Child swap question

[millie0312]

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering the logistics of how child swap works exactly... My understanding is your group goes to the start of the line CM and then 1 person and the baby wait outside while everyone else does the ride. Then the left out person gets to go in the FP line with up to 2 people to ride? So the baby never has to wait in line for the ride using this method (my DS hates sitting still in lines lol)? Do they have to use the pass immediately or could they come back later to ride? Does the person sitting out need a FP like the rest of the group to get the child swap pass or just those going on initially? Are there any tips you have on doing this with a 3 month old? Any info would be appreciated! TIA

 

[SMD]

The CMs probably won't tell you that the swap can be used later, but it can. The person getting the swap pass does not need an FP. In some cases using single rider may be faster than swapping. On Indy, single rider is much faster than the FP return line, but swapping is still an option if you want to use it.

 

[figment_jii]

Rider Switch works pretty much as you described it. You take your group to the entrance to the line and let the CM know that you would like to do the Rider Switch. The CM will need to see the child that cannot ride to verify that you are eligible for Rider Switch. The CM will then give you a tag to take with you to the CM at some point in the line (for RSR, it's where the FP and standby line merges). That CM will give you the actual rider switch pass at that point, which has the name of the attraction and the date printed on it. The guests that did not ride the first time (up to three guests) take the Switch Pass to the CM at the FP entrance to the attraction and are then allowed to enter the attraction line. There is no time printed on the Switch Pass, so theoretically you could come back later in the day and use it if you wanted.

I thought the Rider Switch Pass was great because it allowed everyone to ride the attraction (except the little one that wasn't tall enough) and no one had to ride alone (because we had more than two adults in our group).

 

[pumpkin5156]

We had to utilize Child Swap on Thursday the 4th when we were there. This is how it went for every single ride: I ask the CM at the front of the line for a Child Swap pass and they all said, "Have your party go through the line and ask the attendant at the end of the line for a pass." So every time we did this and they give you a paper with the ride name and date on it. No time stamp. You can take two people with you (total of three) back on the ride through the FastPass line. We didn't always use it right away. Space Mountain was used hours later. The CM never even checked to see if we had a child. We were honest about it, but it would be easy not to be.

 

[cseca]

I remember BTMRR and Space Mountain they give you the RSP at the end of the line right before you get on the ride. You don't technically even have to mention it to the FP CM.
RSR though they want to see the ineligible kid before you even get in line and they will give you a lanyard to swap out for the RSP at the end of the FP line.

 

[millie0312]

We had to utilize Child Swap on Thursday the 4th when we were there. This is how it went for every single ride: I ask the CM at the front of the line for a Child Swap pass and they all said, "Have your party go through the line and ask the attendant at the end of the line for a pass." So every time we did this and they give you a paper with the ride name and date on it. No time stamp. You can take two people with you (total of three) back on the ride through the FastPass line. We didn't always use it right away. Space Mountain was used hours later. The CM never even checked to see if we had a child. We were honest about it, but it would be easy not to be.

So did you wait in line with your kid before they would give you the pass? My 3 month old is not going to be happy about that lol I was hoping one adult could grab the pass then wait outside with DS so he wasn't stuck in one spot for too long

 

[rms123]

No, the child doesn't enter the line. You get the pass or a lanyard at the entrance to the line.

 

[cseca]

So did you wait in line with your kid before they would give you the pass? My 3 month old is not going to be happy about that lol I was hoping one adult could grab the pass then wait outside with DS so he wasn't stuck in one spot for too long

The child who won't be riding never needs to enter the line. Some rides will require the CM at the entrance to see the child first but some rides do not. It just depends. The best way is always to ask the CM at the beginning of the line with the child. They will let you know what to do. Then you would know what to do for that specific ride.

 

[BSOGfam]

When we went in September, we never brought the baby to the line. I just told the cm that I needed a pass, and I was given one. Often my DH would use that riding time to give DS a bottle or diaper change, so it worked well. We mostly used it immediately. The one time we didn't, the pass broke off the lanyard. Have fun!

 

[ClaraOswald]

You can bring a "guest" with you using the rider swap? That seems dumb. I thought the point of the pass was for when you had just 2 adults and a child (or more) who isn't tall enough to ride.

I guess it makes sense if the "guest" is another child in the family. But if there are more than 2 adults, I don't really think this pass is meant for that.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can bring a "guest" with you using the rider swap? That seems dumb. I thought the point of the pass was for when you had just 2 adults and a child (or more) who isn't tall enough to ride.

I guess it makes sense if the "guest" is another child in the family. But if there are more than 2 adults, I don't really think this pass is meant for that.

But it can work that way. Not everyone has to ride alone just because they have someone that can't ride and needs to have someone with them.

So way back when, we used it on Indy. My brother, sister in law, and husband went on it while I waited with the baby. When they were done, I took the pass and dragged my sister in law on it so I didn't have to ride alone. She got to ride twice. (she would have preferred not to, oh well!)

 

[DahliaRW]

But it can work that way. Not everyone has to ride alone just because they have someone that can't ride and needs to have someone with them.

So way back when, we used it on Indy. My brother, sister in law, and husband went on it while I waited with the baby. When they were done, I took the pass and dragged my sister in law on it so I didn't have to ride alone. She got to ride twice. (she would have preferred not to, oh well!)

Yup, it's so nice. We're a family of 5. Our boys are tall enough for everything, but not our daughter. This way one of us can go with one boy and the other with the other and no one has to ride alone. Or both boys go twice!

 

[millie0312]

Awesome- thanks for the info everyone!! Don't worry- we really do have a baby and will probably let my DD ride again with the adult that is left out. I'm SO glad my DS doesn't have to wait in the extra line. I'm hoping to use the pass right after, but if I have to deal with the baby I'm happy to know I can come back after he's all set up. Lol- feeling a bit anxious about our trip in less then a week!!!

 

[Rubygoose]

Awesome- thanks for the info everyone!! Don't worry- we really do have a baby and will probably let my DD ride again with the adult that is left out. I'm SO glad my DS doesn't have to wait in the extra line. I'm hoping to use the pass right after, but if I have to deal with the baby I'm happy to know I can come back after he's all set up. Lol- feeling a bit anxious about our trip in less then a week!!!

In my experience, the only ride that required us to show them the child was RSR. At all of the other rides, the CM just took my word for it (usually DD would say "My brother's too short. Can we have a card?") And, not only do you not have to bring the child through the line, but if the child doesn't meet the height requirement they are not aloud to enter the line.

 

[millie0312]

In my experience, the only ride that required us to show them the child was RSR. At all of the other rides, the CM just took my word for it (usually DD would say "My brother's too short. Can we have a card?") And, not only do you not have to bring the child through the line, but if the child doesn't meet the height requirement they are not aloud to enter the line.

This is what I was hoping they did! I don't mind showing them we have a baby with us I am just glad he's not stuck in line for it! Thanks for everyone's help!!!

 

[ClaraOswald]

But it can work that way. Not everyone has to ride alone just because they have someone that can't ride and needs to have someone with them.

So way back when, we used it on Indy. My brother, sister in law, and husband went on it while I waited with the baby. When they were done, I took the pass and dragged my sister in law on it so I didn't have to ride alone. She got to ride twice. (she would have preferred not to, oh well!)

I'm just saying, if there are more than 2 adults, no one would need to ride alone anyway. Sure, someone may have to wait in line twice, but that's life.

If you have 4 adults...two ride, two wait. If you have 3 adults, 2 ride...one waits. Then the other rides with of the the first two while one adult waits. This isn't rocket science. Unless I'm missing something.

Maybe I just don't get what ride swap is all about.

 

[starshine514]

I'm just saying, if there are more than 2 adults, no one would need to ride alone anyway. Sure, someone may have to wait in line twice, but that's life. If you have 4 adults...two ride, two wait. If you have 3 adults, 2 ride...one waits. Then the other rides with of the the first two while one adult waits. This isn't rocket science. Unless I'm missing something. Maybe I just don't get what ride swap is all about.

Ride swap is supposed to make it so your group only has to wait in the full line once for everyone to get to ride. Say, you have a baby and you want to ride Space Mountain. The line's 30 minutes long. With rider swap, you whole group can ride, one person staying out with the baby in an hour's time (30 minute line, ten minutes to ride and find adult and infant, 10 minute FP line and 10 minutes to ride and return again). Without rider swap, that would be an hour and 20 minutes for everyone to ride. Without an infant, you'd be done in 40 minutes. It's not just one person waiting twice, it's your whole group waiting twice, for every ride with a height requirement. Being able to bring along an extra person or two makes it a more pleasant experience for everyone.

I think it's a good idea. My dad and I used it for BTMRR at the Halloween party and it worked out well. My dad stayed with the baby while I rode with the older girls and got a rider swap pass, then he and the girls used the pass. The older girls got to ride twice and both my dad and I got to ride.

 

[Disney Dreams]

In our experience, they allowed the adult who waited with the baby to bring along however many people would fill one ride vehicle. This varied based on the attraction.

- Dreams