Child Swap

[sockies31]

We are leaving in 22 days, so i am trying to get a clearer picture of how the Child Swap works. DD3 is just 1/2 inch shy of 40" and will probably find those rides too scary--but she is convinced she wants to ride the dinosaur ride--right!

My husband and I were wondering how it worked and if it is a smooth and easy process or more frustrating? Thanks!

 

[doconeill]

Here is a link to my page with the section about Rider Switch.

This applies to all attractions (except Star Tours) that have Fastpass and a height restriction. You can ONLY take advantage of it if your child does not meet the height requirement.

In short, you approach the greeter CM at the attraction, and ask for a Rider Switch pass. You must show the child and they may measure to be sure. You will receive a special form of Fastpass called a Rider Switch pass. The first group of riders can then go on the attraction via the Standby line while an adult waits with the child. Then anytime after the first group returns, the RS pass can be used for up to three guests to ride via the Fastpass line with minimal wait.

This is a BIG bonus if you have a couple of children who ARE tall enough to ride. If you have more than two though prepare for arguments about who gets to ride twice...

 

[klmorg]

Child swap worked great for us during our last trip. My DD is 4 now and 41 inches so the only rides we will utilize it on this trip are RnRC, EE, ToT, maybe Test Track and Dinosaur. She could go on Dinosaur (she is tall enough) but there is no way she could handle it!! I can barely handle that one!!

 

[doconeill]

Child swap worked great for us during our last trip. My DD is 4 now and 41 inches so the only rides we will utilize it on this trip are RnRC, EE, ToT, maybe Test Track and Dinosaur. She could go on Dinosaur (she is tall enough) but there is no way she could handle it!! I can barely handle that one!!

Did they give you an RS pass for that, or did you just wing it?

I forgot to mention...in all other cases ask the CM what the possibilities are for doing a ride swap if the child is tall enough but does not wish to ride, or if there is not a Fastpass line. They may be able to accommodate you if possible.

 

[klmorg]

Did they give you an RS pass for that, or did you just wing it?

I forgot to mention...in all other cases ask the CM what the possibilities are for doing a ride swap if the child is tall enough but does not wish to ride, or if there is not a Fastpass line. They may be able to accommodate you if possible.

We always went to a CM and asked for the child swap pass. They always gave us one and we went right through the Fast Pass line for the second trip!

 

[doconeill]

We always went to a CM and asked for the child swap pass. They always gave us one and we went right through the Fast Pass line for the second trip!

Sometimes they don't care as much...sometimes they'll measure the kid. Depends on if they think you might be trying to "scam" them to get the passes.

When we first started using them, we went through several attractions before they even asked to see the child...

But be prepared that you might need to prove the child is under height. If they are of sufficient height but don't want to ride, ask the CM if there is another option (so called "chicken exits" at some rides, etc.), or you can simulate the RS pass with plain old Fastpasses.

Truthfully I am generally unaware of alternate swapping abilities at attractions because my kids aren't afraid of anything and never needed to use it. I tried to gather information about what was done, but it seems different for different guests/CMs etc.

 

[Crazy7]

On my vacation last summer .. we were trying to utilize the child swap at Soarin' late in the day at 6:30 or so. I have 5 children under 12 and we ran into the building after a storm. Not only could I not bring the stroller downstairs (military cm's), I could not walk around with the stroller at all (sleeping baby inside). My husband got to wait in line and received a baby swap. I went to go on the ride (of course, after he got off and had a great time with all the kids) -- the cm stopped me and abruptly told me I could not bring 3 children with me. So .... I of course had to take a bullet. I politely asked to bring that 1 extra child (Disney is a family park right?!). I would have to returned upstairs to drop off the youngest and return, but is it really necessary. Were they giving away gold at the end of the 15 min ride? It ended up becoming a heated discussion and I left without ever going on the ride. So big families beware! I am not sure what the hub bub was all about -- and to this very moment I am still not looking forward to babyswap!

 

[doconeill]

On my vacation last summer .. we were trying to utilize the child swap at Soarin' late in the day at 6:30 or so. I have 5 children under 12 and we ran into the building after a storm. Not only could I not bring the stroller downstairs (military cm's), I could not walk around with the stroller at all (sleeping baby inside). My husband got to wait in line and received a baby swap. I went to go on the ride (of course, after he got off and had a great time with all the kids) -- the cm stopped me and abruptly told me I could not bring 3 children with me. So .... I of course had to take a bullet. I politely asked to bring that 1 extra child (Disney is a family park right?!). I would have to returned upstairs to drop off the youngest and return, but is it really necessary. Were they giving away gold at the end of the 15 min ride? It ended up becoming a heated discussion and I left without ever going on the ride. So big families beware! I am not sure what the hub bub was all about -- and to this very moment I am still not looking forward to babyswap!

Well, just to reiterate - the Rider Switch pass is good for UP TO THREE guests, not three additional guests. There are rules, and to make an exception to the rules means they need to make exceptions for others.

That is why I said that if you have more than two eligible children, prepare for having to decide who gets to go twice and who doesn't.

OR...none of them get to ride twice. Divide them up such that some ride in the first group, and no more than two plus yourself ride in the second group.

 

[stephie1012]

thanks for this i was curious as well. So we wait in line with the child correct? I think DD is like a 1/4 inch under 40" lol but DS is only 18mos and 33.5" so he cant ride

 

[doconeill]

thanks for this i was curious as well. So we wait in line with the child correct? I think DD is like a 1/4 inch under 40" lol but DS is only 18mos and 33.5" so he cant ride

No, the child will not be allowed into the line at all. An adult has to wait outside the line with the child while the others go through the line and ride. You can go and do something else while waiting. Then when they return and meet up with the one who stayed behind (or any time later that day) you can use the Rider Switch pass to go through the Fastpass line instead of the Standby line, so you have a much shorter wait.

 

[stephie1012]

No, the child will not be allowed into the line at all. An adult has to wait outside the line with the child while the others go through the line and ride. You can go and do something else while waiting. Then when they return and meet up with the one who stayed behind (or any time later that day) you can use the Rider Switch pass to go through the Fastpass line instead of the Standby line, so you have a much shorter wait.

thank you..i used to go to Six Flags and they had an unofficial child swap you would wait in line cross over the ride to the exit and the stay behind would wait there with the child ...this seems much more organized

 

[doconeill]

thank you..i used to go to Six Flags and they had an unofficial child swap you would wait in line cross over the ride to the exit and the stay behind would wait there with the child ...this seems much more organized

For non-Fastpass and/or non-height limit attractions, that MAY be how they do it, but you have to ask a CM on the exact procedure. At SF parks, the loading/unloading area is usually in the exact same place - not so at Disney.

 

[moodme]

No, the child will not be allowed into the line at all. An adult has to wait outside the line with the child while the others go through the line and ride. You can go and do something else while waiting. Then when they return and meet up with the one who stayed behind (or any time later that day) you can use the Rider Switch pass to go through the Fastpass line instead of the Standby line, so you have a much shorter wait.

Just to make sure I have this correct, when I am the one staying behind with my little one, I DO NOT have to wait by the ride. We can leave and go shop or go on something else?
TIA

 

[doconeill]

Just to make sure I have this correct, when I am the one staying behind with my little one, I DO NOT have to wait by the ride. We can leave and go shop or go on something else?
TIA

On a Fastpass, height-restricted ride (except Star Tours and possibly Mission:Space) where you get a Rider Switch pass, yes, that is exactly it.

Star Tours in a unique exception in that they do NOT use Rider Switch passes. A swap is done right at the simulators. They USED to use Rider Switch and I'm not sure why they stopped.

Mission: Space sometimes gives the actual pass at the ride exit for some reason. Since you need to prove you had a child that couldn't ride, you need to wait inside the exit area (where all the video game stuff is) and when your party returns they talk to the CM at the exit and show the child. They will give you the RS pass then. No idea why they do this either.

 

[stephie1012]

So can you do the child swap with fast passes?

 

[doconeill]

So can you do the child swap with fast passes?

I'm not sure the context of your question.

Any sort of child swap is basically so that the other members of a group can enjoy an attraction with a minimum of fuss when one or more members cannot or do not want to ride.

For attractions that have a Fastpass line, and also have a height restriction, Disney offers a Rider Switch pass, which I've described above and on my web page. It operates similar to a Fastpass, but is good for three guests (instead of just one). You can only get one (usually) if you have a child who is too small to ride however.

The Rider Switch pass allows one or more guests to wait OUTSIDE the queue area for the attraction while the first group of guests use the standby (usually - the Fastpass line can be used if you already have Fastpasses - although there MAY be some restrictions - see my web page) line. You can go shop, go to another attraction, anything to keep the little one from being bored waiting.

ANYTIME later that day (there is no return time, it is good for the entire day) the person who stayed behind (it doesn't NEED to be, but that is the intent) and up to two others can then use the Fastpass line so there is minimal additional wait. Its not as quick as if you could do a swap right at the attraction, but you don't need to wait in a long line, deal with a complicated swap at the loading area, all with a cranky kid upset they can't ride or trying to manage a stroller in a narrow queue. Instead the young child can still enjoy something else, and perhaps get you to spend money in the stores while you wait.

And besides, Disney will not allow an underheight child in the line anyways.

If all the guests who want to ride have Fastpasses, you COULD use those instead - but you have to get them in advance and it prevents you from getting FPs for another attraction for a while. But if its a case of a child who is tall enough but just doesn't WISH to ride, they can be a convenient option.