Kids too small for RnR, can they wait at the exit?

[KrazeeK120]

I think 4 and 6 is really too young. When we were at Disneyland last month, we noticed 3 very young boys (4, 5, and 7, I would guess) sitting outside of Indiana Jones. They were there the entire time we ate lunch. DD(13) noticed them and was worried, so we kind of sat around and watched for a while. After a good half hour, we noticed that they had closed the ride and no one was coming out. Eventually, TONS of people started coming out, but not their parents. At one point, the middle child snuck into the exit, was gone a good 10 minutes, and came back and told his brothers that he couldn't find them. After about an hour, their parents finally returned.

As a point of reference, DD rode some rides alone at 10, and I left her alone while I rode for the first time at 11. We started doing single rider lines at 8, and even then, she was sandwiched between me and her dad. By the time she was 10, we did single rider lines with just the two of us with specific places to meet at the end of the ride (and one time at Universal, I did get stuck and then sent through a ride a second time. DD was waiting at the end for me, but she was a little scared.).

If you did decide to do this, make sure they have a cell phone with them and know how to reach you.

Your story illustrates exactly why it's best if young kids and parents are together.

Your point about the kids having a cell phone is a good one. However, I'm not sure I'd trust my 6 year old with my cell phone if I weren't around... YMMV.

 

[Little E]

I've never used Rider Swap and so I'm not sure how it works...could someone walk me through the process that happens before the riders in a family get on the ride? I understand the actual "swap" part, but I'm just not sure how a family is supposed to use it, if the children are too small for the ride. In other words, if the children are too short to ride the ride and cannot go through the line, how do Mom and Dad do Rider Swap? Many have indicated that the kids, because they are too short, cannot continue through the line. Do Mom and Dad communicate with a CM about needing the RS before they enter the line and then the kids can go through the line? Or is the family pulled out of a regular line into another area? I'm just not sure how, if children are too short, a family uses RS. Any info folks have to share would be great! Thank you!

 

[Fastpassminus]

I would either invest in a night at a Kid's Club so you can go and ride all the big rides with your wife ( a date night at Disney is AWESOME ) or plan to rider swap the kids.

 

[Mitzicat]

"If my wife and I wanted to ride with a FP+ would they allow my kids to wait at the exit ramp while we ride together?" I didn't see where anyone addresses this. The load station isn't like roller coaster stations you would find at Six Flags or other amusement park types. Crossing over the car to get to the exit ramp wouldn't work because you exit the train/car at a different location. There may be a "door" that the kids could go through, but I am thinking that Disney would not allow the kids to walk through alone - that's if they allowed them to stand in line in the first place.

 

[cdnjason]

"If my wife and I wanted to ride with a FP+ would they allow my kids to wait at the exit ramp while we ride together?" I didn't see where anyone addresses this. The load station isn't like roller coaster stations you would find at Six Flags or other amusement park types. Crossing over the car to get to the exit ramp wouldn't work because you exit the train/car at a different location. There may be a "door" that the kids could go through, but I am thinking that Disney would not allow the kids to walk through alone - that's if they allowed them to stand in line in the first place.

Not only this. I don't care how responsible or well behaved my children are. I don't trust the strangers around them. If OP wants to ride with his wife, I recommend putting the kids at Lilo's Playhouse or the Sandcastle Club and enjoying the adults rides on a date night. Just my humble opinion.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

The cast member at the FP+ entrance should give you the rider swap pass. After you ride your wife enters the FP+ line with the swap pass.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I've never used Rider Swap and so I'm not sure how it works...could someone walk me through the process that happens before the riders in a family get on the ride? I understand the actual "swap" part, but I'm just not sure how a family is supposed to use it, if the children are too small for the ride. In other words, if the children are too short to ride the ride and cannot go through the line, how do Mom and Dad do Rider Swap? Many have indicated that the kids, because they are too short, cannot continue through the line. Do Mom and Dad communicate with a CM about needing the RS before they enter the line and then the kids can go through the line? Or is the family pulled out of a regular line into another area? I'm just not sure how, if children are too short, a family uses RS. Any info folks have to share would be great! Thank you!

The family tells the entrance CM they want to rider swap. Parent 1 gets in line while Parent 2 waits with small children. After Parent 1 finishes, Parent 2 gets in line with what is basically equivalent to a Fast Pass; the point is that the family doesn't have to wait twice the amount of time for all the riders to ride.

As for the OP, the issue here is that you won't be away from your kids for just a few minutes. Even with using FP for this ride, you could be away from your children for 30 minutes! That would seem like forever to kids that young.

 

[maltdizzy]

Leaving your kids at the ride exit is equivalent to asking the CM's to babysit them while you ride, which is not permitted

As of 2013, anyone under 14 must be accompanied by someone older than 14 in the parks (though 7 to 13 can still ride solo).

 

[Baklava]

No, you cannot leave a 4 year old unattended in a theme park.

 

[Klayfish]

I would either invest in a night at a Kid's Club so you can go and ride all the big rides with your wife ( a date night at Disney is AWESOME ) or plan to rider swap the kids.

What's Kid's Club? We have a local babysitter, so we may not use it, but didn't know there was such a thing.

 

[robinb]

Leaving your kids at the ride exit is equivalent to asking the CM's to babysit them while you ride, which is not permitted

As of 2013, anyone under 14 must be accompanied by someone older than 14 in the parks (though 7 to 13 can still ride solo).

Almost ... children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by another guest 14 or older to ENTER a park.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/parks/minimum-age/

 

[Gracie09]

Almost ... children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by another guest 14 or older to ENTER a park.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/parks/minimum-age/

This and 7 is the age to ride alone not just be alone (there is no set age for that). If I send my 6 year old into the bathroom alone I haven't broken any rule. If I send my 6 year old to ride the teacups I have.

 

[hiroMYhero]

What's Kid's Club? We have a local babysitter, so we may not use it, but didn't know there was such a thing.

It's similar to group babysitting similar to the Clubs on DCL. Activities, games, and characters are included. Poly and Beach Club have the clubs and are available to all guests depending on available openings.

 

[BrianL]

"If my wife and I wanted to ride with a FP+ would they allow my kids to wait at the exit ramp while we ride together?" I didn't see where anyone addresses this. The load station isn't like roller coaster stations you would find at Six Flags or other amusement park types. Crossing over the car to get to the exit ramp wouldn't work because you exit the train/car at a different location. There may be a "door" that the kids could go through, but I am thinking that Disney would not allow the kids to walk through alone - that's if they allowed them to stand in line in the first place.

There absolutely is a way to go from the load platform to the exit of all rides (on some it does involve stepping though the car, but not at RnRC). This is the "chicken exit" and can be used by anyone. In the OP's case though, children who do not make the height requirement will not be allowed in line at all and therefore will never be on the load platform.

I know the OP was thinking if they could all wait together the kids would only be alone for the 82 seconds of the ride, which honestly would not be a big deal. There's a difference in that an having them wait in one spot for 45 minutes (though I seriously doubt anything would happen to them and security might pick them up and give the parents a lecture, but they're not gonna throw you out or anything). One of the kids is 6. The crazy thing is that if he was 7 he could literally go anywhere in the park and it would be totally fine.

 

[old lady]

They won't be allowed into the line after they fail the height test. Not to be snarky, but who us supposed to be responsible for your children while you are on the ride?

Although we have not done it, have you looked into rider/child swap?

It would be dangerous to leave children by themselves in a park despite all the protections and safety around. Gators aren't the only predators out there thought Disney tries to protect people from them, they might be around there.

 

[tjmw2727]

To use Rider Swap just approach the CM, prior to the first parent riding and ask them for a "rider swap pass", there is always a CM at the entrance of the line checking heights. The child(ren) who are not tall enough to ride must be present to obtain the pass. Then the first parent rides while the other parent waits with the kids, you are free to ride another attraction see a show, visit a playground or grab an ice cream, there is no need to wait at the ride.

Then any time that day the 2nd parent can return to the ride and ride via the FP+ line with the Rider Swap pass. The pass is sometimes good for more than a day and for 3 people max.

Hope this helps -

 

[mrzrich]

When my kids were little we would coordinate out TOT or RNRC rider swapping with the Beauty and the Beast show, while one of us rode, the other took the kids to see the show. Then when the second parent rode, the first would get the kids ice cream at Hollywood Scoops right there on the corner

 

[bumbershoot]

I've never used Rider Swap and so I'm not sure how it works...could someone walk me through the process that happens before the riders in a family get on the ride? I understand the actual "swap" part, but I'm just not sure how a family is supposed to use it, if the children are too small for the ride. In other words, if the children are too short to ride the ride and cannot go through the line, how do Mom and Dad do Rider Swap? Many have indicated that the kids, because they are too short, cannot continue through the line. Do Mom and Dad communicate with a CM about needing the RS before they enter the line and then the kids can go through the line? Or is the family pulled out of a regular line into another area? I'm just not sure how, if children are too short, a family uses RS. Any info folks have to share would be great! Thank you!

Go as a family to the line. When you see the first CM at the line, tell them you are going to do rider switch. They will then direct you further.

Sometimes using "entrance" and "start" of the line can be confusing depending on how we see it. So...find the first CM you see as you approach the line for the ride.

(and if you go to Universal it's all different...everyone goes through the line, and they have a room where the non-riders and second riders stay)

I didn't see where anyone addresses this.

I felt the same way, but saying that the too-small kids can't even enter the line sort of negated the need, in my head.

As of 2013, anyone under 14 must be accompanied by someone older than 14 in the parks (though 7 to 13 can still ride solo).

Enter the park. Not be in the park.

Let the packs of roving 7 year olds loose!

 

[scrapquitler]

2 kids, 4 and 6 years old.

6 year old is 46-47" tall depending on the measuring technique . We don't plan on trying to sneak her on anyways if she's too small.

If my wife and I wanted to ride with a FP+ would they allow my kids to wait at the exit ramp while we ride together? They are both responsible enough that they wouldn't run off and I assume they will only be waiting 2-3 minutes whatever the duration of the ride is.

I'd like to be able to enter the line as a family and have the kids wait with us. When we board the ride have the kids cross over to the exit and wait a couple mins for us to get off.

Possible?

No. They can't enter the line at all unless they are tall enough. You are going to have to use the Rider Swap and each of you will have to ride alone.

 

[Nigel Channing]

They say there is no such thing as a stupid question. I disagree.