Would you leave a 9-year-old while you go on a ride?

[TJDisneymama]

Planning a trip for me and my two kids. My 9 year old does not do any big rides - like not even Splash or 7DMT. My 13 year old loves them, and I feel bad thinking about him ride them all by himself. I was thinking maybe for some rides I could go on with him and leave my daughter at the exit of the ride where we will be coming out? Obviously not if it's a long wait, but say 10-15 min. Max. What do you think??

 

[JeninTexas]

I have a 10 and 12 year old, and I personally would send the older child on the ride by himself. I would feel better about doing that than leaving the younger one waiting alone.

 

[rwdavis2]

The main point is, are YOU comfortable with it? If so then do what you want. Since you are asking a bunch of strangers I'm guessing you're not comfortable with it which actually is your answer.

 

[ForeverAlice]

No. But have a nice trip!

 

[mom2rtk]

We don't know your 9 year old so really can't say.

Kids are all different. Some I would trust to sit at 9 as long as we were going by FP. (I would be sure to use a FP). Some I would not trust at 9, 10, maybe even 11 or 12!

 

[Cramden]

If you decide to do it get a few 2 way radios-walkie talkies so you can keep in touch while you're separated. Might give you both better peace of mind.

 

[Alesia]

Planning a trip for me and my two kids. My 9 year old does not do any big rides - like not even Splash or 7DMT. My 13 year old loves them, and I feel bad thinking about him ride them all by himself. I was thinking maybe for some rides I could go on with him and leave my daughter at the exit of the ride where we will be coming out? Obviously not if it's a long wait, but say 10-15 min. Max. What do you think??

Have your daughter go through the line and then take the chicken exit to the gift shop. She can wait for you there.

 

[capegirl]

Personally, I would not do it; alot can happen in 15 minutes.

 

[Minnesota!]

Yes, I would. My newly - 9 year old would be ok with it. I would first show him where I want him to stay. And then I would have him come through the line with me and use any chicken exit there is...and then he will be waiting where I asked him to when I get off the ride in 2 - 5 minutes.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

To me it really depends on the child. My older child, no way would I have left them at 9! However, my younger one totally could handle it at 9-Pick a spot and have a Mickey Ice Cream bar. As a Disney parent, I would be happy to sit with a child while their parent and other child went on a ride, but that might be awkward for others. Some rides your 9 year old may be able to just wait at the exit for you. You all go through the line together and then instead of riding, your 9 year old just steps over to the exit and waits the 5 minutes until the ride is over.

 

[JimmyV]

You have asked what I would be comfortable with, so don't take this as me judging or preaching about others.

No. I would not do it. My priority would be to comfort and protect the younger child and give the independence to the older child. Whichever child that is left alone will have a certain feeling. The younger child, if left alone, would feel guilty or sad for creating the divisive situation. The older child, if left alone, would probably not have these feelings and instead might feel grown up and independent. Between those two feelings, I would try to avoid the former.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

Yes, I would. My newly - 9 year old would be ok with it. I would first show him where I want him to stay. And then I would have him come through the line with me and use any chicken exit there is...and then he will be waiting where I asked him to when I get off the ride in 2 - 5 minutes.

Yes! exactly.

 

[rsagusti]

I have sent my 7 year old in the single rider lines (that's the age where Disney allows them to ride alone), but waiting at the end of a ride maybe not. HOWEVER you can probably go through the line with both kids and just have the chicken exit/wait while you do the ride with your other child.

 

[ars0525]

I would all wait in line together & then either both of you take the exit before you ride (the older kid rides alone) OR let the 9 yo take the exit & wait for both of you at the end (after you have scouted ahead of time & agreed on the waiting place).

It really depends on your kid & what they are already allowed to do. Do you leave your child alone or let them go off for a few minutes unsupervised at home? If you never have, then I don't think Disney is the place to try it the a first time. Does your child really listen to you? If you tell them to go thru the exit doors & WAIT for you...will they? If you think for a second they may start to wander or not follow your directions again I may not let them do it. It also depends when you are going & how crowded the parks are for your comfort level?

 

[robinb]

Planning a trip for me and my two kids. My 9 year old does not do any big rides - like not even Splash or 7DMT. My 13 year old loves them, and I feel bad thinking about him ride them all by himself. I was thinking maybe for some rides I could go on with him and leave my daughter at the exit of the ride where we will be coming out? Obviously not if it's a long wait, but say 10-15 min. Max. What do you think??

I think it's perfectly fine for a 9-year old to wait for you alone. Your daughter can come through the line with you and then take the "chicken exit" and meet you as you come off the ride. I would probably make sure she has a phone so you can call her in case you get delayed or you miss your meet-up place.

 

[robinb]

You have asked what I would be comfortable with, so don't take this as me judging or preaching about others.

No. I would not do it. My priority would be to comfort and protect the younger child and give the independence to the older child. Whichever child that is left alone will have a certain feeling. The younger child, if left alone, would feel guilty or sad for creating the divisive situation. The older child, if left alone, would probably not have these feelings and instead might feel grown up and independent. Between those two feelings, I would try to avoid the former.

That's an interesting perspective. OP, only you will know if the younger child will feel bad about taking the chicken exit or if she will feel empowered by the faith you have in her to be responsible enough to be left alone for a short amount of time.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Oh she definitely would do what I say and would stay planted in the spot I leave her, I'm not worried at ALL about her wandering off or anything like that. I thought about the chicken exit but then I'm not sure how complicated it is to get out and where exactly she would be to meet her.
I'm not exactly UNcomfortable with the idea of leaving her, but not quite comfortable; I haven't really thought about it before, so that's why I'm asking a bunch of strangers.

 

[ldo]

what about the 9 year old waiting in the baby swap area?

 

[anniemae]

I think I would be okay with it as long as the 9 ear old is mature enough to follow directions. I would make sure she knows to stay in the gift shop (or wherever you decide) and not to go wandering off. I would also make sure she knows how to identify a CM and to go to a CM for help or assistance if she needs it. It would be even better if she had a cell phone so you could call to check up on her if you needed to, so if you have a couple of phones within the family, you could give her one.

 

[TJDisneymama]

You

No. I would not do it. My priority would be to comfort and protect the younger child and give the independence to the older child. Whichever child that is left alone will have a certain feeling. The younger child, if left alone, would feel guilty or sad for creating the divisive situation. The older child, if left alone, would probably not have these feelings and instead might feel grown up and independent. Between those two feelings, I would try to avoid the former.

That does not describe my kids at ALL. My 9 y.o. would not feel guilty or sad in any way, shape or form, lol. She would actually probably feel grown up. The 13 y.o. going on the rides by himself, I know will feel sad that he has to go on all these rides alone.

I tend to lean towards sympathizing with my son because 9 y.o. DD is SO stubborn, she won't even TRY any of these rides! She's been going to WDW since she was 3 and she simply REFUSES to try them. If she tried them and was genuinely afraid or hated them, then fine, I would understand. So I feel like my son is getting the short end of the stick because of her stubbornness.