Hi there, Katie, and welcome back!
I love it when a fellow mom of young kiddos visits us here at planDisney. I’ve been in your shoes a few times now—moms truly are superheroes for wanting to make sure that all of our babies enjoy their vacations. My older son is a thrill seeker, but my younger son…not so much. I’d love to share how I navigate the Disney Parks when outnumbered by little Mouseketeers.
Katie, this will give you some peace of mind: Walt Disney World guests who are 7 years old or older (and are above the minimum
height requirement) can ride an attraction without someone accompanying them. When I’m one-on-one with my older son, we often use the
Single Rider lines to make the most of our day. At first, he was a bit apprehensive, but now it’s become our thing to ride in separate rows or vehicles.
Now, when my other baby boy is along for the ride—literally—my older son simply rides completely alone. This means that all three of us wait in the queue together as his entourage. When we get to the ride vehicle, he boards, and we meet him at the ride’s exit. Many times, the exit is a gift shop.
Here’s the tricky part: If your younger children are not tall enough to ride the attraction, they are not allowed to even wait in the queue. For example, the height requirement for
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is 40 inches. If your 4 year old is shorter than that, your oldest will have to wait in line alone (or be joined by your 8 year old if they have a change of heart).
AN EXTRA GEM: As you probably know because you’re a seasoned Disney guest, there are so many attractions with little to no minimum height requirement. The beauty of Disney is that you all can enjoy a variety of rides together. Some of those rides have a dash of thrill (like
Pirates of the Caribbean and the
Haunted Mansion) so even the younger children can be adventurers, too.
Katie,
please revisit me here at planDisney if you need any more tips and tricks for navigating the theme parks with your kiddos in tow. See you real soon!
Magic always,
LeAndra