Single Parent Access?

I am a single mother with two children. One likes to ride the coasters, and the other doesn't. I wonder if there will ever be a way for a single parent to get on and off one of the larger rides without such a long wait time, so the other child won't have to be left alone for a long amount of time? Does anyone have any suggestions? Personally, I have just skipped riding the bigger rides. My daughter isn't ready for the MF...but when she is...I would hope that somehow CP will find a way to accomodate my son who will not ride. One year...he rode the Maggie "because it took too long to get up the hill"...unfortunately he has been somewhat opposed to coasters now....... the Mine Ride is out of the question for him. ::sigh:: What's a mother to do?!?!?! Any suggestions!?!?!?!?!

Signed,

Puzzled in Frustration

Make sure you bring someone else with you, but Cedar Point does have a child swap program...Not sure of the correct name, but it has the word swap in it....anyways, you sign up for this when you get to the park and then you wait with your child while your other child and a person wait in the normal line...once they get off, they let you go up through the exit and up to the station....show them that you have the child swap ticket or stamp and they will let you on the ride without any wait...I hope this is what you were talking about because I believe this is really the only thing close to what you want that Cedar Point provides....Good Luck

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Be wary of falling shoes while waiting in line for Raptor

Glad I never had that problem. My son took to coasters like a duck to water.

I believe there is a "parent swap" at CP, but I have no details since I've never used it. I'm sure someone who has will post soon.
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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Parent swap can really only be used if there are two parents. Unless you're confident leaving both of your kids together by themselves (depends on the age/maturity level of the kids I guess), it won't help you at all. If you CAN leave them together, you can do the Parent Swap, which is taking a slip of paper to the ride op after you ride and then "trading off" who watches the non-riding kid and letting your other kid go up the exit ramp.

Sadly, there aren't many alternatives for the single parent. The best suggestion is to bring another non-riding person (maybe a grandparent?) or even another person who likes the rides and then you can use Parent Swap.

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Natalie
Mine Ride '99
Thunder Canyon '00
Millennium Force '01

I haven't been to CP yet but I am an advocate for Single Moms travelling alone with children. That's a whole new website. It's a battle in many ways. What I have learned at my home parks WDW & IOA is to be adamant. I was comfortable leaving my 13 year old son with my other two in the babyswap areas. (If one child isn't old enough then yes it is a problem). Usually it wasn't a problem, but on the few times when the ride operators said no it had to be a parent I would calmly but firmly explain that they were discriminating against single parents and we paid our money and should be allowed to ride, my son was old enough to ride alone and old enough to watch his brothers. They always relented and let me ride. Luckily they are all three tall enough (well the little one has to stretch to make 54") and all three love coaster hence out 44 coaster 10 day trip to CP/PKI/PKD/BGW. If you need any single mom travel tips, feel free to email me.
*** This post was edited by SuperMom 5/28/2002 4:19:38 PM ***

The ride operators won't give you trouble, but realize at Cedar Point the kids can only come into the line with you if they are over the right height to ride the ride. That means that if the kid is too short to ride, the older sister would have to wait with him for the entire length of the line outside of it. If not, they can both wait in line with you and either cross through the train or in the case of MF, leave the line through the gate on the exit platform and wait for you to ride. This might sound a little bit complicated, as the policy always is the first time you hear it, but once you get used to the policy you will swear by it.

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Natalie
Mine Ride '99
Thunder Canyon '00
Millennium Force '01

Parent Swap is also for the child who WANTS to ride the coaster...right? One person rides with the child, and then the other rides with the child...the child gets two rides. I am talking about when there is a parent...a child who wants to ride...then a child who refuses to ride. What can be done for the child that will not or can not ride? I suppose the child (if tall enough) could walk through the line...then walk off and wait by the exit for the short amount of time the coaster takes to go around...but then you have the issue of how my son boarded the Magnum, and is now leary of coasters. Aaarrrggghhh...sometimes being a single parent can be so frustrating!!! (don't get me wrong...it has it's plus sides too...::laugh::) Ok....I guess I'll just drag my son on...::laugh::...gotta learn it's fun sometime. Maybe if he rides the big coasters about 50 bagillion times he will finally learn to like them!!! Just kidding...I'd never force him. ::sigh:: Someone should invent a way to handle this situation...I would personally shake their hand...and buy them an ice cream cone if they could put this system into place at Cedar Point!!! By the way...thank you for the responses!!! You guys are wonderful!!! ::smile:: God bless!!!

Well...tonight the kids and I went through the line on the Millenium Force and my son walked through with us, he was big enough to ride...but he's only 10 and he's not ready for coasters yet. I allow my kids their own pace when it comes to riding. My son was escorted by a ride op to a spot where he was to wait for me. I asked the ride op personally that if we got stuck, could he help my son. They exchanged names, and the op said that he would take care of him while I am stuck if that should happen.(the ride had been stuck three other times during this day that I personally know of.) So I said a prayer that we wouldn't get stuck...said another prayer that we'd all be safe...and away my daughter, her friend and I went. My daughter and her friends FIRST time!!! ::smile:: Guess what...they are NOW MF junkies!!! ::laugh:: I don't even think my son minded having to wait 1 1/2 hours and two break downs with us...he knew we were going to have fun! Maybe someday he'll get tired of sitting alone for the "ride time" we get. ::crossing my fingers:: Just wanted to fill all my friends in!!! Thanks for listening! ::smile:: It all worked out! It always does! ::smile:: (Pssssst....glad we didn't get stuck though...wouldn't have bothered me, but I would have been upset if my son would have been bothered...glad it all went "smooooooothly"!!!)

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God bless ya'll!!!!