Thoughts on Enchanted Forest Strategy

[cosmicmommy]

And nothing to do with ages and who's old enough or not. But you are going to have to think about rides where it's two people in a car and not connected to another car. Like Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Buzz, even Toy Story. I'm thinking Mermaid and Nemo are like this too. I'm sure there are others. In other words, not big cars with separate rows, but actual separate cars for each party. In some cases, you may be close enough to see or hear each other, but not be able to reach out to one another. Each one's a little different.

If you send your two oldest along on one of those rides, will they be okay if the ride stops unexpectedly? Because they do. They stop sometimes for loading/unloading of the handicapped cars. They stop for technical difficulties. Whatever. It can be for just a few seconds. It can be for much longer. Just be prepared and think ahead. This is a very real scenario and something you want to be ready for.

Perhaps this could be addressed ahead of the trip and reinforced each morning... just go over a plan with them. let them know they may not be able to see us, but that we will be right behind them in the next car. That if the ride stops for any reason, to sit tight and listen to the instructions given. And I will likely put service on my oldest's cell phone for the trip so he can call me if needed for any reason. Along with tattooing my phone number on their foreheads.

 

[cosmicmommy]

Again - not to nit pick - but so your prepared - you won't be allowed to put your oldest and your youngest together in any scenario as the oldest isn't 14 and the youngest isn't 7. So yes it would have to be the older two (if they allow it) in every situation where you can't ride/sit 4 in a row.

This is why I am researching so heavily, so far in advance. I don't like surprises.

 

[cosmicmommy]

My size reference, my 3 are in the purple, blue and orange. The girl in pink is their 8 year old cousin. The ones in green and yellow are 5, my littlest was 3 here.

 

[megster1123]

It seems like you've done a lot of planning and are super-prepared from a touring plan standpoint.
That being said, it honestly seems like there are too many variables in regards to the two kids being too young. From having the one being untruthful about his age, to having two young kids potentially alone on a ride, even little things like logistics of negotiating a buffet environment ... it would just be so unfortunate for the trip to turn badly due to trying to circumvent age restrictions and figure out workarounds. Waiting a little longer to take the trip is not an option you'd probably like to hear thrown out, but it seems (in my own honest opinion, sorry) that there's just too many things you're trying to sidestep right now.

 

[cosmicmommy]

I'm just glad to be speaking to my travel agent... she's putting aside a lot of my worries...

 

[gap2368]

The rule is stated that they must board with someone over 14, so if I board with all 3 of them, it would seem that we should be okay since I WILL be there, just in another car. Would this seem to be accurate? I am not going to let them ride without me - even if it means I have to endure Dumbo or Small World 5 times...

ok you have 3 kids 2 under 7 at the time of the trip ( one close to it) you all are tall enough to go on 7DMT they are 2 sets so you can ride with your youngest and the other 2 ride together just as long as you are in the same car it dose not better that it is a 6 year 11month and 3 week year old riding with a 8 year old and it would not matter if it was a 6 year old and 5 month your old riding with the 8 year old. as long as they are tall enough to ride and you are in the same car infant or behind them. the only ride this dose not work for is the cars you drive as you have to be a certion hight to drive

also remember that they go by disney hight the measuring at the ride so if your child is close to one of the hight s tell them you want your head to hit the bare some kids will try to duck under it.

 

[cosmicmommy]

ok you have 3 kids 2 under 7 at the time of the trip ( one close to it) you all are tall enough to go on 7DMT they are 2 sets so you can ride with your youngest and the other 2 ride together just as long as you are in the same car it dose not better that it is a 6 year 11month and 3 week year old riding with a 8 year old and it would not matter if it was a 6 year old and 5 month your old riding with the 8 year old. as long as they are tall enough to ride and you are in the same car infant or behind them. the only ride this dose not work for is the cars you drive as you have to be a certion hight to drive

also remember that they go by disney hight the measuring at the ride so if your child is close to one of the hight s tell them you want your head to hit the bare some kids will try to duck under it.

Thank you. This is also how my travel agent explained it to me. Thankfully, my kids always have been and likely will always be tall. I rode my first rollercoaster at 3, so I have no worries they'll be tall enough. I think the tallest height requirement we are going to be riding requires 44".

 

[cosmicmommy]

And on the cars you drive (that's only the Speedway, right?), I will drive one and my oldest will drive one so no worries there. My oldest at 7.5 is already 53 inches tall, so he's tall enough for anything at Disney.

 

[gap2368]

Thank you. This is also how my travel agent explained it to me. Thankfully, my kids always have been and likely will always be tall. I rode my first rollercoaster at 3, so I have no worries they'll be tall enough. I think the tallest height requirement we are going to be riding requires 44".

I really would not worried about the age there maybe 2 or 3 ( I can only think of the cars that I think is iffy ) where they could not ride would your oldest like to ride something by him self you can fit 3 people on PP easily and depending on how much room you take maybe ( really big maybe 4) and the cars normally get back right after each other and before the lap bar goes up the car behind it is back all you would have to do is remind them to wait for you. pooh is fine have 2 sit in front 2 sit in back. space will not let a child sit in the back car not sure about the back of the first car so you may have you 2 youngest in the first car your self then you oldest in the first row of the second car. splash you can do 3 across BTMRR 3 across little mermaid 3 easily buzz you have 2 guns so I think this one you will want 2 cars.

 

[gap2368]

And on the cars you drive (that's only the Speedway, right?), I will drive one and my oldest will drive one so no worries there. My oldest at 7.5 is already 53 inches tall, so he's tall enough for anything at Disney.

if he is tall enough too drive then yes I forgot how tall you have to be to drive I do not think there is an age just be aware it is not that fun to drive they do not stare good and junk around a lot not to mention loud and smelly and can be very hot.

 

[cosmicmommy]

I really would not worried about the age there maybe 2 or 3 ( I can only think of the cars that I think is iffy ) where they could not ride would your oldest like to ride something by him self you can fit 3 people on PP easily and depending on how much room you take maybe ( really big maybe 4) and the cars normally get back right after each other and before the lap bar goes up the car behind it is back all you would have to do is remind them to wait for you. pooh is fine have 2 sit in front 2 sit in back. space will not let a child sit in the back car not sure about the back of the first car so you may have you 2 youngest in the first car your self then you oldest in the first row of the second car. splash you can do 3 across BTMRR 3 across little mermaid 3 easily buzz you have 2 guns so I think this one you will want 2 cars.

Thank you for the helpful suggestions and great information on where we could squeeze in three. My oldest might would like PP by himself, I don't know. The trip is 9 months away, but it could be an option at least. I think they would be okay together - they both love airplanes and have done flight simulators together.

I am debating skipping the Speedway altogether unless we find ourselves with a bunch of extra time, which is doubtful.

 

[gap2368]

have you seen this link yet it should be very helpful to you

https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...bilities-services/wdw_cognitive_guide_rev.pdf

 

[gap2368]

also have you seen this sub form for single parents

http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-for-single-parents.196/

 

[tjmw2727]

ok you have 3 kids 2 under 7 at the time of the trip ( one close to it) you all are tall enough to go on 7DMT they are 2 sets so you can ride with your youngest and the other 2 ride together just as long as you are in the same car it dose not better that it is a 6 year 11month and 3 week year old riding with a 8 year old and it would not matter if it was a 6 year old and 5 month your old riding with the 8 year old. as long as they are tall enough to ride and you are in the same car infant or behind them. the only ride this dose not work for is the cars you drive as you have to be a certion hight to drive

also remember that they go by disney hight the measuring at the ride so if your child is close to one of the hight s tell them you want your head to hit the bare some kids will try to duck under it.

Again this was not our experience - the CM will want a person over 14 to be seated with a child that is under 7 not just in the same car but in the same seat. We had this issue at 7dmt and barnstormer as you can't squeeze 3 in a seat (unlike splash and btmr). If the CM assumes the two oldest are over 7 the OP won't have any issues - otherwise?

OP if you want real world experiences I would repost the question regarding ages to ride rather than your original question as we have gotten very far off topic (sorry about that!).

 

[gap2368]

Again this was not our experience - the CM will want a person over 14 to be seated with a child that is under 7 not just in the same car but in the same seat. We had this issue at 7dmt and barnstormer as you can't squeeze 3 in a seat (unlike splash and btmr). If the CM assumes the two oldest are over 7 the OP won't have any issues - otherwise?

OP if you want real world experiences I would repost the question regarding ages to ride rather than your original question as we have gotten very far off topic (sorry about that!).

sorry untrue I have ridden with kids as young at 5 on 7DMT that were not mine and a 6 year old on EE there parent were behind me on the rides the CM said nothing and we were not related at all and no way any one could have mistaken that we were related ( this happens just about every trip I take that I am alone were I am stuck with a small child.

like I said the parent has to be either in front or behind.

I have been going to disney since I was in my mother tummy and my brother and I have been on rides together a number of times and my parent sat behind us ( yes a long time a go) but this has been the policy for as long as disney has been open


and if it was the way you put it then on one under 7 could do space mountain as there are not sets side buy side.

 

[Clare Voince]

Your schedule sounds like a meltdown in the making. The most important thing is to enjoy your time there. If you push to try to get too much done, you will all be miserable. I saw way too many meltdowns when I was there in April, because the kids needed a midday break and their parents were pushing them to get stuff done.

 

[HatboxHaint]

sorry untrue I have ridden with kids as young at 5 on 7DMT that were not mine and a 6 year old on EE there parent were behind me on the rides the CM said nothing and we were not related at all and no way any one could have mistaken that we were related ( this happens just about every trip I take that I am alone were I am stuck with a small child.

like I said the parent has to be either in front or behind.

I have been going to disney since I was in my mother tummy and my brother and I have been on rides together a number of times and my parent sat behind us ( yes a long time a go) but this has been the policy for as long as disney has been open


and if it was the way you put it then on one under 7 could do space mountain as there are not sets side buy side.

What are we kids here?!? True..Is so!...Is not!!! Our fam had same experience as @tjmw2727 our 8 and 6 year old coul not ride together on barnstormer or SDMT even tho parents were directly behind them.

 

[cosmicmommy]

I agree, it's time to move on. My travel agent has advised me on official Disney policy and how to handle the situation. How would you ideally split the Magic Kingdom over 2 days without crisscrossing back and forth all over the park and without backtracking back into areas. We won't be leaving the park - it would cause more issues than staying there and finding somewhere to take a break.

 

[Nancyg56]

I too never heard of it I think the OP came up with it

No, I looked it up because I had no idea. It's actually a name part of for new fantasy lans

 

[Nancyg56]

The rule is stated that they must board with someone over 14, so if I board with all 3 of them, it would seem that we should be okay since I WILL be there, just in another car. Would this seem to be accurate? I am not going to let them ride without me - even if it means I have to endure Dumbo or Small World 5 times...

People are just trying to prepare do you can prepare all of your children in the event a cm does not get bogged down by semantics. No one is judging. No one is trying to tell you what to do, we have all been there when parenting gets gray.