FP+ and Parent swap

[Mainemama]

A note to a pp that RS is only available for rides with height restrictions. So, Little Mermaid and character greets are not an option. Another tip for those new to system... You may want to keep all party's FP on a single ride, but benefit from multiple rides. We rode SDMT with FP by splitting our party of 4 into 2 groups. We got two RS, so our big kids got to ride 3 times.

 

[tink9702]

When we were there in November we used Rider Switch for Everest. DH & DS had FP+, myself and DD (too short) did not. We all walked up to the FP+ line & asked for rider switch showing the cast member that DD was too short. They gave me the pass. DH & DS went on the ride. Then DS and I went up to the FP+ line showing the rider switch pass and we went on the ride. Not all parties need FP+ but they required both my DH & my son to have it because they had him scan through the first time. I don't know if that was just the particular CM on duty at the time, or if they have changed things from November, but that was our experience. The second time everyone going doesn't need it. So we set up FP+ like this:

Everest - DH, DS (then DS & I rode Rider switch)
Character meet & greet - me, DD
Kali - all 4 of us
Dinosaur - DH, DS (then DS & I could have rode rider switch but I'm not a big fan of this ride and DS didn't want to ride it twice)

It did take a LOT longer for us to ride Everest using Rider Switch so yes it's a benefit to the family using it, but really doesn't detract from the people who aren't able to use Rider switch.

 

[cakebaker]

When I was there in October, the majority of the rides we went up to the CM at the FP+ entrance, showed the baby and received a Rider Switch card (like old FP cards). It was good for a week or something.

For Splash & BTMRR (in particular, maybe other ones too) we got a lanyard, and were not presented with a Rider Switch card until we got to the FP+ merge point somewhere in the line. I would imagine this prevents people from exploiting Rider Switch (i.e, never waiting in the standby or FP+ line, just sending 3 people through once...not actually switching riders).

Overall it worked well, but we did spend a ton of time waiting for everbody to go twice, but out in the open not confined to the line.

Also, you can use Single Rider + Rider Switch if you want, thats what my friends did - as long as somebody goes through the Queue (standby, FP+, or Single Rider) once you can swap riders.

It seems to vary I guess- we were there mid October and didn't get lanyards anywhere we got a switch, but honestly I don't recall if we used it at Splash or BTMRR. But yeah, if they don't give you the pass until you're at the merge point, then the fp+ holder would have to ride first. Did everyone have to go thru the fp+ line, including those that were going to use the switch pass? That's a pain if you have to take the baby thru the line. My grandson couldn't ride a lot of things he would've liked to, SDMT being one of them. If we had to take him thru the line, and then not let him ride it.....scary just thinking about what his reaction would've been. lol

 

[disprincess2213]

Please help me understand this simple situation! I am sorry!!!!
There are THREE in my party.
Me, DH, and DD (2) who cant ride anything fast lol.

So when I make fastpasses, I I can make them for 1 person per ride. Then I (single rider, 1 fastpass) go to the fastpass line, swipe my band, it turns green, and I can ask for a childswap? Then My husband can go on after me while I stand with the baby through the fastpass line? Is this correct??

 

[cakebaker]

When we were there in November we used Rider Switch for Everest. DH & DS had FP+, myself and DD (too short) did not. We all walked up to the FP+ line & asked for rider switch showing the cast member that DD was too short. They gave me the pass. DH & DS went on the ride. Then DS and I went up to the FP+ line showing the rider switch pass and we went on the ride. Not all parties need FP+ but they required both my DH & my son to have it because they had him scan through the first time. I don't know if that was just the particular CM on duty at the time, or if they have changed things from November, but that was our experience. The second time everyone going doesn't need it. So we set up FP+ like this:

Everest - DH, DS (then DS & I rode Rider switch)
Character meet & greet - me, DD
Kali - all 4 of us
Dinosaur - DH, DS (then DS & I could have rode rider switch but I'm not a big fan of this ride and DS didn't want to ride it twice)

It did take a LOT longer for us to ride Everest using Rider Switch so yes it's a benefit to the family using it, but really doesn't detract from the people who aren't able to use Rider switch.

Yes, everyone riding the first group must have a fp+ to enter the queue. No one riding on the swap needs a fp+.

 

[tink9702]

Thanks Cakebaker! I'm glad I'm not crazy and that they both needed FP+ so we didn't "waste" one at all.

 

[DavidNYC]

He doesn't have to ride it first. You go to the entrance of the ride- with the 1 yr old- they will want to see that you actually have the baby. Tell them you want a rider switch pass. They'll give you one and at that point, you're free to ride however you choose. Your husband can ride first, or you can use the pass first- doesn't matter. All they want to see is that at least 1 person has a fp+ and that you have a child who isn't riding.

I've never heard of being able to go up and get a rider switch pass and using it immediately (without doing something like finding an excuse to walk away and then send the people with pass back. They want the first person to go into one of the lines - FP or regular - while the pass holder stays behind. So if you have only 3 people riding - meaning two people get FP for one and 1 person get FP for another - you need to be prepared that the ride with 1FP that person rides alone. It works much better for the ride with the 2FP since the sole waiter gets to bring someone along after.

Still doubles up on the FP you can use witih this method but for 3 of the 6 (assuming you double up on all 3) someone rides alone.

 

[cakebaker]

Please help me understand this simple situation! I am sorry!!!!
There are THREE in my party.
Me, DH, and DD (2) who cant ride anything fast lol.

So when I make fastpasses, I I can make them for 1 person per ride. Then I (single rider, 1 fastpass) go to the fastpass line, swipe my band, it turns green, and I can ask for a childswap? Then My husband can go on after me while I stand with the baby through the fastpass line? Is this correct??

Yes, that's how it works. Actually they don't scan your band first- just walk up to the entrance ask for the rider switch pass. They'll ask to see the child not riding, so make sure they're with you. You get one and then the first person or group rides and those riding using the switch can go whenever you want. The only exception is the post I read about giving lanyards inside the ride at the merge point- I never experienced that, so I have no idea how that works.

 

[cakebaker]

I've never heard of being able to go up and get a rider switch pass and using it immediately (without doing something like finding an excuse to walk away and then send the people with pass back. They want the first person to go into one of the lines - FP or regular - while the pass holder stays behind. So if you have only 3 people riding - meaning two people get FP for one and 1 person get FP for another - you need to be prepared that the ride with 1FP that person rides alone. It works much better for the ride with the 2FP since the sole waiter gets to bring someone along after.

Still doubles up on the FP you can use witih this method but for 3 of the 6 (assuming you double up on all 3) someone rides alone.

We don't do it often, but there are times we've decided to change up who's riding first or where someone wanted to go while they waited and just got the swap ride over first. We never had an issue with it, but that's not saying it doesn't happen. It just seemed to me they paid no attention at all to who was getting on the ride and how they were doing it. Then again, we probably did walk away from the CM, get in a big discussion and then go ride. We weren't doing it intentionally, but that's how it would happen with us.

 

[disprincess2213]

I am definitely not an expert here and Im probably wrong...but the lanyard thing that they hand you...im pretty sure that may mean that the wait time has changed? I didnt think it had anything to do with riderswap.

 

[GWhitten98]

We were there in Nov with three adults and a 5,4 and 2 YO. Our oldest two kids got to ride everything that offered ride wsap at least twice(sometimes 3 time) with ride swap and the use of one or two FP.

 

[TsLoveMickey]

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this too. We have a party of three adults and two kids (4 and infant). So, if my DH, myself and my 4 yr old went on the first ride, my mom would be given a rider switch pass to wait outside the ride with baby? Then when we get off she could go get in line with my 4 yr old again and my DH and I would wait outside the lines with baby? Can DH or I go again with my mom, too? (For some reason I always pictured "swap" as standing at the front of the line with baby until your party came through again, which is obviously not correct.)

 

[TsLoveMickey]

And, does rider switch always enter via the FP+ line?

 

[snayak]

It seems to vary I guess- we were there mid October and didn't get lanyards anywhere we got a switch, but honestly I don't recall if we used it at Splash or BTMRR. But yeah, if they don't give you the pass until you're at the merge point, then the fp+ holder would have to ride first. Did everyone have to go thru the fp+ line, including those that were going to use the switch pass? That's a pain if you have to take the baby thru the line. My grandson couldn't ride a lot of things he would've liked to, SDMT being one of them. If we had to take him thru the line, and then not let him ride it.....scary just thinking about what his reaction would've been. lol

No, the FP+ (or standby person) grabs the lanyard from the CM at the entrance, and then at the merge they get the Rider Swap card. Only the people riding need to be in the queue, the folks not riding (and the child) are outside.

I am definitely not an expert here and Im probably wrong...but the lanyard thing that they hand you...im pretty sure that may mean that the wait time has changed? I didnt think it had anything to do with riderswap.

Those are a different lanyard. This one specifically has to do with Rider Swap, I believe it says something about Rider Swap on it. I believe it is to curtail abusers, who do not want to wait in line/have a FP+. That is, DD, DW, DS1, DS8. Grab a Rider Swap card, then DD & DS8 use it to ride ONCE, then move on to the next attraction. DW never had the intention to ride, just exploit the system since DD & DS8 are perfectly capable of waiting in line. So...lanyard is given so people MUST go through the queue once prior to receiving a rider swap card.

 

[cakebaker]

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this too. We have a party of three adults and two kids (4 and infant). So, if my DH, myself and my 4 yr old went on the first ride, my mom would be given a rider switch pass to wait outside the ride with baby? Then when we get off she could go get in line with my 4 yr old again and my DH and I would wait outside the lines with baby? Can DH or I go again with my mom, too? (For some reason I always pictured "swap" as standing at the front of the line with baby until your party came through again, which is obviously not correct.)

Yes, they'd give your mom a rider swap to wait outside the ride. Yes, she then could ride with your 4 yr old and 1 other person- so yes, you or your dh can ride again.

 

[DavidNYC]

No, the FP+ (or standby person) grabs the lanyard from the CM at the entrance, and then at the merge they get the Rider Swap card. Only the people riding need to be in the queue, the folks not riding (and the child) are outside.



Those are a different lanyard. This one specifically has to do with Rider Swap, I believe it says something about Rider Swap on it. I believe it is to curtail abusers, who do not want to wait in line/have a FP+. That is, DD, DW, DS1, DS8. Grab a Rider Swap card, then DD & DS8 use it to ride ONCE, then move on to the next attraction. DW never had the intention to ride, just exploit the system since DD & DS8 are perfectly capable of waiting in line. So...lanyard is given so people MUST go through the queue once prior to receiving a rider swap card.

Must be new if they're doing this - been using rider swap for last 5 years (last trip was Nov.) and never seen this! But that's why I've seen them hand out the swap pass to the waiter once the other person enters the line.