Space Mountain Question

[cybrkitn]

It's been 13 years since I was last at Disney. Space Mountain is one of my favorites, but with our DS4, we are unable to do it. I know they have the "Child Swap" area and we were originally thinking of doing that. The only problem with that is our son is the type that would not be able to stay there without throwing a temper tantrum. He would want to go on the ride with Mommy and Daddy (unfortunately, he's not tall enough). We both thought that doing the Child Swap would not be fair to him. Plus, I don't want either DH or I to have to deal with a tantrum. Too much stress to deal with and I would much rather be having fun.

Ok, with that little background, here is my question. Does SM have a bypass area around the ride so that we could still enjoy everything else? I don't remember if there was one or not.

Thanks for the help!

 

[brocklesnar69]

Id ont know about the bypass, but you could drop them off at the Pizza restaurant in Tomorrowland while you go ride it. That'll distract the kid long enough for you to enjoy it, then switch!

 

[skier_pete]

Try this....

Get FastPasses for the ride. Then DH goes on while you stay outside with child. (Some nearby attraction like Astro-Orbiter) then switch off and you ride Space M. while husband takes DS on the raceway. With FP, shouldn't take more than 15 minutes a ride.

Or do what we are doing with DD3, we are bringing DMIL for this purpose. In just EIGHT days!

SkierPete

 

[Daydreamer]

I would suggest getting a FP or 2 for Space Mountain. When you go to ride DH and DS could ride Buzz, Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, TTA, etc. That would give them something fun to do while you enjoy your ride. Also, I believe the incredibles do a meet and great near SM. If your DS is into the incredibles he could go hunting characters during your ride. Just a few thoughts that may help. (For what it is worth, my DS got a kick out of riding TTA and trying to find people he knew in line for the rides when we went through)

 

[cybrkitn]

I wasn't expecting so many quick responses in 5-10 minutes of posting! Thanks!

I love the ideas you all gave. And yes, my son the Incredibles (saw the DVD several times and took him to see The Incredibles on Ice last year). The suggestions you all gave were along the lines that I was thinking of. Didn't think of the FP idea though.

Looks like I'll be giving your suggestions to my DH before we go and see what we could do.

Thanks again!!

 

[cybrkitn]

Try this....

Get FastPasses for the ride. Then DH goes on while you stay outside with child. (Some nearby attraction like Astro-Orbiter) then switch off and you ride Space M. while husband takes DS on the raceway. With FP, shouldn't take more than 15 minutes a ride.

DH is looking forward to taking our son on the raceway anyway. So that's good and will keep DS occupied.

Or do what we are doing with DD3, we are bringing DMIL for this purpose. In just EIGHT days!

SkierPete

LOL. We almost did that for Pleasure Island when we had originally planned on going in 2005. Unfortunately, my parents are not able to go with us this trip. So it's just us (which makes more special).

 

[Mono~rail]

The way we did baby swapping was this: We told the 1st CM at the entrance to the *stand-by line that we were doing baby swap. That CM would give us a ticket that looked like a FP, but it has something printed on it about child swapping. DD13 and one of us would experience the attraction while the other one of us took the twins somewhere nice and cool. When the first to ride was done, the other would go back with DD13 and go through the FP line.

*We were using the stand-by lines the first week of our trip because everything was walk-on or a 5 minute wait.

 

[cybrkitn]

The way we did baby swapping was this: We told the 1st CM at the entrance to the *stand-by line that we were doing baby swap. That CM would give us a ticket that looked like a FP, but it has something printed on it about child swapping. DD13 and one of us would experience the attraction while the other one of us took the twins somewhere nice and cool. When the first to ride was done, the other would go back with DD13 and go through the FP line.

*We were using the stand-by lines the first week of our trip because everything was walk-on or a 5 minute wait.

I think I see what you're saying and it might work. There are so many great suggestions to think about.

 

[Mono~rail]

I think I see what you're saying and it might work. There are so many great suggestions to think about.

For SM, I would use the FP child swap strategy though. I'm not sure what the official word on this is, but it seems to me the tracks are different on SM. The FP side (the right side) seems to have steeper drops than the stand-by side (the left side).

 

[kaabost]

Use the child swap and enjoy. I love Space Mountain!

 

[monetnj]

I would get a child swap pass from the CM at the entrance to SM. It is like a fastpass that is good for up to (I think) 4 people and is usually good all-day and sometimes for several days. One parent could ride with the DD13 while the other took the younger child on another ride. Then switch. I'm sure DD13 wouldn't mind riding twice right?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I love the ideas you all gave. And yes, my son the Incredibles (saw the DVD several times and took him to see The Incredibles on Ice last year). The suggestions you all gave were along the lines that I was thinking of. Didn't think of the FP idea though.

Sadly, they are turning that area into a new Monsters, Inc. attraction, so no more Incredibles Character meet. They sometimes have characters outdoors in this area, but no guarentee. Another idea, would be to get one FP for SM, and ask for one baby swap pass. Then use the other parkhoppers to get FP for Buzz. (see below for more ideas while rider two uses the babyswap pass)

You could also take your son on the Tomorrowland Transit while waiting. That way, he could see Sapace Mountain for himself (TTA, a tame ride, goes inside the ride area of SM). He could maybe pretend to say hello to dad? There is never a line for this ride, and I think it's pretty cool becuse it's the first ride to ever use that kind of ride technology. Plus, it's a little funny too. On top of that, there's a gift shop/arcade at the end of Space Mountain - so you could easily spend time in there.

Taking turns has never - or rarely - been a problem at WDW for our family. While I understand your desire to avoid a temper tantrum, teaching your child that life is sometimes about taking turns is very important...(With all due respect, as a teacher I've taught too many kids who have trouble with that concept in school. I'm not trying to be mean, but it is something that makes modern teaching very difficult..Reinforcing the idea at a place like WDW, where there are plenty of fun alternatives for your son is a golden opportunity, IMO.

 

[tar heel]

From your post, it sounds like you may be misunderstanding child swap sine you refer to a "child swap area." You do not leave your child with a caregiver while you and your spouse go off and ride. You ride alone, then the other adult rides alone. One of you is with the child the whole time. If you have other children, they get to ride twice.

Accept my apologies if I misunderstood.

 

[pixie@heart]

For SM, I would use the FP child swap strategy though. I'm not sure what the official word on this is, but it seems to me the tracks are different on SM. The FP side (the right side) seems to have steeper drops than the stand-by side (the left side).

I didn't think one side was associated with FP and the other standby...I've always decided which side to ride when we got up to the loading area.

But ... addressing the original question, we always have one of us ride TTA or Buzz with my DD while the other takes DS on SM.

 

[cybrkitn]

Sadly, they are turning that area into a new Monsters, Inc. attraction, so no more Incredibles Character meet. They sometimes have characters outdoors in this area, but no guarentee. Another idea, would be to get one FP for SM, and ask for one baby swap pass. Then use the other parkhoppers to get FP for Buzz. (see below for more ideas while rider two uses the babyswap pass)

You could also take your son on the Tomorrowland Transit while waiting. That way, he could see Sapace Mountain for himself (TTA, a tame ride, goes inside the ride area of SM). He could maybe pretend to say hello to dad? There is never a line for this ride, and I think it's pretty cool becuse it's the first ride to ever use that kind of ride technology. Plus, it's a little funny too. On top of that, there's a gift shop/arcade at the end of Space Mountain - so you could easily spend time in there.

Taking turns has never - or rarely - been a problem at WDW for our family. While I understand your desire to avoid a temper tantrum, teaching your child that life is sometimes about taking turns is very important...(With all due respect, as a teacher I've taught too many kids who have trouble with that concept in school. I'm not trying to be mean, but it is something that makes modern teaching very difficult..Reinforcing the idea at a place like WDW, where there are plenty of fun alternatives for your son is a golden opportunity, IMO.

Thanks for the update and no offense taken We just have a very strong willed child and as you can probably tell, we're also first time parents. He has two sides to his personality; one that he has with us and a completely (more civilized) personality when he is not with us (ex. daycare, pre-school etc.). Can't understand it

We have been teaching him that he cannot always get what he wants, when he wants it. But he still throws those darn tantrums. We try very hard not to give in just to shut him up. We know that if we do give in, then it's telling him that it's ok to have a trantrum and he will always get what he wants. That's one thing we don't want him to learn. We have been learning to ignore those fits when he throws them in the car. After about 5 minutes or so, he usually calms down and is ok.

 

[cybrkitn]

From your post, it sounds like you may be misunderstanding child swap sine you refer to a "child swap area." You do not leave your child with a caregiver while you and your spouse go off and ride. You ride alone, then the other adult rides alone. One of you is with the child the whole time. If you have other children, they get to ride twice.

Accept my apologies if I misunderstood.

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I do understand that it's not with the CM. From what I read on it, there is a wait area for one parent to stay with their child while the other goes on the ride. When done, the parents "swap" places and the next parent gets to ride. That's where I believe it would be an issue of not being fair to our son. He wouldn't understand why Mommy and Daddy get to go on at different times, but he can't.

 

[bengalfreak]

For SM, I would use the FP child swap strategy though. I'm not sure what the official word on this is, but it seems to me the tracks are different on SM. The FP side (the right side) seems to have steeper drops than the stand-by side (the left side).

There are no drops on Space Mountain period. At least not the one in WDW.

 

[Mono~rail]

I didn't think one side was associated with FP and the other standby...I've always decided which side to ride when we got up to the loading area.

But ... addressing the original question, we always have one of us ride TTA or Buzz with my DD while the other takes DS on SM.

This past Tuesday and the week prior the CM at the entrance to the loading area told us to stay left if we were stand-by and stay right if we were FP.

 

[Mono~rail]

This past Tuesday and the week prior the CM at the entrance to the loading area told us to stay left if we were stand-by and stay right if we were FP.

Dh just told me that one of the times when he rode he was given a choice of which side to ride.

 

[tjmw2727]

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I do understand that it's not with the CM. From what I read on it, there is a wait area for one parent to stay with their child while the other goes on the ride. When done, the parents "swap" places and the next parent gets to ride. That's where I believe it would be an issue of not being fair to our son. He wouldn't understand why Mommy and Daddy get to go on at different times, but he can't.

Child swap is not done this way any longer, now that FP is on most attractions with a height restriction you get a "rider swap" pass instead. Offhand I think only Primeval Whirl and Dinasour still handle the child swap as you described.

On the others the first parent enters either the line and asks the CM for a rider switch pass. You all need to approach the line as the CM will need to verify that you have a child who dosen't meet the height restriction to get the rider switch pass. Then you can just take the child to do another attraction, eat etc. The second parent riding can return any time that day with up to three people total to ride.

HTH
TJ