Child swap vs. Rider switch are there two different methods

[CountyMounty]

So I am doing some final planning for our day by day schedule for rides and ended up a little confused researching child swap. I am used to the old child swap before FP+ as we have done that many times and I understand that is still pretty much the same as before. However I was completely unaware that there may be a different option a "rider switch" where your whole party goes through the queue and switches at/near the ride similar to what is found in many other theme parks. So here are my questions, I'll number them out so maybe Robo can do his famous numbered response lol.

1) What rides currently have rider switch (as opposed to child swap which I believe all rides with height requirements have)

2) Can the rider switch be done even if the non riding child is big enough to ride but doesn't want to (we have a 2yo who may not want to ride a couple of them).

3) Are there any specific rides that allow rider switch that would be good to take our 2yo through the queue just so he can see them (like maybe SDMT)

4) Pertaining to the standard Child Swap, is there any definite answer yet on whether the adult that stays behind the first time needs to also have FP+ if the first riders use FP+.

 

[Robo]

Child swap vs. Rider switch are there two different methods

Two terms for the same thing.

 

[Robo]

I'll number them out so maybe Robo can do his famous numbered response lol.


2) Can the rider switch be done even if the non riding child is big enough to ride but doesn't want to (we have a 2yo who may not want to ride a couple of them).

3) Are there any specific rides that allow rider switch that would be good to take our 2yo through the queue just so he can see them (like maybe SDMT)

2) Sometimes. No way to predict as it can change with the CMs who are working.

3) You can't take anyone who is too short to ride into the queue of that ride.

 

[CountyMounty]

2) Sometimes. No way to predict as it can change with the CMs who are working.

3) You can't take anyone who is too short to ride into the queue of that ride.

Hmm well that is what I had always thought but found more than one post when I did a search talking about all walking through the queue together and then splitting up near the loading area and then doing the child swap. I will just stick to what we have always done and know.

Thanks.

 

[Missyrose]

Hmm well that is what I had always thought but found more than one post when I did a search talking about all walking through the queue together and then splitting up near the loading area and then doing the child swap. I will just stick to what we have always done and know.

Thanks.

That's how Universal handles some of its rider swap, but definitely not how Disney does it at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hmm well that is what I had always thought but found more than one post when I did a search talking about all walking through the queue together and then splitting up near the loading area and then doing the child swap. I will just stick to what we have always done and know.

Thanks.

I've seen the occasional mention of things like this, but I figure:

-the non-rider was tall enough to go in the line
-the CM messed up royally
-the person misremembered
-there's a weird thing that happens when describing where people leave their family; "the front of the line" can be used to describe both where you first encounter the line and when you're done with the line, and I think a lot of times issues with communicating these things start with that complication.

 

[Bree]

For TOT and SDMT I told the CM at the FP+ entrance that we wished to use rider swap. We had to go through the FP queue then tell the CM at the end we were using rider swap. For TOT I had to go down in a service elevator and wait for my son at the exit. When he came I went back to the service elevator where a CM was was waiting and was brought back up to the ride. For SDMT I had to go out the "chicken exit" and wait where the riders got off. I then went back to the chicken exit and waited for a CM.

 

[Raenstoirm]

For TOT and SDMT I told the CM at the FP+ entrance that we wished to use rider swap. We had to go through the FP queue then tell the CM at the end we were using rider swap. For TOT I had to go down in a service elevator and wait for my son at the exit. When he came I went back to the service elevator where a CM was was waiting and was brought back up to the ride. For SDMT I had to go out the "chicken exit" and wait where the riders got off. I then went back to the chicken exit and waited for a CM.

You are talking about chicken exit, not rider swap. You chose not to ride. You should not have been allowed in the line at all if you had a small child with you. And why did you go back up on ToT? The ride ends at the same point the chicken exit lets you out (I have used it before).

 

[kdfogliano]

You do not need a fast past in addition to the rider swap paper.

With the rider swap paper 3 people can ride via the fast pass entrance.

The only person who needs and actual fast pass is the 1st person/people riding (those requesting the rider swap)

Make sense?

 

[Bree]

You are talking about chicken exit, not rider swap. You chose not to ride. You should not have been allowed in the line at all if you had a small child with you. And why did you go back up on ToT? The ride ends at the same point the chicken exit lets you out (I have used it before).

No, you read everything incorrectly. I DID ride using rider swap. My 9yo DD did not go on TOT or SDMT, but the rest of us did. I waited with my DD until DS & DH were done. They then waited with my DD while I rode.

Go back and read again.

 

[tjmw2727]

IME -

When you have a child who doesn't meet the height requirement you get a paper rider swap pass. This allows the parent riding 2nd to use the paper pass via the FP line any time that day with up to 2 other riders.

When you have a child who does meet the height requirement but chooses not to ride "sometimes" the CM will allow you to switch at the exit. My experience has been iffy with this depending on the ride, CM and how busy the parks are.

A child who doesn't meet the height requirement will not be allowed to enter the queue under any circumstances.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

No, you read everything incorrectly. I DID ride using rider swap. My 9yo DD did not go on TOT or SDMT, but the rest of us did. I waited with my DD until DS & DH were done. They then waited with my DD while I rode.

Go back and read again.

it probably worked that way because your 9 year old was tall enough to ride - thus wait in the queue.

Child Swap is generally considered to be for people who have children that are too small to ride (although that does depend on who you ask - it has also been used for people like you all that have a child that does not want to ride.)