Child Swap procedures -- anybody have recent experience?

[PrincessPoohsMom]

I've tried hunting for this info, but I suspect it changes too often to find a comprehensive list anywhere. What I need are the specific procedures used for child swap at several attractions. I'll be traveling with a party of five adults and my DD, who'll be 5 months. It would be great to know in advance what to expect at various attractions, i.e., whether all of us will have to go through the que together and half wait in a "holding area" with the baby OR if half the party will be given FP and will wait outside the attraction for the hand-off. Any recent (within the past couple of months) info would be helpful, but I'm specifically looking for the procedure at these attractions:

Everest
The MK Mountains
Soarin'
ToT & RRC

Thanks!

 

[Elmo888]

We did it in Jan. Tell the CM at the front of the line, before you even go into the attraction. The CM will give the adult(s) waiting with the baby a pass (it looks like a FastPass, but says something different, like Baby Swap). The other adult(s) ride while the adult with the baby waits outside the line. When the first adult(s) return, the adult that was waiting with the baby goes in the FastPass line.

With the Baby Swap pass, I believe that up to 3 adults can go using the swap pass, but I would confirm this. I know that 2 adults can go using the swap pass, and I think that I have read up to 3 adults.

If you already have FastPasses for the ride, it might not save any time. In that case, the first adult would go through FastPass. After the first adult returns, the second adult uses his/her FastPass to go through the line. Does that make sense?

Please ask if you have more questions or that isn't clear!

 

[pigget74]

For most rides you can go up to the person at the entrance and get a child swap. The only ride that would not let us do this is Space Mountain. You must wait in line and then when you get to that person they will give out a swap. At least the person we aksed told us that back in November. In MAy that was not the case. 3 people can be admitted on one child swap.

 

[tjmw2727]

We have used it alot - as recently as October and December 06.

My first advice on baby swap is to tell the CM at the attraction before you enter the line (either Fastpass or Standby) that you want to use the swap and find out how they handle it. Do not wait until you are boarding!

The baby/child unable to ride must be with you to do a swap so everyone must approach the line together. Some CM's have you all wait the line together, then the first parent and older child(ren) ride and other parent and younger child wait at the exit and then switch via the exit allowing the older child(ren) to ride with both parents. Off hand I think only Star Tours and Primeval Wirl still do it this way. Most rides now give you a rider swap pass. The rider swap pass works like a fast pass and allows up to 3 people total to return to that attraction anytime that day so the second parent can ride.

You all go to the entrance of the standby line or use a FP in the FP line and ask to use parent swap. The CM will give you the swap pass and the parent riding second and the baby (or young child) can then leave to do something else while the first party rides. The child who dosen't meet the restricion must be with you to get the rider swap pass!! The second parent then returns to ride via the FP line with the rider swap pass and can ride with 2 others (3 max) if they like. I prefer the rider swap pass because the baby or child that dosen't meet the height requirement dosen't have to wait the line for something he/she can't ride.

Hope this is helpful!
TJ

 

[Lisa0503]

Off hand I think only Star Tours and Primeval Wirl still do it this way. Most rides now give you a rider swap pass. TJ

We got a rider swap pass at Primeval Whirl We didn't go on Star Tours so I can't comment on that. All the rides we child swapped (Space Mountain, BTMRR, Splash, EE, Dinosaur, ToT, RnR, Soarin, TT & MS) we were given a ticket at the entrance that could be used for up to 3 people to return. Most tickets were good for several days later so unlike a fast pass, we could use them for a different day... Most CM gave the ticket to the person who was riding first, not to the one who was staying with the kids....

 

[PrincessPoohsMom]

Thanks so much for all the info! I was thinking most rides had now gone to the swap pass instead of making everyone wait in line, but I wanted to confirm that before we start making any touring plans.