Child Swap

[mrsbrightside78]

Hi, forgive me if this is posted somewhere else but I just couldn't find what I was looking for...

I am going to Universal next week for 9 days (woohoo!) and this will be our first time there with an infant. My son (turning 15 on our trip) loves it there and this is his bday gift.

I saw on some other postings that there is a "child swap" station at most rides. What is this? I get the idea that one parent waits while the other rides but can anyone give me more info. This could be fantastic for us to all be able to enjoy the big kid rides without having to stay behind with the little one.

Thanks!

 

[mjohnson96]

It is great because most of the child swap areas are inside and nice and cool. We were just there and had a 7mo old and a 7 year old On most ride you go through the normal que with your party, good thing is that on ones like FJ you can bypass lockers since you can still carry bags into the child swap area. At the end they will direct you to a room that you can wait in while the party goes on the ride, after they get off then you can go on it again with your other DS and leave the baby with DH. The only ride that limits the number that can reride with the child swap adult is FJ, only the child swap adult and 1 other can ride.

There were a couple that did not have a waiting area, such as FOTH on that one I had to just go to the exit gate and wait for them to get off.

 

[Hombre59]

Thats exactly what it is, one parent sits behind in a waiting room basically near the ride, while the other parent goes and enjoys the ride. Then when they come back, you can hop on while he/she watches the baby. Your son will most likely be able to ride twice on every ride, he can go with both of you! (At least thats what we do)

 

[mrsbrightside78]

thank you so much for the info! This sounds like the perfect option for us and yes, my son will love that he gets to ride 2x in a row

Now onto find what rides the little one CAN go on...

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

We just came back and DD who is 7 months rode Cat in the Hat, Cara Seuss-al. Could have done One fish two Fish but her Dad didn't feel comfy doing that one. We went to all the shows the only one that freaked her out was Poseidon Fury. She didn't cry but the loud noises startled her a few times.

At the Studios we sat in the stationary row for Jimmy Neutron I little loud for her.

 

[mrsbrightside78]

Thanks! I am so glad that there are at least a few things that she will be able to do. Not that she's going to remember any of it, lol.

 

[DisneyAlly]

This thread is getting me interested in child swap. I was originally going to wait outside while DH goes for the ride with my two older kids. Now I think maybe I can bring my little one in. Do we get to tour the entire length of the castle before reaching the wait room for child swap?

 

[mjohnson96]

Yes, you get to go through the whole que. The only part that you miss is the sorting hat since they direct you to the child swap room right before the entrance to the ride and the sorting hat is there.

I did the single rider line later that week and got to see the sorting hat so that was a plus

 

[derekw]

Is there an 'age' limit on child swap (2-3 ie stroller age?) Or for instance if the child doesn't meet height requirements can you child swap?

 

[MrShiny]

Is there an 'age' limit on child swap (2-3 ie stroller age?) Or for instance if the child doesn't meet height requirements can you child swap?

Not at all! In fact, in our case it was a "parent swap," as I can't fit!

Keep in mind the ride is only about 5 minutes long. I just waited by the unload (which is right next to the load - it's like a big conveyor belt) until my daughter was off.

 

[DisneyAlly]

Yes, you get to go through the whole que. The only part that you miss is the sorting hat since they direct you to the child swap room right before the entrance to the ride and the sorting hat is there.

I did the single rider line later that week and got to see the sorting hat so that was a plus

Thank you . Can always count on you (or Damo ) for answers.

 

[playjar]

Forgive me, for I am new to this at US/IOA. How do you know which rides to just get in line at and which to wait at the exit? And do you get any sort of ticket for reentry from an employee like at Disney? And does the second parent wait in any sort of line again?

 

[nmartin]

Interested.

 

[mjohnson96]

Forgive me, for I am new to this at US/IOA. How do you know which rides to just get in line at and which to wait at the exit? And do you get any sort of ticket for reentry from an employee like at Disney? And does the second parent wait in any sort of line again?

I just asked at the entrance where the child swap area was at. Most the coasters you have to go up the exit area since you get on and off on different sides Other rides you go through the que and then will be directed to a waiting room.

We really didn't do the shows this year for some reason, so I can't tell you had that worked. Disaster I did see some people take babies on the train part but I went into the waiting area at the exit.