Single rider requirements for test track?

[MonicaD1030]

Hi- does any one know if there are specific requirements for being a single rider on test track? I cannot find anything.
We are only going to be in Epcot one day ( and one evening for dinner) so we only are counting on getting one FP for a headliner which we will use for Soarin. The wait times on Touring Plans show 45 to 60 minutes wait for test track at the time we will be in the park and I know this rides has a habit of breaking down.....
I have an 8 year old and 6 year old. My husband suggested that we use the single rider line one of us go first and one last with the kids in the middle. I've done this in the past with all adult parties so I do know how it works. I know my kids would be totally fine with going in car alone (they are a little crazy ).
Would the cast members even allow that? OK idea or not? What else should I be considering?

They certainly wont die waiting 45 minutes so that always the alternative!

Thanks!

 

[rlovew]

Children must be 7 to ride alone so your 6 year old can not ride in the single rider line.

 

[MonicaD1030]

Thanks for the info good to know

 

[kwdw]

Oh - goodie! Single rider at TT is only 7? Yippee!! It's my niece's favorite ride and she's just six - but will be 7 by the time we go again. That will be awesome that she can do single rider. She's LOVES that ride and would have gone alone at 5, but CM said she was too young to get in single rider line.

 

[Baklava]

Oh - goodie! Single rider at TT is only 7? Yippee!! It's my niece's favorite ride and she's just six - but will be 7 by the time we go again. That will be awesome that she can do single rider. She's LOVES that ride and would have gone alone at 5, but CM said she was too young to get in single rider line.

It's not ride specific. A kid has to be 7 to ride any ride alone and they don't raise it for bigger ones. If the kid is tall enough they can ride anything alone once they hit 7.

 

[bumbershoot]

(and just in case anyone is planning a Universal part of their WDW stay, it's a height requirement only. 48" (or tall enough for the higher height reqs) and they can go alone)


For the rides, WDW or Uni, make sure you and the child have thought it through and planned it out. If TT has a ride stop and her car is one of the ones that has to wait for an hour for evacuation, how will she do? Will she listen to instructions, be patient, not get too overly upset? Will she be scared? Will YOU be scared? Where will you meet at the end? Are you 100% sure where she will come out? If it ends in a giftshop, perhaps go in there together first and find a spot to meet, so there is no confusion ("but keychains are sold in two places and I waited in this one!"). etc. If there are issues with any of this, riding alone isn't for the child (or perhaps you) yet.

 

[wilkeliza]

Your plan won't work right now as your one child is 6, however once your group is all over 7 that is the suggested way to single rider with kids. Put 1 adult first then kids then the other adult. That way there is an adult at the end and an adult in line with the kids at all time. The only way you would get a long separation is if the ride gets e-stopped while it is just your kids on the ride. At that point I would just hope your kids are able to listen to the announcements and whatever adults may be in their car who can calm them down.

 

[Baklava]

(and just in case anyone is planning a Universal part of their WDW stay, it's a height requirement only. 48" (or tall enough for the higher height reqs) and they can go alone)


For the rides, WDW or Uni, make sure you and the child have thought it through and planned it out. If TT has a ride stop and her car is one of the ones that has to wait for an hour for evacuation, how will she do? Will she listen to instructions, be patient, not get too overly upset? Will she be scared? Will YOU be scared? Where will you meet at the end? Are you 100% sure where she will come out? If it ends in a giftshop, perhaps go in there together first and find a spot to meet, so there is no confusion ("but keychains are sold in two places and I waited in this one!"). etc. If there are issues with any of this, riding alone isn't for the child (or perhaps you) yet.

Ooh, good point. My older kid would have been fine at 7 in a breakdown on Dumbo but would have been really upset on a ride where he couldn't see or hear one of us.

 

[rpcvpanama]

You also miss designing your own test car if you do the single rider line. That can be really fun for the kids.

 

[BrianL]

You also miss designing your own test car if you do the single rider line. That can be really fun for the kids.

But, you can design a car at the exit of the ride and if you want to do it first, just go in through the exit (gift shop) and use the kiosks there before getting in the Single Rider line.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

(and just in case anyone is planning a Universal part of their WDW stay, it's a height requirement only. 48" (or tall enough for the higher height reqs) and they can go alone)


For the rides, WDW or Uni, make sure you and the child have thought it through and planned it out. If TT has a ride stop and her car is one of the ones that has to wait for an hour for evacuation, how will she do? Will she listen to instructions, be patient, not get too overly upset? Will she be scared? Will YOU be scared? Where will you meet at the end? Are you 100% sure where she will come out? If it ends in a giftshop, perhaps go in there together first and find a spot to meet, so there is no confusion ("but keychains are sold in two places and I waited in this one!"). etc. If there are issues with any of this, riding alone isn't for the child (or perhaps you) yet.

This. Absolutely this. My DS was 7 on our last trip and it was just the two of us traveling. He hates long lines and is really trying to be independent (and is doing a really good job for a kid with a couple of diagnoses under his belt!). He wanted to try the TT single rider line. Ok, breath mom. This should be ok! We had a plan. I would go first and he would go last. That way, I would exit first and see him come out of his car when he was done. If that didn't work, we were to meet under the red exit sign at the end of the ride. Well, as luck had it, the way they loaded, he went first and I went second. I think I hyperventilated the whole ride. My DS ended up sitting next to a nice dad who gave him a big thumbs up when he buckled himself in, but, I thought, what a terrible burden to put on this nice man if the ride stopped, something happened, etc. By then it was too late and off they went. Ok, I panicked for nothing, because it all worked out. DS was waiting patiently for me at the exit sign at the end of the ride as we discussed - nice job DS!!!

HOWEVER! The next day we were in MK and he wanted to ride Space Mountain. He has done this alone before (I hate the jerkiness of this ride) and I simply walked him to his "rocket" and met him where the ride lets out. This time, though, as we walked into the main area of the ride loading, all the lights were on and the ride had stopped. If that had happened and he was on the ride alone, I think he would have freaked out and, again, I don't want him to be scared or make it some other adults responsibility to take care of him if there was an emergency. So, long story, short, I decided that was the end of single rider for us for a while and I will suck it up and ride with him if he wants to go.

So, yes, I agree, though a child may meet the age requirement, I would still assess how you think your child may react in an emergency without a parent present and also think about the other adults that may have to take on that responsibility in your absence and if that's really a fair position to put them in.

 

[wilkeliza]

This. Absolutely this. My DS was 7 on our last trip and it was just the two of us traveling. He hates long lines and is really trying to be independent (and is doing a really good job for a kid with a couple of diagnoses under his belt!). He wanted to try the TT single rider line. Ok, breath mom. This should be ok! We had a plan. I would go first and he would go last. That way, I would exit first and see him come out of his car when he was done. If that didn't work, we were to meet under the red exit sign at the end of the ride. Well, as luck had it, the way they loaded, he went first and I went second. I think I hyperventilated the whole ride. My DS ended up sitting next to a nice dad who gave him a big thumbs up when he buckled himself in, but, I thought, what a terrible burden to put on this nice man if the ride stopped, something happened, etc. By then it was too late and off they went. Ok, I panicked for nothing, because it all worked out. DS was waiting patiently for me at the exit sign at the end of the ride as we discussed - nice job DS!!!

HOWEVER! The next day we were in MK and he wanted to ride Space Mountain. He has done this alone before (I hate the jerkiness of this ride) and I simply walked him to his "rocket" and met him where the ride lets out. This time, though, as we walked into the main area of the ride loading, all the lights were on and the ride had stopped. If that had happened and he was on the ride alone, I think he would have freaked out and, again, I don't want him to be scared or make it some other adults responsibility to take care of him if there was an emergency. So, long story, short, I decided that was the end of single rider for us for a while and I will suck it up and ride with him if he wants to go.

So, yes, I agree, though a child may meet the age requirement, I would still assess how you think your child may react in an emergency without a parent present and also think about the other adults that may have to take on that responsibility in your absence and if that's really a fair position to put them in.

Just thought you should know if your little one was ever in a car with me I wouldn't feel burdened by that situation. If you DS is okay with talking to strangers I would probably find something to distract him. I think most people in Disney would do the same. We are all there to have fun and estops happen.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Disney has chosen 7 as the age where many kids would be mature enough to follow directions and function without the parents in the event of a stoppage or evacuation. It's up to the parents to decide if their child is indeed ready for that.

 

[courtneybeth]

ou can design a car at the exit of the ride and if you want to do it first, just go in through the exit (gift shop) and use the kiosks there before getting in the Single Rider line.

We do this even if we have a FP+ reservation and allow one of the kids near by to use our Kiosk to design a car. Passing along the pixie dust.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Just thought you should know if your little one was ever in a car with me I wouldn't feel burdened by that situation. If you DS is okay with talking to strangers I would probably find something to distract him. I think most people in Disney would do the same. We are all there to have fun and estops happen.

That's really sweet! I feel the same way. I would definitely take care of another person's child as well and not feel burdened by it.