Baby Swap

[OnlyDisney]

Me, husband, son 2, & daughter 18 months visiting Magic Kingdom 2 days, Epcot 1 day, Animal Kingdom 1 afternoon. There are a few rides we want to do the baby swap with. What are some nearby things we can do with the kids while we take turns riding?

Magic Kingdom
1. Space Mountain
2. Splash Mountain
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
4. Barnstormer (just 18 month old)

Epcot
1. Test Track
2. Mission Space

Animal Kingdom
1. Expedition Everest

 

[SmallWorld71]

Me, husband, son 2, & daughter 18 months visiting Magic Kingdom 2 days, Epcot 1 day, Animal Kingdom 1 afternoon. There are a few rides we want to do the baby swap with. What are some nearby things we can do with the kids while we take turns riding?

Magic Kingdom
1. Space Mountain
2. Splash Mountain
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
4. Barnstormer (just 18 month old)

Epcot
1. Test Track
2. Mission Space

Animal Kingdom
1. Expedition Everest

MK
1. Space - Go on the TTA, get pictures with Buzz if he's out
2. Splash - There is a small play area nearby; Jesse and Woody may be nearby for pictures
3. BTMRR - Go to play area by Splash or see Jesse and Woody
4. Visit Minnie's House or Donald's Boat

Epcot
1. Test Track - Go in the exit (through the gift shop) and "drive" the cool cars - great photo op or play in the splash fountains near the entrance
2. Mission Space - there is a small play area but I'm thinking it is for bigger kids; maybe someone else knows; near enough to Test Track to use the fountains

AK
EE - nothing real close; nearest thing to do would probably be Maharajah Jungle Trek but if you use FP it might not be worth the walk; we just hung out in the gift shop (the AC felt nice in the summer; such a hot park!)

When all else fails it is a great time for a snack and diaper change!

 

[sociologygirl]

I agree with everything the PP said, just adding that the Mission Space play area (you can enter through the gift shop/exit) is great for little ones, and we do the Boneyard while the other adult rides Expedition Everest. It's a little harder with little kids, though, because it's so big. But if yours will stay together, it could work! Our youngest enjoyed the Boneyard at 2 years, but his older brother liked to do his own thing, so it was hard to watch them both with one adult.

 

[OnlyDisney]

Thanks for the great advice!

 

[MerriH807]

I would try to each get a fast pass for those rides and take turns going on them.... Those are popular rides and if the wait is long---then that's a long time to be entertaining. (I know---I've been there)

Also if you are going to be there when it is hot, perhaps you could find a nice air conditioned show to take them to. (Like Country Bear Jamboree )

 

[TandLMommy28]

I'm confused... I thought everyone had to stand in line together in order to do baby swap... how do you take the kids somewhere else and still swap?

 

[miprender]

I just wanted to add... be prepared for some meltdowns. Our last trip DS2 cried everytime DH went on a ride and left him. (and he is fine at home when we go to work)

And this was not just a normal cry but a screaming that probably even scared the YETI himself.

 

[miprender]

I'm confused... I thought everyone had to stand in line together in order to do baby swap... how do you take the kids somewhere else and still swap?

As a family you have to go to the CM at the front of the entrance. (to show that you really do have a baby because they do check) Tell them you want to do a swap and they hand you a fast pass looking ticket that is good for anytime during the day. Plus you can take up to 2 or 3 people with you. So if some of your children are old enough they can ride again.

When it is your turn you just go to the FP line and enter that way.

HTH

 

[MerriH807]

I'm confused... I thought everyone had to stand in line together in order to do baby swap... how do you take the kids somewhere else and still swap?

The whole family walks up to the line together. Usually there is a CM right at the line entrance. At this point (with your family....) you SHOW them that you need to swap. The CM will hand the person about to go on line a pass to SWAP. SO that person leaves the group and goes on the line, rides the ride, and comes back. He/She then hands the person who needs to go the "SWAP card" to go on the fast pass line for their turn.

At least this is how it worked for us last summer.

Plus I think only certain rides have Baby Swap.

 

[TandLMommy28]

Thanks. This is not mentioned in The Unofficial Guide! Is this new?

By the way, I love the Big Blue Bug

 

[tzolkin]

OP: Since there are only two of you and you will be riding alone, you can just get FP for that attraction for both of you and use them one at a time.

The rider switch pass is really more valuable when you have an older child or two. Since it admits 3 riders, both parents have the opportunity to ride with the older child(ren)

Thanks. This is not mentioned in The Unofficial Guide! Is this new?

They have been doing Rider Switch like this for several years.

They will not allow a child who does not meet the height requirement to enter the line.

Plus I think only certain rides have Baby Swap.

Yes, only rides that have a height requirement offer Rider Switch passes and they will only issue one for a child that does not meet the height requirement.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Do you plan on doing the real swap, if so you will need to stay together until you reach the swap area. Then each of you take turns waiting in that area without having to enter the line again.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

OP: Since there are only two of you and you will be riding alone, you can just get FP for that attraction for both of you and use them one at a time.

The rider switch pass is really more valuable when you have an older child or two. Since it admits 3 riders, both parents have the opportunity to ride with the older child(ren)



They have been doing Rider Switch like this for several years.

They will not allow a child who does not meet the height requirement to enter the line.



Yes, only rides that have a height requirement offer Rider Switch passes and they will only issue one for a child that does not meet the height requirement.

I was going to say this too, but then I thought that by doing it this way, they will each need to wait on a line for each ride. Even with FP, there are lines to wait on. It goes much faster if the other parent can jump on as soon as the 1st one gets off.

 

[OnlyDisney]

So now I'm a little confused. Do I have to wait at ride entrance with kids while husband rides first? We can't have kids somewhere near by after we show CM that we really do need baby swap?

 

[kshattuck]

I don't know of rides where they will let you stand so close that you can get on the ride when your DH disembarks. It seems to me that they will not even let you enter the line with a child who does not meet the height requirement. (This could depend, of course, on the CM at the time.)

We did exactly what you are asking about. We produced the child in question to the CM at the fastpass lane. They gave us a "rider swap" pass for us to use; re-entry was the FP lane and we were rarely in line for very long waiting for the other spouse and older child (for rides on which she met the height requirement).

I would NOT recommend "just" getting a FP, as there are many attractions for which you can obtain a FP that have no height restriction. Once you have a FP, you can't get another one until the time on your original FP has arrived. We found it much more efficient to get a Rider Swap pass. That way, you can use your FP for Peter Pan, for example, with the younger kids, if your DH becomes addicted to Splash or Space Mtn

If it is extremely crowded, you could just get one FP, let's say for EE. Have your DH ride EE on the FP and get you a Rider Swap pass. If it's really crowded, you would then be able to get a FP on your ticket for Dinosaur! (or whatever, you get the idea ) and then reverse the process.

The PPs have all listed great places to go with your kids while you and your DH use Rider Swap. Additionally, at Animal Kingdom, we found that if you head toward Kali River Rapids from EE, there are a few exhibits with animals (seems I remember some orangutans or the like) along the pathway.

Have fun!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I don't know of rides where they will let you stand so close that you can get on the ride when your DH disembarks. It seems to me that they will not even let you enter the line with a child who does not meet the height requirement. (This could depend, of course, on the CM at the time.)

I didn't mean the second one gets off the ride, I meant as soon as they get back to the swap area. There are no lines anywhere that allow you to stand on the loading platform. I thought that was a given & didn't have to explain about walking back to the area. My suggestion was as opposed to just using FP and having to wait on an FP line. Do they not have waiting areas for the swap? Disney use to & Universal I know still does. As far as entering a line without meeting the height, if you tell them you are doing baby swap, some give a pass there & others allow you to walk thru with the rider & exit just before it as in the case with Space Mt. I know they let you out just behind that bubble area where the CM's sit & watch, just beyond where the turnstiles are. The one with the children leave and the rider then goes left or right.

 

[OnlyDisney]

Thank you kshattuck for explaining it so well for me. Good tip on getting a FastPass for two different rides too!

 

[OnlyDisney]

...As far as entering a line without meeting the height, if you tell them you are doing baby swap, some give a pass there & others allow you to walk thru with the rider & exit just before it as in the case with Space Mt. I know they let you out just behind that bubble area where the CM's sit & watch, just beyond where the turnstiles are. The one with the children leave and the rider then goes left or right.

So on Space Mountain all 4 of us go through the line together? Are there any other rides like this? I think I'd prefer us to split up so we can take turns doing something outside the line with the kids. Even though we'd go through the line faster together, the kids would have to stand around with us not having any fun.

 

[kshattuck]

Thank you kshattuck for explaining it so well for me. Good tip on getting a FastPass for two different rides too!

You are so welcome! Hope everything works well for your family and that everyone has a great time! Christmastime at WDW will be a blast!

BTW, that FP thing took us a couple of days to figure out

 

[SmallWorld71]

So on Space Mountain all 4 of us go through the line together? Are there any other rides like this? I think I'd prefer us to split up so we can take turns doing something outside the line with the kids. Even though we'd go through the line faster together, the kids would have to stand around with us not having any fun.

Space Mountain was NOT like this when I used it last. But, that was back in 2008 since my "baby" is now 7 and rides. I will say that when I was there in Feb. and we rode, DD7 was easily one of the youngest and shortest in the line. There were definitely no little ones. So, I'm going to think it's safe to say that kids are still not allowed in lines that they don't meet the height requirement for.

Also, keep in mind that you do not need to use your rider switch/ baby swap whatever you want to call it, right when the other rider gets off. While we always used it before we left the area, there is no rush. So, if you want to venture further away and have the other adult come meet you, you can. We always stuck in the general area because we would have older kids with us, too. With just little ones it might be easier to have the single adult come to you. Hope this makes sense.