Child ride swap with a kid who could technically ride

[delmar411]

Ok, I didn't mean it in a bad way. I was just saying if I have to go to guest services their site is the one I should follow. Thanks so much for your advice!! Sometimes written word comes across wrong. My apologies!

If you want to rider swap a ride like RNRC or TOT and your 6yr old goes through the line, then you shouldn't have any issues. I have been offered rider swap anytime I leave before boarding with my very much tall enough 10yr old on both those rides. We refuse the swap since neither my 10yr old or I are interested in riding but sometimes it is nice to keep my other kids company in line.

 

[maxiesmom]

It has nothing to do with "being cute." I think you're missing the point. Some people are advocating that because there's a policy on the website, it must be absolutely true and will be adhered to. I'm pointing out that, on the very same page, there's a discrepancy between the policy and how it works in practice (although one that works in guests' favor). It just proves that there are errors in this particular part of the website, and shows that Disney isn't necessarily bound by what's written on it.

But if you are marching to Guest Services, demanding they abide by what is written on their web site, then you can't turn around and tell them to make exceptions to it that are in your favor. Not YOU, but the general you. Doing so would in fact, be trying to be cute, as defined by my father.

"You must follow what is on your web site. I demand it!" "OK then, you can only allow 2 guests to ride as the swap group." "WHAT!!! I DON'T WANT THAT!!! CAN'T YOU MAKE AN EXCEPTION???"

 

[cakebaker]

But if you are marching to Guest Services, demanding they abide by what is written on their web site, then you can't turn around and tell them to make exceptions to it that are in your favor. Not YOU, but the general you. Doing so would in fact, be trying to be cute, as defined by my father.

"You must follow what is on your web site. I demand it!" "OK then, you can only allow 2 guests to ride as the swap group." "WHAT!!! I DON'T WANT THAT!!! CAN'T YOU MAKE AN EXCEPTION???"

Well first, I wouldn't be marching and I wouldn't demand they do something. I think there's a civil way to get what you're entitled to without acting like that.

That said, if they told me only 2 people could ride on the switch, I'd be fine with that. I would expect the pass to say that as well. They are bound to abide by their own rules- so they need to change the wording on the pass before expecting it not to be used that way. The 3rd person on the switch is nice, but not required.

I'm not sure why it says 3 when the intent, as I understand it, of allowing more than 1 person on the switch is so no one has to ride alone. I have no issue with them dropping it down to 2. We just don't like riding alone.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm not sure why it says 3 when the intent, as I understand it, of allowing more than 1 person on the switch is so no one has to ride alone. I have no issue with them dropping it down to 2. We just don't like riding alone.

I believe the intent is for families that may have 2 children who can ride, yet 1 still too young - still allows each parent to experience the ride with the children who can ride. Or, for another example, if you have a group that has grandparents and parents, then grandparents can ride with child #1 while parents wait with child #2, then Parents can ride with child #1 while grandparents wait with child #2.

The idea, as I've always understood it, is so that children and parents can still experience rides together even when there's a younger child that's too little.

 

[Angel Ariel]

But if you are marching to Guest Services, demanding they abide by what is written on their web site, then you can't turn around and tell them to make exceptions to it that are in your favor. Not YOU, but the general you. Doing so would in fact, be trying to be cute, as defined by my father.

"You must follow what is on your web site. I demand it!" "OK then, you can only allow 2 guests to ride as the swap group." "WHAT!!! I DON'T WANT THAT!!! CAN'T YOU MAKE AN EXCEPTION???"

I didn't get the impression that anyone here was suggesting this at all.

ETA: To be clear..I don't think anyone was suggesting that someone go to GS and demand that they follow what was written on the website, but then turn around and demand the # of people (3) on the pass be allowed to re-ride as opposed to the number (2) on the website.

I think the PP was trying to make the same point you are, that if you're going to demand that Disney follow their website in one instance then you have to expect to follow what their website says in all instances.

 

[MermaidMommy]

But if you are marching to Guest Services, demanding they abide by what is written on their web site, then you can't turn around and tell them to make exceptions to it that are in your favor. Not YOU, but the general you. Doing so would in fact, be trying to be cute, as defined by my father. "You must follow what is on your web site. I demand it!" "OK then, you can only allow 2 guests to ride as the swap group." "WHAT!!! I DON'T WANT THAT!!! CAN'T YOU MAKE AN EXCEPTION???"

Yes, that's exactly what I meant. I think we're making the same point.

 

[cakebaker]

Actually I can't imagine that the response from guest services would be - fine! But you're going to only get 2 riders on the return even if the pass says 3! Lol just doesn't sound very Disney-like.

 

[bumbershoot]

They are bound by what they state as their official policy. ...


But it's what they say, it's what they say when I engage in a chat with them. They should do what they say they'll do.

They are not bound by it. They are bound by their training.

The "they" you chatted with are not the same "they" that you will encounter in the parks.

Of course the website should be correct. It's not. Hasn't been in awhile.

Last fall my then 6 year old chickened out of TOT while we were in line. The CMs offered me a rider swap without my asking even though he was tall enough. I didn't end up taking them up on it because I wasn't in the mood to ride it after that but just an FYI of my experience.

And when DS said he could go on Dinosaur and then was freaking out and DH was in a mood and was going to make him go, and DS got more freaked out, and I finally called it when we got to a CM standing there at the door, she handed me a paper FP (this is a few years ago) to use later *as a thank you* for taking out the freaking-out kid.

That doesn't mean it's policy. It's pixie dust.

I do understand that not all the cm's follow their policy. As I read it on their own site it is their policy though. So what would you guys recommend if we come across a cm not willing to give us a rider swap? Ask for supervisor, go to guest service? I would assume they will eventually make it right. It does say it on their site!

No, I don't think they'll make it right in that they'll let you do a rider switch as you want to do. They might give out a "return any time" type of pass. They'll say thank you and sorry and we'll pass it along, and maybe they will. And maybe in 2 years Disney IT will get back to that page and put the right info up.

We now have two acquaintances who work in Disney IT here. I need to have a party and invite them both, and work into conversation how difficult their website is.

 

[cakebaker]

No, I don't think they'll make it right in that they'll let you do a rider switch as you want to do. They might give out a "return any time" type of pass. They'll say thank you and sorry and we'll pass it along, and maybe they will. And maybe in 2 years Disney IT will get back to that page and put the right info up.

The discussion I'd have at guest services is theoretical. I already do this at WDW. I don't go to guest services. It works already.

They are not bound by it. They are bound by their training.

The "they" I referred to was Disney, not the CM at the gate. You misunderstood.

I'm just going to go ahead and do what I've always done and what has always worked for me in the parks before I was told on the dis that it doesn't. Everyone else is free to do as this wish.

 

[ChloeH]

It doesn't say much for Disney as a company that they advertise a certain service on their website, confirm it over the phone, and then deny you that service once you've paid. People make decisions based on the information that the company presents. Training or lack of training is no excuse.

 

[JanaDee]

They are bound by what they state as their official policy. In the case of the number of return riders, it's not something they're going to be asked to be held to. If tomorrow they change their swap passes to match their website, I'll be happy to comply with those changes. If their website says 3 and their passes in park say 2, then they might be asked to honor what they advertise as policy. I wouldn't because I wouldn't care, but someone else might.

I don't "know" that their stated policy on rider swap (it's just what I always called it- used to be called baby swap by a lot of people) is right. That's impossible for me to know. But it's what they say, it's what they say when I engage in a chat with them. They should do what they say they'll do.

This is as far as I've read, so someone may have already pointed this out, but "official policy" is allowed to be changed at any time without notice.

That is how Disney covers its butt. So for anyone reading this, don't take what the website says or what phone/chat CM's tell you as official policy. It isn't.

 

[flatlandcycle]

It doesn't say much for Disney as a company that they advertise a certain service on their website, confirm it over the phone, and then deny you that service once you've paid. People make decisions based on the information that the company presents. Training or lack of training is no excuse.

Oh, don't expect the big lumbering slog beast to grant anything like a wish.

 

[cakebaker]

It doesn't say much for Disney as a company that they advertise a certain service on their website, confirm it over the phone, and then deny you that service once you've paid. People make decisions based on the information that the company presents. Training or lack of training is no excuse.

It wouldn't say much at all and but I haven't found that to be true at any rate.

 

[closetmickey]

We've been denied a swap before once DD was tall enough to ride. We were at EE in AK. Good luck!

 

[maxiesmom]

This is as far as I've read, so someone may have already pointed this out, but "official policy" is allowed to be changed at any time without notice.

That is how Disney covers its butt. So for anyone reading this, don't take what the website says or what phone/chat CM's tell you as official policy. It isn't.

Good point. It states somewhere on the web site that everything is subject to availability, and things can be changed at any time.