Just Back 7/12 - General Experiences (a little long and a little of everything)

[Lm3js]

Thanks for all the great info! Glad you enjoyed the JW - my family of 3 will be staying there next month. Did you take advantage of any of the amenities like to pool, or go up to the rooftop bar? I wonder what the fireworks are like from up there.

We did not go to the rooftop bar as you need to make reservations.and there weren't any available. I would make them in advance. We heard the view of fireworks was great up there though. We had view of the park (DCA) from our room but were at the parks most nights during fireworks except one night when we got drinks at 2nd floor bar and went to the second floor patio to try to see fireworks. We could see them, but a bit obstructed with the Garden Walk arches. However, that second floor patio is beautiful with the gardens -- both a vegetable and succulent and also fruit/olive trees. The first floor coffee shop is a starbucks. Hours are short right now but great for morning coffee as you walk over. But grab it and then go back to 2nd floor to go out the 2nd floor patio to cut-through GW to Disneyway for quicker part access. Same when coming back at night but ignore the crazy disco from Panchos (unless that is your thing ha ha). You cannot hear any noise at the hotel itself.

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

Although I do like your suggestion of one Adult, kids next and final Adult. That would be a lot easier to manage, as my wife could go first, then our 3 kids and I could go last from the Single Rider Lines. Having adults at either end would help round up the kids easier,

Just FYI, one time when I did single rider on RSR my car returned to the wheelchair load area, which is a totally different spot from the usual load/unload area (my car loaded from the normal load area). Another time the ride broke down and everyone had to be escorted off the ride. It was a good thing I had my phone so I could change our meet-up area.

 

[Malcon10t]

If you are going to do single rider with younger kids, prep them for various scenarios, such as a ride coming back to a different area, or a ride going down with either child stuck or parent stuck and what you want them to do. And what to do should they think they are lost or they are uncomfortable in a situation. Know your phone number (INCLUDING area code.) Also, make sure they can belt themselves in. My granddaughter actually asked, for her 7th birthday present, to ride single rider. We chose Matterhorn since I could see her thru the line, knew which side she was on, and I was at the exit. (She had her "girl crew" (aka teen girls who come to help me with her) to make sure all went well.). She just turned 10 and loves single rider.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

We just returned also, were in the parks Sunday, July 11 and Monday, July 12. We had a lot of fun and did all the attractions we wanted, many more than once, but we also waited wayyyyyy longer for attractions than we ever have before and longer than we would have ever waited previously. We definitely missed MaxPass or any sort of FP system. Like you, we found wait times would jump up considerably higher quickly, sometimes while we were already in line. Example: MH stated 25 on the app, we went to it and there were people everywhere. We knew that was not just a 25 min wait and sure enough, the CM announced it was now a 50 min wait. Same thing happened at TSMM. We were also pleasantly surprised that some posted 50 min waits were more like 25-35. It is all very random right now in my opinion on how it may all go. My advice to anyone visiting the parks these days is to just go with the flow because you do not know how it will actually go! We also experienced MANY MANY MANY attractions being down. On Sunday, our DCA day, there was a time when three major attractions were down at the same time.

Also, totally agree with you about the Mobile Ordering. Not great right now. We were most successful at Red Wagon for a corn dog. The order time and pick-up were almost simultaneous. The worst was for Dole Whip, such a long wait and then we were required to wait in a lengthy line to pick it up. I experienced the exact opposite of that in Dec. 2019.

My #1 tip will always be to be up and out early each morning - be at the gate about 45 mins before park opening. You will never regret it. Being at the front of the rope is always worth it to our family. We had fun for sure, and I believe everyone is doing the best they can.

 

[Tasscrapper]

I had no idea they could start so young. Going to see if our DD is open to this on our next trip ... she may want to stay close but it's worth a shot!

I think the official age of kids being on their own in the parks is 14 but once my kids had cell phones they loved having independence. We would often let a couple kids go to a ride together or on their own depending on age and maturity of the specific child. Particularly on Radiator Springs Racers we would go as a family in the single rider line and we would all finish within a couple minutes of each other. Many times we just rinsed and repeated. One of the advantages of RSR single rider is that you can often end up racing against someone in your own party.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I think the official age of kids being on their own in the parks is 14 but once my kids had cell phones they loved having independence.

7 is the age to ride “single rider,” or in your own vehicle/row/whatever.

 

[Lm3js]

I think the official age of kids being on their own in the parks is 14 but once my kids had cell phones they loved having independence. We would often let a couple kids go to a ride together or on their own depending on age and maturity of the specific child. Particularly on Radiator Springs Racers we would go as a family in the single rider line and we would all finish within a couple minutes of each other. Many times we just rinsed and repeated. One of the advantages of RSR single rider is that you can often end up racing against someone in your own party.

Must be 14 or accompanied by someone over 14 to be in the park alone. If under 7 must be accompanied by someone 14 or older to ride. 7+ can ride alone provided they meet ride reqs.