Three people…

Question

Hello! We are heading to Disneyland in a couple of weeks and it just occurred to me that I have two children (42” heights on both) and an adult terrified of rides that aren’t REAL low key… I was watching ride videos and saw some like Tiana’s bayou and Matterhorn I believe had like single rides in a long row. However others were two seaters… this poses a problem for me as I am one adult with two small children. Some I think they could squish us all in one and I know some are large like jungle cruise, train etc but others probably not. How big of a problem do you think I have on most rides with two small children and only one adult… Thank you!

Answer

Taking two small children with you as the only adult at Disneyland can pose some challenges, but it’s definitely manageable with planning. The main concern, as you noted, is seating configurations on rides—especially for single adult with two kids. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Most attractions at Disneyland fall into three categories for your situation:

Rides with bench-style seating or rows that can accommodate three: These include rides like Jungle Cruise, the Disneyland Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. Usually, you can fit an adult and two children comfortably in one row.
Rides with two-person vehicles or single row cars: Examples include Matterhorn Bobsleds, some roller coasters, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Here, seating for three in one car is impossible. You’ll likely need to do one of the following:
- Take advantage of rider swap (also called “child swap” or “parent swap”), where one adult rides while the other waits with the children, then swaps without waiting in line again.
- Have the taller child ride with the adult while the smaller child rides with another adult if you’re in a group.
Rides that allow flexible seating or family-style cars: Examples include King Arthur Carrousel, Dumbo, and smaller dark rides (like “It’s a Small World”). These are generally fine for one adult with two children.

Tips to make your visit smoother:

Check the Disneyland app ahead of time for height requirements and seating info—some rides specify the number of passengers per vehicle.
Use rider swap for rides that don’t accommodate three. This works particularly well for thrill rides your adult companion wants to skip.
Consider starting your day with rides that accommodate three, then plan the single-adult rides for later with rider swap.
Bring snacks and plan rest breaks—this will make managing two kids solo easier between rides.

In summary, while you’ll encounter some rides where three people won’t fit in one seat, Disneyland is very accommodating for families with one adult and multiple children. Using rider swap strategically will allow your family to experience almost every ride without having to split up for long periods.

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