Does this Ride Swap Strategy Make Sense and will it Work?

[mummabear]

Rider Swap is meant to eliminate a situation in which one parent has to ride alone

The rider swap is meant to eliminate one family waiting twice for the same ride since the adults cannot both ride at the same time. Riding alone frequently happens if you dont have any children tall enough for the ride, a bonus is the fact that if you have multiple children some tall enough and some not that the one/s tall enough get to ride twice so that they can have a turn with both their parents.

 

[mummabear]

CMs are expected to follow their training, not the website.

Disney really should have their website and training in line with each other.
Guest can expect to be able to follow the information that Disney has provided to them on their official site.

 

[Alesia]

To be honest, I can't figure

Disney really should have their website and training in line with each other.
Guest can expect to be able to follow the information that Disney has provided to them on their official site.

I absolutely, 100% agree.

 

[JenQ]

I'm not sure I'm following the fairness of this method. With one FP+ each (for the mom, the dad, and the 5-year-old) the dad rides twice, the mom rides twice, and the 5-year-old rides THREE times. I can see getting one RS. But 2 seems a bit excessive and taking advantage of what rider swap is meant to do. Rider Swap is meant to eliminate a situation in which one parent has to ride alone. But, in the example you give above, one parent rides alone for the express purpose of getting a second RS. Doesn't seem quite right. Unless I'm misunderstanding...

I don't see how the parents ride twice? The parents each ride once while the other is with the infant and the older child rides twice.

 

[SirDuff]

I don't see how the parents ride twice? The parents each ride once while the other is with the infant and the older child rides twice.

The PP proposed getting two rider swap cards (despite there only being one infant). The would mean that each parent rides twice (as the person you quoted said).

Your infant will get you a rider swap. You do not need to worry about your daughter, in fact, she can ride twice if tall enough. I am not going to address the second family, as I don't know the height of the 4 year old. Book FP for you, your wife, and daughter. Show up at FP queue WITH the infant and ask for a RS (at height restricted rides). You go on with your 5 year old, your wife waits with baby. Then, you return to FP queue, again with the infant. Your wife will be riding alone. Ask for a RS. You have now used all your FP, but have 2 RS tickets. Each admits 3 riders. This is how you maximize. You may find, though, that with the baby, maximizing rides just isn't going to happen. We may maximize one or two rides this way, but often, we end up skipping the adult riding alone, wasting a FP, and just riding once with FP, once with RS.

 

[JenQ]

The PP proposed getting two rider swap cards (despite there only being one infant). The would mean that each parent rides twice (as the person you quoted said).

I see. This whole thing is confusing. We should be able to plan and rely on info on the disney site and that doesn't seem to be the case. I don't think I understand how it works at all now and we have two kids and an infant and really need to figure this out mostly so my kids will be able to ride with someone while one parent had my infant. I could care less about riding myself to be honest!

Edited: after re-reading I do still think it's fair because it eliminates a family waiting twice for the same ride. I can see how it seems unfair but let's be honest here, with a 4 month old, we are certainly not trying to take advantage of anything and will likely not do half of what we could do without a baby so Im not sure it's necessary to cry unfair.

 

[CT Disney]

The rider swap is meant to eliminate one family waiting twice for the same ride since the adults cannot both ride at the same time. Riding alone frequently happens if you dont have any children tall enough for the ride, a bonus is the fact that if you have multiple children some tall enough and some not that the one/s tall enough get to ride twice so that they can have a turn with both their parents.

Yes, you are correct. The primary purpose of rider swap is to eliminate having to wait in line twice. But, I think Disney also tried to create a scenario in which a parent does not have to ride alone if they have a second, or third kiddo who is tall enough to ride. That is why the rider swap pass permits 3 riders. That's all I was trying to say. If the only purpose of rider swap was to eliminate the need to wait twice, then they would have made the rider swap pass good for only one rider.

I understand that if there is a family with 2 parents and one small child then both of the parents will need to ride alone out of necessity when using rider swap.

I think it's quite fair to use the rider swap passes the way Disney intended, but when you've got one child riding three times with one fast pass then I don't think that's fair. I don't think Disney really intended to have both the Mom and the Dad collect separate rider swaps. Just my opinion.

 

[JenQ]

Yes, you are correct. The primary purpose of rider swap is to eliminate having to wait in line twice. But, I think Disney also tried to create a scenario in which a parent does not have to ride alone if they have a second, or third kiddo who is tall enough to ride. That is why the rider swap pass permits 3 riders. That's all I was trying to say. If the only purpose of rider swap was to eliminate the need to wait twice, then they would have made the rider swap pass good for only one rider.

I understand that if there is a family with 2 parents and one small child then both of the parents will need to ride alone out of necessity when using rider swap.

I think it's quite fair to use the rider swap passes the way Disney intended, but when you've got one child riding three times with one fast pass then I don't think that's fair. I don't think Disney really intended to have both the Mom and the Dad collect separate rider swaps. Just my opinion.

You have to use both FP's to get those rider swaps and what the original poster was proposing was to use only 1 FP per ride while using the swap so they could really book 6 Fps between the two parents. Seems people think both of these are unfair but both of these methods seem to be allowed by Disney. What would be fair? I'm just not sure. If I have a FP and so does my husband and we are eligible for rider swap with an infant, why shouldn't we use it twice?

 

[Alesia]

I see. This whole thing is confusing. We should be able to plan and rely on info on the disney site and that doesn't seem to be the case. I don't think I understand how it works at all now and we have two kids and an infant and really need to figure this out mostly so my kids will be able to ride with someone while one parent had my infant. I could care less about riding myself to be honest!

Edited: after re-reading I do still think it's fair because it eliminates a family waiting twice for the same ride. I can see how it seems unfair but let's be honest here, with a 4 month old, we are certainly not trying to take advantage of anything and will likely not do half of what we could do without a baby so Im not sure it's necessary to cry unfair.

What you want to do and what the OP was asking about are two very different things. You're fine. The OP is going to have a problem.

This: http://wdwuntangled.com/rider-switch/ is the best explanation that's available.

 

[gtpoohbear]

Iam also going on based what is on the Disneyworld.com Website Here is the quote. "The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride."

So I can just say they don't want to ride the ride and get a ride swap. I can easily show them this from their website if they have an issue.

It seems height is not the only requirement in getting a ride swap pass. I don't understand why people don't agree.

It doesn't matter what the website says, it's not reality in the park. Every single time we have asked for a RS, the CM has not only asked to see DS, but most have measured him to make sure he wasn't tall enough before they would give us the RS pass.

If you have someone tall enough that doesn't want to ride, they will let everyone go through the line, then an adult can trade out with the non-rider close to the loading platform, so both adults get to ride without waiting twice, but it doesn't give you the flexibility of a RS pass.

I know you mentioned having an infant, so you should be fine as long as the infant is with you when go to the line to get the pass. Chances are you won't get one if you can't produce a too-small child though.

 

[JenQ]

What you want to do and what the OP was asking about are two very different things. You're fine. The OP is going to have a problem.

This: http://wdwuntangled.com/rider-switch/ is the best explanation that's available.

Thank you. This is helpful. I am still confused about how it works with FP and how to book those but I have some time to figure that out.

 

[mummabear]

Yes, you are correct. The primary purpose of rider swap is to eliminate having to wait in line twice. But, I think Disney also tried to create a scenario in which a parent does not have to ride alone if they have a second, or third kiddo who is tall enough to ride. That is why the rider swap pass permits 3 riders. That's all I was trying to say. If the only purpose of rider swap was to eliminate the need to wait twice, then they would have made the rider swap pass good for only one rider.

I understand that if there is a family with 2 parents and one small child then both of the parents will need to ride alone out of necessity when using rider swap.

I think it's quite fair to use the rider swap passes the way Disney intended, but when you've got one child riding three times with one fast pass then I don't think that's fair. I don't think Disney really intended to have both the Mom and the Dad collect separate rider swaps. Just my opinion.

Of course, we don't use them this way. We would however split our FP's for example at Epcot 1 parent at TT one parent a Soarin and our oldest DD for either one then get rider swap at both so we all get to ride both and Dd rides one twice.

 

[CT Disney]

You have to use both FP's to get those rider swaps and what the original poster was proposing was to use only 1 FP per ride while using the swap so they could really book 6 Fps between the two parents. Seems people think both of these are unfair but both of these methods seem to be allowed by Disney. What would be fair? I'm just not sure. If I have a FP and so does my husband and we are eligible for rider swap with an infant, why shouldn't we use it twice?

Yup, I totally get what the OP was proposing...booking 6 FPs rather than 3 using RS to their maximum advantage.

Another poster was suggesting getting multiple RS passes to once again "maximize" the system. With 3 Fps they found a way to get 7 total rides, all with little to no waiting.

As to the bolded part of your question above, I guess I would answer this way...If both you and your husband have a FP, then why do you need a rider swap pass?

I think there is a big difference between using something the way it was intended, and maximizing the benefits of a program just because you can. Again, just my opinion. If too many people try to take advantage, the program will eventually go away.

 

[mummabear]

It doesn't matter what the website says, it's not reality in the park

But it does. It does matter that this is the information that Disney themselves are providing about their own park and policies, I really don't see how a CM could deny you a RS when you can show them their own policy-not some Disney fan blog or forum but their OWN site.. Either way they need to be aligned.

 

[gtpoohbear]

But it does. It does matter that this is the information that Disney themselves are providing about their own park and policies, I really don't see how a CM could deny you a RS when you can show them their own policy-not some Disney fan blog or forum but their OWN site.. Either way they need to be aligned.

I agree that it should matter, but the fact is, they are given training and aren't going to go against it and risk getting fired because someone showed them a random quote on the website. The Disney website is full of misleading info, and I have read many stories of people trying to use that to no avail with a CM. You may find the occasional one willing to be flexible, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[JenQ]

Yup, I totally get what the OP was proposing...booking 6 FPs rather than 3 using RS to their maximum advantage.

Another poster was suggesting getting multiple RS passes to once again "maximize" the system. With 3 Fps they found a way to get 7 total rides, all with little to no waiting.

As to the bolded part of your question above, I guess I would answer this way...If both you and your husband have a FP, then why do you need a rider swap pass?

I think there is a big difference between using something the way it was intended and maximizing the benefits of a program just because you can. Again, just my opinion. If too many people try to take advantage, the program will eventually go away.

Because I have two kids and an infant for some rides that would mean one of my older kids would have to sit on the ride alone while one of us sits with the infant. I personally don't care about riding but I care about giving my kids a chance to ride with a parent. Also, I have 3 people (hubby or two kids) I could ride with so I would love to do that rather then riding alone. I guess I don't understand what Disney's intent is here if all possible scenarios are being deemed unfair to those not able to use rider swap.

 

[JenQ]

I agree that it should matter, but the fact is, they are given training and aren't going to go against it and risk getting fired because someone showed them a random quote on the website. The Disney website is full of misleading info, and I have read many stories of people trying to use that to no avail with a CM. You may find the occasional one willing to be flexible, but I wouldn't count on it.

This is something they could get fired for? Really? For honoring wording on a website?

 

[alh2011]

I am going in September and I plan to print out a copy of the Rider swap policy that is published online to take with me to show the CM. If they give me grief about it then I will ask to speak to a supervisor because I believe if they post that as the policy then they should honor it!!! Just my two cents.

 

[JenQ]

I am going in September and I plan to print out a copy of the Rider swap policy that is published online to take with me to show the CM. If they give me grief about it then I will ask to speak to a supervisor because I believe if they post that as the policy then they should honor it!!! Just my two cents.

Absolutely. This is the way it works with just about any other company out there so I don't get why everyone is defending Disney as it it is ok that they have an inaccurate website and somehow we should all just know and accept this. If they don't get push back then they have no reason to either correct their website or correct the training.

 

[porschegrl]

I am going in September and I plan to print out a copy of the Rider swap policy that is published online to take with me to show the CM. If they give me grief about it then I will ask to speak to a supervisor because I believe if they post that as the policy then they should honor it!!! Just my two cents.

I would bet money there are legal disclaimers about the reliability/veracity of information posted on the website. I do not think information posted on the website rises to the level of "policy."

At the same time, I'd also bet that the rules (whatever they are) are inconsistently enforced in practice.

I hope it works out the way you want it to.