Child Swap

[mattsdragon]

I will trade my child for a better one. . .

Ok, so maybe that was a joke (maybe). But this is our first time going with a child (we've done US and IOA pre kid a coupla times). Please tell me that Universal does child swap better than Disney. I read that there is an area to hang out while part of the group rides. SO does the entire family go through the queue and then one sap. . .parent waits with the kid or what?

Details are appreciated.

 

[macraven]

I will trade my child for a better one. . .

Ok, so maybe that was a joke (maybe). But this is our first time going with a child (we've done US and IOA pre kid a coupla times). Please tell me that Universal does child swap better than Disney. I read that there is an area to hang out while part of the group rides. SO does the entire family go through the queue and then one sap. . .parent waits with the kid or what?

Details are appreciated.

many say the darkside's child swap is better than the ones at the motherland.

i just did a search and found quite a few threads regarding the child swap.
too many for me to list here.

 

[mattsdragon]

many say the darkside's child swap is better than the ones at the motherland.

i just did a search and found quite a few threads regarding the child swap.
too many for me to list here.

Wow, very helpful.

Thanks.

 

[mjohnson96]

Most rides will have you enter the line with your family/friends and go through the line together. At the end of the line before you get on the ride there is usually an exit to a room that you can wait in while your family goes on the ride. The room is usually air conditioned and has a TV playing something related to the ride normally. After your family/friends get off you go on, usually can bring 1-2 riders with you.

Some of the smaller kiddie coasters or indoor shows don't have this, you have to wait at the exit on these and then swap if you want.

I prefer the UO kid swap over WDW because I know where my family is and not trying to figure out when they might exit etc. Or trying to determine well while they ride this I can take her on that and maybe we can play phone tag to meet up at X later.

Some like the WDW method because the kids don't see the ride and then freak because mommy and sissy went on and why do I have to stay in this room and not ride, etc.

 

[RMulieri]

We Prefer universals.I love not having to search for my family, I also love not having to go off and spend money or figure out what diversion to provide for ny daughter.The whole family goes thru the queue and when you get to the boarding area.Riders go and ride while another person waits in the waiting room with the child.The waiting rooms are airconditioned, have chairs/benches and play movies or cartoon on the tv that are themed to the ride.

 

[DCTooTall]

I did the rider swaps last year and LOVED the Universal method. The rooms were nice and cool (and had a place to sit and relax) while the other part of the group went and rode the ride. The Rider Swap room split/rejoin is usually really close to the actual spot you hop on the ride (ex: MIB you go to the room to the right on the balcony above the Ride boarding. Mummy you split at at the ride boarding platform and go around to the room. post-swap boarding it done right outside the room door at the Express loading area), so you don't have to deal with a double-wait like you might with Disney's Method....

And something we found EXTREMELY nice with the Rider Swap..... With multiple rides at Universal where you can't take bags on the attraction, If you are taking advantage of the Child Swap they will allow you to bring your bags with you in line [and avoid the locker chaos] since you can leave them with the person staying with the child. [This also means you can easily bring with you thru the line any supplies needed for the child, such as diapers, toys, etc...]



As the child gets older, I can easily see the point some people have mentioned about the fact that the non-riding child could become upset since they are getting to see more of what they will be missing out on than at Disney.... but that would be something that you should be able to determine would be an issue based off your child's personality. The fact that you get to spend that extra time waiting in line as a family is a nice bonus though instead of ending up spending a majority of the day split off into 2 rider groups.

 

[mattsdragon]

That sounds much better than WDW. We're only seriously considering doing that on one ride, so it shouldn't be bad.