Parent swap for the single mom

Single mom in Canada

Earning My Ears
Joined
Aug 8, 2015
I haven't been to Disney in 5 years...when I was still married. Imagine my excitement seeing this new forum to help me plan my trip as a single gal :). Question...I will be going with my 12 year old son and 8 year old daughter. My son and I love all the thrill rides but I don't think my daughter is quite ready. Is there a parent swap version for us single parents?? Can my daughter walk through a ride line with me and then a cast member keeps an eye on her until the ride is over? Probably wishful thinking as I know ride exits are generally in a different location than the entrance but hey, this is Disney World and I know they do their best to accommodate when they can. Hoping there is an alternative. Thanks in advance.
 
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I never heard of anyone mention this senario before. I don't need it anymore but would love to know. Have you called guest relations at any parks to see what they can help with? maybe with warning they can come up with a plan for this :)
 
I also would love to know. My daughter is wanting to try tower of terror but my son is totally against it. I'm so stressed trying to figure out how to handle this one. I heard there is a "chicken door" which would allow him to stay in line with us but I don't know where that door would take him vs were the ride exits.
 
CMs can not watch your child. She can go through the line and then go out via the exit door. I suggest if you plan to do that you find out exactly where she would exit to, make a plan for her to stay put. If it were me, I would send my 12 year on the ride alone for them to enjoy and then stay with my 8 year old.
 
I haven't been to Disney in 5 years...when I was still married. Imagine my excitement seeing this new forum to help me plan my trip as a single gal :). Question...I will be going with my 12 year old son and 8 year old daughter. My son and I love all the thrill rides but I don't think my daughter is quite ready. Is there a parent swap version for us single parents?? Can my daughter walk through a ride line with me and then a cast member keeps an eye on her until the ride is over? Probably wishful thinking as I know ride exits are generally in a different location than the entrance but hey, this is Disney World and I know they do their best to accommodate when they can. Hoping there is an alternative. Thanks in advance.

Hi! Welcome to the group. :)

I'm traveling to Disney with my DS in December. Just the two of us. He's only a year old, so this doesn't apply to us yet; however, I am curious to know if there's a solution. Update us, if you decide to call guest services.

I just thought of something. Someone mentioned that there's "child care" (I guess kind of like a kids club) at Disney. I don't know if that's just at the resorts or if there's one in the parks too. If so, perhaps you can have your DD stay there for an hour or two while you and your DS ride all the thrill rides. Not sure if that makes sense, just trying to help with a possible solution. I haven't been to WDW in over 10 years, so I'm trying to learn the ropes too. :)

Once again, welcome to the group.
 


Childcare is only in certain resorts. You can drop off at 4 and they give them dinner. Unless you do what one person suggested and have a mommy's helper.

My dd went through a time where she totally refused to ride any of the semi-dark rides except Small World. I had decided I was going to let her go to the kids' club one evening for 2 or 3 hours and go to MK with ds to do Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, repeat some other stuff and have dinner. We ultimately didn't end up going that route; but if it's a few rides at DHS, the kids' club at the Beach Club (easy access by boat) could be an option.

I've had it easy since my son was under 40 inches in that my dd never cared to ride the rides with height restrictions. Ds is over 40 inches now and she still doesn't; but she's 12 so I'll likely end up having her waiting on our next trip. Ds is asking to ride some stuff now.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions. I will have to think about this one. Like most of you, I am uncomfortable with letting my daughter wait somewhere on her own. Of course, I may also be underestimating my daughter as well. Maybe she is braver than I am giving her credit for..lol..thinking maybe I should go to Animal Kimgdom first and take her on EE. It's fast and furious but it's also outside. If she can't handle that than I know space mountain and ToT are completely out of the question. Thanks again.
 
I was intrigued enough by this situation as my best friend would fall into it also if she came with her kids. I emailed guest services just now, lets see what/if they have to offer in a couple days. Was just a simple email asking what options there are for this situation.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions. I will have to think about this one. Like most of you, I am uncomfortable with letting my daughter wait somewhere on her own. Of course, I may also be underestimating my daughter as well. Maybe she is braver than I am giving her credit for..lol..thinking maybe I should go to Animal Kimgdom first and take her on EE. It's fast and furious but it's also outside. If she can't handle that than I know space mountain and ToT are completely out of the question. Thanks again.

Yup, you never know what they will decide. I would say ToT is not really that scary from a ride point of view, what's bad is all the people finding the need to scream. A gasp maybe but nonstop screeching??? Space Mountain I totally get the fear because you ride ALONE and it's pitch dark and rough. Have fun!!
 
I was intrigued enough by this situation as my best friend would fall into it also if she came with her kids. I emailed guest services just now, lets see what/if they have to offer in a couple days. Was just a simple email asking what options there are for this situation.

Thanks for doing that. Please share with us what they say :).
 
My children are the opposite, in that my younger one loves the thrill rides and my older doesn't. He doesn't like his younger sister to outdo him though, so he has ridden most of the time. But, earlier on, when he was about 8, he chose to just wait. His then 6 year old sister wasn't thrilled with riding by herself, nor could she on some rides. He went just outside the loading area and waited. Your average thrill ride doesn't last very long, so he was perfectly content to watch the rides come back and he stayed right where he was. He is on the Autism Spectrum, so I had some misgivings about this, but after a last minute mind change, I was stuck disappointing one or the other. I would not be comfortable leaving him outside while we wait in line, but the couple of minutes while a ride is happening doesn't concern me anymore.

I get why not everyone would feel comfortable with it, but my son who has separation anxiety preferred it to the ride, so it worked for us. Now at almost 8 and 10, it is a totally different ballgame and after the 4th time on splash mountain in a row, I sent them by themselves while I waited for them at the exit and they prefer single rider lines on Test Track to avoid the insane waits, so I wouldn't think twice if one of mine didn't want to ride. But we have been several times now and their confidence has grown (as has mine in knowing that my son won't freak or lose his cool if I am out of eye sight). On a tough sensory day, he may still make that choice and he has - he is pretty good now at identifying what he can and can't handle at a given point in time, so we just go with a "roll with it" kind of plan - he can ride or not and it won't matter to any of us one way or the other.

I hope Disney has something in place that works for you - or maybe your daughter will surprise you :-)
 
I'm interested in following this too. I'll be going to DL without another adult in the near future and I am concerned that my 4 year old will either be too scared or not tall enough for a couple of the rides we want to go on.
 
I have gone with my broad range of 5 kids (5y-18y last trip) as a single parent several times, and last trip my DS 15yo acted as the other parent for a parent swap. He would go through the ride (either alone or with "extra kid" (9yo DS) that wants to ride) while I waited with the non-rider (5yo DS). When he finished he would wait with the non-riding child (5yo DS) that did not go while I got a chance to ride.

The first person riding has to wait in the line unless you have fast passes, but usually they allow the waiting "parent" to go through the single rider or fast pass line. Also at several of the rides they allow you to take the "extra" kid (9yo DS) back through the line again.

We found that on rides the two younger boys did not want to ride we would use the single rider line if it was available. We would just have to go separately, but it worked out.

I do not know if you are comfortable having your 12yo wait with your 8yo, but they can usually stand near the attendant while you ride. It used to be that the child swap happened when you got on the ride, but now it happens at the entrance to the line.

I am now going with a 2yo DS, so we will be parent swapping a lot or I will just not ride.

I think EE would be a good beginning thrill ride for her, but I would definitely do it during the day. Also, ToT in the day as it freaks me out a little a night still. On SM, I sat behind my 5yo and kept my hands on his shoulders the whole time and he did great and was eager to do it again. I had to stretch to reach him, but I did.
 
There was an automated message that said it would be at least 72 hours until I heard back. Fingers crossed, I've had some success in other areas over the last couple years. I have an idea of what to suggest that would make this work.
 
Thanks so much again everyone. I'm thrilled with all the ideas and support. So happy I found this board!

Accident - you Rock! I look forward to hearing what they say and what your suggestion is
 
I look forward to hearing what they say and what your suggestion is

i'm still kind of hashing it out but initial thoughts is child care + fastpass for an hour since you need it at every park. Maybe there is some way to do a 1 or 2 hour tour with the single young child ride escort if the other child is really young and the parent can't go on or something special at the exit like hidden mickey hunting while the parent + allowed to ride child(ren) quickly do the ride if they are old enough to leave the parent. There is something here, just not sure how to make it so a regular family can't abuse it but I think sparking some ideas might get that eureka moment on how to do this for them :)
 
I will be watching this, I have taken 5 years to save for our one and only trip to Disneyland and the logistics of rides are the one thing I haven't managed to get my head around yet. I will be coming with Miss 13 (roller coaster fanatic) and Miss 7 (vertically challenged) from New Zealand. I am hesitant to leave either unattended in a country where we wont know anyone. Miss 13 is extremely trustworthy and I know wont wonder off, miss 7 loves everyone and everything especially food so I know she would get distracted and disappear in a heartbeat. Hoping we can come up with something that will work.
 
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I will be watching this, I have taken 5 years to save for our one and only trip to Disneyland and the logistics of rides are the one thing I haven't managed to get my head around yet. I will be coming with Miss 13 (roller coaster fanatic) and Miss 7 (vertically challenged) from New Zealand. I am hesitant to leave either unattended in a country where we wont need anyone. Miss 13 is extremely trustworthy and I know wont wonder off, miss 7 loves everyone and everything especially food so I know she would get distracted and disappear in a heartbeat. Hoping we can come up with something that will work.

Hello! Welcome to the group. I love NZ! I've been to the north island (Auckland) and the South Island (Queenstown). Queenstown is breathtaking! Have a safe trip to the States and enjoy your Disney vacation. :)
 

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