What is considered an adult for rides?

[seasonality]

I've heard that my 6 year old niece will need an adult to ride with her. Is this true? If so, does this apply to all rides? I can't imagine her needing me to be there with her on Dumbo...seems odd. Why wouldn't it be based on height instead of age?

Also, does "adult" mean actual person over 18 years old or Disney's version of an "adult" (10 and older)? If my 10 year old or 12 year old "adult" children could ride with her instead of me on rides like Dumbo, that would be fantastic! Can't take the spinny rides.

 

[DopeyDame]

Children need to be 14 to enter the park alone and 7 to ride a ride alone. An "adult" for that purpose is 14 or older, so your six year old will need to be with someone 14 or over on every ride. 7 seems to be the age that Disney has decided is old enough to be trusted to follow directions and behave safely (ie, in the event of an evacuation, ride stoppage, and just staying seated and buckled in)

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/

 

[seasonality]

Thanks for your response, appreciate it. Banging my head - I can not go on Dumbo, or Aladdin, or teacups... My 12 year old is mistaken for 14 all the time, maybe we will get lucky and he will pass for 14 while we're at Disney. Or, maybe the magic bands will prevent this.

Kinda think it's bull that I'm paying for kids to be adult on the DDP at 10 and it's 14 for the rides. Just a small vent.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks for your response, appreciate it. Banging my head - I can not go on Dumbo, or Aladdin, or teacups... My 12 year old is mistaken for 14 all the time, maybe we will get lucky and he will pass for 14 while we're at Disney. Or, maybe the magic bands will prevent this.

Kinda think it's bull that I'm paying for kids to be adult on the DDP at 10 and it's 14 for the rides. Just a small vent.

Actually you are paying "adult" prices for a 10 year old's ticket as well. I guess Disney just feels a 14 year old is responsible enough to take a child under 7 on a ride.

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks for your response, appreciate it. Banging my head - I can not go on Dumbo, or Aladdin, or teacups... My 12 year old is mistaken for 14 all the time, maybe we will get lucky and he will pass for 14 while we're at Disney. Or, maybe the magic bands will prevent this.

Kinda think it's bull that I'm paying for kids to be adult on the DDP at 10 and it's 14 for the rides. Just a small vent.

Don't forget in the even that the ride is stuck, or has to evacuate, the older child needs to also help the younger one stay calm and follow instructions. Disney isn't trying to suck the fun out of anyone's trip, there is a good reason for their age restrictions.

 

[seasonality]

You're right, it is best for safety. Thanks again for the help!

 

[ajwolfe]

Rules are rules and we follow them to the best of our ability, but I hear ya!! On our last trip we went with another family. I have a 12 yo ds (who looks older) and a 9 yo ds. She has a 6 yo dd and a 9 yo ds. My 12 yo tried to sit with the 6 yr old a couple times at her request and we had to fix it last minute - even though I know they would have been way better off than the 2 9 yo together lol!! Also what I thought was sort of silly was on rides like pirates, the kids couldn't sit in one row right in front of us with the parents right behind them. Even though 3 of them were old enough to ride on their own. I get that when it's a 2 seater ride, but when a parent is right there and can control the situation I don' think it should be that big of a deal.

 

[seasonality]

Rules are rules and we follow them to the best of our ability, but I hear ya!! On our last trip we went with another family. I have a 12 yo ds (who looks older) and a 9 yo ds. She has a 6 yo dd and a 9 yo ds. My 12 yo tried to sit with the 6 yr old a couple times at her request and we had to fix it last minute - even though I know they would have been way better off than the 2 9 yo together lol!! Also what I thought was sort of silly was on rides like pirates, the kids couldn't sit in one row right in front of us with the parents right behind them. Even though 3 of them were old enough to ride on their own. I get that when it's a 2 seater ride, but when a parent is right there and can control the situation I don' think it should be that big of a deal.

Completely agree!!