Child Swap

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Is the Child Swap option available on all rides in WDW? We only used it one time during our last trip, so I didn't have a chance to try it out in other places.

I'm specifically interested in if it is offered on Soarin'. Dh, the two older kids and I will want to ride, but my two little ones will be too young.

Thanks!

 

[Darth Sidious]

Yes it is offered for Soarin. I'm not sure how it works though. And as for your other question, I believe its the more intense rides have baby swap. Rides such as Space Mountain, Test Track, Tower of Terror- those rides. But rides such as Peter Pan, Spaceship Earth and Pooh won't because people of all ages can ride those.

 

[beth_cam]

i "thought" that rider swap was availble wherever a height restriction prevented children from riding. (not fear lol)

 

[Darth Sidious]

i "thought" that rider swap was availble wherever a height restriction prevented children from riding. (not fear lol)

yeah... thats kind of what I meant. hahaha. I meant that the more intense rides will usually keep the smaller people from riding.

 

[luvthatduke]

Just want to say that every time DH & I used
the Baby Swap w/DS (just turned 2 at the time, 04/05),
the CM's were AMAZING!
When we swapped on Star Tours you would've thought
we were celebrities!
The CM counted everyone, moved some up/down,
calculating in his head exactly what row I needed to be in,
where DH & DS needed to be waiting, etc...
Then he gave clear instructions that DH was to wait right at the door
and when I was done the ride DH walked through the "ship" w/DS,
whereupon I took DS out the exit
(we were told to wait while everyone else exited),
and it all worked smooth as pie!

It was funny because the other riders were like, "Who are THEY?"
And, please know that the other riders were not put-out,
no one missed their turn, etc...
The CM was merely doing his job VERY well,
and showed the training WDW is known for.

Have tons of fun & use the Baby Swap as much as you need to!

 

[nybound]

From my experience with the Soarin' baby swap last August:

Tell the CM at the ride main entrance that you would like to baby swap. They will give the parent staying behind a pass that will allow them (and up to three others) to enter the fast pass line when the original group is done. There are some benches over by the exit for the parents and children to wait (I used the opportunity to take my youngest up to the Kidcot zone instead).

The original group goes through the normal standby line (unless you all ready have fast passes). The baby swap group gets to use the fast pass line the second time around.

Everyone in my famiily loved the ride, including my afraid of heights mom (who went on it twice).

 

[beattyfamily]

For fear in children that are old enough to ride, they will still let you swap BUT you must all go in the line together and swap at the ride itself.

I have a 6 year old who is afraid of all the mountains and ToT but she's tall enough. They all measured her, saw she was old enough and told me she must enter the line with us and swap at the ride.

 

[mrzrich]

At the line they will give you a "rider switch pass, which allows they waiting parent to use the fastpass line after the first parent has riden. This pass lets the second parent take the older kids back on a second time with them! ( Most passes I've gotten are good for 3 people, but I once got one for 6)

My advice is don't sit on those benches by the ride exit...look at the faces of the people sitting there. They are usually miserable. The problem with the land is you cant bring in strollers, so waiting on those benches, you will see frustrated dads trying to keep their unleashed toddlers from running away, crying, rolling on the floor, etc.

Only steps away from Soarin' is the sunshine seasons food court. We sit there while we wait. My youngest sits in a high chair and we usually buy him a snack from the food court like a cookie and a drink. This keeps him occupied while he's waiting and my DH is a lot less cranky too!

 

[DisneyTarheel]

Is the Child Swap option available on all rides in WDW?

Can you request that you only receive well-behaved children in return for yours? How long before you have to swap back?

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Can you request that you only receive well-behaved children in return for yours? How long before you have to swap back?

Wishful thinking......sometimes

 

[lorli]

For fear in children that are old enough to ride, they will still let you swap BUT you must all go in the line together and swap at the ride itself.

Thank you so much this answers a question I have and have avoided at the parks the last two years. I'll be sure to use child swap next trip.

 

[shelby_36]

It doesn't work for all rides. We went all the way through line to do it for Haunted mansion_Our daughter is terrified of stuff like that- and they had no idea what i was talking about.

Be careful. My husband wasted a good hour waiting for nothing.

 

[sames1]

Is the Child Swap option available on all rides in WDW? We only used it one time during our last trip, so I didn't have a chance to try it out in other places.

Child swap is a great option available I believe on most rides. Just ask. Even if it's not a restricted ride because of height some children are just too afraid to go and someone must be with them. I can't believe a CM would say no.

 

[beattyfamily]

It doesn't work for all rides. We went all the way through line to do it for Haunted mansion_Our daughter is terrified of stuff like that- and they had no idea what i was talking about.

Be careful. My husband wasted a good hour waiting for nothing.

You must ask at each ride how they handle parent swap.

 

[shelby_36]

We asked the CM working the "ride"(he was the only CM outside of the ride anywhere) He acted like he had never heard of Child Swap..he went further up the ride (in the front doors)to ask another CM and she either said NO or didn't know what we were talking about either..I didn't hear their conversation..he just came back and said we couldn't do it.

 

[beattyfamily]

We asked the CM working the "ride"(he was the only CM outside of the ride anywhere) He acted like he had never heard of Child Swap..he went further up the ride (in the front doors)to ask another CM and she either said NO or didn't know what we were talking about either..I didn't hear their conversation..he just came back and said we couldn't do it.

But there is always a CM at the entrance to every ride and that is the person that should be asked. Then time won't be wasted in a long line.

I have heard of some CMs who have never heard of parent swap but I have never encountered one myself.

Anyway, I have heard before that Haunted Mansion doesn't have parent swap but I don't know for sure because I've never had to do parent swap for this ride.

 

[shelby_36]

When we went to HM the first CM we encountered was at the turnstile.And that is who we asked.

 

[beattyfamily]

When we went to HM the first CM we encountered was at the turnstile.And that is who we asked.

Ok, but you said you wasted an hour before you found out you couldn't swap so it took you an hour to get to the turnstiles? I guess I'm confused.

I have always seen a CM at every entrance to every ride but that's just my experience.

My advice to all those who want to parent swap, ask the CM stationed at the entrance to the ride how they handle parent swap and if they offer it so you don't waste any precious time.

It's a great feature and has been a Godsend to my family many times.

 

[shelby_36]

At HM you stand in that line first and go through the turn stile up near the cemetary/front door. We waited an hour- the whole family in the heat holding our little girl so we could swap. Our first (and laast) attempt.

 

[beattyfamily]

At HM you stand in that line first and go through the turn stile up near the cemetary/front door. We waited an hour- the whole family in the heat holding our little girl so we could swap. Our first (and laast) attempt.

Oh, I see. You must have been there a very busy time of year. Hopefully, others will have better luck then you did.