Child Swap, Babies, and Strollers ???

[NLZLS]

I am curious about how Child Swap works. My DH and I will be there with our DS, 5 & very excited to go on as many rides as possible, and our DD, who'll be 10 months by the time of our trip and most likely in a stroller.
I have a bunch of questions about how this will all work. If DH and DS go on a ride, while I wait for my child swap turn, then when they get off, does DS get to go again with me? Also, do I have to park my stroller and carry baby in line while I wait? What rides do child swap?
And a side question about strollers ( there's no way I could babywear for an entire day, so a stroller is a must!), We will be bringing our own stroller, rather than renting, so assuming we park our stroller while we're going on a ride, is the stroller safe/should I be using a bike lock? Anyone have any recommendations or experiences with strollers?

 

[NLZLS]

Oh! I forgot to add ( yes, I have MORE questions!) Does anyone have any recommendations of what we can do there with our youngest member of the family besides push her around in a stroller most of the day? Are there any rides that we can all go on together? Or anything in particular that we wouldn't want to miss that a 10 month old could enjoy?

Thanks!

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Hello! I have a 9 month old- it will be my first time going with a baby as well! While I don't have answers to your Child Swap questions, I can help with the stroller ones.

Your stroller is totally safe to park. Outside of every ride, you'll find a ton of strollers parked. However, I would take any valuables with you, don't leave anything that you can't easily replace in the stroller.

You can go on any rides with your baby that don't have a height restriction. There are a lot she can go on!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Last Sept. my nephew (who turned 1 right as we got home) was with us. My DD (will be 5 in July) was able to go on every ride except Indiana Jones. We child swapped for that ride (however lines weren't bad at all so it wasn't really necessary). Yes, your DS can first ride with Dad and then with you using the child swap pass. You won't wait in line while DS & DH ride, you'll wait outside the line/ride and use the fast pass entrance (that's how it was for Indiana anyways).
I don't worry about my Mac Volo being stolen ~ there are a ton of stroller's everywhere! Your DD can go on any ride that doesn't have a height requirement, she won't be able to go on Splash Mtn., Big Thunder, Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Star Tours, Space Mtn., some rides in Toon Town (I'm sure I'm missing some) but there will be plenty of rides for her to enjoy with you. Over @ Cal. Adventure she can't ride, TOT, Grizzly River and several others.

 

[spacemouseneer]

Well, with ChildSwap, I always thought everyone went in and one parent goes on the ride while the other waits and then they switch when they get back, but the way it works, at least for Indiana Jones and Soarin', is that you get a little card from the CM at the front. The first parent goes on the ride while the other waits outside. After those two are done, the other parent and child take the card up to the CM and now it is used like a FASTPASS. So you go and wait in the FASTPASS line.

Attractions where Switching off is common are:

DL: Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Matterhorn, Big Thunder Railroad, Space Mountain, and Star Tours

DCA: Grizzly River Run, Soarin', California Screaming, Mailaboomer, Mullholland Madness, Orange Stinger, and Tower of Terror


You will find the stroller a lifesaver. We have used it for when our daughter was 20 months and last December when she was 3. It's a huge place and overwhelming as well. It can tire the little ones out pretty quick. And everyone parks them for rides. We have never had an issue with our stroller and theft. I just wouldn't leave anything valuable in it. Cameras, etc. Or merchandise you have purchased. You can always have that sent to the front to picked up later, if you buy during the day, or just save the shopping for the end of the day.


As for things that she can do...well, the sights and sound really are quite stimulating as you are walking everywhere. The smells, and music and colors are just amazing. At that age I wouldn't think that she would get too freaked out by some of the rides yet. Things like the Nemo rides with all it's colors and animation, she would probably love. And the Disney Playhouse Show in DCA is a must. Storybook Canals, and Casey's Train. Toontown is a great place for her to see things. Lots of color, shapes and buttons to push.


Hope this helps.



Spacemouseneer

 

[kerickson]

We took our then 3yr old DD and 9mo DS to DL a year ago Dec. We were in the parks about 5 days, and I carried my DS in a Baby Bjorn almost the entire time. Occasionally he was in the stroller to give my back a break and to nap. I was able to go on all the rides my DD and DH wanted to go on (obviously those w/out height restrictions), I never had to take him out of the Bjorn, just hopped onto Pirates with him still strapped in, etc. I think it actually helped him feel more secure about the whole experience, being close to mama. He got to experience Buzz, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and all the FairyTale rides, and I got to witness his excitement close up! You just need to make sure you are extra careful getting in and out of the rides and watch out for the bars to ensure you can both fit. Where we couldn't I'd turn to the side or take him out. I wish they had Bjorns for 2yr olds. I'm dreading him running off next time we go

Regarding a stoller. Our friends rented strollers for their 3 and 4yr olds, we brought our double stroller from home so my DS could lay all the way down for his naps. I was nervous about leaving it outside of rides at first, but then saw that everyone was doing it and never had an issue (our friends go to DL every year and have never had issues with personal or rented strollers). I always made sure to never leave anything of value in them ($$, special blankets..). Now that my kids are 2 and 4, I'll probably rent next time.

 

[squidmo]

I have a bunch of questions about how this will all work. If DH and DS go on a ride, while I wait for my child swap turn, then when they get off, does DS get to go again with me? Also, do I have to park my stroller and carry baby in line while I wait? What rides do child swap?

...is the stroller safe/should I be using a bike lock?

They way the baby swap works, is that the whole family goes up to the height-checking CM, to say that you want to do the baby swap (they like to see the baby, to prevent abuse of the system). The CM will give you a baby swap pass, and everyone but one parent and the baby goes rides the attraction (note: the first group can use fastpass if they want to). Once they are done riding, the parent that didn't ride the first time can use the baby swap pass- depending on the ride you will either enter through the fastpass line, or through the handicapped entrance (ask the CM that gives you the pass). One nice thing is the baby swap passes allow up to five people to enter in the second group, so most of the family actually gets to ride again. My older DS LOVED this- he called it the "baby-swap bonus".

And don't take a bike lock for your stroller- Disneyland REALLY doesn't like this. I saw a family get a strong "talking-to" from security for locking their stroller down.

 

[bumbershoot]

I wish they had Bjorns for 2yr olds.

Try an Ergo. (so much better than the bjorn for both parent and baby spines!!)

******
I've heard of people using a lock to lock the two back tires so they don't go round and round when moved. That way a CM can move it, but it wouldn't be at all attractive to a thief.

We had a brand new pirate hat taken from our rental stroller (it was under an old sweatshirt and ball cap), and even though the CMs ended up making it right, it tainted our trip in September. Took months for DS to stop asking why "bad pirates" had taken his hat (we used "bad pirate" when talking to him b/c we didn't want him to give Captain Jack the 3rd degree, or be angry at fellow guests), and the thought of someone rooting through our stuff, even just hats and sweatshirt, makes me a little queasy.


********

Depending on how busy things are, anyone thinking about child swap should be really aware of what rides have a Single Rider line! As an example, the FP line was fairly long at CA Screamin' in late January this year, and the standby line was just too long for me to contemplate (I had the Electrical Parade to get to!). But I got a Single Rider pass, went to the special entrance, and was ON the ride fearing the "takeoff" within something like 2 minutes.

So the single rider line, for the rides with it, could be even better than FP!

Oh, and I was told that "one" was the magic number at TOT, when he had closed the ropes at "check in"...he thought I was with a father and son, so when I said "one" he opened the rope and let me in with the group that was going towards the room with the TV.

And I was put in an almost full car on Indy TWICE. Sure, I was in with strangers, but if I had been with others I would have had to wait a bit longer.

So even if you're not IN a single rider line, sometimes just being a single rider gets you on much faster than normal!

 

[Rapunsel]

one line that single rider can be a long wait is Soarin.... I have had to wait 30 min before...

 

[bumbershoot]

Yeah, Soarin's a weird one. When I did that single rider in December, first I passed all the people waiting in line, and got their glares. Then I stopped at the very front where the line turns, and then the regular line started being boarded, and the glares turned to pity. And then I was just put wherever they needed me, so we all went on together, and all the looks I got from people were silly.

My ride experience was probably shorter than yours, though, b/c it was a cold, rainy night in December.

 

[NLZLS]

Thank you so much for all the replies! It's nice to hear what to expect, it gives me more of an idea of how to plan things out a little more and also a little less to worry about.

Kerickson - I second Bumbershoots Ergo recommendation. I use a Babyhawk carrier, but they also make a Toddlerhawk for bigger kiddos (babyhawk.com -you design your own!) you can do front, back and hip carry with these. I like using wraps, too, they are also quite versatile and comfy. thebabywearer.com has reviews of all the different baby & toddler carriers that might still work well for you, too.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Try an Ergo. (so much better than the bjorn for both parent and baby spines!!)
!

Boy I second that! LOVE my Ergo, DD rode in it until she was 2...

sorry I digress...

--Lisa

 

[chickybanky]

Is there an age limit for baby swap? If it's my DH, myself, and my DD (4) and DH and I want to go on Space Mountain, but she won't, can he go and ride by himself while I wait with her, and then when he's done I can ride by myself?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I am sure you can child swap with a 4 year old... not sure there is an age limit... I always thought it was if a child was too small or unwilling to ride... DL would not want a young child waiting by themselves I am sure!

--Lisa

 

[Goldies 4]

Disneyland has it's fair share of theft. Strollers included. If you have a stroller that might be a bit more expensive or stand out definetely use a lock.
We used to take our jogging stroller and I would always lock one wheel to the frame. It makes it so the CM's can still move them if necessary and it would make it look very suspicious if some creep would try to go off with it.
Also you can leave it say like in Fantasyland in one spot for pretty much most of the rides before retreiveing it to move on.
I have seen so many strollers sitting there with bags, purses, and cameras with no one watching them.
Just because you are at Disneyland does not make you less vulnerable to theft.