Explain Parent Swap to me...

[donaldsgal]

We've been 5 times in as many years, but I haven't yet had to use this one. Here's my question: We are three adults, one infant. How does PS work? Our assumption is that all of us wait in line together. Adults A and B ride, while adult C waits with the infant for Parent Swap. When A and B return, A stays on while B gets off and C gets on.

We aren't sure it works this way - maybe the CMs will turn us away since one adult will get to ride twice in a row. Please clarify this for us!

Thanks!

 

[ToontownPrincess]

I think parent swap is handles slightly different on different attractions but it all has the same general concept. Basically you have the right idea (or that's atleast how we handled it a the Barnstormer). Since the seat was going to be taken up by one adult the second time around (adult C) we would allow someone else from their party to ride again. Hope this helps. If you ask a CM before you get an the attraction they will explain how they do parent swap there.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

It is definately handled different at different attractions. For example, we were there last week and used baby swap at Star Tours. My parents (watching our baby) got to wait right at the exit, and hop on as soon as we were finished with the ride. When we went to Soarin', they had my parents wait at the entrance.........they had to wait for us to get off, then they had to wait through the line. Luckily we had fastpasses, but it was still much more inconvienent then our Star Tours ride.

 

[tjmw2727]

Here is my version of parent/guardian swap (baby swap) 101:

My advice on baby swap is to tell the CM at the attraction before you enter the line that you want to use swap and find out how they handle it. Do not wait until you are boarding! The baby/child unable to ride must be with you to do a swap so everyone must approach the line together. Some CM's have you all wait the line together, then the first parent and older child(ren) ride and other parent and younger child wait at the exit and then switch via the exit allowing the older child(ren) to ride with both parents. Off hand I think only Star Tours and Primevil Whirl do it this way.

Most rides now give you a rider swap pass. The rider swap pass works like a fast pass and allows up to 3 people total to return to that attraction anytime that day so the second parent can ride. You still all enter the standby line or use a FP in the FP line and ask to use parent swap. The CM will give you the rider swap pass and the parent riding second and the baby can then leave to do something else while the first party rides. The second parent then returns to ride via the FP line with the rider swap pass and can bring 2 others along if they like. I prefer the pass because the baby or child that dosen't meet the height requirement dosen't have to wait the line for something he/she can't ride.

Just to clarify, the purpose of parent swap is to allow a family with a child who dosen't meet the height restriction to enjoy the attraction with only "1 wait", rather than "2 waits" not to expeidate the wait.

HTH
TJ

 

[las3888]

Beware that it seems each CM (and each ride) has a different way to do baby-swap...we were just there and on Expedition Everest, we had Fastpasses. We were told to break up our fastpass, basically DH and baby went to where the ride ended (gift shop) and I rode the ride. When I got off, DH had to go all the way through the fastpass line (not too bad, 5-10 minutes) and then ride by himself. However, when I got to the front of the line and asked about babyswap, she asked if I was given a ticket for it (which I was not). Seems there are alot of different ways to do it and alot of it depends on the ride, as well as the CM.

It IS my understanding that if you have 3 adults in your party, you can do 2 on 1 ride, then 2 on the next ride too, but we have never gone with another adult so can't say for sure. It's just what I have read.

Have a great time!