What to do while waiting for EE riders?

[JJsmama]

My oldest DS wants to do EE ( with me.) 2 younger DS. 13, 6 would be waiting for us without another adult. What is nearby that they can do? We have skipped AK many trips, so we are not so familiar with the layout.

Is the character spot nearby so Ds13 could take brother? Otherwise, a nice place for snack and rest out of the way of massive crowds? (Think Summer.) DS 13 is a bit scarred from growing up in the world's most populous country and gets anxious in crowds, but I hate to make Ds15 miss all the coasters... Help?

 

[kaybird]

There is a great viewing area to watch the trains come down the mountain. Monkey Island is not to far. Pick up the Wilderness Explorer book, and work on badges in Asia. Lots to do, no fear!!

 

[TDC Nala]

there's also the shop...of course the ride empties into the shop, so they could meet you there. It would likely be crowded though.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Everest is not too far from Dinoland. Have them head over there for primevil whirl, character meet & greet or some of the games then you guys go meet them when you're done.


Boneyard
Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama
Dinosaur
Finding Nemo - The Musical
Primeval Whirl
Restaurantosaurus
Triceratop Spin


http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/animalkingdom/ak-dino-overview.htm

 

[elyse43230]

Do you have a FP+ for EE? This will make their wait a lot shorter.

You can print out hidden Mickey guide in that area (I would just Google it, lots of sights with locations of Hidden Mickey's, or buy them the yellow book). There are lots of cool Hidden Mickey's within the Asia/Everest area. My brother and I spent a good 30 minutes looking all around for them (using the yellow book).

Maybe lame, but it entertained a 29 and 27 year old!

EE is pretty isolated honestly.

 

[mousekatool]

The last two trips, DS wasn't tall enough to ride, so we sat in the shade across from the entrance and had a Mickey Bar from the cart nearby. Everyone was happy.

 

[helenb]

I would recommend the Boneyard in Dinoland. Lots of fun for older and younger kids. Bring your younger 2 there, then go to EE with your elder child, then return to Dinoland when you're done!

Guaranteed, your younger two kids will be upset when you return.

 

[disnut8]

My oldest DS wants to do EE ( with me.) 2 younger DS. 13, 6 would be waiting for us without another adult. What is nearby that they can do? We have skipped AK many trips, so we are not so familiar with the layout.

Is the character spot nearby so Ds13 could take brother? Otherwise, a nice place for snack and rest out of the way of massive crowds? (Think Summer.) DS 13 is a bit scarred from growing up in the world's most populous country and gets anxious in crowds, but I hate to make Ds15 miss all the coasters... Help?

I'm thinking the 13 year old is tall enough to ride but not sure of the 6 year old. If both are of the appropriate height, you could have all four of you go through the queue together and then just tell the seater that two will ride, two will exit. Then have the older child take the younger child into that route and meet you either inside the gift shop or just outside of it. Before you board, go over to the gift shop and scope out good meeting areas. If the 13 year old has a cell phone, no problem, just use that to meet up after.

 

[JJsmama]

I'm thinking the 13 year old is tall enough to ride but not sure of the 6 year old. If both are of the appropriate height, you could have all four of you go through the queue together and then just tell the seater that two will ride, two will exit. Then have the older child take the younger child into that route and meet you either inside the gift shop or just outside of it. Before you board, go over to the gift shop and scope out good meeting areas. If the 13 year old has a cell phone, no problem, just use that to meet up after.

If they would allow that, it would be great. Sometimes the queues are quite interesting. I guess. Would just pretend that 2 chickened out?

If not, glad to know Dinoland is not too far away. That is my least favorite section in all four parks put together, but kids do love it. So, they could go while I avoided!

 

[kastoney]

I would recommend the Boneyard in Dinoland. Lots of fun for older and younger kids. Bring your younger 2 there, then go to EE with your elder child, then return to Dinoland when you're done! Guaranteed, your younger two kids will be upset when you return.

Second this. My daughter could spend hours in the boneyard play yard.

 

[disnut8]

If they would allow that, it would be great. Sometimes the queues are quite interesting. I guess. Would just pretend that 2 chickened out?

If not, glad to know Dinoland is not too far away. That is my least favorite section in all four parks put together, but kids do love it. So, they could go while I avoided!

As long as the six year old meets the height requirement, this is allowed. No questions asked. And you don't have to "pretend" anything. About the only thing the Cast Member will say to the boys after the separation is "don't like this ride?" or something like that. It's really no big deal.

I have a broken neck and had to do this for about five years until things healed. I am an older woman with no outside physical ailments and no Cast Member ever made to me feel like I was doing something wrong. Disney is really fantastic with these kind of situations.

 

[nkereina]

It might be a waste of time when you could be doing something else since you aren't riding, but you and other non-riders are permitted to wait in the line with the riders until it's time to board. When they board, you'll be directed to an exit, and you wouldn't have to wait much longer as the ride is fairly short. Perfectly acceptable to do this. I only bring this up as an option because the queue for Everest is really cool and well themed. Sometimes I hope for a longer line there so I can take in all the details of it.

 

[MouseyMin]

I suggest that all of you try to go through the queue together. EE's queue is one of the best lines in the park, in my opinion - quite a lot to see, even if you're not riding. After the "chicken exit" the younger 2 can wait for you in the gift shop - it should only be a few minutes - the ride is not that long.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I don't want to wait in line for attractions I am going to ride, much less things I won't. To me it seems like getting a tattoo with no ink. =)

 

[nkereina]

I don't want to wait in line for attractions I am going to ride, much less things I won't. To me it seems like getting a tattoo with no ink. =)

Beats sitting on a bench if you're just going to be waiting for them otherwise I wouldn't wait in line at other theme parks like Six Flags, but a lot of the queues at Disney are part of the experience with all the details. And many are air conditioned to boot!

 

[LSUfan4444]

Beats sitting on a bench if you're just going to be waiting for them otherwise

That's why I recommended Dinoland. As you know, the boneyard area, goofy and pluto meet & greet and all the Fossil Fun Games about a 2 minute walk away. Even Finding Nemo I think is a better option than kids standing in line for something they won't do.

If it's truly what the OP wants it certainly is an option, but would have been torture to me as a 13 year old kid when there is so much other stuff to do.

 

[Iowajes]

I don't want to wait in line for attractions I am going to ride, much less things I won't.

Waiting in lines for rides you aren't going to ride lets you spend time with the people you came to the park with.

I broke my neck in high school and have a lifetime ban on rollercoasters. If I didn't wait in lines with my family and friends, it would be huge chunks of the day I don't get to spend with them. It's not so bad at Disney (though even still, there are a number of rides I have to just wait and skip), but at Six Flags where everything is a rollercoaster with long waits? Waiting is what I do

If there are little ones, I usually take them on kid rides while the taller people in the group go on big coasters; but if everyone in the group is going on a ride I can't go on, I just jump over the seat or go on the "chicken exit". I just tell the ride attendant I can't ride, and will be hopping over when they line 2 people up for the seat corral, and we go in a group of 3. No one has ever asked why.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

While I generally agree with the poster who said they dislike waiting in lines, the EE queue is a bit of an exception. Both the FP and Standby queues have plenty to see.

But I also think visiting the gift shop, getting ice cream, and watching the drop for your friends are also great answers.

One thing to keep in mind....if you have small children, or someone who doesn't wish to ride EE...then there is not much else to FP in AK. (Well, at least under old FP.)

The littlest ones have multiple attraction options, and lots to see, but only a few actual 'rides'. How many times can he ride Triceratops Spin? We usually pair taking the little ones to TS with DINOSAUR and PW. In the opposite direction there's primates they can watch (back towards Kali), and other snack/shop options.

A few general strategies with little ones- and thrill ride split ups, is that often small kids benefit from opportunities to use the restroom more often and either nap or sit. Those little legs do double duty when walking, so opportunities to sit are usually well appreciated. If the child has s stroller, they may well be encouraged to close their eyes for a bit.

I don't suggest getting too far from each other. Thirteen is responsible enough for a split, but the further parties split up at WDW, the harder it is to find each other again. I mean just logistically, we find it better to stay pretty close in the parks. Otherwise, EVERYONE gets bored waiting/searching for family members.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Waiting in lines for rides you aren't going to ride lets you spend time with the people you came to the park with.

And how many 13 and 6 year-olds think that sounds better than playtime in Dinoland?

I understand it allows the group to stay together more, but so does skipping attractions not everyone can do. There are alot of compromises here, I just think that most 13 and 6 year olds would enjoy playing in Dinoland than standing in line for something they won't ride.

All about perspective.

 

[Pembo]

Use the single rider line and your younger ones will have a shorter wait. When I went to WDW alone with DD, at EE she waited in the gift shop by the ride exit. Other rides I did that she did not, she went through the queue and used the chicken exit. Not a problem.