Space Mountain dilemma - wwyd?

[NashvilleMama]

So I'm all booked now to take both my daughters - 8 and 6 - by myself to WDW in November.

My 8 year old is a rollercoaster NUT and space mountain was her favorite when we went two years ago.

My 6 year old - who was 4 at the time - loved, loved, loved Barnstormer but wasn't tall enough (or brave enough) for a lot of the more intense rides. She's also very, very easily freaked out and scares easily.

She'll be *exactly* 44" tall this trip and qualify to go on it with us. But it's so dark and herky-jerky that I have real reservations about how she'll handle it since I can't sit with her, or if she'll even want to go on it - I'm actually guessing she won't.

But how on earth can I deny a ride on SM to my older daughter since I'll have to then stay behind with my younger one! Do I let her ride alone? Do they allow that? I can't find anything on age requirements for riding alone.

Should I just wait in line and see how it goes up until the last second of boarding and wait it out if I have to with my younger? Will they let me do that?

 

[Hudson Hornet]

I think height is the only requirement. As to whether or not I would let my daughter go by herself with that many people... That's a tough call. Disney is generally a pretty safe place except for some petty theft from strollers (don't leave your souvenirs in the WDW bags, nor purses, nor expensive cameras unattended in a stroller while standing in line for a ride). However, you just don't know what could happen.

 

[BrianL]

Anyone under 7 must ride with someone over 14 or older, but anyone 7 and over can ride alone. I would say you could all get in line together since there are no height issues, and then at the platform, if the younger daughter doesn't want to go you can both exit together and let your older daughter ride alone. You can meet her at the unload platform. You will actually be taken through a door to the unload side at Space Mountian (I believe so anyway - never done it), not all the way outside of the ride (after the moving walkway), so you would be there when your other daughter's car pulls up for unload.

 

[Klayfish]

There are a lot of options, and it'll be up to you.

Yes, your 8 year old can ride alone.
Yes, you can walk through the line with your 6 year and 8 year old and then you and the 6 year old walk out right before the 8 year old gets on the ride.
You can bring your 6 year old on the ride and see what happens. It only lasts a few minutes.

Personally, if she loved Barnstormer that much, it would give me encouragement that she'd like SM. I'd certainly try and bring her. I'd even "force" her to do it. I have done that repeatedly with my daughter...first it was Barnstormer, then SM, then RnR. Each time, she was in utter tears the first time we went on, saying she was scared, etc... She was squeezing my arm real tight (sitting next to me was her security blanket). By time the ride was over, her tears had dried up from the wind and the smile on her face was priceless. She now LOVES everything including RnR, ToT, etc... So I'm glad I forced her to try it. Worst that would have happened is she wouldn't have liked it and I wouldn't have made her go again.

 

[alliecat523]

The parent exit does not come out right at the unload station but just a bit down the hall. It's where the two sides join, if that makes sense. I've let my daughter ride alone and the we clearly have a plan of where to meet at the exit, with a backup plan if that fails.

 

[brockash]

So I'm all booked now to take both my daughters - 8 and 6 - by myself to WDW in November.

My 8 year old is a rollercoaster NUT and space mountain was her favorite when we went two years ago.

My 6 year old - who was 4 at the time - loved, loved, loved Barnstormer but wasn't tall enough (or brave enough) for a lot of the more intense rides. She's also very, very easily freaked out and scares easily.

She'll be *exactly* 44" tall this trip and qualify to go on it with us. But it's so dark and herky-jerky that I have real reservations about how she'll handle it since I can't sit with her, or if she'll even want to go on it - I'm actually guessing she won't.

But how on earth can I deny a ride on SM to my older daughter since I'll have to then stay behind with my younger one! Do I let her ride alone? Do they allow that? I can't find anything on age requirements for riding alone.

Should I just wait in line and see how it goes up until the last second of boarding and wait it out if I have to with my younger? Will they let me do that?

7 is the age for riding alone, so you're fine there. I'd really try to get the 6 year old to "try" it, but if not and the 8 year old really wants to, I'd let her ride alone. I'd probably wait with her in line and then head to the exit as soon as she got on, so you'd be there as soon as she gets off.

 

[BrianL]

The parent exit does not come out right at the unload station but just a bit down the hall. It's where the two sides join, if that makes sense. I've let my daughter ride alone and the we clearly have a plan of where to meet at the exit, with a backup plan if that fails.

Ah yes, but you could easily enter the unload station from there instead of heading up the moving walkway. Just make sure you know which track the daughter got on and go the the correct unload platform. They are called Alpha and Omega tracks and I believe the unload stations are marked as such.

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

I agree that I would probably wait in line with both girls and if the younger didn't want to ride I'd let the older ride alone. Before we went I'd probably buy a cheap pre paid cell phone and set it up for the older child just in case you have a problem finding each other after. I'm thinking this may not be the only ride you end up doing this and if it were me I'd feel better knowing we could contact each other if need be.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have real reservations about how she'll handle it since I can't sit with her

You're in the same vehicle, just not next to her. You'll be behind or in front of her. I'd put the 8 year old in front, the 6 year old in the middle, and you behind if she wants to ride.

Do I let her ride alone? Do they allow that? I can't find anything on age requirements for riding alone.

Yep. 7+ years old and meets the height requirements = she can ride alone.


I'd hit Space first thing in the morning when the 6 year old is at her tallest (to make sure she hits the height mark). Go through the line, and if at the last minute the younger one doesn't want to go, tell the CMs that, and let the 8 year old go on her own.

Kids usually like Space; it's the grownups who come off hurting and bruised. (at WDW...out in Anaheim it's a totally different ride)

 

[Shellyred8]

So I'm all booked now to take both my daughters - 8 and 6 - by myself to WDW in November.

My 8 year old is a rollercoaster NUT and space mountain was her favorite when we went two years ago.

My 6 year old - who was 4 at the time - loved, loved, loved Barnstormer but wasn't tall enough (or brave enough) for a lot of the more intense rides. She's also very, very easily freaked out and scares easily.

She'll be *exactly* 44" tall this trip and qualify to go on it with us. But it's so dark and herky-jerky that I have real reservations about how she'll handle it since I can't sit with her, or if she'll even want to go on it - I'm actually guessing she won't.

But how on earth can I deny a ride on SM to my older daughter since I'll have to then stay behind with my younger one! Do I let her ride alone? Do they allow that? I can't find anything on age requirements for riding alone.

Should I just wait in line and see how it goes up until the last second of boarding and wait it out if I have to with my younger? Will they let me do that?

I'm not sure of the height requirements for Big Thunder Mountain, but you might want to take the younger one on this ride first. If she does OK with this one, then SM should be OK as long as she's OK with the dark.

 

[Accident]

Your 8 year old daughter is old enough to ride alone.. I would get in line, give your other daughter a chance to say I want to try it. If she doesn't want to ride then when they ask for how many tell them only she is riding and we're going to wait for her.. Your daughter is only alone for the ride itself and not the wait. Your other daughter has the chance to say she does want to try it and worst case you just wait at the exit of the ride for her..

I find that the games leading up to it generally gets a smaller child excited and they survive riding it.

 

[NashvilleMama]

this is all awesome advice. Thank you! Now I'm leaning towards making her try it and hoping she doesn't hate me forever. This makes me feel a lot better about the whole thing in general, so again, thank you!!

 

[beesly]

I'm not sure of the height requirements for Big Thunder Mountain, but you might want to take the younger one on this ride first. If she does OK with this one, then SM should be OK as long as she's OK with the dark.

Depending on what time in November the OP's trip is (if it's before the 19th), Big Thunder might still be closed for refurbishment.

 

[Isabel]

There are some videos of the ride on You Tube. Maybe you could show her some of them beforehand so she knows what to expect.

 

[bnhonest]

You should try her on BTMRR first if its open (Nov 19). I think its a pretty substantial leap to go from Goofy Barn Stormer straight to Space Mt.

I took my 9 year old son on it last time we were there. Reached over the seat and held his shoulders the whole time. He laughed all the way through it. When we got off, he said "Daddy, that was fun!"

I said "I know! You want to ride it again?"

"NO!!"

 

[StirlingSilver83]

My DS8 at the time MADE me ride Space Mountain, lol...that ride wasnt even on my to do list planning wise lol...he LOVED IT! I had no idea he was such a thrill seeker at that time though, the bigger the ride the better! Maybe your younger one will love the ride...I have a younger child as well, but there is a HUGE age gap, but he wants to do everything that big brother does, lol...I dont know if your kids are like that but if so use that to your advantage!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I think the cell phone is a great idea for your older daughter.

My DD (9) started riding some things alone when she was 8 and we had her little sister with us. We gave her my old smartphone and only activated it for the month we were on vacation (we spent 10 nights at Disney in July and activated the phone for the entire month). She was able to ride and feel comfortable with knowing she could just call me if she got lost coming out of the exit.

There are also some things she does not want to do that the little one does want to, like the Carousel, so the older one will find a seat nearby and play games on her phone while she waits. The phone also allows the older one to go to the bathroom on her own without having everyone have to accompany her.

Once your younger one sees the older one doing these big rides, she may well want to do them, also. My little one can't wait to meet the height requirements for the bigger coasters because she sees big sister riding them.

 

[ArmyVet80]

Our 4 y/o nephew is 45" tall. We are taking him on Barnstormer and gauging his interest on roller coasters. If he likes it we'll do 7DMT and so on and so forth. My 9 y/o niece can rid everything as she is over 55" tall. She is excited to ride Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Expedition Everest and Tower of Terror. She has been watching videos online for about a year since we started planning our trip with them.

Since it is their first trip to WDW (hopefully not their last) we have told them to not be disappointed if we don't get to do everything they want to do. We got FP+ for all of the rides listed above but they don't know that.

 

[buzznina]

I would wait in line with your oldest and tell the youngest to look and see whats going on and when you get to the end if she still does not want to ride then you can go out the exit. I do not believe in "forcing", but I do believe in bribery Plus; I do not think comparing SM to Barnstormer is even close to being a good gauge. The biggest thing with SM that is its pitch black and you mentioned that "She's also very, very easily freaked out and scares easily." For every "I made them ride it and they loved it" there are just as many "I made them ride it and now they do not trust me" stories.

 

[NashvilleMama]

That's good to know 7DMT is a good in-between....it was JUST about to open when we were last there so I haven't ridden it yet. We'll plan to do that the first day if the FP+ stars align. Big Thunder is still closed for refurb when we're there. boo.