Baby Swap or Single Rider?

[jasy]

We are headed to Disneyland May 24-27 with our toddler son. When we went last September with him (worst trip ever we all ended up catching norovirus and spent more time in our GCH room that in the parks) the only ride with a height restriction we went on was Screamin and then we used the single rider line.

This time around we are hoping *knock on wood* that we'll all stay healthy so we want to make the most of going on rides.

Being that my son (18 months, although 36 inches tall) cannot go on the rides with a height restriction, is it a better idea for us to use Single Rider or Baby Swap? Are there pros and cons to each or is one better than the other for certain rides?

Any info and advice is much appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

we use fast pass and baby swap. We will find a ride get a fast pass. When we return for that window of time on the FP, we get the swap pass. First group goes in FP line, others wait back on swap pass then switch. Less wait time this way.

Sarah

 

[jasy]

Thanks for the reply, I can see why that would work with more than 2 but with just the 2 adults I am curious if single rider might be better, DH and I will be going on rides like Screamin, BTMRR, etc, separately since my son cannot ride and one of us have to stay with him.

Isn't single rider usually faster than the fastpass line? Oh and can you use the single rider line in conjunction with the babyswap? It doesn't make any sense to me that one of us would have to stand in the reg or fastpass (if we had one) line if there is a single rider line available... KWIM?

 

[DangerMouse]

Not all rides with height restrictions offer single rider passes. Currently, only Screamin, Soarin, GRR, Splash and Indy offer it. So on other rides you will need to utilize the baby swap pass, and I would use it in conjunction with a FP to decrease your wait time.

 

[twopeasonepod]

I like single rider for Screamin' for sure. Remember that on TOT, your little one will have to go through the whole preshow thing and that can be super scary for little guys. Even just walking through the queue area has some kids freaking out. But maybe 18 mo. is too young to care haha.

 

[damaris13]

I like single rider for Screamin' for sure. Remember that on TOT, your little one will have to go through the whole preshow thing and that can be super scary for little guys. Even just walking through the queue area has some kids freaking out. But maybe 18 mo. is too young to care haha.

Do they always have to go through with you? At WDW, we got in trouble for taking our little one through on Space Mountain (apparently someone was supposed to stop us and didn't).

 

[twopeasonepod]

I could be wrong, but I think if you are going to swap, you have to go through together. I might be confusing WDW with DLR, but the "swap" is actually down an elevator and then back up. Kinda weird, but that's how it went.

 

[Jana0326]

Your best bet is probably to have the first person use a fast pass (on rides with FP) and the second to use a rider switch pass. We do this regularly so that one person can stay with our 3 year old.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

I could be wrong, but I think if you are going to swap, you have to go through together. I might be confusing WDW with DLR, but the "swap" is actually down an elevator and then back up. Kinda weird, but that's how it went.

The swap is done OUTSIDE the ride, not in the ride. This is the case at both WDW and DL.

Sarah

 

[damaris13]

I knew I'd started asking questions about child swap around here somewhere. I really don't think we did the swapping very well last year at WDW, but we'll learn.

Here are my questions:
1. If I use a FP for the swap, do both of us have to have a FP if we're swapping?
2. If I'm understanding correctly, we just go to the lines (all 3 of us) and tell the CM we want to swap, and they will point the other in the right direction for the swap? Will they give one of us a swap card? Or will the one with DD have to hang around a particular spot until time to ride?

Is there a child swap info thread somewhere that I'm overlooking. I'd love one of those right now. I think I'm just making this concept more difficult than it really is. Oh well!

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

1. If I use a FP for the swap, do both of us have to have a FP if we're swapping?

No. Only one of you needs a FP.

2. If I'm understanding correctly, we just go to the lines (all 3 of us) and tell the CM we want to swap, and they will point the other in the right direction for the swap? Will they give one of us a swap card? Or will the one with DD have to hang around a particular spot until time to ride?

You will get a swap ticket that looks just like a FP. You wait outside the ride. When the other returns, you take your swap ticket to the FP lane and you get in line. It is very easy.

My youngest is getting too tall and wants to ride everything the older kids do so our swap days are numbered.


Sarah

 

[Dizneydaz]

Here's how baby swap works at most of DLR attractions.

You will go up to the entrance of the line, either standby or FP. Tell the CM there that you want a child swap. They will usually ask to see the child. They will give you the swap and then you will enter the line while your spouse waits with your child. There will be specific instructions on your child switch card. Some enter through the FP line, some the exit, etc.

We used child swap on Sat. on Space. The gave us a thing to wear around our neck and then the CM just before we boarded exchanged it for a child swap. After riding you are then instructed to give it to our party waiting (max. 2 people) and they enter through the disabled entrance (no waiting though). This worked really well on Space. I think they changed it to stop people from getting the swap pass and then getting out of line and using it right away.

Single ride may be your better option for some rides. Like Indy. However, on rides like Screaming the SR line can get very long.I would get a switch pass, ride it SR, and then have your spouse use the switch pass in the FP line.

Each ride is slightly different. There aren't a whole lof of SR rides. Personally, I haven't had much luck using SR on Soarin'. Seems like it can take a very long time to be loaded.

 

[mrsmoore]

Single rider is great! We used it on Splash and Screamin. We also used it on Grizzly and Mulholland.

I woul avoid Child Swap on TOT. We tried it and you child has to go up the elevator with you. Our daughter was actually tall enough, but did not want to ride it. I think the elevator freaked her out a bit.

On Splash it was awesome. DD was tall enough, but once was enough. It was a busy June afternoon and FP was gone and line was 90 minutes. DH and I took turns and each waited about 20-30 min!

 

[jennilouwho]

We never had to take our kids in TOT to do child swap. They gave us a child swap pass outside the ride. Has something changed since 2009?

 

[taaren]

We never had to take our kids in TOT to do child swap. They gave us a child swap pass outside the ride. Has something changed since 2009?

Don't know what it was like in 2009, but this past Sunday I was there w the DS4 who didn't want to ride it and when we asked for the swap (3a) we were told it would be at the elevator inside. I waited about 5 min w DH, our friend and DS when the Toy Story soldiers came along to do a show outside so I ended up taking DS to watch that and ride rides in Bugs Land since TOT is something I enjoy but not at the top of my priority list anyways, the men in my party really love it. Kinda sucks though since when they have the outside switchpass like at space/splash/etc the adult outside takes the kid to do shopping usually. One would think it would be in Disneys best interest to do outside switchpass but they must have their reasons.

 

[Mama Who]

I could be wrong, but I think if you are going to swap, you have to go through together. I might be confusing WDW with DLR, but the "swap" is actually down an elevator and then back up. Kinda weird, but that's how it went.

This is not how it worked for us this week. We presented our FP or baby swap card at the first FP entry and the baby and watcher waited there. Baby would not have been allowed into the preshow area- there's a height check before that point.