Thoughts on new TSM line system

[PirateD]

Sorry. Having trouble posting what I wanted to add and now have to go to a meeting...

 

[karly05]

I was fine with pairing up on TSM until I read this.

I'm glad it worked out for you, but the last time someone tried to give me "tips" on a ride, he ended up awkwardly following me from the Haunted Mansion to BTMRR, asking me what my plans were/what I was going to ride next, until I met back up with the rest of my party.

Yikes! I've never had an issue like that, but that would freak me out.

That aside, however - I'd be OK with being paired with another rider on TSM - as long as they don't mind a silly lady who tends to make noise (aaaa!). Not sure I'd want some "expert" who would think I was lame.

Like a PP, I wouldn't want to be paired with strangers on something like BTMRR where you end up sliding and bumping into each other. But I've done EE and 7DMT paired up with others and it was no big deal.

 

[alvernon90]

If nobody ever sat next to strangers, there would be no single rider lines. That is the whole concept of single rider. The issue here is that some people feel that sitting next to strangers is for other strangers, not for themselves or their children.

If your group makeup is such that you have no choice but to allow someone in the party to sit next to a stranger, yet you don't want anyone in your party to sit next to a stranger, then skip the ride. Don't go up to the front and then force your way on by causing a scene to the CM. Feeling weird about sitting next to a stranger on a ride is no better excuse to get yourself an empty seat than wanting to put your feet up, or desiring a little extra elbow room. Don't like it? Ride something else.

 

[loves to dive]

If nobody ever sat next to strangers, there would be no single rider lines. That is the whole concept of single rider. The issue here is that some people feel that sitting next to strangers is for other strangers, not for themselves or their children.

If your group makeup is such that you have no choice but to allow someone in the party to sit next to a stranger, yet you don't want anyone in your party to sit next to a stranger, then skip the ride. Don't go up to the front and then force your way on by causing a scene to the CM. Feeling weird about sitting next to a stranger on a ride is no better excuse to get yourself an empty seat than wanting to put your feet up, or desiring a little extra elbow room. Don't like it? Ride something else.

While I agree that making a scene is not the answer I think you might be a little harsh here. I can see where a parent with a small child might not want their child in a car with a total stranger who is an adult, out of their sight. It's an unfortunate fact that there are predators out there and WDW is not immune. This is a fairly new practice for TSMM, I was there in May with DS and DIL and I'm usually the single rider on rides that the car only holds 2. We rode TSMM and they were not doing this, I rode alone. I've ridden with strangers on the roller coasters, expect to even, no problem since I know that is going to happen. I don't know that I'd enjoy TSMM with a stranger in the car with me, I make faces, I grunt, I'm not very good. As you suggested I'll most likely skip TSMM in the future, it's not big deal to me but I'm not a child who enjoys video games.

 

[Dancemomof3]

Sorry, wrong thread

 

[asbyrneva]

Actually just rode TSMM this weekend we are three so on this one I am usually alone. as original poster said we went up the right staircase. Got paired with a young guy and thought "oh this is going to be weird". I think its different than being on test track or coaster since basically it's the two of you with people in the car behind you completely out of sight so it really is a duo ride vs a coaster or TT that is 6 or more together. Anyway guy was with his aunt and sister and had never been. He actually made it kinda fun talking about how sore his arm was and chatting about the ride so it wasn't awkward and he beat me! Oh well much to my surprise it was kinda fun riding with somebody that was enthusiastic.

 

[PirateD]

Why is that? What is your specific fear about a situation like this?

I don't have any personal "fears". We travel in an even numbered group and hardly ever go to DHS because it's our least favorite park so I really don't have to worry about it for me. It still made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up reading about it though. Maybe it's the teacher version of spidey-senses, but my gut feeling is that it is not a good idea to place kids in a ride vehicle alone with a stranger where they can be out of the sight of a parent or chaperone.

Why? Here is a list of inappropriate behaviors that children could encounter from being seated next to strangers on airplanes.

Link to article below.

[/Inappropriate behavior on the part of other passengers includes rude, offensive, or threatening comments; inappropriate touching; inappropriate conversations; taking food or other items away from the child; or other behavior that makes the child uncomfortable or fearful. In addition, inappropriate behavior would include any attempt to elicit personal information about the child. Make sure that you child understands that no passenger they meet needs to know things such as their full name, their home address, their telephone number, or where they are going.

http://www.airsafe.com/kidsafe/kidsolo.htm

I know that the ride is shorter than an airline flight, however, it doesn't take long for some of these inappropriate behaviors to occur. It is good to coach and instruct children on how to protect themselves and how to react to inappropriate behavior, but despite educational efforts to do so many children don't respond in the ideal way when faced with stranger danger. They are, after all, children. The best thing to do is to minimize risk.

Honestly, it's been awhile since I've ridden TSMM. Maybe the risk is not as great as I am imagining. Maybe you can arrange your family so a child is not alone or out of your sight. Maybe my "spidey-teacher-senses" are overreacting. I just believe that we should always be looking out for the safety and welfare of kids. Unfortunately, in today's world they greatly need it, even at the happiest place on earth!

 

[amylevan]

I don't have any personal "fears". We travel in an even numbered group and hardly ever go to DHS because it's our least favorite park so I really don't have to worry about it for me. It still made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up reading about it though. Maybe it's the teacher version of spidey-senses, but my gut feeling is that it is not a good idea to place kids in a ride vehicle alone with a stranger where they can be out of the sight of a parent or chaperone.

Why? Here is a list of inappropriate behaviors that children could encounter from being seated next to strangers on airplanes.

Link to article below.



http://www.airsafe.com/kidsafe/kidsolo.htm

I know that the ride is shorter than an airline flight, however, it doesn't take long for some of these inappropriate behaviors to occur. It is good to coach and instruct children on how to protect themselves and how to react to inappropriate behavior, but despite educational efforts to do so many children don't respond in the ideal way when faced with stranger danger. They are, after all, children. The best thing to do is to minimize risk.

Honestly, it's been awhile since I've ridden TSMM. Maybe the risk is not as great as I am imagining. Maybe you can arrange your family so a child is not alone or out of your sight. Maybe my "spidey-teacher-senses" are overreacting. I just believe that we should always be looking out for the safety and welfare of kids. Unfortunately, in today's world they greatly need it, even at the happiest place on earth!

Good grief. The ride is 5 minutes long.

 

[Anchored]

Did I miss WHY children will be riding alone with strangers? If anything I would let my kids sit together and I would be next to the stranger

 

[bethbuchall]

Did I miss WHY children will be riding alone with strangers? If anything I would let my kids sit together and I would be next to the stranger

It depends on the make-up of your family and the children's ages. If you have three, two may be required to ride with adults leaving the oldest child to ride alone. (Not a problem for our family, but I know that it is for some.)

 

[Anchored]

It depends on the make-up of your family and the children's ages. If you have three, two may be required to ride with adults leaving the oldest child to ride alone. (Not a problem for our family, but I know that it is for some.)

I think the best option here would be to ride 3 across and just sacrifice the game play as the parent vs. sending a child off alone, at least for me. Like a PP stated, I can play the game at home

 

[DisneyWisher]

Thanks for posting...typicalling we are even number but taking my grandkids ages 9 and 6 also my youngest daughter(Aunt Caitlin) is going with us but she leaves a day before us. Our last day is DHS day, I'll give my 9 yr old grandson the option of riding alone or with his sister. Jenny's only 6 but already over 4' tall (tall enough to go on RnR, which she loves). When Caitlin was his age she wouldn't have had difficulty riding with a stranger, she's a people person, she can and will talk to anyone.

 

[grnflash]

I am a single rider all the time. In the past at TSMM (both DLR and WDW) I always ride alone. There was a time about 4 years ago, that I did get paired with a young child whose parents were in row 8 (we were row 7), so back to back but in the same car. I let them know that their child was going to be riding with me and did they wish to switch with him so I would ride with one of the adults. They hadn't realized and were very thankful I spoke up before it was too late and we were seated.

That was very nice of you. If you had asked us, we would have asked our 7yo who he wanted to ride with and let him decide.

 

[Missyrose]

I don't know that I'd enjoy TSMM with a stranger in the car with me, I make faces, I grunt, I'm not very good. As you suggested I'll most likely skip TSMM in the future, it's not big deal to me but I'm not a child who enjoys video games.

No one is going to care that you make faces or grunt while you play. I cannot believe people will stop riding TSM over this simple line change.

 

[homie wanna liv]

Seeing as I have ridden TSMM probably way more than most people ever should and since I was a single rider every time for the most part I can safely say that they have pretty much done this for single riders and parties of two the whole time I went there(unless they already sent a whole bunch up the left already), about 2010-2013 usually weekly. The difference is they did not usually do it like a regular single rider line, if they had a party of 6 or a party of 4 then 2 from the regular line they would pull a party from this other line because its faster to fill in the last row then ask up the regular line. I usually still sat by myself and would be asked if I wanted to sit with another person or not. Check my signature for proof that I have ridden this ride too many times...

 

[loves to dive]

No one is going to care that you make faces or grunt while you play. I cannot believe people will stop riding TSM over this simple line change.

In all fairness, I don't usually ride it when I'm solo anyway, only when I'm there with my family, and then I ride alone because we are 3 people. It's just not my favorite ride and I only ride it because my son enjoys it.

 

[Mamapapa]

Did I miss WHY children will be riding alone with strangers? If anything I would let my kids sit together and I would be next to the stranger

I think the best option here would be to ride 3 across and just sacrifice the game play as the parent vs. sending a child off alone, at least for me. Like a PP stated, I can play the game at home

My kids are 11, 5 and 5. I can't fit myself plus two 5yo's in one row with me and Disney doesn't allow my kids to ride together until the oldest is 14. For some of us, a child riding alone is the only option. Personally, I think the 14yo age restriction is too high. I know many 12yo's who babysit younger siblings, but they can't sit with them for 5min on TSMM.

 

[mom2rtk]

Seeing as I have ridden TSMM probably way more than most people ever should and since I was a single rider every time for the most part I can safely say that they have pretty much done this for single riders and parties of two the whole time I went there(unless they already sent a whole bunch up the left already), about 2010-2013 usually weekly. The difference is they did not usually do it like a regular single rider line, if they had a party of 6 or a party of 4 then 2 from the regular line they would pull a party from this other line because its faster to fill in the last row then ask up the regular line. I usually still sat by myself and would be asked if I wanted to sit with another person or not. Check my signature for proof that I have ridden this ride too many times...

The way I read it, the difference is that now you would not be sitting by yourself. They would put you with the extra person in an odd numbered group as the standard procedure.

 

[Anchored]

My kids are 11, 5 and 5. I can't fit myself plus two 5yo's in one row with me and Disney doesn't allow my kids to ride together until the oldest is 14. For some of us, a child riding alone is the only option. Personally, I think the 14yo age restriction is too high. I know many 12yo's who babysit younger siblings, but they can't sit with them for 5min on TSMM.

I just took my 11 and 6 year old and we fit across just fine, and I am 6 ft tall ... I would think two five year olds would fit
And on plenty of rides they let my 11 and 6 year old ride together with no problem, even if it wasn't playing by the rules
There is always another option - don't ride if you are that paranoid about your 11 year old sitting with a stranger on a ride with cameras, restraints, and you being 5 feet away

 

[Tisha_PA]

My 11 yo daughter who often rides alone as her dad and I each take a twin will not like this. She won't feel comfortable with a stranger beside her. Not sure I like the idea of her alone with a stranger either. Especially on TSM where she is out of my sight.

We have this same problem - 9 year old twin boys and an 11 year old girl. If they are going to be putting adult strangers in with my daughter then one of us will have to switch out and be the single rider and 2 of the kids will have to ride together. I wouldn't be comfortable with a stranger riding with my daughter and I know she wouldn't be either.