Little Chickens

[Nimbus]

Background:
I'm taking our two daughters (4 and 6) for a somewhat last minute trip to WDW in a few weeks while my wife stays home with our two 6mo old boys (don't throw anything at me...she said she doesn't want to go!)

Our 4 year old is very excited because she has recently reached 44 inches tall, so a whole new world of ride possibilities has opened up for her and she is a little thrill junkie who wants to ride them all. My 6 year old, however, is really not about that thrill ride life. But it's just me going, which leaves me in a bit of a predicament in regards to what to do with rides the 4 year old wants to ride and the 6 year old doesn't, as ride-swap will not be an option. Forcing/guilt tripping the 6 year old into riding is--for obvious reasons--not an option. At the same time, I don't want to deprive me 4 yo of rides she's been looking forward to (this trip actually started out as just her and me specifically so she could ride these rides.)

The rides which will be problematic are Tower of Terror, GotG, and Expedition Everest.

I could leave the 6 year old at the hotel to do Camp Dolphin (we are staying at the dolphin) for a few hours while we race around and do those three, but that isn't really very efficient, I'd have to pay for the camp, and I'm not thrilled about the idea of being separated for that long.

So here's my actual questions:

• What do the chicken exits look like on those three rides specifically?
• Are they close to/next to the load/unload area?
• Is a kid/non-rider able to wait right there?
• Would they have a cast in close proximity to them/with them?

If its a situation where she would simply be waiting for a few minutes several feet from the unload area, I would be okay with that; but if its a type of situation where she has to go down several hallways and then mill around by herself in a gift shop, that isn't going to work. So I'm just trying to wrap my head around what that process and layout would look like for those three rides specifically.

So if you have any first hand knowledge, experience, or insights I would appreciate it.

What I do not want is advice on how to parent. I am looking for logistical information so that I can make an informed decision.

Thanks!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Regardless of logistics, a 6yo is not allowed to be left alone at Disney without a guardian with them. A child must be 14 to visit Disney without a guardian.

Per the Disney website:

 

[HopperFan]

Tower of Terror ~ at loading she would have to take an elevator to the gift shop level and be in hallway or gift shop area alone.

GotG ~ She will not be allowed to wait in the loading or unloading area (two different places). The chicken exit is at the load area, and there seems to be mixed info on if a child can exit alone. They will move to an area in proximity to, but outside, the unload area.

Expedition Everest ~ She will not be allowed to wait on the loading or unloading area, she will likely be directed out via an exit to wait in the gift shop.

Regardless of logistics, I don’t believe a 6yo is allowed to be left alone at Disney without a guardian with them. A child must be 14 to visit Disney without a guardian.

AGREE ^ Even to ride in a ride alone without someone 14 or older you must be 7.

And you might run in to a security or supervisor situation if CM sees her unattended.

 

[MickeyMice]

i have considered taking my 9 and 8 to WDW alone but ultimately decided against it because the 9 is a thrill rider and the 8 a bit of a chicken. (and i mean, my 8 won't go on big thunder, forget about the more intense rides you listed.) even taking my kids to a dumb local carnival is a pain because of this.

i don't think what you're planning is going to work without another adult or even teenager. you may want to look into hiring a park nanny for a day who can hang with your 6 (and even take her to visit a character or something) while you ride with your 4.

 

[HopperFan]

i have considered taking my 9 and 8 to WDW alone but ultimately decided against it because the 9 is a thrill rider and the 8 a bit of a chicken. (and i mean, my 8 won't go on big thunder, forget about the more intense rides you listed.) even taking my kids to a dumb local carnival is a pain because of this.

i don't think what you're planning is going to work without another adult or even teenager. you may want to look into hiring a park nanny for a day who can hang with your 6 (and even take her to visit a character or something) while you ride with your 4.

Awesome idea. I've heard great things about Storybook Nannies.

 

[Figment Mom]

I think, unfortunately, the only logistics that will work involve an additional person.

My kids don't ride thrill rides. I do. I brought my son when he was 9 and fleetingly considered leaving him on a bench with a Mickey bar while I rode Big Thunder, but I didn't do it.

8 years later we returned with his little brother. So now I had ages 17 and 7. They loved being solo in the parks and going back to the parks alone a few times so I could ride the rides they didn't want to.

Any chance your wife could/would come with the babies and do resort time? Otherwise you may have to change the expectations for the trip.

 

[Shughart]

My kids are the way (one is a thrill seeker and the other is not, the thrill seeker is the younger). Mine are teens. I still would feel bad leaving my older behind even though they often walk around and do things on their own. I think you need to plan to bring someone else for your 6yo.

 

[elvispursley]

Would bribery work? My oldest DS (now 20) was the biggest wuss (er, chicken). Things like pirates made him nervous. I’m one of those parents that made him ride things whether he wanted to or not, only because I knew he would like it in the end (I did not force him to ride things like SM, ToT, etc until he was older). We told him he had to try each ride at least once and for being brave, he’d earn a pin to put on his lanyard. Worked great. “That was fun!” Was the response we’d get. Good luck, I don’t envy those days anymore