seating...pretty good information. The line is pretty visible from the a waiting area so you could keep your eye on him. It's all in what you want to do.

 

[Kathryn777]

I'd wait with him on that one. It is easy to not ride and exit, no one would even notice

 

[snowman]

Thanks gang! You all gave me the kind of information I was searching for. I will plan on going through the ride line with him.

 

[CarolAnnB]

FYI 54 inches is the height requirement to drive alone.

 

[Alesia]

How tall is he? There is a 54" requirement to ride alone. That's fairly tall for an 8-year-old.

 

[HopperFan]

He is old enough, if he is tall enough he can ride alone.

YES, you may go through the queues with him if you are going via Standby.

IF he has a FP+ then no, you can not enter the line without a FP+ and I certainly wouldn't burn one for it.

The Speedway is EASY. Send him in the line then you go to the stairs at the right where the exit is. Go up the left steps and it will take you to a "grandstand" area that you can sit and watch him the entire time through the line, getting in his car, driving off, off in distance and when he gets back and getting off. He will then exit right by where you are watching. (I sit there a lot since I hate the ride).

 

[ajwolfe]

He is old enough, if he is tall enough he can ride alone.

YES, you may go through the queues with him if you are going via Standby.

IF he has a FP+ then no, you can not enter the line without a FP+ and I certainly wouldn't burn one for it.

The Speedway is EASY. Send him in the line then you go to the stairs at the right where the exit is. Go up the left steps and it will take you to a "grandstand" area that you can sit and watch him the entire time through the line, getting in his car, driving off, off in distance and when he gets back and getting off. He will then exit right by where you are watching. (I sit there a lot since I hate the ride).

Ditto! I always sit in the grandstand and watch. I think if you wanted to let him try his independence out by waiting in line this would be the ride to do it in. You can see the line almost the whole time and watch him loading/exiting. It would be a perfect trial run to see if he was able to do it on his own.

That being said my 8 yr old would probably drive people nuts in line. He's a talker and I have to remind him not everyone wants to chat with him lol.

 

[catherines_mama]

Can you still escort them through the queue? Or maybe a better question is "should you escort them through the lines?" Neither my wife nor myself are small ladies. Our son has indicated a desire to do the Tommorowland Speedway on our trip next year. I am doubting it would be a doable fit for either Pooh sized parent and our little boy. IF he meets the height requirement I would be willing to let him ride on his own. He will be old enough by Disney rules to ride solo. Do we send him through the line alone or go with him?

Yes, of course. All rides have a "chicken exit" and its very easy to escort him through the ride and exit once he gets on. This way 1) you know he's gotten on the ride safely 2) you know when to watch for him to exit 3) the CMs know he's alone without a parent on the ride.

This response applies for all rides as this might be the only ride you do this on. One trip I was alone with both DDs and youngest was not feeling ready for Everest while oldest was more than ready. We went through the line with her, handed her to the CM to place in her queue for the car, then exited. I knew which train she was on and CM knew I wasn't with her. This way if the train got stuck and I got hysterical, it wasn't a surprise LOL. Remember, it's not just him to worry about but everyone else in the world.

For Speedway specifically, the sidewalk continues, so once you see him buckled in his speedracer, you can just walk up the sidewalk and go sit in the grandstand. Make sure you point that area out to him so when he gets off he knows where to look for you and meet up. That is always VERY important. Plan a meet up spot and tell him to PLANT IT just incase you miss eachother in the crowd.

Have fun!!!

 

[StirlingSilver83]

I know my ds9 is still a little too small to ride this by himself and he is 50 inches I believe. He loves this ride...I am also pooh sized but was able to get on with him in the car. I let him drive the car though (BIG MISTAKE) lol the ride was super jerky and I have an old neck injury that flared up and I got an instant migraine! Anyways last year I thought we made it through without him wanting to ride it, but on out last day in the park he wanted to ride it so my hubby took him on it (also pooh sized) and rode it fine. You might be ok to ride it...Disney is pretty pooh sized friendly

 

[disnut8]

Yes, of course. All rides have a "chicken exit" and its very easy to escort him through the ride and exit once he gets on. This way 1) you know he's gotten on the ride safely 2) you know when to watch for him to exit 3) the CMs know he's alone without a parent on the ride.

I call them alternative exits because not everyone is a "chicken" but anyone can exit any attraction at Disney World right up to the minute before boarding the ride vehicle. What you would want to do is, once you get to the seater person, just say "one to ride, one to exit" and point at who is riding and who is exiting and you will be shown what to do. I've done the alternative exits at many attractions and the Cast Members are pretty good about things so no concerns there. You might also want to consider looking at the seat space and maybe joining your son anyway. For that, I would advise all three of you go through the line together and make that decision once you are closer to the cars.

 

[snowman]

I know my ds9 is still a little too small to ride this by himself and he is 50 inches I believe. He loves this ride...I am also pooh sized but was able to get on with him in the car. I let him drive the car though (BIG MISTAKE) lol the ride was super jerky and I have an old neck injury that flared up and I got an instant migraine! Anyways last year I thought we made it through without him wanting to ride it, but on out last day in the park he wanted to ride it so my hubby took him on it (also pooh sized) and rode it fine. You might be ok to ride it...Disney is pretty pooh sized friendly

Thank you for that!

 

[RedStars]

My husband is 6'3" and 250. He fit with my then 5yo. He's now 7 and 54" so he can ride by himself!

 

[AdamEfimoff]

My husband is 6'3" and 250. He fit with my then 5yo. He's now 7 and 54" so he can ride by himself!

Does he fit on all the rides ? not trying to be rude But I am that big and want to know what rides to avoid

 

[pens4821]

Does he fit on all the rides ? not trying to be rude But I am that big and want to know what rides to avoid

I'm 6'3" near 300 and fit on everything.

OP: I don't think it would be an issue for a big person to ride the speedway with a child. I did with my 8 year old nephew and it was no problem. Seatbelt was big enough and a child doesn't take up much room. My nephew is tall but thin. Even though he is tall he had a hard time keeping his foot on the petal, and asked me to do it.