Everyone's been there. There's that one ride that you can't or won't do, but everyone else is pumped to get on. Sometimes you just need to sit a ride out, either because you don't fit the height or health restrictions, or because -- be honest now -- you're a big chicken. You may not want to completely to split off from the group, so you're pretty much stuck waiting it out while they enjoy the ride. Don't sulk away to the nearest bench just yet!

Sometimes skipping the ride affords you some time to check out things that you would otherwise pass right by, but that are not so far out of the way that that you lose the rest of your party as they get off the ride. With the fast pace too many people tour these days, as a non-rider you actually have a chance to see more of the World!

In Part One of an ongoing series, I present some of the more commonly “sat-out” rides at Magic Kingdom, with alternative diversions for people stuck waiting for their riding counterparts. A word of warning: many of these diversions involve shopping, but you'll find some other great ideas sprinkled here and there!

[This list assumes the riders in your party aren't using FastPasses, and won't be re-joining you in less than half an hour. ]

Magic Kingdom

Mad Tea Party / Dumbo the Flying Elephant / Cinderella's Golden Carrousel

Spinning rides are the bane of some parents' parkgoing existence. Fantasyland has the dubious distinction of having three such rides which are enormously popular with kids. It's fairly common for one parent to tough-out the ride with little Jack/Jill while the other sits idly by on a bench. Unfortunately, none of these rides offers Fastpass, so if you sit them out you could be waiting a really long time watching things spin and spin and spin...

Across from the Mad Tea Party and right next to the Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh is Pooh's Thotful Shop, featuring merchandise with characters from the Hundred Acre Wood. Between Snow White's Scary Adventures and the Fairytale Garden, you can find Sir Mickey's (adult clothing). Tinkerbell's Treasures, located next to Mickey's PhilharMagic, features children's costumes and clothing, as well as princess and fairy accessories.

If you're looking for something to munch on while you wait, try The Village Fry Shoppe, located across from Cinderella's Golden Carrousel and Dumbo.

Unfortunately, the queues for these three Fantasyland attractions have nothing of interest to look at or listen to. If you just feel like looking around, I recommend taking a walking tour of the "buildings" in the area and enjoying the little details.

Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Another spinning ride. Lines for this attraction usually aren't as long as for Dumbo, so there really may not be much time to browse about Adventureland while you wait.

You may have time to grab a fruit slush or cold drink at Sunshine Tree Terrace, located just across from Magic Carpets to the east.

Pick up some Aladdin-related merchandise at the Agrabah Bazaar, located next to the The Enchanted Tiki Room and across from the Swiss Family Treehouse.

Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Unfortunately, except for a shop located at the exit of Splash Mountain, there's isn't much in the immediate area of these attractions to occupy you while everyone else rides. But if your party decides to do both attractions one after the other, it may be worth your while to head back across the bridge into the wooden-sidewalked main avenue of Frontierland to sample the area's wild west flavor.

Shopping places in Frontierland offer up candy, jellies, and preserves (Prairie Outpost and Supply) and Disney character hats (Trail Creek Hat Shop).

Back to Splash Mountain's gift shop: at the exit of the attraction, built into the mountainside, you can browse around the Briar Patch souvenir shop, a retreat themed as Brer Rabbit's cottage.

Feel like a snack? Near Splash Mountain, grab a quick bite at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe or Golden Oak Outpost. Your friends won't mind. Pick them something up while you're there!

The Frontierland Shooting Gallery might be considered an attraction, but so many guests skip it entirely, it's worth mentioning as a time-killing diversion. Bring some quarters, or ones and fives!

If you don't feel like leaving the group even for a second, you may find the queue to Splash Mountain worth doing. You can wind around the outside of the mountain (Chickapin Hill) as well as beneath the roots of its trees. Pictures line the walls and tunnels, and there is some themed music along the way. Before the loading zone, you can take the chicken exit and meet your party at the Briar Patch shop.

Big Thunder Mountain's queue may also interest you, even if you don't ride. The queue simulates a canyon in Utah's Monument Valley. Be mindful of slopes and stairs, however.

Space Mountain

[Note: At the time of this writing, Space Mountain is closed for refurbishment. However, many of these tips should still apply when the ride re-opens, with one notable exception, as you'll read...]

Don't like getting whipped around in the dark? Not to worry, there are a few things you can do close by.

Right next to Space Mountain is the Tomorrowland Speedway, where you can stand by the track and watch children screaming with joy as they drive their first car.

You can get some shopping done at the nearby Mickey's Star Traders, one of the better shops at Magic Kingdom. There you can pick up plush toys, clothing, jewelry, film, books, toys, hats, and sunblock.

If you don't want to leave your group as they wait in line, go ahead and do the queue! Every third window of stars in the main corridor has a Mickey constellation hidden in it. [Rumor has it that the queue at Space Mountain may be undergoing some major changes during its 2009 refurbishment -- likely for the better]. The main loading area gives you a view of the Mountain's large dome, onto which massive asteroids and shooting stars are projected. So go ahead, do the queue with your party, and take a chicken exit out. I won't tell.

Astro Orbiter / Stitch's Great Escape!

These attractions may threaten to make you hurl, but for entirely different reasons. If you'd rather sit them out, head on over to Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies (ice cream, juice and soft drinks) or The Lunching Pad at Rockettower Plaza (turkey legs).

At the exit of Stitch's Great Escape! you can find Merchant of Venus, selling Stitch merchandise, home decor, sci-fi toys, and clothing.

The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm

Disney touts this ride as Rollercoasters 101 for children, but if you or one of your other children can't ride, there are other things you can do which you won't feel bad about experiencing in the other child's absence.

If it's a hot day, you definitely don't want to be baking in the sun! Your other child can cool off at Donald's Boat water playground right next door.

A little farther away in the center of Toontown is Toontown Park, a small play area featuring slides and a playhouse.

You can grab a quick bite to eat and a drink at Toontown Frozen Lemonade and Toontown Farmer's Market, conveniently located right next to The Barnstormer.

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There are plenty of things you can do to occupy your time while the rest of your party rides. When they get off, you can smile with the knowledge that your time was well spent!

Now available! Tips for passing the time when you can't ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot!