Hey Howdy Hey Nicole and welcome to planDisney!
I am so excited to hear that you and your family are now part of the
Annual Passholder Community! So many Magical memories await you on your more frequent trips to Walt Disney World Resort with so many benefits. As a Girldad of 3, when our family of 5 travels to Walt Disney World, we have come across your exact question and situation. You've got a friend in me with some personal experience that may help address your concerns, Nicole!
In my more recent experience in the parks, children are allowed to ride in a row by themselves when they are 7 years old. Of course, they still need to be supervised by parents, but they do need to be 7 to be in a row by themselves.
One of the best parts about taking a trip to Walt Disney World as a family of 5 is the availability of attractions that can hold more than 2 per row. Sure, there are going to be attractions such as
Slinky Dog Dash in Hollywood Studios that have 2 per row, but there are so many more without them!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom is still one that can hold 3 riders per row and is one of our kids (and my) favorite attractions.
If your family is anything like mine, inevitably you will come across an attraction where some want to ride and some may not.
Rider Switch is made just for us! With this benefit, you can talk to the greeting Cast Member at the front of the attraction and ask about Rider Switch. You will be able to ride with one of your kids while your significant other waits with the others. When you are finished, you and your significant other and the other rider switch spots so everyone that wants to experience the attraction can, while minimizing wait times!
Since you all are new to the passholder experience, I am sure you may still be getting settled in, but just wanted to share a few tips to stay in the know. There are so many benefits to being an annual passholder that at times it may be difficult to keep up with the news and perks. Did you know that
Disney World Passholders is a Facebook group for just this? This group is one of the first places you can find out all the news and talk with other passholders about any questions you may have so you and they can share first-hand experience! You can also keep up with the news with the
Passholder Buzz on your My Disney Experience app. As long as you update your profile with your new credentials, you will have access to the Passholder Buzz to keep up with things from your app!
Again, welcome to the Annual Passholder community, I cannot wait for you and your family to experience the Magic that being part of this community has to offer. Please feel free to reach back out to us if you have any other questions, we would be happy to help!
Have a Magical Day,
Nick