Child Switch

[Groovee]

I only remember doing a child switch once before on BTM in MK with dd who was 1. We went in and Inlaws went to the exit and met us when we came off. How does it work on other rides as ds is 4 and small and won't reach the 3ft height restrictions for a lot of the rides so we'll have to childswitch or fastpass a lot. Or do people have other idea's?

Love Louise xx

 

[bicker]

As long as the child is below the height limit, Child Swap is offered. (Child Swap is not available just because a child doesn't want to ride a specific ride.) It works pretty-much the same way on each ride, though the mechanics may be different. This web page explains it very well: http://www.wdwinfo.com/childswap.htm

 

[Groovee]

Thanks for that. Looks like we'll be switching as he's too small for the majority of height restriction rides. Lets hope he doesn't get too bored.

 

[Ellester]

We used the babyswap several times last month. The CM at the entrance to the attraction should have little babyswap passes, kind of like a FastPass. They give them to the people entering the line (FastPass or standby) and then you can use the babyswap pass to take three people total back on the ride through the FastPass queue. You get the pass when you first enter the line, I'm not sure the info page made that clear. We sent whoever had the little guy off somewhere close to play/shop/snack whatever so I don't think he got too bored. We usually used the babyswap in conjuntion with a FastPass so we never waited in line too long.

I have to disagree with Bicker, as our 2 year old was tall enough for several rides we didn't think he was ready for and they had no problem issuing us a babyswap pass. (ie - Tower or Terror, Big Thunder Mountain) Now I don't know if they would issue a babyswap if your 10 year old didn't want to ride Big Thunder, but they never questioned us.

 

[Groovee]

Thanks for that. Sounds easy enough this time.*

 

[bicker]

I have to disagree with Bicker, as our 2 year old was tall enough for several rides we didn't think he was ready for and they had no problem issuing us a babyswap pass. (ie - Tower or Terror, Big Thunder Mountain) Now I don't know if they would issue a babyswap if your 10 year old didn't want to ride Big Thunder, but they never questioned us.

I think you were lucky. From my own personal experience last year, and from what I've read, that's extremely rare.

Your two year old was tall enough for ToT and BTMRR????

 

[Ellester]

I think you were lucky. From my own personal experience last year, and from what I've read, that's extremely rare.

Your two year old was tall enough for ToT and BTMRR????

Yup, we grow them tall (I'm 5'11" and dh is 6'3"). He rode Soarin', Dinosaur, and Test Track and my husband very ill advisedly did take him ToT once. He will be three at the end of March.

I understand what the official "rule" might be but I doubt that any CM would measure a young child to make sure they were over the height restriction and then deny the family a babyswap pass. But, again, I'm going purely on my own experiences.

 

[bicker]

I doubt that any CM would measure a young child to make sure they were over the height restriction and then deny the family a babyswap pass. But, again, I'm going purely on my own experiences.

Check the archives. It has indeed happened. I remember several reports of that, from over the summer.

 

[Ellester]

Check the archives. It has indeed happened. I remember several reports of that, from over the summer.

I believe you. In my opinion, it's too bad. Seems like a policy like that would lead to the "taking an unwilling/screaming child on a ride they are terrified of" syndrome that you see at the parks from time to time. I'm glad it didn't happen to us, I'm afraid I would have made a scene much to the embarrassment of my husband. Sounds like the OP should be OK though.

 

[bicker]

Yup, generally shouldn't be a problem.

 

[beattyfamily]

Yup, we grow them tall (I'm 5'11" and dh is 6'3"). He rode Soarin', Dinosaur, and Test Track and my husband very ill advisedly did take him ToT once. He will be three at the end of March.

I understand what the official "rule" might be but I doubt that any CM would measure a young child to make sure they were over the height restriction and then deny the family a babyswap pass. But, again, I'm going purely on my own experiences.

My 7 year old is afraid of Splash, Thunder and ToT and they always measured her when we asked for a baby swap pass because she was borderline in her height back then. Now they just know she is tall enough to ride so its a non-issue; we make our own baby swap with our Fastpasses.