Rider Switch Play Areas

[npaige611]

Hi all, I was wondering about options for younger kids while waiting for the older child to ride a ride. My son will be 7 and my daughter will be 19 months at the time of our trip. I know some areas are good for waiting in,the Epcot areas I have good options for waiting. The park I am not sure of is HS, since honey I shrunk the kids area is gone. Is my only option for my husband and I to split up? I know there are a lot of areas under construction at HS and I am sure it will be the same when we go, 4/30-5/4.

 

[MelissaBee]

I'm focusing on height restricted rides here...
At HS there's not much near RRC or TOT. Star Tours has some themed areas to walk around and JTA to watch if it's going on.

At MK there is plenty to look at in most areas near height restricted rides. Unless you are doing rider swap with no FP for the first rider, there isn't really enough time to go on another ride while you wait. If parent #1 is riding standby, you might have time to hop on the carousel or peoplemover Splash has a play area near the exit.

At AK, there's the huge boneyard playground and Triceratops Spin near Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl. EE and KRR are lacking nearby play areas, but you can watch the monkeys.

Epcot has long ride cycles, even with the first parent using FP. MS has a play area. TT has lots to explore in the exit area, including car building computer stations just like the ones in the ride. You can "drive" the cars on a "track". Soarin is near a few minor attractions you could do while waiting in the Land pavilion. We usually time Soarin with lunch and take turns eating and playing games/resting in the Sunshine Seasons food court.

 

[M_loves_DW]

This is very helpful. I was wondering what to do about this as well!

 

[wench]

I thought there was a small play area between Splash & BTMR in MK. I could be wrong though.

 

[tjmw2727]

Just want to clarify an above post as there is no time restriction for using the Rider Switch pass so the 2nd party can ride anytime that day (sometimes longer). This means there is plenty of time to do another attraction, get an ice cream, diaper change or even go see a show or character. Keep in touch via text with the other parent and meet up after the first party rides and then decide when the 2nd parent will ride. The nice thing is your son can ride again with the 2nd parent as up to 3 can return with the RS pass. Unfortunately you do have to split up as they won't allow anyone who doesn't meet the height restriction in the queue - even a baby!

Its been a while since I had a toddler but there is always something to do at MK, the splash pad by Dumbo, pay area by splash, ride the railroad around for example. Epcot has a few splash pads, a play area in MS and some temporary ones you can find on the guide map. AK has the animal walking trails, the boneyard - but some of that may be difficult for a 19month old child.

 

[npaige611]

Thanks for the responses. HS day will be a challenge, so much construction. I think I will go early with my son on that day and have my husband meet us later with my daughter. That way we can get some big kid rides out of the way early on.

 

[Dis703]

At HS maybe just hang out around Echo lake and watch the ducks while the other ones are doing Star Tours. There aren't really any playgrounds that I'm aware of like there is by Splash in MK. But there are things you can do. It should be relatively easy to entertain a 19 month old. Some things we would do while the older one was riding are spend some time in the shops, take a snack break (there are lots of QS locations and tables near ToT or RnRC), make some pressed pennies, get a bubble wand and chase some bubbles. The Baby Care Center isn't really convenient to any of the rides, but they always have the tv on there with Mickey cartoons playing.

 

[Dis703]

I thought there was a small play area between Splash & BTMR in MK. I could be wrong though.

It's underneath Splash Mountain. Great for kids under 5.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

You will be at Epcot during the flower and garden festival so you will have lots to look at and they usually have two Temporary playground setup. I actually had to pry my daughters from the playgrounds to go ride rides this past Easter

 

[skuttle]

At the studios, while my DH and older DS did TOT and RNR, I took younger DSs to Beauty and the Beast show.

 

[npaige611]

At HS maybe just hang out around Echo lake and watch the ducks while the other ones are doing Star Tours. There aren't really any playgrounds that I'm aware of like there is by Splash in MK. But there are things you can do. It should be relatively easy to entertain a 19 month old. Some things we would do while the older one was riding are spend some time in the shops, take a snack break (there are lots of QS locations and tables near ToT or RnRC), make some pressed pennies, get a bubble wand and chase some bubbles. The Baby Care Center isn't really convenient to any of the rides, but they always have the tv on there with Mickey cartoons playing.

Thank you, some great ideas in here. I love the bubble wand idea.

 

[npaige611]

At the studios, while my DH and older DS did TOT and RNR, I took younger DSs to Beauty and the Beast show.

Yeah, that is a possibility as well. My husband and I have discussed the idea of splitting up a few times.

 

[crayon3448]

It's underneath Splash Mountain. Great for kids under 5.

When we went when DD was 15 months old, this play area was her favorite part of the entire trip. I think she spent hours here.