Fast passes with rider switch/child swap

[DanieB]

So I have used rider switch in Wdw but I am hearing that it is different in Disneyland.
We have three kids and there are several rides that only 1 or 2 of them will be tall enough for.
So I have questions...
1. In Wdw we were given a physical pass we could use later. So sometimes we saved the pass for later in the day. Is that possible in dl or will we need to immediately do the switch? (In Wdw the pass was actually good for several days so we saved some passes and used them days later!)
2. Do we all have to wait together in the line the first time through? Again in Wdw only the people riding first waited. I heard something different from afriend who was there recently. I don't want my two year old to see dad and brother getting on a ride he can't go on
3. I have some confusion about combining fast passes with the switching. So let's say my husband, 6 yr old, and I all have fast passes for rsr. Husband and son go on using their fp and get a rider switch pass. Then I would ride with my son. Am I using my fp or will I still have that Bc we are using the switch? Does that mean one of us wouldn't even need to get the fp?
Thanks for the help!

 

[figment_jii]

I can kind of answer part of 2...they will not let guests who do not meet the height requirements to enter the queue after the first height check point. Most of the time, the first height check point is before the actual line, so you just walk up to the CM and start the ride switch process at that point. However, there have been some reports that when the line extends way past the first height check point, the entire party, including the one that did not meet the height, had to wait in line until that point. Then the adult(s) and the guests that do not meet the requirement would exit the line and the remainder of the party would stay and wait like normal.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Rider Swap at DLR is now digital, so you won't be given an actual piece of paper. It will be put on your app, so make sure you have the free DLR app downloaded on your phone. If you have MP, it can work with that. It does have an expiration time, so you cannot save it to use later in the day or several days afterward. There are several threads on this forum about Rider Swap at DLR. Try doing a search to see what comes up. If you can't find what you are looking for specifically, bump this thread again. There are several DISers who post here regularly who have LOTS of experience with Rider Swap at DLR!

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

 

[HydroGuy]

Rider Swap at DLR is now digital, so you won't be given an actual piece of paper. It will be put on your app, so make sure you have the free DLR app downloaded on your phone. If you have MP, it can work with that. It does have an expiration time, so you cannot save it to use later in the day or several days afterward. There are several threads on this forum about Rider Swap at DLR. Try doing a search to see what comes up. If you can't find what you are looking for specifically, bump this thread again. There are several DISers who post here regularly who have LOTS of experience with Rider Swap at DLR!

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

I have never done this even when my kids were small. But may need to next month with DGD3.

I read the link on rider switch which is cool. But did there not used to be an offering where parent #1 could ride with young child/children while parent #2 waited, then parent #2 could ride with the child/children while parent #1 waited? Thus each parent could ride with the child/children, and the child/children got to ride twice?

I did not see that on Rider Switch and I thought that was part of how Rider Switch works. Or is that called Child Swap?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Yes, you can still do that. If I understand things correctly, you go to the FP queue and check in with the CM there. Tell him/her that you need Rider Switch/Swap/Child Swap (all names work). All participating parties must be present so the CM can see everyone. You will be given a Swap Pass with a return time. Rider 1 will go on the ride with up to 3 other people. Rider 2 will wait with whoever cannot ride. When Rider 1 and party exit, Rider 2 will wait for the return time to trip, then go back to the FP queue with the 3 other people who can ride again, show the Swap Pass, and ride. So the lucky 3 get to ride twice. This is how FP/MP can work with Rider Swap. But there is some disclaimer about being careful to check that the Swap Pass doesn't cancel out any of your FP/MP on the app. Some posters had said that when Rider Swap first went digital, CMs were accidentally cancelling out FPs when they loaded the Swap Passes. I don't know if that has happened recently.
I really hope some of the super experienced DISers comment here -- they are using this feature often, so they really are up to date!