ages to ride alone and be alone in the park

[jonahbear2006]

So the age to ride alone is 7. is that correct? if i have an 11, 9, and 7 year old they are allowed to go ride a ride by themselves while I stay with the 5 and 15mth old? Now Reverse that. Can I ride with the 9 and 7 year old while the 11 year old stays with the 5 and 15mth old??

[SBETigg]

12 and under, not supposed to be alone in the parks. Not sure about on rides. I would say that leaving kids alone and unsupervised would be a no. Maybe except on rides, not in queues, but on rides once they are buckled in and ready to go, I don't know. But leaving them while you are riding, probably not recommended. Good judgment should prevail. Would any rules in place be reinforced? That's another matter.

[jonahbear2006]

hmm, not at all? i dont mean ditching them. I mean just at a ride exit. anybody know how much the attendents run? the cast members that can help you in the parks?

[SBETigg]

hmm, not at all? i dont mean ditching them. I mean just at a ride exit. anybody know how much the attendents run? the cast members that can help you in the parks?

I know you wouldn't ditch them. :) But eleven isn't really old enough to supervise younger siblings and anything could happen while they are waiting. It's not Disney's job to watch your kids while you ride. My interpretation of riding alone even means that you are there to get them on/off or waiting right there for them, preferably next to them on the ride. But I'm not sure of Disney's official stance on that. I am sure that the official posted rule is no children 12 and under unsupervised in the parks, and to me you riding with them waiting is definitely unsupervised, so not officially allowed. But let's see what some others have to say.

[jonahbear2006]

well, i wasnt sure. i saw somewhere on another site that said 7 they could ride alone so i had no idea. i would definitely be nervous leaving them alone and not sure if i could even get up the nerve to do so. Just curious, hypothetically. Looks like my inlaws will prob be with me anyways, so i dont think the answer even matters but the point of my question was to know what disneys official stance is on this matter.

[greengeen]

anybody know how much the attendents run? the cast members that can help you in the parks?

Attendants and cast members probably run a lot... but they don't babysit, if that is what you mean.

[jonahbear2006]

no im talking about the cast members that you can hire to help you in the park with your kiddos.

[jonahbear2006]

i know they do have sitters though that can come to your room or campsite. i was reading the other day that fort wilderness also offers that, along with the other resorts. i wasnt aware that fort wilderness had that perk.

[KylesMom]

Check out here Childcare (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/children/childcare.asp) for options you may have with regard to both resort and in-room childcare.

In-park escorts are available for hire should the need arise. While I can't give you an exact amount per hour, I recall they are pricey. I'm sure if you call Disney they could give you a firm number based on the time of year you're going.

[BrerGnat]

The VIP tourguides are not babysitters, but they will accompany children on rides while YOU wait. They cost somewhere in the vicinity of $175-$315/hour with a SIX HOUR MINIMUM.

But, you can allow your older kids (the ones 7 and up) to get in a ride queue and go on the ride while you wait at the exit with your other ones.

I'd NEVER leave a child as young as 12 in charge of siblings alone in a theme park while I rode a ride. Way too much can go wrong, especially since you have a toddler in the mix.

[Disney4us2]

I let my DD ride alone at the age of 7, but I waited in line with her and just waited outside the ride at the exit. Now at the age of 11 I let her go to an attraction with her 14y/o friend and meet them at the exit. They both have their cell phones with them as well.

[clausjo]

The age to ride alone is 7 - I know this because my son rode Everest a few times this February through the single rider line. He's 11, but I asked the CM there what the minimum age was. 7 seems young, but that's what she said. On a ride where there is no singler rider line, I'll wait in the line with him and my daughter - who refuses to ride - and then when he's ready to get onto the ride, we use the chicken exit and wait for him where he'll come out.

I don't think I'd leave my son in charge while I rode - I just end up skipping those rides. :(

[princessgirls]

I have way to many issues regarding control, and work in social services so that being said, I would not do any babysitting service in Disney with someone I didn't know.

I have heard really good things about the kids clubs in the Poly and Beach Club, where there is a group of children being supervised. That I have less of an issue with.

On our last trip, the girls were 8 & 7 and there was no wait for Everest, and we put them on it and didn't ride it, we did go through the queue with them, and waited for them to get off. I'm ok with that. We had ridden it a few time with them that afternoon. My girls can close a park like no one's business. They are FULL OUT RIDERS!!!
Julie:mickey:

[Disney1977]

This year my two older boys ages 12 and 8 rode the Rock and Roll Roller coaster without me. I had done it twice with them and did not want to go again. I put them in the line and told them to meet me in the gift shop.

You know your children and their maturity level, so its up to you to make the call if they should ride without you.


Have a great trip.

[jonahbear2006]

thanks everyone for your input. I knew I had read the age was 7. I dont intend on getting a babysitter in Disney, I just like to know all of my options and what is offered out there, should things change and I need an amenity that I have not researched. I totally agree with the fact that you have to decide what your children can handle based upon your maturity level. Some 7yr olds can handle a line without a parent and some 12 year olds cant.