FOP Pandora IRL Rider swap and FP+ experiences

[lundve]

My FP+ window opened before my extended family because I am arriving before them. It looks as if there will be no more FOP fastpasses available to them when theirs opens tomorrow on that day. I have a child who is unable to ride becasue of height so I can get a rider swap ticket. I know it is a gray area about whether my husband and two older kids are the only ones that need a FP+ for me to get a rider swap ticket. Does anyone have any in real life experiences with this on FOP? Then, I can just have them take my three year old up there and then they all can ride using that.

 

[TXPyroMom]

I would try your best to get at least one of them a FP+. That would probably make getting the rider swap pass easier. I have heard that *most* CM's don't check to see/require everyone in the group have a FP, but FOP may require it due to popularity. If two of you have a FP and show up with the young child, then you should get a rider swap good for 3 people.

 

[champ1380]

I was wondering this as well. Right now all of us have a fastpass (including me who would wait with the baby) but I certainly would prefer to have a fastpass for something else that we could go on while we wait, especially since it seems even with a fastpass that FOP takes a while.. especially if I've got two kids that aren't tall enough (my 5 yr is just below 44in, we're hoping he has a growth spurt in the next 58 day.)

 

[DopeyDame]

I will admit to not having done this with FoP yet, and I know you are looking for first hand accounts.
That said, your ability to get a baby swap is totally independent on the status of FP+ of anyone in the party. The first group of people ride the ride *however they are entitled to ride it* (ie, FP line if they have a FP+ or standby line if they don't). The second group of people use the rider swap pass to get in the FP line.

 

[Lesley Wake]

If you connect your DME accounts then you should be able to book for them at the same time as yourself. As long as one person you are trying to book for has their FP window open, you can book for the others.

If you already booked for yourself, you can select yourself as well as the others. The FP booking will say there is an error because you already have FPs, so you can select to remove yourself. But you will still be able to book in advance for the others.

 

[lundve]

Didn't find out about the DME account link until today, thought they had to wait until their window too - which opens tomorrow. When we try to add them it says no more available. Seems like a pretty big loophole IMO.

 

[lundve]

I will admit to not having done this with FoP yet, and I know you are looking for first hand accounts.
That said, your ability to get a baby swap is totally independent on the status of FP+ of anyone in the party. The first group of people ride the ride *however they are entitled to ride it* (ie, FP line if they have a FP+ or standby line if they don't). The second group of people use the rider swap pass to get in the FP line.

Yes, I realize that is true however since the ride is so popular, I thought that it could be more likely that they might be checking to make sure I have a fastpass as we do not plan to standby FOP ever. I was just wondering if anyone had experience of that yet.

 

[champ1380]

Yes, I realize that is true however since the ride is so popular, I thought that it could be more likely that they might be checking to make sure I have a fastpass as we do not plan to standby FOP ever. I was just wondering if anyone had experience of that yet.

Yes that's what I meant too. I read on another thread reports of folks having to do so on Mine train. That even the person waiting with the too small child had to have a fastpass to be given a rider switch if the first group was going in with a fastpass.

 

[Mrspeaks]

I'm curious about this too. We have 4 adults and 2 riders that are too small. I'd love to save a fast pass for one of the adults to ride something else with the girls during fop or later in the day. It probably won't be worth the risk since we do all want to ride.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

What would be the point of even getting a rider swap pass if they are going to insist that those who use it have a fast pass?

 

[Mickeymouseisking]

What would be the point of even getting a rider swap pass if they are going to insist that those who use it have a fast pass?

I also don't get it considering you can get a rider swap with the first group in the regular line...so why does anyone need a FP+?

 

[champ1380]

What would be the point of even getting a rider swap pass if they are going to insist that those who use it have a fast pass?

So that you don't have to ride alone. If my husband takes the bigger kids through the first time with fastpasses, while I wait with the too short kiddo, then when they come out I can ride again with the the two kids that just went on (and no longer have a fastpass).

What was reported in another thread was that at the same time you went to get the rider switch you would show the too short rider add then they would scan everyone's magic bands, including the person waiting. Supposedly to stop people from "gaming the system" and getting "extra" fastpass via rider switch.

I asked my travel agent and she said that's not how it works, that the person waiting doesn't need the fastpass. With the caveat that Disney could change that rule at anytime.

I agree it takes away one of the nice things about rider switch if this is the case (ie I don't have to just stand there and wait I can ride something else). But I also don't want to risk a needed and hard to get fastpass.

 

[HopperFan]

What would be the point of even getting a rider swap pass if they are going to insist that those who use it have a fast pass?

I also don't get it considering you can get a rider swap with the first group in the regular line...so why does anyone need a FP+?

When Child Swap started there was no FP+ or FP line. So part of your group had already waited in the SB line, so the swap was (1) so the second part of your party does not have to wait in the SB line all over again (2) they could bring back someone to ride with, especially important if the party can't be split (ex: Dad, Mom, Child who can ride, Child who can't ride).

With the introduction of FP/FP+, this is still an important option for those groups using the SB line and putting their time in, so that they don't have to duplicate that.

With the introduction of FP/FP+, a group has decided no one wants to wait long so they book it. On the surface Child Swap is unnecessary in this line except for those families that can't be split so the second rider has someone to ride with. The CW pass allows them to bring someone back in with them who has no FP+ and at times it will mean a guest gets more than one ride by being attached to the Child Swap pass.

I don't believe it was ever intended that parties could double their FP+ and I would not be surprised to see this addressed now with other things.

 

[mom2rtk]

What would be the point of even getting a rider swap pass if they are going to insist that those who use it have a fast pass?

The whole point is so that nobody has to ride alone.

 

[ArwenMarie]

What would be the point of even getting a rider swap pass if they are going to insist that those who use it have a fast pass?

Lots of reasons, one of which is so the other kids can enjoy it twice, with each parent, while the other parent is taking care of the small child.

 

[mom2rtk]

Lots of reasons, one of which is so the other kids can enjoy it twice, with each parent, while the other parent is taking care of the small child.

I always thought that was a nice bonus in and of itself.

 

[1st*toright]

The trouble with requiring everyone to have a fastpass for a rider switch ride is that it means that the kid who is too short (and presumably too young to ride ANY ride alone) can't ever use one of his or her fastpasses.

For example, DH and I go with our 4 year old who is too short for big rides. We go and get 3 FP for Peter Pan, 3 for Winnie the Pooh. If we both need a FP for Space Mountain, then LO's third fastpass can't be used (lets say he wants to go on Small World - neither of the grownups can get in the FP line with the LO because we used our FPs on Space). If we get 1 FP for Space and 2 for Small World, and rider swap Space, then both parents can ride Space and LO still gets to go on Small World. I thought that was the logic behind allowing rider swap without burning a fastpass. Not so much so that families can get extra rides, but so that everyone can use their fastpasses. I understand that there are ways you can game the system a bit and get "extra" rides for older kids, but I'm ok with making things a little easier for families with little ones in tow.

I realize it gets more complicated on the latest and greatest rides (like FOP) but we had no trouble splitting up our FPs so that one parent could use their fastpass to take LO on something appropriate, then both parents could "share" a fastpass and get to ride the bigger rides.

 

[champ1380]

I don't believe it was ever intended that parties could double their FP+ and I would not be surprised to see this addressed now with other things.

On the flip side I am currently holding onto a coveted FOP fastpass that I potentially don't need because I'll be getting a rider switch (when we went in 2014 they didn't scan the waiting parents band). And as stated above the younger kids won't get to use their three fastpasses if the adult with them has to use them on a ride they're too short for.

I'm sure they're are some people doing crazy things with rider switch to get "extra fastpasses", but I think most of us just want to make sure we're being fair to our younger kids and the other adult. Last time we went we only used rider switch twice, because the rest of the time we didn't want to have the littlest kid waiting around double the amount of time. I've got a 5 year old who is potentially too short for the 44in rides (and a 2 year old, so we definitely are getting a rider switch), and there is no way he's waiting around while other people do a ride two times in a row that he can't do.

 

[DavidNYC]

Barring a very few isolated reports, they have never checked FP for anyone but those riding in the first group. Frankly, I've seen more reports (although also very infrequent) that people have been denied rider swap passes when everyone DOES have a FP on the theory that they don't need swap anymore since everyone has the FP! I would take those as the rare exception. Best practice (which makes perfect sense) is to have the first party get FP for FOP, have the waiting parent and the waiting child get a FP for some other ride (so the non-rider isn't just waiting around for two groups) and then use the swap pass. While some people call this a loophole, it completely fulfills the purpose of rider swap to allow everyone to ride with one wait while also giving the waiting child a chance to use their own FP for some ride without having to ride alone.

 

[HopperFan]

The trouble with requiring everyone to have a fastpass for a rider switch ride is that it means that the kid who is too short (and presumably too young to ride ANY ride alone) can't ever use one of his or her fastpasses.
........ I thought that was the logic behind allowing rider swap without burning a fastpass. Not so much so that families can get extra rides, but so that everyone can use their fastpasses. I understand that there are ways you can game the system a bit and get "extra" rides for older kids, but I'm ok with making things a little easier for families with little ones in tow.

I realize it gets more complicated on the latest and greatest rides (like FOP) but we had no trouble splitting up our FPs so that one parent could use their fastpass to take LO on something appropriate, then both parents could "share" a fastpass and get to ride the bigger rides.

Nothing to do with FP. It started before there was even a FP system. It was so the family staying behind could ride without going through the SB line again when their family had already waited the time. Back then you had the family waiting at the exit to do the child swap.

On the flip side I am currently holding onto a coveted FOP fastpass that I potentially don't need because I'll be getting a rider switch (when we went in 2014 they didn't scan the waiting parents band). And as stated above the younger kids won't get to use their three fastpasses if the adult with them has to use them on a ride they're too short for.

I'm sure they're are some people doing crazy things with rider switch to get "extra fastpasses", but I think most of us just want to make sure we're being fair to our younger kids and the other adult. Last time we went we only used rider switch twice, because the rest of the time we didn't want to have the littlest kid waiting around double the amount of time. I've got a 5 year old who is potentially too short for the 44in rides (and a 2 year old, so we definitely are getting a rider switch), and there is no way he's waiting around while other people do a ride two times in a row that he can't do.

This has nothing to do with FP+ usage, this has to do with the wait time and bringing in someone to ride with you so you are not alone. No one has to wait around as there are plenty of rides to go do without a FP+, I don't know why every discussion seems to forget that you don't need a FP+ to go on a ride. When group A is on 7DMT, take the smaller child to Under the Sea, Dumbo, Barnstormer, Carousel .... When group A is on Big Thunder, take small child to Aladdin Magic Carpet, Country Bear Jamboree, bathroom breaks...... There are ways to make it work for the kids FP+ day of if you feel it's a loss if you don't use them, but not using them doesn't mean your day was a loss.

There are plenty of issues where folks will feel they aren't getting their "ticket's monies worth". Haven't been on SM in years because they won't give DS a Rider/Child Swap because he's tall enough, lots of older folks can only watch shows where no FP+ is needed, many in wheelchairs can't go on most rides and only attractions where FP+ is not needed ... many unused FP+.

And I completely disagree that most don't try to double their passes, it is discussed here with regularity and how to do it, enough so there are jokes about rent a baby. Because it impacts the very most popular rides, it is likely to be something Disney addresses.