What happens when your kid chickens out?

[snoopy5386]

We're headed down to the world a week from today with DD7 and newly minted 40" DD3. Now that DD3 is tall enough for some of the bigger rides, this will be our first trip without using rider swap nearly as much. DD7 has ridden many of the thrill rides and loves them, but this will be her first opportunity to ride Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Expedition Everest and Tower of Terror.

In the past we would use rider swap so that each parent got a chance to ride the thrill rides. But now, say if we get in line for TOT and one of the kids chickens out before we get on the ride, does the parent that takes the chicken exit with them lose out on riding the ride? Or can we still ride somehow? Get a rider swap after the fact? Wait at the ride exit for the other parent and ride? Looking for folks who have BTDT with their kids.

Thanks!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Strictly speaking, Rider Switch Passes are only given when a child is too short, not too scared. But it never hurts to ask. Every attraction has a "chicken exit" so on your way out you can ask for one and may get one.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

You might want to check on the height requirements before you go. EE is 44", as is Space Mountain.

We always had a parent leave with the child if he/she chickened out. It sucks, bu tit is what it is. It was usually me, since I'm not such a thrill ride person.

FTR, my 16yo STILL won't ride Big Thunder. I think he did once, but refuses to go again. OTOH, Big Thunder is DS7's absolute favorite ride. Go figure.

I would go in hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. If you have fastpasses, if you sit out Round 1, you should be able to go right back in with DD7 for Round 2. We did this a lot when my youngest was little--got fastpasses all around, DH rode once with the older two, came out, took the little guys, and the older two rode again with me.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We have had our little guy chicken out quite a few times and not always is it handled the same! Im not sure there is an official policy, but here are a few thoughts.

Many 3 year olds are not ready for the 40 inch rides anyway. It may be a non-issue. If he is really close to 40inches and you want to do child swap, I doubt anyone will question whether he is just a hair over 40 inches.

As someone mentioned, check the heights for each rides.
Ride some of the thrill rides yourself before you let a three year old ride. I personally would not put a three year old on many of them, but many parents do and they are safe.

We find most CM's to be very kind to scared kids.While you should not count on it, we have been given special FP to return anytime to try again if he wants, MANY times.

Also remember if he is barely 40 inches, he might be denied some places too. Teach time to stand tall and try to hit the stick!!!

 

[snoopy5386]

Strictly speaking, Rider Switch Passes are only given when a child is too short, not too scared. But it never hurts to ask. Every attraction has a "chicken exit" so on your way out you can ask for one and may get one.

Actually the official policy states
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/
"If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride."

Hoping we will be ok.

 

[snoopy5386]

Thanks all. The 7 yo would be the one riding space mountain and everest, she is tall enough for these, but has not ridden them before.

I think my 3 yo would enjoy BTMRR, Splash, Test Track and Soarin. I think they both would enjoy the ride part of TOT, they both love the "kiddie" versions of those kinds of drop rides, but I'm not sure if they will make it through the preshow. And yes, she is barely 40" so I am simultaneously trying to psyche her up for the rides and prepare her that she may not get on if she isn't tall enough. I plan to make a "ride height stick" this week to work on standing up straight and bumping the stick.

 

[snoopy5386]

Also makes planning FP+ complicated!! Is she tall enough or not!!

 

[KaLyn]

Also makes planning FP+ complicated!! Is she tall enough or not!!

I'm measuring my kids at home, without shoes. Then (for example) if they are 43" without shoes we know that a ride with a 44" requirement will be pushing it and to just avoid it.

 

[Kristibo42]

That have a opt out way. The fist year we went he walked up to the line then opted. If they are young they will take them to the end. If older they will tell them how to get to the end. No problems.

 

[kohlby]

If he is really close to 40inches and you want to do child swap, I doubt anyone will question whether he is just a hair over 40 inches.

We actually ran into this a lot on our last trip. Our barely 40" tall 3.5 year old did not want to do some rides. They went as far as measuring him to make sure he was under 40", which he wasn't and then they wouldn't let us do rider swap. This happened at several rides. So, check up on that policy to make sure that they still let kids over 40" do rider swap. They used to and it seemed like they had changed it on our last trip since so many CM's wouldn't let us do rider swap. Print out that policy if it's current since it was a big issue when we went last November.