Single mom going with 2 kids- what to do when one doesn't want to ride?

[ophelia2002]

This is my first time taking my kids since my divorce. While my older child and I love thrill rides, my youngest isn't too keen on them. Do what can we do? Can she wait with us in line and then not ride and meet us at the end?

Edited to add: The younger one is 10 and she meets the height requirements, she doesn't doesn't like thrill rides.

 

[Kristibo42]

Yes. My nephew is not a rider and he does it.

 

[goofyernmost]

Depends on how old she is. If too young, you might just have to skip the thrill rides. If she is old enough to responsibly take care of herself or take the necessary steps in the unlikely event that trouble comes to her, in your absence, then that is your option. I can think of no others.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

does the younger child make the height for the trill rides because if not will not be allowed to stand in line with you. if tower of terror is one remember child will have to go thru beginning and then ride elevator down to photo area which can be scary.

 

[kj2mom]

I agree age plays a huge factor but for us when they were 5 we all rode or no one rode. This year we all rode but one time they wanted to but I did not so they went together and knew where I would be waiting for them. If someone waits outside the ride just make sure to have a crystal clear meeting spot (remembering the exits are often not near the entrance) and have a plan in the off chance the ride breaks down or something (although rare it can happen).

 

[bumbershoot]

How old and tall are they? Makes all the difference.

 

[SillyFamily]

You might also wanna think about a mommies helper for park days. They are relatively inexpensive.

 

[summerw]

I can't say definitively for wdw but at dl, I was chastised by a cm for leaving my 6 year old alone for 45 seconds while I washed my hands so they take the 7 year old rule pretty seriously. If the younger is tall enough for the ride but not yet 7, cm's might agree to let her wait in the waiting area by the holding area.

Assuming the older is at least 7 and the younger is not, you will probably have to wait with the younger.

Talk to cm,s at the entrance though as nice ones might give the older a rider swap to get thru quickly if you explain. If the younger is tall enough, they aren't supposed to, but I've found they are often very helpful to parents there without help. They do understand but won't usually budge at all on the 7 year old not being alone rule.

 

[DisneyOma]

You can also have the younger one attend one of the kids clubs at one of the resorts and you and the older daredevil go get your fill of thrill rides. Just make sure you get FP+ for those attractions on that day.

 

[kandb]

I think for a child to ride alone, they have to be 12 or 14? I forget, does someone know?

 

[MermaidMommy]

I think for a child to ride alone, they have to be 12 or 14? I forget, does someone know?

14 to enter park alone. 7 to ride alone.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think for a child to ride alone, they have to be 12 or 14? I forget, does someone know?

7 to ride an attraction alone.

 

[Kenai1972]

When I took my children when they were young and I was a divorced mom I would ask my sister to come along on vacations. It never failed that one of my children would not want to ride a ride. In fact, the CMs at Dinosaur were amazing with my 6 year old daughter, she absolutely refused to ride because it was scary and they tried to get her to go to the control to watch her brother ride. She refused even that because she thought that would be scary. Her next trip at 8 years old she rode it and was kicking herself for missing it on her first trip.

 

[mjkacmom]

A 10 year is will be fine waiting for you.

 

[tjmw2727]

Single mom here - my kids are 2 years apart and we have done Disney since they were 2 and 4 year olds.
Your 10yo can definitely wait the line with you and then take the "chicken exit" - if you think she is capable of this. I would probably go through the exit of each ride first and find a bench or general area for her to wait at as well has giving her a cell phone (and having one yourself).
You could also send the older one to ride alone while waiting with the 10yo and then ride yourself while the 2 kids wait together (or get ice cream, snacks ect?) especially if you have FP to minimize the wait.

I also found that letting the kids do their own compromising worked well to remind them how lucky they were to be there and that there were so many attractions and shows we could do together minimized the fuss about rides they didn't both love. For example my youngest loved TOT but my oldest didn't - she waited that one out while we rode, alternately my oldest loved Space but my youngest wasn't fond if it so that was the compromise.

You may also find that given the choice to wait it out or try it she just "may" try it and like it - that happened on a few occasions with us, and no I never forced either to ride something they didn't want to ride.

Just play it by ear and follow the lead of the kids - have a great trip!

 

[gtpoohbear]

I would be fine leaving a 10yo alone to wait for a few minutes, especially if they go through the line with you and take the chicken exit. I would probably send them with a phone, just in case. My DD spent a couple of hours alone at MK when she was 10 (we were in the park just not right with her) and it was fine. The other option is to let the older one ride alone, if you don't care about missing it.

 

[Kathryn777]

At 10 I would use the chicken exit for her. She'll be ok for a minutes but I wouldn't want to leave her , go through the line and hope she ends up at the exit

 

[vintagemomma]

For Tower I would walk her through the gift shop and put her on a bench right across from the Photo counter, then go ride the ride. That way she has a comfortable place to sit, she is in view of a CM and you pass right by that spot at the rides end. I've done this with my daughter and she was fine.

 

[ttintagel]

I was cut loose at 12 in the MK. I would think that as long as your 10-year-old isn't particularly immature or prone to wandering off when she shouldn't, she'll be fine taking the "chicken" exit and waiting for you at the other end. Especially today in the age of cell phones when she's a call or a text away if you don't immediately see her when you get off.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

Do you trust your 10 year old to wait on a bench outside? Or maybe even schedule a time for your and your other child to do thrill rides and have her wait at the resort? I can't speak for anyone else but I had that freedom at 10 and I did, so if you think your DD is responsible enough for it, go for it. Give her a phone and make sure you have a designated meeting spot for when you exit.