Baby swap questions

[gigi1976]

We have three kids but have never used the baby swap. We are definitely going to need it this year since we are officially outnumbered now. Here's my question if we wanted to do BTMR or some other non baby friendly ride could we get the baby swap ticket, have DH take older 2 DDs, then come watch baby and I take 2 DDs? There are some rides we will both want to ride with both of them. Does that make sense?

And does anyone have a solution to this? 3 kids (all old enough to ride autotopia), but none tall enough to drive alone--will we have to wait 3 times or could we baby swap 3 times?

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

Your husband would be able to go with both of your older children, but you would only be able to come back and use the swap pass with one of them. The pass is only good for 2 riders.

 

[letthembelittle]

I am thinking that even though the pass is for two people maybe if you got the pass and then rode again right away with the same person taking your ticket they might let you take both kids with you if you explained to them why. As for Autopia I rode with our 5 yr old and 3 yr old at the same time, there was plently of room for the three of us in the car, in fact dh who is bit pooh sized rode with them both also and didnt complain about being squished.

 

[bumbershoot]

When we've used Rider Switch, we could take more than just 2 people on the second ride. So I think the second ride could be adult and the two tall-enough kids.

For Autopia, do yourself a huge favor and go as early as possible before that line builds. That line is a killer, and FP doesn't save you huge amounts of time (especially when the main line isn't *that* long, which is the opposite of what you'd think).

 

[summer0407]

Can anyone explain how this works to me? I have read a bit here and there but I don't know really how this is done. I am going in August with my 6 and 2 year old as well as my mother in law. My husband has to work. I can think of just a few rides my son will want to go on as well as my mother in law. For example splash mountain. I would also like to go on this with my son so do we all wait in line together and when we get to the front do I stay with my 2 year old while they ride then she gets off the ride and I get on? Do I even go in the line with my 2 year old? I just really have no idea how this works. I just know a few rides that my mother in law and I would both like to go on with my son but it won't be possible with all of us and my 2 year old.

 

[NovemberMom]

Can anyone explain how this works to me? I have read a bit here and there but I don't know really how this is done. I am going in August with my 6 and 2 year old as well as my mother in law. My husband has to work. I can think of just a few rides my son will want to go on as well as my mother in law. For example splash mountain. I would also like to go on this with my son so do we all wait in line together and when we get to the front do I stay with my 2 year old while they ride then she gets off the ride and I get on? Do I even go in the line with my 2 year old? I just really have no idea how this works. I just know a few rides that my mother in law and I would both like to go on with my son but it won't be possible with all of us and my 2 year old.

I had the same questions before we went to DL. We only did child swap a few times so I can give you an example of what we did. DH, my friend and I waited in line for Pirates of the Caribbean with 3 kids who did NOT want to ride the ride. When we got to the front I told the CM that we would need to do a Child Swap. She had the kids step onto the ride (which they all started screaming and crying that they didn't want to go on the ride.. poor things thought we were going to force them on the ride ) so they could get to the exit with DH. My friend and I rode the ride. Once the ride was over I told the CM on the other side that my DH was waiting with the kids and he wanted to ride. DH was by the exit with the kids so I called him over and he was able to get right on the ride. The CM even let me go on again while my friend waited which I thought was really nice. I saw people do this on Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
But then when I went to Space Mountain I sweet talked my way onto the ride before my Fass Pass time began because we were going to CA Adventure until late at night and it was my birthday. The CM gave me a child swap card... so I am not sure if your kids actually have to wait in line all of the time. Maybe someone else can enlighten both of us on that one.. This was the first time we did Child Swap.

 

[Todd Lee]

Thanks for the additional info NovemberMom. My wife and I will be there in 5 months, with our 6 and 3 year olds. 6 year old will ride anything, but 3 year old will be too pint sized to get on lots of stuff.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

For child swap you need to ask the CM at the entrance of the ride for a child swap card. Some people have said that the CM will want to see the child that is too young to ride. We have never had that experience. So in our situation, my DD8 and I can go ride the ride, then give the child swap pass to DH. The card is good for 2 people, so my DD8 gets to ride again. You do not have to use it right away. For most rides you take the swap card and enter the FP line. For Space Mt, you actually enter through the exit. The CM will direct you on where to go. Combine child swap with FP and it's even better!

 

[akashellrae]

I'm going with my three daughters, DH, and my mom. Can my DH and DD1 use fastpasses for Splash Mt. and ask for child swap card and then me and my mom go on using the child swap and not use our fastpass. Then go again using our fastpass and ask for child swap card and then my DH and DD1 go using child swap. Hope I said that right, it's confusing just thinking about it. But if we can do this, that would be great!

 

[Brady's Mom]

You will NOT be allowed to have a child/person in the line if they don't meet the height requirements. So for the PP who was wondering if she would take her 2 yr old through the Splash line - she would not be able to. Ask at the FP entrance for a child swap pass and use that.

I think CM's are mostly understanding of parents with odd numbers of kids - just explain and you should be okay. I say should because you just never know - but if you don't ask, the answer is always NO!

 

[NMMickeymom]

We used the swap quite a bit last week as my nieces and nephews did not want to ride the bigger rides but my sisters did. They were plenty tall and old enough for the rides, just scared. You go to the line entrance and ask about how they do the child swap. Different rides have you return for the swap at different places, just ask. We usually had fastpasses for the rides. You get your child swap pass, ride with your crew while the others who don't want to ride wait, then the other parent/person takes the pass and returns with one additional person to ride the ride. The CM's were pretty clear in telling us "only one additional person". We never had the non-riders in line with us. They were shopping, playing in fountains, or riding another short line ride. We would pick up fastpasses for everyone, even the non-riders, and use the unused/non-rider fastpasses for a second ride. Using fastpasses might be a way to get additional kids on a swap if they are being strict about how many people you bring with you on your return, as the majority of the rides had you return for a swap to the fastpass line.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I'm going with my three daughters, DH, and my mom. Can my DH and DD1 use fastpasses for Splash Mt. and ask for child swap card and then me and my mom go on using the child swap and not use our fastpass. Then go again using our fastpass and ask for child swap card and then my DH and DD1 go using child swap. Hope I said that right, it's confusing just thinking about it. But if we can do this, that would be great!

Yes, you can do this, that is what we do all of the time. I am assuming your DD isn't 1 year old and that you meant your oldest daughter?
That would be one tall 1 year old!

 

[akashellrae]

Yes, you can do this, that is what we do all of the time. I am assuming your DD isn't 1 year old and that you meant your oldest daughter?
That would be one tall 1 year old! [/QUOte

I was meaning my first daughter, sorry for the confusion, she is 5 and I'm hoping she's going to want to go on the wilder rides. I'm excited to do this. Thanks.

 

[pixarmom]

I think CM's are mostly understanding of parents with odd numbers of kids - just explain and you should be okay. I say should because you just never know - but if you don't ask, the answer is always NO!

I really appreciate this thread!! We are WDW vets and our two older boys are very used to riding with my husband, and then with me. I can always take both of them with me using the rider swap pass.

When they heard about the DL rules (that I could only take one of them with me) they were really disappointed. I know we could pull an extra FP for one of them to come along, but that means that we can't get FPs for our pre-schooler to ride something else (at WDW, that's Buzz and Toy Story Mania - at DL, that's just Buzz) while his big brothers are on the "tall rides."

So I think we'll ask, and hope for the best!