Child Swap Pass Question

[momlissa]

Has anyone used the Rider Switch pass (Child Swap) with small children? I can't seem to find any information about it on the Disneyland site.

Is it true that RSP are only issued for rides that have height restrictions? I thought that the pass could be used so that parents could take turns with children, even on the rides w/o height restrictions, when you have more children than adults.

For example, I have 3 small children, 2 year old twins and a 4 year old. For a ride that requires 2 riders, I was hoping there was a pass where my husband could take one child, I wait with the other 2, then when he comes back and I go with one child (taking turns on which children ride as I don't think you could use the pass for 3 turns, which is fine).

Is this something that exists? I thought this was what RSP was, but now I'm reading it's only for height restriction rides, which was not our intent. I know that sometimes, if it's slow, the cast members will do a "ride along," but I think my 4 year old is probably a little too young to ride with a stranger.

The last time we took the twins, they were 20 months and we had many adults with us, so this wasn't an issue. For our upcoming fall trip, we may have just my husband and I to the 3 kids, so just trying to find out anything I can about the RSP.

If anyone has any experience with the Rider Switch Pass with multiple small children, I'd love to hear about it. Also, if you could lead me in the direction of detailed, reliable information about the program, that would be great too.

Thanks!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I can't really help with the other rides w/o a restriction, but for Toy Story Mania we were able to use child swap.

 

[techno]

From what I understand you don't need a pass for child swap. Just tell the cast member you want to do a child swap when you get to the front of the queue.

 

[DangerMouse]

I'm trying to think of what rides would be an issue where the 5 of you couldn't ride all together?? Can you give an example of what ride w/o a height restriction you are concerned about?

 

[Kayla's Mom]

From what I understand you don't need a pass for child swap. Just tell the cast member you want to do a child swap when you get to the front of the queue.

They actually give you a small card that says child swap on it to use when you return.

 

[techno]

They actually give you a small card that says child swap on it to use when you return.

Ah cool, we've never used it. We've taken our daughter on all the rides without height restrictions since she was 2 months old. Now that she's almost 5, she can ride everything except California Screamin' (or what she calls the Mickey Mouse Roller Coaster --- which she is dying to ride), Mali-Boomer, and Indiana Jones (almost there!). I used to ride all of those, but wont now, since it just makes her jealous.... So I'm waiting. =)

 

[MommiePrincess]

From what I have read it is only a pass/card given for height restriction rides because you can take infants on all other rides. That said we will be there with a 3 year old and an 8 month old.....so I would want to use the rider/baby switch if my baby is sleeping or on rides she'll probably cry on. So I would like to know if it is for all rides and if you get a actual card/pass for all rides (or just height restriction) or not? What I have always read "get it from the CM at the entrance" - there are never CM's at the entrance for rides that I can see. It's a great way for my 3 year old to get on back to back rides. Also I have read that you have to go back through the fast pass lane with the switch pass and I have also read that you all stand in line and just hand the baby off to the "switcher" and your toddler (etc) and you get right back on the ride. Which is correct and how would you get a definite answer so you stand correctly in lines.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

From what I have read it is only a pass/card given for height restriction rides because you can take infants on all other rides. That said we will be there with a 3 year old and an 8 month old.....so I would want to use the rider/baby switch if my baby is sleeping or on rides she'll probably cry on. So I would like to know if it is for all rides and if you get a actual card/pass for all rides (or just height restriction) or not? What I have always read "get it from the CM at the entrance" - there are never CM's at the entrance for rides that I can see. It's a great way for my 3 year old to get on back to back rides. Also I have read that you have to go back through the fast pass lane with the switch pass and I have also read that you all stand in line and just hand the baby off to the "switcher" and your toddler (etc) and you get right back on the ride. Which is correct and how would you get a definite answer so you stand correctly in lines.

It depends on the ride where and how you swap. I have heard that on (for example) POTC there isn't a height requirement, but people have been able to do the child swap if a child is sleeping in the stroller or too scared to ride.

 

[bumbershoot]

...I have also read that you all stand in line and just hand the baby off to the "switcher" and your toddler (etc) and you get right back on the ride.

Especially with a ride that has a height restriction, that should never happen. The CMs should never allow under-height people into a line, b/c there's no way to communicate with CMs further on that that's happening (and no way to know that an individual person is trustworthy, of course).

OP, someone here did say that a CM allowed a Rider Switch on TSMM, and that makes sense, though 3 CAN ride on it if you fit, but only 2 can play. Same on Buzz.

I'm having a hard time thinking of rides that little ones might go on that won't fit an adult and two small kidlets...Matterhorn, maybe, but not every 2 year old meets the 35" height for that.

Are you thinking of any rides in particular?

 

[LavenderPeach]

OP, someone here did say that a CM allowed a Rider Switch on TSMM, and that makes sense, though 3 CAN ride on it if you fit, but only 2 can play. Same on Buzz.

So 3 CAN ride on one side? I was wondering this since DS loves that ride but doesn't know how to play yet. He just likes the way it whips you around. It looked like enough room for all 3 of us but the lap bar is split into 2 sides so I wasn't sure they would allow it.

 

[DangerMouse]

So 3 CAN ride on one side? I was wondering this since DS loves that ride but doesn't know how to play yet. He just likes the way it whips you around. It looked like enough room for all 3 of us but the lap bar is split into 2 sides so I wasn't sure they would allow it.

I've ridden 3 to a side. My 6 year old didn't want to shoot, just watch, so she sat in the middle.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I've ridden 3 to a side. My 6 year old didn't want to shoot, just watch, so she sat in the middle.

Thanks! We'll have to try this next time.

 

[Gisele]

I keep on telling people that child swapping is not legal in the State of California, well unless it is for the right price of course! Otherwise, it is not allowed ............. oh hold on........ Oh I see..... it is a pass of some kind at Disneyland ........... oh OK, never mind then ...........
_______________








~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[iheartdisney]

Another family of 5 here...most of the rides at DL are made to accomadate 3, as long as 2 of them are small. All of the fanstasyland rides (even Dumbo) can fit 3 to a seat. Autopia, Buzz, Rocket Jets as well.
The only exception we have ever encountered is the bumper bugs over at DCA. It is strictly 2 person. In that case, they were going to have us wait to the side and ride with one kid at a time, but at the last minute another CM came up and asked if she could ride with one of the kids, so everyone got on at once.
i often go without DH, with 3 kids, so I've come to learn which rides are a problem.

 

[momlissa]

The only exception we have ever encountered is the bumper bugs over at DCA

Wouldn't you know that was the one ride that my friend ran into a problem on our last visit. She was there with her 3 and 5 yr olds and the 5 yr old got a ridealong, she went with her 3 yr old. This gave me the impression that many of the rides were 2 person. I just never even thought about them allowing 3 people, but I guess they do!

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I was really worried how we were going to manage, have everyone ride rides and not get left out.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Wouldn't you know that was the one ride that my friend ran into a problem on our last visit. She was there with her 3 and 5 yr olds and the 5 yr old got a ridealong, she went with her 3 yr old. This gave me the impression that many of the rides were 2 person. I just never even thought about them allowing 3 people, but I guess they do!

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I was really worried how we were going to manage, have everyone ride rides and not get left out.

Oh yes! A lot of rides can fit 3 people! We only have one child but DH, DS and I all ride on the same vehicle for a lot of rides (dumbo, peter pan, flik's fliers, winnie the pooh, casey jr train - just to name a few)