Kiddos on laps in rides?

misskari

Mouseketeer
Joined
Nov 4, 2012
we have a 2yr old with CP, so she can’t sit upright on her own. Will they allow her to sit on my lap? Thinking specifically of rides like Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, rides with lap bars, etc.
 
My 15 month old mostly rode on our laps just fine (she's the size of a 2 year old) they did ask us not to have her on our laps on Winnie the Pooh.
 
My 15 month old mostly rode on our laps just fine (she's the size of a 2 year old) they did ask us not to have her on our laps on Winnie the Pooh.

It sounds like maybe you got some (or a lot!) of Pixie Dust! :)

I wouldn't go expecting to be able to hold a baby or toddler on my lap on most rides at WDW. Just ask a CM at the ride about "rider switch" so that you can ride while someone else holds your child, and vice-versa.
 
It sounds like maybe you got some (or a lot!) of Pixie Dust! :)

I wouldn't go expecting to be able to hold a baby or toddler on my lap on most rides at WDW. Just ask a CM at the ride about "rider switch" so that you can ride while someone else holds your child, and vice-versa.
We also went to wdw for her first birthday and had the same experience, dlr at 3 and 8 months and at DLR infants specifically have to be on your lap afaik

Last trip she was in 2t's and 26lbs (last month) for size comparison.

Why rider swap family rides pretty much designed for infants and toddlers??
 
Rider Switch is mostly for attractions with height requirements that children can’t ride (or that a child or adult doesn’t want to ride).
This is more information about Rider Swap: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

You will be able to hold your child on your lap for shows. You will probably want to hold your child in shows so she can see better.
For many rides without height restrictions, you will be able to hold a small child on your lap.
Winnie the Pooh is an example of an exception because of the ride car motion - during the Tigger parts, it bounces. During other parts, your honey pot floats, bobs, or follows the motion of what is going on in the scene around you.
Peter Pan is one you will probably be asked not to hold your child because of being high up during the ride.
Pirates is also probably no because of the drop.
If in doubt, ask the CM.

My daughter with CP is an adult now, but we held her on many attractions. Also, even though she coukd not sit unsupported, many ride cars easily held 2 adults and one child. With her seated between us, we were able to give her the support she needed to sit up.
 
All of our kids and grandkids have rode on our laps on slow rides. Never thought of it being an issue, but things do change all the time. Our youngest grandson is 5 and rode on our laps until he was 3 or so.
 
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we have a 2yr old with CP, so she can’t sit upright on her own. Will they allow her to sit on my lap? Thinking specifically of rides like Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, rides with lap bars, etc.
only thing I would worry about with child on lap and lap bars would be like Small World I know no lap bar but when boat is bumped from back could have child pinned between you and lap bar which could hurt child
 
I think you should be fine, when my DD was little she always sat on someone's lap during the slow rides. She wouldn't have been able to see sitting on her own. Those types of rides the lap bars are never that tight anyway. Even Toy Story Mania which jerks you around more than the other she sat on my lap until she was 3.
 
It sounds like maybe you got some (or a lot!) of Pixie Dust! :)

I wouldn't go expecting to be able to hold a baby or toddler on my lap on most rides at WDW. Just ask a CM at the ride about "rider switch" so that you can ride while someone else holds your child, and vice-versa.

That's not true. Most rides without height requirement allow lap-sitting
 
Anything with a hard restraint like a bar will NOT allow lap sitting. Nor will the Speedway at Mk. You can do it on most rides with soft restraints or no restraints at all.
 
Anything with a hard restraint like a bar will NOT allow lap sitting. Nor will the Speedway at Mk. You can do it on most rides with soft restraints or no restraints at all.

That is not true. I know for a fact that Peter Pan allows it, Haunted Mansion allows it, TSM allows it (though that one is tough with the spinning), Buzz Lightyear allows it...to name a few
 
In April, My husband had our 14 month old (the size of a 2 year old) on his lap for all rides. A few rides she was wedged between us, but either on his lap halfway, or between his legs under the bar, never directly on the seat herself. She rode almost all rides this way, no one ever questioned.
 
That is not true. I know for a fact that Peter Pan allows it, Haunted Mansion allows it, TSM allows it (though that one is tough with the spinning), Buzz Lightyear allows it...to name a few

Yes, that's not true. Pretty much most rides had the lap bar and our large 14 month old was under the bar, on hubby's lap or between his legs (but not really with her butt touching the seat).
 
That is not true. I know for a fact that Peter Pan allows it, Haunted Mansion allows it, TSM allows it (though that one is tough with the spinning), Buzz Lightyear allows it...to name a few

None of those attractions has the hard lap bar though, right? Just the panel that folds in/out. Although Peter Pan has the bar that comes down, it's not usually touching, is it? It's more of a handle. Disney does not allow lap sitting for attractions that have the physical bar-touching the person restraint.
 
I remember sitting slightly sideways with my leg bent on the seat. I had my child sit on my leg. It put him up just right to hold on to the bar and of course I had an arm around him. He was quite happy being smushed between mom and dad.
 
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is that some cast members may not let you have a lap child on a ride. I’ve taken 2 babies and have been told on Pirates, IASW and Dumbo that the had to be on the seat next to me.
 
If it does turn out that she doesn't fit under the lap bar in your lap, are the two of you able to support her on the seat between you? (Last time I was on the HM, the bar came down so far that I know a toddler would not have fit between it and my legs.)
 

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