Well, me. I'm the one writing the post. Others are, of course, free to disagree, but I think we are all entitled to develop our own definitions of fair and unfair, and we are free to discuss them on a message board. I think that someone getting the benefit of a Fast Pass without actually having a Fast Pass is unfair. I've got no problem with a system that allows for both parents to have the chance to ride with their kids, and think it's a very nice perk and kindness to show parents (and a nice benefit to the kids, who get to ride twice for the price of one FP). I do question the fairness of people using this courtesy as a way to get Fast Pass access without having to use a Fast Pass.
But since you asked: here's WDW's official stance on the issue:
If a child does not meet the height requirement or a Guest does not wish to board a particular attraction, no problem! With Rider Switch, one adult can wait with the non-rider (or riders) while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. When the other adult returns, they can supervise the non-riding Guests, and the waiting adult can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again! (1)
Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.
To Use Rider Switch:
1. First check with a Cast member to see if Rider Switch is offered at the attraction in question.
2. (2)Once at the attraction, approach the greeting Cast Member with your entire party. At least one adult member of your party and the Guests who are not riding will be given a Ride Switch pass and asked to wait in a designated area (usually outside of the attraction). This group is “Party 2.”
3. The other party members (“Party 1”) ride the attraction.
4. After riding the attraction, Party 1 locates Party 2 and gives the Rider Switch pass to the adult member who will be riding. Party 1 takes over supervision of the non-riding children or Guests.
5. Party 2 enters and boards the attraction without having to wait in the regular queue a second time. The Rider Switch Pass must be presented to a Cast Member at this time.
(3)If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one other Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note that only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass.
A few things to notice here: 1) It's pretty clear what the intent of the policy is. 2) Second, it depends on where the RSP would be given out. If it's post standby/FP merge, then you'd have to use the FP to get there, wouldn't you? I would imagine that's where the policy is headed -- you get the swap at the entry point of the ride, so any FPs have already been used. And 3) it's only for one other person, so two instead of three.
I know the conversation has morphed, but this was the OP's original question: Does everyone in your party have to have the same FP to use child swap? For instance, if I had a FP for Test Track but my husband, 2 daughters and baby niece do not, can the other 3 get a child swap pass to ride after me? Does this make sense????
So OP was asking whether their one FP could be used to create 4. This was someone's reply: When you go to ride using your fp have the whole family come with you. Show them the too short child, ask for the swap pass and scan your band. Once you exit the next group can also enter the FP line with the paper switch pass.
To which OP replied: I guess it makes sense for me and the girls to get FP for Frozen and for my husband to get FP for Test Track. That way, we can use child swap for both...
I know this has been backed off of and the idea has changed, but it's what provoked my entry into the conversation. If you (the royal you, not any specific person) think that it's a fair use of the system for someone to get the benefit of a FP without actually having a FP, then that's a position to take. But as some were considering it a good use of this system, I wanted to point out that's not a universal opinion, because as many have noted, every FP benefit used can slow down the experience for everyone else, either in the FP line or standby. The effect may be small, but it is an effect, and effects build. One extra family might only delay you 20 seconds, but 10 slows you down three minutes. WDW has its rules and regulations, and in those rules and regulations there are gray areas. But because there are gray areas does not mean that people should actively exploit them just because they can. At some point consideration for the system and others has to come into the conversation, if not the equation.
We're all looking to maximize our own enjoyment at the parks; no one questions that. But all of these are fair questions -- line holding, staying late with an ADR to watch the party parade you don't have a ticket to, throw away rooms, holding pool chairs with towels, whatever -- and this is an appropriate place to talk about them. Because if you're here, chances are you care about Disney and what a vacation to Disney represents.
Also, I'd point out that as things are abused (if you want to use that word), they eventually get taken away. Pool hopping is gone now -- so is the formally open invitation for anyone to watch fireworks on the Poly's beaches. The program for guests with disabilities was dramatically altered. Pin trading has been curtailed. Characters used to walk around freely -- now they are confined to specific areas with long lines. And if using Rider Switch to pick up FP benefits without having FPs becomes a strategy, then it may very well go away, too.
I'm not trying to criticize anyone or make anyone feel bad. But I do feel that if these kinds of conversations aren't held here, then they won't be held anywhere, and they should. How we treat each other in these situations is important, and I think it's a conversation worth having.
I understand your point, but honestly, in the grand scheme of things, is this really worth the time to get so upset? Vacation at Disney is about spending time with loved ones and having the best possible time you can have. I don't care if someone gets more FP than me (or how they do it). I don't care if someone saves chairs at the pool. I don't care how pin trading is done. And I don't care where people watch the fireworks/parades...I'm there not to worry about everyone around me, but to make memories with my family. The intent of this post was simply to find out how rider swap worked, so I may or may not take advantage of it...That's all...
