Seating on rides with a party of 5

[MomofCKJ]

I have been watching the Disney Planning DVD and it got me thinking. We are a family of 5, the kids will be 9, 7 and 4 at trip time. The youngest should be over 40 inches tall then, he is about 39 now. So for instance Splash Mountain. It seats 2 across. I am not sure how to do this. My first thought was me with the little guy, DH with the middle daughter but my oldest is sort of a scaredy cat. She will go on thrill rides willingly but not if she has to sit alone. I know this is not a thrill ride but I think it would still be something she would be nervous to have to sit alone. I guess we could seat the two girls together and one of us adults could sit alone. My middle daughter is a waif though and honestly on any ride I always like to hold onto her so she doesn't fly out of the seat. Will we have to Fast Pass and just ride it seperately a few times? Boy that would take a bunch of time. Do most rides seat just 2 together? Are there some where 3 of us could sit together?

Allyson

 

[HeatherPage]

I would say one parent with the youngest, the two other kids together with the lone parent behind the two youngest kids just so they can keep in eye out on them. Splash Mtn. is two to a seat, however at Big Thunder Mtn. My mom, myself and my 4 year old son (who sat between us) fit fine, no problem in one seat (and I'm not exactly tiny if you know what I mean). Maybe there are other rides that fit 3 in a seat where dad can ride with the other two and you can ride with the youngest (or vice versa).

 

[Renee1061]

Three of you may be able to fit. Last week when we were there, they were sometimes putting three into a seat.

 

[Skwinkles]

If the kids are small and "waify" you could probably fit two in the seat with you on Splash, and then the oldest with her dad in another row.

 

[westcliffemom]

My DH and I have sat with our daughter in one row on Splash Mtn. It was a little tight, but she was happy, as she didn't get wet at all (we did!). She was 9 at the time.

 

[rrkman]

I came in here to answer that I would pick to sit with either Neve Campbell or Jennifer Love Hewitt... but I don't think that is what you were looking for.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I agree that I would try to pair up the older two kids, rather than have one ride alone.

We're running into the same problem for our trip. We'll have to do child swap for any of the "thrill" rides, but that still leaves one parent and two kids (9 and 6). I plan to discuss this with the kids well ahead of time, so it isn't a new issue while we wait in the line.

Goofy Barnstormer isn't really a big "thrill" ride, but it is to my kids. I was able to ride that one in the same seat as my older two (6 and 3 at the time). It was tight, but doable (and I'm by no means a small person). So, I bet that some of the others would fit three of you. If so, I would put the younger two kids with an adult together, and the older and the other adult together.

I'm glad you brought this up. I was just complaining that I've hit another point where I have no planning that needs to be done (ADR's made, touring plans ready). Now, I can figure out which rides we'll run into the seating issue with. Good...I was getting too bored with nothing to do.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Put the youngest with the scaredy cat. You'd be surprised how fast having a sibling to watch and protect takes the chicken out of someone. You go behind them, and put your husband and the other in front.

 

[Hobbes]

I came in here to answer that I would pick to sit with either Neve Campbell or Jennifer Love Hewitt... but I don't think that is what you were looking for.

Hunky doc off "LOST" (He was on it wasn't he?)

 

[Hopefully]

We were a party of 5 at WDW last week. 3 adults and 2 small children - 3 and 5. There were some rides where you could sit 3 across and there were others where you could not. It really does depend on the size of the children. With small ones, I think you could fit 3 small ones across on Splash Mountain. Even with 2 adults and a 5 year old though, we could not fit all 3 across when we went. Although you know your children better than anyone, I personally would not have a child alone on Splash Mountain.