Riding with 3 kids under 8

[tiggeroo42]

Hi! This is our first trip when everyone is over 40 inches (yay!). But we also now have to figure out how to do rides that are better suited for families of 4. Adults include my husband and I, but the tricky part is our kids who are 5 , 5 , and 7 and really all still need an adult with them on rides. In the past we've done 3 in a row on many rides, but I feel like the kids are too big for that to work on everything anymore. These are the rides I have concerns about:

-Big Thunder Mountain (can the girls and I ride in one car so my husband can ride next to my son?)
-Buzz Lightyear, Gadget's Go Coaster, Space Mountain, Toy Story MM (can my 7 year old ride in his own vehicle/own row without an adult?)

Do kids need to be OVER 7 or just 7 to ride alone? My son is a super responsible and mature kid, but I worry about him freaking out when he has to get buckled or unbuckled on his own without us right next to him. Does anyone have experience riding with 3 young ones?

Thanks!

 

[Malcon10t]

They need to be 7 to ride alone. He will be allowed to go in his own car/row. The majority of the rides you mentioned don't have a belt. They have a pull down bar and he should be able to handle that. Matterhorn is a ride he would need to buckle himself into, but it shouldn't be a problem. Cast members are thre to assist. My granddaughter started riding it at 4, and has never had an issue.

 

[SMD]

If 3 of your fit in BTMRR they'll let you ride. It really depends on everyone's size if an adult with 2 kids would fit, but I'd think most 5 year olds would fit with many adults. A child only has to be 7 to ride alone.

 

[agamble]

He can ride alone since he is 7. My DD is looking forward to this. They allow a small three on Big Thunder. They would also allow three in Buzz, but then someone wouldn't have a gun, so I would allow him to ride alone if you think he's responsible. Our third is just one, so fortunately she doesn't need a gun on those types of rides. We're going this Sunday, but DD won't be 7 until our trip in June, so I'm not sure how everything is going to work this weekend.

 

[YukonMommy]

-Big Thunder Mountain (can the girls and I ride in one car so my husband can ride next to my son?)

-Buzz Lightyear, Gadget's Go Coaster, Space Mountain, Toy Story MM (can my 7 year old ride in his own vehicle/own row without an adult?) yes he can ride on his own. If he can buckle himself into a vehicle, he should be ok with the rides and as someone mentioned there will be cast members to assist if need be. To make you all feel more comfortable just place him in between for the rides. you and I child get in first cart, son gets in, hubby and other child get in behind.

Have a magical time!

 

[wilkeliza]

As others have said the 7 year okd can be in their own car if need be. Then you take one daughter and husband takes the other.

 

[lcp9]

We have often put 3 on BTMRR - two adults and one child even.

 

[Disney_Alli]

I rode BTMRR with both my parents several times even in my 20s lol

 

[Lesley Wake]

According to the rules, a 7-yr old can ride by himself. Now, is it a good idea? Sometimes, depending on the kid and how independent they are.

BTMRR-yes, it would be relatively easy to fit 3 on the bench.

Buzz Lightyear-You can fit three, but one won't get a blaster. I would do 3 cars, Parent+child, child, parent+child. It is easy to see each other on that ride so you won't have to worry about him feeling alone.

Gadget's Go Coaster-The CMs check with kids directly for their age (they will be asked multiple times by multiple people). It is a tight fit, so would recommend son on his own.

Space Mountain-I would recommend rider switch for this one. Even though he technically can ride alone, he may get freaked out by a fast coaster in the dark. It would probably require 3 separate rides, so a parent+child rides each time, and parent+2 kids wait. But the CMs would be willing to work with you.

Toy Story MM-It's too hard to fit 3 people on there with the way the bars come down. I would put him alone but in the car facing someone else (it goes 1-2<->3-4, where 2 and 3 can see each other when the car is moving into position.

 

[Malcon10t]

Space Mountain, I would have it with the 7yo in front of the parent. Especially if they have rode before. I would not want to do 3 rides.

 

[PHXscuba]

In a "cars that seat 4" scenario, you can also ask that your son be in the first row of the vehicle, and you and one 5-year-old right behind him. Your DH then can take a separate car with the other 5-year-old. Also, if he rides alone, on a few rides (like Screamin or Goofy's Sky School) he might have a random stranger sitting next to him. Make sure he knows that is a possibility.

PHXscuba

 

[tiggeroo42]

Thank you all for the tips! I plan on sandwiching him in between DH, DD and DD and me where we can. He's a responsible kid, so I know he will be fine...just possibly a little scared on Space. BTMRR sounds like the girls and I will fit fine on 1 bench.

It's always been my understanding that they don't allow rider switch if everyone in your party meets height requirements, so I don't think we could even take turns doing Space Mountain unless we just simply waited in line and rode separately 1 adult and 1 kid at a time. And that just seems like it would eat up way too much time.

 

[Winnowill]

It's always been my understanding that they don't allow rider switch if everyone in your party meets height requirements, so I don't think we could even take turns doing Space Mountain unless we just simply waited in line and rode separately 1 adult and 1 kid at a time. And that just seems like it would eat up way too much time.

It depends. A couple of years ago, my daughter was tall enough to ride CS, but she was afraid to - like, hysterically sobbing afraid. So we explained the situation to a CM, and he gave us rider switch so that DH and I could both ride.

The irony? Later that trip she gathered up her courage and rode it, and now it's her favorite thing in either park.

 

[KimberMama]

I would have a parent ride with him the first time on Space Mtn just to make sure he is okay with it (if he hasn't ridden it already), and after that arrange it so that you are parent + child, child, parent + child. For BTMRR, ride parent + 2 children and parent + 1 child.

On rides the have a single rider line I would hesitate to have the 7YO ride alone unless a cast member is willing to leave the seat next to him empty. In this day and age I can't imagine them turning down that request, because Disney would have major liability if something happened. My youngest is 17 and only last year did he start riding CS with a stranger next to him.

As for rider switch, I'm sure there are many children who aren't ready to ride alone, so I would ask, explaining that you have a ratio of 3 children to 2 parents.

 

[Winnowill]

FWIW, row 5 on the CS green trains (only the green trains) is a single-rider row, for some reason. The left-hand seat area is not a seat.

 

[Malcon10t]

FWIW, row 5 on the CS green trains (only the green trains) is a single-rider row, for some reason. The left-hand seat area is not a seat.

That is a "slide seat" for a wheelchair transfer.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Thank you all for the tips! I plan on sandwiching him in between DH, DD and DD and me where we can. He's a responsible kid, so I know he will be fine...just possibly a little scared on Space. BTMRR sounds like the girls and I will fit fine on 1 bench.

It's always been my understanding that they don't allow rider switch if everyone in your party meets height requirements, so I don't think we could even take turns doing Space Mountain unless we just simply waited in line and rode separately 1 adult and 1 kid at a time. And that just seems like it would eat up way too much time.

For Space, there is room for your party to wait just off the unloading area; I often see families doing that for Rider Switch. I think CMs will understand the situation and would prefer to work with you rather than have a scared 7-yr old on the ride by themselves.

 

[Winnowill]

That is a "slide seat" for a wheelchair transfer.

Ah. Thank you for explaining - I've never seen it in use and never made the connection!

 

[avalovesminnie]

I've ridden Space with one adult and 2 kids under 7 where they sat kids together and me directly behind with no one next to me. It worked fine although I have a funny picture of my daughter hanging on to my arm with my arm coming from the seat behind her. Your son will be fine if you are right behind him.