Sorry if this has been answered in the past, but why exactly are parents told by CMs that small children (e.g., toddler age and younger) cannot be asleep (or, must be awake--for you half-full/half-empty folks!) upon boarding (certain? dunno if it applies to all) ride--even if said child is securely held/supported by an adult (on rides w/ minimal rider restraints)? I don't think this is a random thing, as it happened to our family at Roger Rabitt (2 year-old was asleep), and I saw it happen w/ another family (forgot which ride)...so I reckon it's probably DLR policy...hence my question as to why this is not permitted. I mean, there's nothing to prevent a child from falling asleep once the ride gets underway--yeah, that might not be possible on many rides but on some relatively long rides like POTC or IASW such can be possible.

I've never heard that before. But I would guess it has to do with children not being held during a ride. They need to sit on the seat.

I would think that they are confirming that the child is conscious before getting on the ride?

Because if a small child were to be asleep on say, Roger Rabbit or Autopia, and your vehicle were to be whipped around and some sort of injury occurred due to the child's inability to react to the situation, I'm sure it would make it worse for those involved.

This is, of course, just speculation, but the thing that makes the most sense to me.

given that RR is very jerky and uncontrollable, it's not a ride I want to experience when I'm sleeping or - worse - wake up to.

I've been with kids when they've just woken up -- very disoriented. Can you imagine if they woke up in the middle of Snow White and couldn't figure out where they are. They would probably freak....

I wold imagine that it's a huge safety risk. Like others have said, a limp sleeping body can easily fall out of or through a lap bar.

I have my doubts about whether it would apply to, say, the Monorail. Or the fully-enclosed cars on Casey Jr. And I suspect that a lot more people would be walking out to M&F if it applied to trams. Maybe it might apply to the DRR, or the Mark Twain, or the Jungle Cruise, or Storybook Land, or maybe not.

Not that it's the attraction you mentioned, but I have boarded POTC at least twice with a sleeping baby. I am not sure what would make it OK on one ride and not another.

Not that it's the attraction you mentioned, but I have boarded POTC at least twice with a sleeping baby. I am not sure what would make it OK on one ride and not another.
I think the type of ride makes a difference. RR is very jerky. Small World isnt. Neither is POTC. I think its the ride that makes the differences.

I believe some attractions require that children not be in laps (like Roger Rabbit and Autopia) - I'm guessing those are the ones that would require the kid to be awake.

You can board POTC, or many of the Fantasyland rides, with a sleeping baby- I did so. They won't let you on RR because a child has to sit on their own- i.e., be able to sit on the seat. That is what a CM told me, anyway.

When I drove Stagecoach for Knott's, it was purely a safety issue. Some kids sleep very soundly, and when they wake up (or are startled into sleepwalking and not fully awake) they become disoriented and panic. Panicked child + moving ride = NOT a safe situation.

Hope it explains a bit. :)

I believe some attractions require that children not be in laps (like Roger Rabbit and Autopia) - I'm guessing those are the ones that would require the kid to be awake.
Just a reminder also, Autopia has an age limit of at least 1 year.

I would imagine that it is because at RR the child has to sit alone in the seat, not on a lap. Would be difficult to sit if the child was asleep. I know that they don't have to be awake on POTC. When I was there in March with my 4yo, we sat next to a family with a tiny baby who was sound asleep, on POTC.

it happened to our family at Roger Rabitt (2 year-old was asleep), and I saw it happen w/ another family (forgot which ride)...so I reckon it's probably DLR policy...hence my question as to why this is not permitted.

It would be easier to answer this question if I knew the other attraction involved but Drince88 & Mommyto2Boys & hlbtimes2 are correct: Roger Rabbit requires that a child be able to sit up on his/her own in the ride vehicle.

This is a safety measure. If they're asleep, they can't sit on their own.

And, as others have mentioned, it's absolutely not a blanket policy for all rides at DLR because I've taken my babies in the Baby Bjorn on several rides.

Adrienne

I've taken my 15 month old on several rides while asleep, and only during Roger Rabbit did a Cast Member tell us, sternly, in no uncertain terms, that the baby had to be awake if we wanted to ride.

It makes sense, considering the history of this ride, and that a two year old died on the ride. Because of the large spinning wheel in the middle, you may not have two hands to grip the baby, or may be tempted to cradle him or her in your lap, and the open sides of the vehicle would cause a very dangerous situation.

It makes sense, considering the history of this ride, and that a two year old died on the ride.

Correction: No one has died on Roger Rabbit (http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide.php?pg=AAF105). A child was severely injured and is in a long-term care facility as a result of his injuries. He was 4-years-old at the time and did not die. (scroll to the "history" section at the bottom of that link.)

Adrienne