Space Mountain single rider no more?

[lalasmama]

It's insane any parent would trust random stranger to sit alone with their child, and 7 is very young. Attractions have downtimes a lot too, they could be alone for hour+ and a 7 year old having to evac down flights of stairs.

Different strokes for different folks.

Could things happen? Sure. But something could happen as they walk home from school. Or when they go to the next aisle over at the grocery store. Or at Little League. Or when they get their tonsils removed. On the school bus to the zoo. Or... Or... Or... Or... I can come up with a million times that something could go wrong. And a million times when my kids (and grandkids now) may need to rely on a random stranger. Despite my crazy, over-the-top general anxiety, I still need to teach my kids/grandkids that the world isn't a scary place, and that not every stranger is out to hurt them physically, emotionally, financially, etc. My MIL believes the world is out to screw her over or otherwise take advantage of her. I don't want my kids/grands believing that every other person in the world is to not be trusted. Most people are good, and that's what I'm choosing to teach the kids in my life.

Our youngest started doing single rider lines around 9yo. This time/age was chosen for her because it was when she was able to consistently get herself in/out of ride restraints, would easily follow instructions from other adults, and be aware of her surroundings. She has ADHD, so it took a little while for me to be cool with her going on her own. She's done great, and we've never had an issue. When she was still early on in using SRL, Hubs and I would do an Adult-Kid-Adult configuration in the SRL, so there would be one of us off the ride and waiting for her at the unloading area, and an adult after her to make sure that she got in the ride vehicle without issue. We also started off on Matterhorn, where everything is out in the open and she's in a seat by herself.

Our eldest grandson didn't do any SRL. We had multiple reasons for this. He's on the autism spectrum. He "forgets" simple rules easily. He gets overwhelmed quickly. He's scared of the dark on rides and likes to hold our hands when he's scared. So, despite the fact that he was 7 on his first trip, we didn't do SR with him.

Our second grandson, though, is a completely different kid. He has ADHD, but his meds work great. He's friendly with strangers. He listens well to all adults (well, maybe not always to Mom and Dad, hahaha). He understands that he needs to listen carefully to ride operators to be safe. He could get himself in/out of ride restraints without any issues. He doesn't "lolly-gag" when he sees that something is important. He was so excited to do SRL, and is a complete thrill-seeker. We did the adult-kid-adult in SRL a few times, again starting at Matterhorn, and then let him do the SRL on his own after that. He rocked it, and still talks about how much he liked using SRLs. I know he did Matterhorn several times, and Grizzly 3 times in a row all on his own, and did several other ones in an adult-kid-adult configuration.

Part of what makes me less scared about something wayward happening to our children/grands as far as being touched at DLR is that nearly every person in the parks has paid serious $$$ to be there. Even with a SoCal pass, it's still several hundred dollars over the length of the year. Most people with nefarious intentions aren't going to pay a chunk of cash every month to go to DLR to find victims.

I totally understand the fear some people have about their kids using SRL, and I don't believe it's a reasonable idea for every 7yo. Like everything else with parenting and caregiving, nothing is the same for every child or every family.

 

[Lm3js]

Your kids are far safer at DL from stranger danger than probably anywhere else. You know how many cameras they have everywhere?

 

[Malcon10t]

Your kids are far safer at DL from stranger danger than probably anywhere else. You know how many cameras they have everywhere?

Yes, and I know places cameras aren't. For us, it isn't worth the almost nil risk with my granddaughters or grandsons.

 

[87disney]

This is really not about “getting an edge“ over stand by with single rider lines. I have gotten put with families whether or not I have done stand by for an hour, or single rider for 10 min. also two parties of three may forced to sit two singles together. it’s often awkward for everyone involved . The issue is whether or not disney should purposely leave seats open for parties to avoid strangers being seated next to each other, or run rides as efficiently possible. no easy answers ,

 

[mom2rtk]

The bottom line is now that they are selling spots for rides they are going to try and run as efficiently as possible.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Yes, and I know places cameras aren't. For us, it isn't worth the almost nil risk with my granddaughters or grandsons.

I totally agree. I'm pretty laid-back about most things, but I don't need a strange adult sitting with my child on a ride. We can happily skip that situation or wait until another adult is with us.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I’m also uncomfortable on goofy’s with a person squeezed in next to me.

 

[Bossy22]

I guess I’m the opposite. I’ve often enjoyed the interaction my family has gotten sitting with some great single riders, we’ll miss it. We’ve actually had a single rider enjoy so much riding with our family that after the ride we mentioned getting back in the line to do it again and they asked if we would mind if she joined us again! It was a great experience and for 2 more days we would see her and her friends in the park and have little visits and rode a couple of other rides with. Full disclosure it was a young lady (20ish) in age but it opened up the door to a nice memory!

 

[Katiegrose]

I am in the unpopular opinion group of disliking it at Space. It has nothing to do with the ride and people sitting by me. And everything to do with the location of the line. As someone who frequently travels with someone in a wheelchair, that line is impossible to deal with. People refuse to move to let wheelchairs past (both standing and sitting with legs extended) or they make comments about us cutting the line (we waited outside the line with a return time). And it is even worse for the DAS families without a wheelchair who really cut the comments about cutting the line. I absolutely hated that line. Others are fine - we do Racers through the single rider line all the time.

There is absolutley ZERO "cutting" involved with having to use that entrance. It takes SO long to load and unload that one. If they actually knew.....

This isn't meant to be negative, just stating that people don't realize you often wait 15-30 minutes to board at that entrance once you've checked in. The other night we went to redeem a multiple experience LL we got when it went down earlier in the day when my brother had just sat down and there were probably ten other wheelchair parties waiting to board. We parked his chair and went through the LL and still waited a good 30 mins to get on the ride. Having a wheelchair may have allowed you to skip the lines in the 90s, but with an overall aging population in this country you aren't getting any special treatment these days. Even finding handicap spots is more and more challenging in general society than I ever remember as a kid.

 

[KPeterso]

There is absolutley ZERO "cutting" involved with having to use that entrance. It takes SO long to load and unload that one. If they actually knew.....

This isn't meant to be negative, just stating that people don't realize you often wait 15-30 minutes to board at that entrance once you've checked in. The other night we went to redeem a multiple experience LL we got when it went down earlier in the day when my brother had just sat down and there were probably ten other wheelchair parties waiting to board. We parked his chair and went through the LL and still waited a good 30 mins to get on the ride. Having a wheelchair may have allowed you to skip the lines in the 90s, but with an overall aging population in this country you aren't getting any special treatment these days. Even finding handicap spots is more and more challenging in general society than I ever remember as a kid.

oh yes! We have to take the wheelchair as my mom can’t do the stairs so no choice to wait at exit to ride. We usually have to wait for2-3 rockets full of other groups before we can go and that was with waiting for the initial return time. I actually had a coworker one time make a comment about getting a wheelchair about using a wheelchair to skip the lines. I explained that is now how it works with the return times and he told me that I was doing it wrong then. I sighed and walked away. Before my mom needed the wheelchair, I was going with my niece who also needs a wheelchair - I am very familiar with how it works.

 

[disneylover102]

Are all rides as slow as Space Mountain for those in wheelchairs? Nobody in my family is in a wheelchair but honestly I think those in wheelchairs and their families deserve to be able to skip the line and not have to wait forever

 

[KPeterso]

Are all rides as slow as Space Mountain for those in wheelchairs? Nobody in my family is in a wheelchair but honestly I think those in wheelchairs and their families deserve to be able to skip the line and not have to wait forever

no, most rides with a wheelchair return time load pretty quick. Space is the really bad one. Sometimes racers or toy story get a little backed up in the handicap pull out line. But it really is not too bad usually. Most will use an alternate entrance or lightening lane that moves pretty quickly.

 

[Katiegrose]

Are all rides as slow as Space Mountain for those in wheelchairs? Nobody in my family is in a wheelchair but honestly I think those in wheelchairs and their families deserve to be able to skip the line and not have to wait forever

Also, with space it also has to do with the rockets needing to dispatch in a certain time. The way they pull the rocket to the side to load those needing more time helps not put pressure on. I learned there is a similar time constraint on matterhorn, so since they don’t have a pull off loading area like the mentioned rides above, I always warn a CM my brother needs more time. They’ll dispatch a rocket or two empty, or they’ll pull one off the track at the area behind the exit. My guess is it has to do with the number of cars on the ride and since they are usually running at full capacity they need them spaced exactly a certain length apart to avoid tripping sensors. But I’m not entirely sure.

TL/DR it helps those who may need extra time to not feel rushed.

 

[Malcon10t]

Are all rides as slow as Space Mountain for those in wheelchairs? Nobody in my family is in a wheelchair but honestly I think those in wheelchairs and their families deserve to be able to skip the line and not have to wait forever

Space is actually great. It may seem slow, but they are able to pull the rocket off the track. Then they can allow a wheelchair user the time they need to load. They have time to use a slide board to put the rider on the rocket if needed. Once the rocket is loaded, they can then put the rocket back on the track to run. Then when it comes back, they can pull it back in to allow chair users the time they need to unload. Normally, this has a 30-40 second unload/load time. Matterhorn and BTMRR also have fast load times and they will warn you you need to be able to load quickly. In DCA, on Racers, they also pull the vehicle off the track to allow for slower loading. I can't ride BTMRR or Incrediacoster as I do not feel I can load in the time frame needed, and I would hate to cause a E-stop just because I couldn't load quickly enough.

 

[disneylover102]

Space is actually great. It may seem slow, but they are able to pull the rocket off the track. Then they can allow a wheelchair user the time they need to load. They have time to use a slide board to put the rider on the rocket if needed. Once the rocket is loaded, they can then put the rocket back on the track to run. Then when it comes back, they can pull it back in to allow chair users the time they need to unload. Normally, this has a 30-40 second unload/load time. Matterhorn and BTMRR also have fast load times and they will warn you you need to be able to load quickly. In DCA, on Racers, they also pull the vehicle off the track to allow for slower loading. I can't ride BTMRR or Incrediacoster as I do not feel I can load in the time frame needed, and I would hate to cause a E-stop just because I couldn't load quickly enough.

Last week when I was there it was really sad because there was this sweet old man in a wheelchair at Incredicoaster who was really struggling to get in and eventually gave up I think because he realized he was slowing down the normal line. But I think those of us that have no issue walking/standing can stand to wait an extra minute so those who can’t can enjoy the ride too

 

[Malcon10t]

Last week when I was there it was really sad because there was this sweet old man in a wheelchair at Incredicoaster who was really struggling to get in and eventually gave up I think because he realized he was slowing down the normal line. But I think those of us that have no issue walking/standing can stand to wait an extra minute so those who can’t can enjoy the ride too

It doesn't have to do with someone standing an extra minute so someone can load. It has to do with the timing of the entire ride. If it takes me too long to get in the seat, the brakes are applied to the entire ride bringing it to a halt. If I load too slowly, they have to stop the car coming in behind the one I am to have to wait longer, making the one behind it to have to brake in an earlier zone, causing the car behind it to have to stop, etc... causing an entire cascade.

I have watched a cascade stop on Matterhorn because a family couldn't decide who was riding in front of who. It just took a few extra seconds for the ride to E-stop, and my daughter got to sit in a bobsled over Tinks area for about 20 mins as they had to release each car to finish the run, followed by a reset. Ride was down 45 mins.

 

[MonocularVision]

They’ll dispatch a rocket or two empty, or they’ll pull one off the track at the area behind the exit.

This happened to us on our last trip. We basically got pulled off to the side after our ride and were told we would get a second ride for it. Worked out great!

 

[Mseplover]

Please delete my account

 

[Malcon10t]

I think more people have complained about Space Mountain's single rider. I think you have read many of them above.

 

[disneylover102]

It was so great for a lot of people. If they could figure out a way to have single rider and not have it interfere with wheelchairs, that would be great