Single Rider

[Kristine316]

Please tell me about single rider... My husband and I are taking our first trip alone and there are some things he won't ride so, that leaves me to fend for myself. I will probably be using single rider quite a bit but, have never used it before or even paid attention to it.

I get that there is a line for people who are riding alone and it moves faster because they fill in space. So my biggest question is are you literally sitting right next to someone you don't know? Like on a ride like Dinosaur where there are seats right next to you each other or BTMR.. do they fill in every single seat? And if let's say both my husband and I get into the single rider line what are the odds we will be seated together.. is that even a possibility?


I am sort of shy so I don't know how I feel about being right next to a stranger but, if it means not waiting in a long line, I will put a smile on and go with the flow.

Is this a good strategy to tour the parks? Any thoughts for or against?

We will be there in September right after Labor Day for a week, during low crowds ,if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

 

[lroger01]

Unfortunately only a few rides offer single rider lines. Epcot has it for Test Track, Disney Studios for Rock n' Roller Coaster, and Animal Kingdom for Expedition Everest.

You will ride next to a stranger. In all the coasters you do have your own seat of sorts, so you're not falling into a strange like you might be on a bench seat coaster like BTMRR.

My family has all used the single rider lines. It makes it much easier to get multiple rides in. The odds of you sitting next to your husband are very slim. It's better on Test track since the cars hold 6 people. If a group of 4 get in a car and there are no groups of two close by, they'll pull those two from single rider.

I wish more attractions had single rider lines

 

[famy27]

Not everything has a single rider line. BTMRR doesn't, AFAIK. TT, RNRC, and EE all have single rider lines.

So, if something doesn't have a single rider line, you will just have to wait in the regular line by yourself.

If it does have a single rider line and you go in the regular line, they will pair you with a stranger from the single rider line. So, your best bet is to be in the single rider line yourself and to save yourself a long wait. You could also use FP+, but depending on the park, it might make more sense to use your FP+ for a ride without single rider and do single rider where you can. For example, in EP, you'd use FP+ for Soarin and wait single rider at TT.

I just returned from a trip to DL. I brought DD and DNephew through the single rider line at RSR. SB line was 80+ minutes and we waited less than 30 and didn't have to wait 20-30 minutes just to get FP+s. DD(8) was a little reluctant about the single rider line, but given the choice between 30 and 80 minutes, she did single rider. She said she ended up sitting with a super-nice lady and had lots of fun riding.

 

[HopperFan]

But on larger vehicles with "bench" seating you probably will be asked to get in with strangers to sit side by side on same row. A few are Safari, Dinosaur, Pirates, Small World, Tower of Terror, Star Tours.....

 

[karm12]

I've ridden as a single rider multiple times due to my family not willing to go on certain rides (ToT, SM) that do not have a dedicated single rider line. It is no big deal. I've sat next to some great families and had fun.

Last week I sat next to a young boy (maybe 4/5?) and his dad. They were great fun because the little boy was saying "I'm not scared." But as soon as the drops were starting grabbed my hand and was screaming. I was also near the caged wall and was hanging on for deal life. It was a cute moment with a family I'll probably never see again.

Plus if you are in the regular line there is a chance you might get pulled out of line sooner as a single ride to fill in a space....happened to me both at SM and ToT.

 

[TreeSapp]

DH & I have a mantra at Disney - "we're all family here!"
I think many people feel a similar way, most are friendly with strangers in line and many are happy to include you in their party for the short term

 

[Hannathy]

Keep your ears open when you get near the front on a lot of rides they will be calling out for parties of 1 or 2 to fill a car. I've moved up quickly on several rides this way.

Another way to think of sitting with other people is if you ride the buses, boats or even the monorail you will be sitting and standing closer to more people then than on any ride in the parks!!

 

[disnut8]

Please tell me about single rider... My husband and I are taking our first trip alone and there are some things he won't ride so, that leaves me to fend for myself. I will probably be using single rider quite a bit but, have never used it before or even paid attention to it.

I get that there is a line for people who are riding alone and it moves faster because they fill in space. So my biggest question is are you literally sitting right next to someone you don't know? Like on a ride like Dinosaur where there are seats right next to you each other or BTMR.. do they fill in every single seat? And if let's say both my husband and I get into the single rider line what are the odds we will be seated together.. is that even a possibility?


I am sort of shy so I don't know how I feel about being right next to a stranger but, if it means not waiting in a long line, I will put a smile on and go with the flow.

Is this a good strategy to tour the parks? Any thoughts for or against?

We will be there in September right after Labor Day for a week, during low crowds ,if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

As stated, there are only there places with single riders lines. Rock N Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest and Test Track. If you enter these with your husband, I would put the chances of you riding with your husband at Rock N Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest at a squeak above zero but the squeak was just exterminated and at Test Track, maybe in the same vehicle but I wouldn't count on it.

If you are shy, there's no problem. You will more than likely be the second person in the vehicle and a simple "you don't know me but thanks for taking the trip!" or something similar will be enough. Remember - that other person is a single rider too. My husband and I do the single riders lines and my first question to my new partner is "have you ridden this before?" Some of my best memories are with other single riders.

Singles riders does not mean alone.

 

[Crystal824]

You might as well use the single rider lines for the rides that are available (because they tend to be faster; not always but usually) because if you go through the regular line, they are just going to put a single rider with you on those attractions (provided someone is waiting in the single rider line). It really isn't a big deal. My husband and I used the single rider lines a lot especially when our daughter was napping.

 

[Kristine316]

Thanks everyone for answering my questions!!

I knew so little about Single Rider that I actually thought more rides offered it than actually do.

I think it sounds like a good idea and now I know what to expect.

 

[chalee94]

wanted to add that sometimes the single rider line isn't always that much faster than the regular line. again, they use it to fill in spots left over from groups of 3 and 5...so if it's mostly pairs, you might be waiting for a bit.

i've used the single rider line quite a bit and never seen anyone ride with someone else from the single rider line...always paired with a leftover from a group of 3 or 5 as i said above.

 

[johde]

wanted to add that sometimes the single rider line isn't always that much faster than the regular line. again, they use it to fill in spots left over from groups of 3 and 5...so if it's mostly pairs, you might be waiting for a bit.

i've used the single rider line quite a bit and never seen anyone ride with someone else from the single rider line...always paired with a leftover from a group of 3 or 5 as i said above.

This is very true and for me more than one on RNR it's actually been slower. Back just after New Years 2012 I was in the Single Rider Line, as a single, hoping to avoid the 60 minute standby wait. There were 2 kids probabaly 10-13 who got in line behind me. While we were waiting in the alley, the kids parents and younger kid walked past in the standby line while we waited another 15 minutes after they had ridden. The kids were hoping to get 2 quick rides in the SRL and it ended up being slower.

The sign for EE isn't very big so most people don't see it so the line doesn't seem to get as backed up as RNR where all 3 lines are right there. TT is normally pretty good because with 3 to a row you get a Single rider with groups of 2,4 and 5. Only groups of 3 and 6 don't pull someone from the single rider line.

 

[Rebekkap]

The odds of you sitting next to your husband are very slim.

Particularly since the OP said she would be using single rider line on the things her husband wouldn't ride...

 

[khertz]

Keep your ears open when you get near the front on a lot of rides they will be calling out for parties of 1 or 2 to fill a car. I've moved up quickly on several rides this way.

Another way to think of sitting with other people is if you ride the buses, boats or even the monorail you will be sitting and standing closer to more people then than on any ride in the parks!!

This is a great tip for rides that don't offer Single Rider! This has worked for me several times in the past, especially on Tower of Terror.

I can sympathize with you, OP. I am pretty shy and I used to get nervous about sitting next to people I don't know for rides or shows. But once we started going with my son after he turned a year old, it was either used Single Rider (or FP rides to swap with my DH) or don't ride at all! It's really not that bad. For things like EE and RnRC you only have a few seconds before you are zooming off anyway, so it's not like you really need to fill time or silence with conversation.

 

[denneg]

wanted to add that sometimes the single rider line isn't always that much faster than the regular line. again, they use it to fill in spots left over from groups of 3 and 5...so if it's mostly pairs, you might be waiting for a bit.

i've used the single rider line quite a bit and never seen anyone ride with someone else from the single rider line...always paired with a leftover from a group of 3 or 5 as i said above.

Totally agree, especially if there are large tour or school groups and the students all pile into the single rider line hoping for a shortcut. Very frustrating when you are an actual single rider trying to squeeze in a ride while a child naps!

Also wanted to point out that your DH can stand in line with you for any ride and then opt out when you get to the front.. No reason to stand alone, he can enjoy the ambiance of the line (especially lines like ToT, Star Tours, Space Mountain) and keep you company and then exit rather than ride.

 

[anonymousegirl]

wanted to add that sometimes the single rider line isn't always that much faster than the regular line. again, they use it to fill in spots left over from groups of 3 and 5...so if it's mostly pairs, you might be waiting for a bit.

i've used the single rider line quite a bit and never seen anyone ride with someone else from the single rider line...always paired with a leftover from a group of 3 or 5 as i said above.

I use Single rider often at both DLR and WDW. I have on multiple occasions, been paired with the person next to me in the single rider line. That's how I met the high scorer on Toy Story Mania at DCA. He comes daily, sets his score and leaves to go to school. He and I rock it together and he showed me a few tricks!

 

[PJ]

DH and I did this for TT. The seating is 3 and 3, so if you figure there are a lot of couples, or people with 2 kids - odds are you will at least get in the same car although not next to each other. I was a little uneasy about who I would be next to, but in our case it worked out great. We were sitting with a family and really enjoyed interacting with them.

If you end up in different cars, you won't be waiting long to catch up at the end. And if you're not comfortable with who you're next to, it will only last a few minutes.