Does Anyone Use Parent Swap?

[angel659]

Hi

Has anyone used the parent swap facility? If so hoe does it work? Does all parks offer this facility. Is it easy? Can you parent swap using fast pass?

We are taking a 5 yr old and twin boys of 23 months. We would like to go to all parks inc Universal, but my dh is worried about the rides and queueing twice etc. I have mentioned the parent swap, but my dh still has concerns

 

[dismom9761]

Swapping is great!You just walk up to a CM-usually the one at the Fastpass entrance.Show them you have babies and ask for the baby swap, They will give you a ticket for 3 people to ride. Your husband can go, then you.If your older child likes the ride she can ride twice.you do go through the Fastpass line w/ the ticket. A nice thing is that the baby swap ticket does not have to be used at any certain time. We used this at every ride that had a height requirement.BTW he can Fastpass And then you Baby Swap.I don"t Know about Universal.

 

[robinb]

My "baby" is getting too old for the baby swap! We used to use the baby swap with the Fast Pass line. It allowed us to get a FP for R&RRC and TOT at the same time. The Baby Swap pass also doesn't have a return time on it, so you can use it later in the day.

Now that my DD is tall enough to ride TOT and Space Mountain (but too chicken!), they no longer allow us to baby swap on the outside of the attraction. We need to stand in line and swap at the end when one of us enters the ride.

 

[all4fun]

Hi,
The wording of your post made me think you might be getting two different things mixed up. Parent swap (also called "Rider swap") can be used on all the attractions that have a height limit. Like the pp said, you just go to the CM at the front of the attraction and ask for a Rider swap pass. Make sure the babies are with you, because they will want to verify you actually have children too young to ride. One of you will stay with the babies and the others can get in the normal standby line. When they get out of the attraction, you swap places and the second person, along with as many as two other people, can go in the Fast Pass line, which reduces your wait time to (usually) 10minutes or less.

The other thing you might want to use is the Baby Stations. Each park has one and you can take your kids there for breaks, to change diapers, & feed if necessary. It is usually staffed and you can also buy diapers, baby food, and other misc. baby items there if needed (not cheap, but convenient if you forgot something and don't want to leave the park to get it). There is also a room with a small tv and a few toys for kids that are a little older to relax. (Except for at MGM, which is just off of guest services and not very large). It's a good place to go for a little down time.


This site: Allearsnet.com Infant and Toddler FAQ should answer any more questions you might have.
Edit to add: Here's a direct link to the question about Rider swap and just below it is an explanation of Fast Pass: http://allearsnet.com/pl/infant.htm#toosmall

hth!
Cheryl

 

[robinb]

Hi,
One of you will stay with the babies and the others can get in the normal standby line. When they get out of the attraction, you swap places and the second person, along with as many as two other people, can go in the Fast Pass line, which reduces your wait time to (usually) 10minutes or less.

Cheryl,
You don't have to stand in the standby line. You can also baby swap if one parent has a valid Fast Pass.

 

[all4fun]

Cheryl,
You don't have to stand in the standby line. You can also baby swap if one parent has a valid Fast Pass.

Yes, you can use Fastpass as a baby swap pass, so both parents can use the FP line, however if you don't have or can't get a FP for some reason (like if you already have one for another ride that the time hasn't come up for) then the CM will direct the first person to stand in the regular standby line. I hope that makes sense! Also, like the pp said, FP's have a 1 hour window of time listed on them, unlike rider swap passes that can be used any time that day, which is nice if you want to just come back to it later.

 

[robinb]

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that the first parent can get a FP and then the second parent can get the Baby Swap ticket. Just because you are using the Baby Swap doesn't mean the first parent has to go in the Standby line. If you don't have a FP, of course the first parent has to stand in the Standby line. But Baby Swapping does not preclude using FP.

For instance, we used to get one FP for Big Thunder on my park pass and one FP for Splash Mountain on my DH's park pass and then Baby Swap on both. The first parent would use the FP and the second would use the Baby Swap.

 

[all4fun]

For instance, we used to get one FP for Big Thunder on my park pass and one FP for Splash Mountain on my DH's park pass and then Baby Swap on both. The first parent would use the FP and the second would use the Baby Swap.

Ahhh that makes total sense...thanks for clarifying.