Seven Dwarfs Loading - Bizarre Things

[amberpi]

I love single rider lines, and I don't have to be with my companion for every moment. I've only once been seated next to a child (dad with 2 kids - he was with the younger one in front of us). I told the little kid he'd be fine and we'd have a great time. I suggested he couldn't yell as loud as me. He could.

I'm with the PP who just nods to whoever I'm sitting with. Sometimes I get a chatterbox, but

As for the OP - that's loads of crazy. Sorry it happened to you and your sister.

 

[KittyKitty]

When I started reading this, I thought back to having a child in the same row with me on Everest. Thought it was no big deal, but realized you have to be a certain height to ride Everest, and probably wouldn't have a young person with me, single, because of that restriction.

So I agree with you, Kyle. I think Disney should not sit children with strangers on Mine Train. Those seats are very close to each other. And I am so sorry for what your sister went thru.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That's terrible what your sister went through.

I would refuse to ride next to anyone's kid solo.

 

[Momto2minniemice]

I have been to the world alone with my girls middle school and elementary school age. I love it when they get someone awesome to sit next to.

 

[Robo]

The very reason for having Single Rider Lines is to fill any empty seats.

I know 7DMT doesn't specifically have a SRL, but it is still operated the same...
loaded in a way that there are no (or as few as possible) empty seats sent out.

No way to gauge with whom a given single rider will be paired.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'd ride with anyone. It's not a big deal to me. You have your own bar and seat and it's such a quick ride.

 

[anniemae]

what age do kids have to be to ride without a parent? I thought it was 9, but I could be wrong. Just curious..

ETA- Just checked, kids must be at least 7 to ride unaccompanied by an adult.

 

[Robo]

what age do kids have to be to ride without a parent? I thought it was 9, but I could be wrong. Just curious..

ETA- Just checked, kids must be at least 7 to ride unaccompanied by an adult.

Yup. If a child younger than 7 is paired with a "stranger" (another single guest of adult age)
then the child is "riding with an adult."

 

[srwarden1928]

I once got in line for Carousel of Progress at 11:57, just before MK closed at 12. A little girl wanted to ride it too. Her family did not want to ride, and weren't going to let her ride alone until I walked up. They seemed pleased that I, an adult man, would be available to ride with their daughter. We did not sit close to each other in the spacious theater, but we enjoyed singing A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow together at each scene change. I tell this to illustrate what seems to be the opposite experience from OP. WDW just seems to me to be a place where people of all ages can enjoy themselves sharing experiences that are unavailable in the outside world. It is such a shame that some people have to put a damper on the rest of us.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I sat next to a really strange man on Everest once. He asked me questions the whole ride, even during the most exciting parts --he just talked louder. Once he'd ascertained that I was married (and that that was my husband sitting with my daughter in the seat in front of us), he got it out of me that my mother was also traveling with us, waiting with my son. He asked why she wasn't riding and when I told him she didn't like the fast coasters, he offered to take her to get an ice cream and keep her company while my family rode Dinosaur, since she wouldn't ride. I declined his offer on her behalf.

I guess he was just lonely and I would have felt sorry for him if he hadn't been sort of creepy about it. I was amazed at all the questions he was able to ask me during one short ride.

 

[bumbershoot]

A parent should sit with a child if they are not obviously 14+ (the age your allowed to enter a park alone).

Age to BE in parks alone is 7. Age to enter alone is 14. Kids can go all through the lines and ride alone at 7.

Imagine if they gave the second seat to someone else, and then I screamed that "that person tried to...." He said/she said.

Since the rides are covered in cameras that wouldn't go far.

I told the little kid he'd be fine and we'd have a great time. I suggested he couldn't yell as loud as me. He could.

Awesome.

 

[loves to dive]

I was in line for SDMT last year and there was a family in front of me with 3 kids, all under the age where they could ride alone. The mother asked me if I'd ride with the oldest daughter (I guess I looked less threatening then who they might pair her with). I told her sure and suggested the father with one kid ride behind us and the mother with the other in front so the little girl would see both parents if she needed to and they could see her. She was a little nervous at first but I started pointing out things to her and getting excited and by the end of the ride she was laughing. They said thank you after the ride and we all went about our business. Frankly, I would have much rather been sat with her then someone else they might have put me with. I go solo all the time and the only ride I won't ride solo because I know they pair you up is TSMM, for some reason that ride just doesn't seem like one I'd want to ride with a stranger.

 

[Lothlórien]

While I have never had these type of experiences, I always found it strange that this ride could make you ride with strangers in such close quarters. To me they should have a single ride line & then if you're in that line, you know the risk you're taking. I also find it strange that parents would put their young children alone with a stranger & ride together vs one parent riding with the child!

I have been on this attraction and placed with other people's children. My family is 3 people and my daughter rides with my husband.

Usually the child I am seated with is a third child in a family of five. Mom sits with one child, Dad sits with another child and I sit with their third child. The Child always looks uncomfortable and I'm thinking it's because They do not know me. Haha. I have never had the experience that the original poster had, but I have seen parents in the parks get really ugly with other people for speaking to their child Or accidentally touching them. I am in the parks literally all the time. Sometimes we do have to call security over.

 

[samsteele]

the only ride I won't ride solo because I know they pair you up is TSMM, for some reason that ride just doesn't seem like one I'd want to ride with a stranger.

I've been on TSMM and it was fine with one exception. I'm a 40ish woman & was paired with a teenage boy. He was at WDW with his high school marching band but was on his own at HS for the morning. I always try to say hello when first seated to try to make things less awkward. He didn't say anything and didn't make eye contact so I just figured he was weirded out that he was riding with "Mom". As I exited the ride, he walked up behind me and started to tell me about his trip and his band. I kept walking and he tagged along behind me onto Star Tours on the other side of the park. Thankfully, I was sorted into another launch bay by the CM. He was probably just at loose ends being on his own but being followed by a teenage boy when you are a middle age lady is not the best. I agree that pairing single riders with strangers can be problematic. 99% of the time it's just a bit awkward but not a big deal. It's that 1% of the time that can be alarming. If you've had one of those 1% experiences, you can relate.

7DMT is even more of an issue because the seats are so tight & you have no personal space. You are pretty much pressed thigh to thigh with your ride buddy. One ride, the woman next to me grabbed my arm half way through & wouldn't let go. It makes for an amusing story later but didn't do much for my ride experience. I don't know how WDW will end up dealing with these loading issues but no doubt in the near future we will hear on the national news about a stranger encounter on a ride that went way off the rails.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Since the rides are covered in cameras that wouldn't go far.



Awesome.

Thanks for that information-I didn't think about ride cameras. I must admit, I feel a lot better knowing that.

 

[mamamelody2]

I once got in line for Carousel of Progress at 11:57, just before MK closed at 12. A little girl wanted to ride it too. Her family did not want to ride, and weren't going to let her ride alone until I walked up. They seemed pleased that I, an adult man, would be available to ride with their daughter. We did not sit close to each other in the spacious theater, but we enjoyed singing A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow together at each scene change. I tell this to illustrate what seems to be the opposite experience from OP. WDW just seems to me to be a place where people of all ages can enjoy themselves sharing experiences that are unavailable in the outside world. It is such a shame that some people have to put a damper on the rest of us.

I don't know how little this girl actually was, but there's no way I'd let my young daughter go on a ride alone with a random adult man.

 

[mamamelody2]

Based on these posts, it sounds like lots of parents ride together and have their little kids ride alone (and get paired with a random stranger). That just doesn't seem the right way to do it to me!

 

[FreeTime]

I do not think it is Disney's responsibility to ensure kids are sitting with an adult that they are safe with (predatorwise).Their responsibility is making sure they are with any adult if under a certain age. The parent needs to make sure that their kid has the safe companion. If they don't, it is the luck of the draw. I do think Disney has a responsibility to make sure that I have a seat. If their policy is to fill every empty seat then it is on me whether I choose to take the seat or put my kid in the seat or get back in line. Yes, I said get back in line. I can't delay someone else's wait behind me because I refuse to ride with a stranger.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Thanks for that information-I didn't think about ride cameras. I must admit, I feel a lot better knowing that.

Well, that's bizarre. I did not previously post on this thread but somehow the quote was attributed to me.

I've never been on this ride, so have no comment.

 

[BrianL]

I am often the Single Rider and I have never had an issue riding next to anyone, a kid or otherwise. Usually they are excited and want to chat. Last time I was on 7DMT, the little girl behind me (with her mom and sister) started talking to me and asking a ton of questions. By the end of it, I offered to ride with one of them because I thought they might have an issue since the mom was alone and her girls were little (I do not know their exact age, though I would think under 7 or right at). The girl was so excited to ride with me. It was adorable!

At DCA once, on the Fun Wheel, They put me and my friend (2 adult males) in with a couple of kids. All they wanted to do was rock the cage, which was fun. It takes a good 20 minutes or so to cycle on and off of that ride. There was never a wonder if it was inappropriate.

Honestly, I don't think most people worry about that and I think the odds of "something" happening on a ride at WDW is negligible. The system as it is works.