Rule on Age of Children on Rides

[KPeveler]

I have only confirmed this for Disneyland, but I wanted to post it here, in case it is the same for WDW.

We all know that any child under 7 is allowed to ride (and wait in line) by himself/herself. Until recently in DL, any child under 7 needed to have someone older with them to ride. I frequently saw 5-6 year old children with older siblings who were around 11 or so.

This is no longer allowed in Disneyland.

Now, if a child is under 7, a parent/guardian/person over 18 who is responsible for them must accompany them in line and onto the ride. I personally witnessed a party of children being sent back to get a parent at the Winnie the Pooh ride.

I know a lot of us here have many special requirements for line waiting and ride planning, so I figured I should mention it.

This change was made for safety reasons, as the older person with the young child must be responsible for evacuating a child from the ride in hte event on an emergency.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

At Disney World the rule, for many years, for riding alone was at least seven years old (plus meeting all height restrictions). And the requirement for an accompanying person is only 14.

 

[KPeveler]

At Disney World the rule, for many years, for riding alone was at least seven years old (plus meeting all height restrictions). And the requirement for an accompanying person is only 14.

This was the first I have heard of the age requirement being over 14 or 16 in DL, so I figured it was worth mentioning.

 

[HETRICKL]

I was told something different. Both of these were at WDW. The cast member on the Aladdin ride, said a child had to be 8 to ride without an adult. So, we sent my DD8 and her cousing on together without any other person in line. They wouldn't allow my son who was 6 at the time on with them.

However, when we got to the tea cups, same trip, all 3 stood in line together (with us watching of course) and rode alone and no one said a word.

I guess with a lot of things, it all depends on what cast member is watching the rules that day.

 

[KPeveler]

I was told something different. Both of these were at WDW. The cast member on the Aladdin ride, said a child had to be 8 to ride without an adult. So, we sent my DD8 and her cousing on together without any other person in line. They wouldn't allow my son who was 6 at the time on with them.

However, when we got to the tea cups, same trip, all 3 stood in line together (with us watching of course) and rode alone and no one said a word.

I guess with a lot of things, it all depends on what cast member is watching the rules that day.

In Disneyland the rule is fairly recently changed, so it will be pretty strictly enforced, at least for a while. Disneyland is also much more strict about the maximum party of 6 when a group has a wheelchair or GAC is a non-mainstreamed line.