Hey there, Dan, and welcome to planDisney! Thanks for stopping by with your question.
As a mom who's been bringing her kids to Walt Disney World since they were tiny, I understand the struggle of ride logistics with little ones. Like you, I have kids of different heights and ages -
and a spouse who doesn't always want to ride (for my husband, it's about motion sickness, so sympathies to your wife if she's in the same boat). Dan, I've learned a lot over the years about navigating the parks with small kids, so I'm happy to help you prepare for your upcoming trip. You'll be strolling down Main Street, U.S.A. in no time, so let's get right to it!
As you already know,
Walt Disney World Property Rules state that in order to board an attraction, children 6 and under must be accompanied by a guest aged 14 or older. This means that all of your children will need to ride with an adult.
The good news is that many attractions can accommodate you and two of your Mouseketeers all in the same ride vehicle! This is true of rides like
Peter Pan's Flight,
Haunted Mansion,
The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and more. You'll also find that plenty of attractions (like
Pirates of the Caribbean,
Frozen Ever After, and
Na'vi River Journey) feature ride vehicles with long, bench-style seating that will allow you to board with both of your kiddos. One of my favorite things about Disney World has always been the number of attractions I can ride with my whole family, and the fact that so many of them can accommodate odd-number parties!
Of course, you
will encounter attractions with ride vehicles that only seat two, particularly rollercoasters, like Slinky Dog Dash, Tron Lightcycle / Run, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. In my experience, Disney Cast Members do expect an adult to sit right next to a young child, so these two-seater attractions are where you'll want to use
Rider Switch. To use this service, just speak to the Disney Cast Member at the attraction entrance and let them know that you'd like to use Rider Switch. You'll ride with one child while your wife waits with the others, then ride with the second child afterwards. Only this time, you won't need to wait in the standard queue!
Bonus Tip: If you're using Rider Switch with
Lightning Lane, you'll have a shortened wait each time you ride!
I hope this information is helpful, Dan, and that your family has an incredible visit to The Most Magical Place on Earth! If you have any other planning questions, you know
where to find me right here at planDisney!
See ya real soon,
Allison