What if my daughter "chickens out?"

[skiergirl4]

I am planning on taking my DD11 and DD8 on Rockin' Roller Coaster while DH takes DD4 to Disney Jr. Live on Stage. What happens if we wait in line and DD8 decides at the last minute not to ride? I won't have an extra adult to have her leave the ride with. Do all three of us get out of line? Has this happened to any of you? I'm wondering if maybe we shouldn't split up just in case this happens. She hasn't ridden many big coasters, but we are planning to do 7DMT and BTMRR the day before at MK, so maybe I will have an idea in advance of how she will feel about the coaster.

 

[bumbershoot]

She *can* leave and wait in the giftshop by herself. (she could ride by herself, too) You can go into the giftshop without riding the ride; you could go in there first and pick a spot near where people exit the ride for her to wait, just in case.

We did this scenario with my son when he was 7 (the age you can ride things alone) and we were riding Radiator Springs Racers at DCA and wanted to use the Single Rider line. Found a good spot for him to wait since we would be in different ride vehicles. In our case it was an absolute that we would be split up; for your case it's not as absolute, but creating a meetup place is a good idea.

 

[wilkeliza]

Since everyone but your 4 year old is over 7, you have the option to let her wait in the giftshop right at the exit gate for you guys. Nothing in Disney's rules would keep you or the 11 year old from riding as long as you feel comfortable with your 8 year old waiting until you get her from the gift shop.

 

[MomofKatie]

Yes, the ride empties into the gift shop (as does the chicken exit). As long as she won't be afraid by herself for a few minutes, she can just look around the gift shop until you finish your ride. It shouldn't be too long a wait- less than 10 minutes or so.

 

[HopperFan]

Or you leave the line with her and let your 11 year old go ahead and ride.

 

[disneyfan0031]

If she does, a cast member will take her to the exit by the gift shop where you will get off of the ride. If she leaves just before you get on, she doesn't have to wait very long at all.

 

[Shellyb84]

Personally, as the parent of an almost 7 year old, I would never leave an 8 year old unsupervised in Disney, or any public place for that matter. I would not split up.

 

[Karin1984]

Personally, as the parent of an almost 7 year old, I would never leave an 8 year old unsupervised in Disney, or any public place for that matter. I would not split up.

That's the answer to a question the OP isn't asking.

 

[Shellyb84]

That's the answer to a question the OP isn't asking.

She did say she was wondering if they shouldn't split up.

 

[Grmnshplvr]

My husband and I rode Everest in 2012, both our girls were too scared to ride, they would have been 8 and 11, we had them wait in line with us then they went down to the gift shop as soon as we got on the roller coaster. It was maybe 5 minutes?

 

[mjkacmom]

Personally, as the parent of an almost 7 year old, I would never leave an 8 year old unsupervised in Disney, or any public place for that matter. I would not split up.

And as the parent of five former 8 year olds, I would let get wait in the gift shop for a few minutes.

 

[aaarcher86]

Personally, as the parent of an almost 7 year old, I would never leave an 8 year old unsupervised in Disney, or any public place for that matter. I would not split up.

As the parent of an 8 year old, I'd have no problem letting mine wait for a few minutes by herself.

Since your kid is over a year younger, it's probably hard for you to judge what you'd do so far from now.

OP - give her your phone to play with while you ride and that'll keep her entertained for a few minutes. You have to judge the responsibility factor of your own child though. You know her best.

 

[loves to dive]

If it becomes an issue and you don't feel comfortable letting her wait by herself, let the 11 year old ride and you and the 8 year old take the chicken exit. the 11 year old most likely will have to ride with someone else but that ride is so fast and jerky there is not way it would matter who was sitting next to her.

 

[Katniss]

I have no problem either leaving my 8 year old and did so for the first time in January when she got all the way thru Tower of Terror and didn't want to ride. I had no clue she could come all the way in with me until the CM working told me to bring her in and she will take a special elevator to the waiting area/gift shop. My 9 year old also waits at RRC and looks at all pics of the rides as people ride them.

 

[Shellyb84]

As the parent of an 8 year old, I'd have no problem letting mine wait for a few minutes by herself.

Since your kid is over a year younger, it's probably hard for you to judge what you'd do so far from now.

OP - give her your phone to play with while you ride and that'll keep her entertained for a few minutes. You have to judge the responsibility factor of your own child though. You know her best.

My DD is a wanderer, and I don't expect that would change much in one year. And even if she weren't a wanderer, if just for my own peace of mind, I wouldn't leave her. But that's just me. I'm not passing judgement on anyone's parenting decisions, merely stating that I would not feel comfortable with it, and that we wouldn't choose to split up in order to avoid that situation.

My DD is too scared of that ride to even think about getting in line so that's not an issue for us anyway! lol

 

[bumbershoot]

She did say she was wondering if they shouldn't split up.

She's referring to the whole family, there. Slightly different than what I think you're reading; splitting up if the girl says no at the last minute.

 

[bumbershoot]

She did say she was wondering if they shouldn't split up.

She's referring to the whole family, there. Slightly different than what I think you're reading; splitting up if the girl says no at the last minute.


Giving the op her options with info is good. I doubt she knew the 8 year old could be on her own. We give her info like "scout out a waiting place" and "if she's a wanderer don't do it" and she can look at HER 8 year old and figure out if it's possible.

We'd already had experience with ds going though lines alone thanks to universal and also the tiny coaster in DL's toontown. We could actually watch him in line the whole time and saw his good behavior.

All of that extrapolated into giving him the opportunity at RSR.

The OP isn't talking about the girl going alone, but a few minutes spent alone is the same concept.

Sh could also be given a cellphone to communicate with dad if she gets overly nervous, and hopefully she is ok talking to cms if she wishes to.

 

[TXStormtrooper]

Does anyone know if they would let the 11 year old ride alone while mom stands aside and waits with 8 year old, then switch and have the two girls wait in the gift shop together while mom rides?

 

[Shellyb84]

She's referring to the whole family, there. Slightly different than what I think you're reading; splitting up if the girl says no at the last minute.


Giving the op her options with info is good. I doubt she knew the 8 year old could be on her own. We give her info like "scout out a waiting place" and "if she's a wanderer don't do it" and she can look at HER 8 year old and figure out if it's possible.

Right, I was referring to the whole family. If the whole family stayed together, Dad could be waiting in the gift shop in case the 8 year old backs out, so Mom and DD11 wouldn't have to leave the line. Or if Dad wanted to ride also, they could all go through together and do rider swap since the 4 year old couldn't ride anyway.

Does anyone know if they would let the 11 year old ride alone while mom stands aside and waits with 8 year old, then switch and have the two girls wait in the gift shop together while mom rides?

That is a good idea. I think there's just so much debate on whether you can use rider swap whether the child is unwilling or not tall enough. It would be worth a shot to ask the CM at the line entrance.

 

[valerie160]

I didn't realize there were "chicken out" options! That is so good to know because my DD7 always goes into a ride gung-ho, then freaks out right before we get on .