Age and child swap question

[Wendimn]

The ages for kid Disney tickets are 3-9. My son is 9 and will be 9 while we are there but he does not look 9. He looks older..I would say most people think he is 11 or 12. Do you think we need to worry about this?

There will be 4 of us on our trip. The 9 yr old will be old enough to ride anything but isn't fond of big rides. Can we do the child swap even though he is tall enough? When you do the child swap..does the one person who stayed back with the non rider have to ride alone or can one of the previous riders ride with?


Hope this all makes sense. Thank you for any help.

 

[ghtx]

The ages for kid Disney tickets are 3-9. My son is 9 and will be 9 while we are there but he does not look 9. He looks older..I would say most people think he is 11 or 12.

1 - Do you think we need to worry about this?

There will be 4 of us on our trip. The 9 yr old will be old enough to ride anything but isn't fond of big rides.

2- Can we do the child swap even though he is tall enough?

3 - When you do the child swap..does the one person who stayed back with the non rider have to ride alone or can one of the previous riders ride with?


Hope this all makes sense. Thank you for any help.

1 - No need to worry. If you insist on worrying, bring a copy of the birth certificate in case anyone asks for proof (no one will).
2 - I have heard conflicting reports on this. Some people have said that child swap is only available if the child does not satisfy the height requirement. Maybe others have different experiences.
3 - One of the previous riders can ride with.

 

[TowMater92]

They won't question that your son is 9 but if it makes you feel more comfortable take a copy of his birth certificate.

As far as the child swap goes no you cannot get a rider swap unless the person is to short to ride. Being afraid to ride won't get a rider swap because you would have people going up all the time to get a rider swap saying someone in there group was afraid to ride and then coming back later to ride.

Child swaps are good for up to 3 people

 

[Wendimn]

They won't question that your son is 9 but if it makes you feel more comfortable take a copy of his birth certificate. As far as the rider swap goes no you cannot get a rider swap unless the person is to short to ride. Being afraid to ride won't get a rider swap because you would have people going up all the time to get a rider swap saying someone in there group was afraid to ride and then coming back later to ride.

Thanks..that is what I kinda figured but wasn't sure.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

When we went to AK in October, we were able to use child swap on EE even though my son is tall enough to ride.

 

[mom2ntbj]

I had an issue in August when we tried to child swap on ToT. My 5 and 7 year olds were afraid to ride, but we could not swap because they make you get in line to do so and there was no way that they would even get in the line. In years past, they used to give you a "child swap" ticket (similar to fastpass) and I would just wait with the non riders while my husband took the older kids on the ride. Then when they were done I would go on with my older kids and he would sit with the little ones. Not sure if this is a policy change or just for that ride. We didn't have an issue on any other rides although there are not as many rides that my little ones will not ride anymore.

 

[Kristibo42]

I have a nephew that does not ride the rides. He stands in line with us. Once we get there he can stand and wait for us to get off or if the spot is at another location a cast member has taken him there and has stayed with him till we got off. It has happened every time he goes. We never had to use the swap with him.

 

[Wendimn]

I have a nephew that does not ride the rides. He stands in line with us. Once we get there he can stand and wait for us to get off or if the spot is at another location a cast member has taken him there and has stayed with him till we got off. It has happened every time he goes. We never had to use the swap with him.

This sounds perfect..thank you.

 

[Cyrano]

Don't worry this question is often asked about children who are above average height. You will have no problems having him ticketed as a child.
Have a great trip

 

[tjmw2727]

A CM at the gate "may" ask your child his age but when he says 9 they will take him at his word.

We have never been able to use rider swap (child swap) for a child who is tall enough but chooses not to ride, including a 5yo and the Tower of Terror !!

Since a 9yo is old enough to ride alone at Disney I doubt the CM will see a need for child swap. Of course it never hurts to ask but I would plan for a NO

Alternately you can use FP to accomplish almost the same thing by getting FP's and taking turns waiting with the chlid. If the child is mature enough to wait alone he/she can go through the queue with you and then take the chicken exit and wait in the gift shop. He/She could even just grab an ice cream and wait on a bench by the exit?

 

[merina888]

We used child swap in August and you have to present the child who cannot ride to the CM to get the ticket for it. So we have an infant daughter and did a child swap with my 4 year old on BTMRR. We had to bring my daughter to the CM to show evidence of needing the swap and then they issued us a child swap ticket.