FP/Baby swap ? Is this OK to do?

[SamanthaL]

I will try to make this easy to follow ( and I have my flame resistant suit on). I want to know if this will work and is it OK to do?

We are a group of 10
6- adults
1 -6Year Old
3- 2 years olds

We will have 7 passes to get into the parks, as the 2 years don't count. (sorry guys but you don't!)

Here is an example of what I was thinking:

3 of us get FP's for TOT. 4 of us go, at the same time and get 4 FPs for RnRC. 5 people want to do TOT. 3 ride it with the FPs and get a baby swap ticket. When they are done the other 2 take the swap ticket and ride TOT.

Again 5 of us want to do RnRC. 4 ride with the FPs and get a baby swap. The baby swap will let 3 on so maybe someone re-rides with the 5th person who didn't get on yet,probably me while I sit with the "mamas boy".

Now of course we do have the babies so this is true and kosher and legal for getting babyswaps. Also my son won't stay with any of my friends so DH and I need to ride separately. We just don't want the 2 year olds waiting all day for us to ride 2 rides. If this is somehow in poor taste I would never do it. Is this Ok to do and will it work?

Thanks in advance. Let me have it but be gentle!

 

[java]

Well I am just back and this won't really be too helpful but only 2 of the rides that we baby swapped with FP asked to see all the FP's(for everyone not just the ones riding first) It was on TOT and Rock and Roll Roller coaster- so I don't know if it is just an MGM thing or what. Each baby swap pass is good for up to 3 riders(or maybe it was 4 but I recall 3) So my DH and 2 kids rode a ride while I waited then I rode again with my 2 children without waiting(FP) So maybe you could use the up to 3 people thing and not worry about all having a fp- does that make sense? For example AB&C ride with their FP while D goes with them to get her baby swap pass. Then D rides with E &F(who never had to get a FP) or rides with B&C again if they want to go on again.

 

[luv2nascar]

It might just be me but I don't see the problem. You have a child that doesn't want to ride. You are entitled to swap. 3 can ride with the swap pass & you can decide who rides prior. That is the way the pass works. We used them alot in June. We have a two dds 2 & 10.

 

[bigmerle1966]

We went on Soarin and I don't think they even asked for our Fastpasses. My sister and her oldest and my friend and two of hers went on, while the friends oldest and I stayed with my youngest neice. The friend, her oldest and I went on with the baby swap ticket and only the friends son and I had Fastpasses.

 

[SamanthaL]

So does this all mean that you go up to get the swap ticket and go through the FP line without a FP? Then the second group goes on with the swap ticket?

I always got the FPs thinking I needed those to go in the FP line then I asked the CM for the swap ticket. I'm confused!

 

[java]

No you have to go through a fast pass line with a fast pass they will then give you a baby swap ticket good for up to 3 at the fast pass line(when you enter) the first group needs the fp's they collect them later in the line... the second group goes in with the baby swap pass.

 

[bigmerle1966]

You can't use the Fastpass line without a ticket. The baby swap is just so that all in your party can ride and you don't have to wait in line a second time.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

I thought that the whole family had to wait in line, then tell them at the ride that you wanted to do a baby swap. Then, the first parent rides while the second parent waits with the "baby" on the ride platform. Then they switch off when the first ride is over.

 

[princesstommi]

Everyone would need their own fastpass to get through the fastpass line first, then you could do the baby swap when you get up front.

Your plan would work if everyone had a fast pass, or if everyone went through the standby line, I think.

 

[robinb]

I thought that the whole family had to wait in line, then tell them at the ride that you wanted to do a baby swap. Then, the first parent rides while the second parent waits with the "baby" on the ride platform. Then they switch off when the first ride is over.

That happens on some rides when the child is tall enough to ride, but not brave enough. For instance, ToT and Space Mountain. My DD is now tall enough and my DH and I have to "baby swap" inside. Before she was tall enough she was not even allowed in the building and we received a baby swap FP at the entrance of the ride.

We did exactly what you're planning when we went with a big group. The only drawback is up to 3 people can go on one baby swap FP and sometimes you'll have 4 people without FPs. You can always spilt up families and get a baby swap for 2 or 3 kids instead of lumping all 3 on the same baby swap.

 

[robinb]

Everyone would need their own fastpass to get through the fastpass line first, then you could do the baby swap when you get up front.

Sorry, that's just not true. Children who are too short for a ride will not be allowed in the line. Baby Swap fast-passes are given outside at the attraction entrance for smaller children. I would guess that all 3 two-year olds are less than 40" tall.

 

[mill4023]

We did exactly what you described for ToT and RnRC.
It also works well for Splash / BTMRR and any 2 of (TT, Soarin, M:S).

It was me, DW, DS10, DD7, DD4, DD1.
The only issue for us was that DS10 and DD7 couldn't both ride each ride twice.
DS10 wasn't too sure about ToT so he decided that was the one he would only ride once.
Here's how it works with the example of ToT/RnRC:
Remember, we had 5 park passes so we could get one FP with each one.
We get 2 FP's for ToT, then walk over and get 3 FP's for RnRC.
When it's time to ride, we all walk up to the line entrance at ToT, get a baby swap pass, and DD7 and DW use the 2 FP's to ride.
When they are done, I use the baby swap pass to go in the FP line and ride with DS10 and DD7(3 people can go with the baby swap pass).
Next, we all walk to the entrance of RnRC, get a baby swap pass, and DW uses the 3 FP's to ride with DS10 and DD7.
After they are done, I use the baby swap pass to ride with DS10 and DD7.

 

[bigmerle1966]

With Soarin we couldn't get in the line at all with my neice. We had to wait in the lobby outside the entrance.

 

[degrapevine]

Hi, SamanthaL!
It has always seemed that the CM's at WDW (and DL on our latest trip) are very understanding when it comes to getting Child Swap tickets.
Here's the way we do it:
On most rides, the place where you get on the ride is not the same as where you get off, so you don't wait on the platform.
What we've always done is have our whole family go up to the FP line, tell the CM there that we need a Child Swap ticket.
They give the non-riding parent the ticket, then they go off somewhere with the non-riding child to swap.
The riding parent goes with any other riders into the regular line to wait.
My DH usually rides first, so I wait with DD4 at the exit of the ride for him and my 2 DS's to come off.
Then, I give DD4 to DH and head back to the FP line with my 2 DS's (or just one if both don't want to ride again - usually my oldest, since he's the "mama's boy" in our family).
If you have a FP and don't have to wait in line, just get the Child Swap ticket as your party shows the CM their FP's and then proceed.
Best thing to do if you don't know how the ride loads and unloads is to ask the CM at the FP line.
They answer these questions all day long, over and over ...
It was strange at DL, though, since their Child Swap tickets are only good for 2 riders, not 3.
I asked the CM on rides I knew both my DS's would want to ride 2x and they were more than happy to give me 2 tickets.
As long as you go into the FP line with a FP for each person and don't exceed the number of riders allowed on your Child Swap tickets, you should be fine.
(Wow, this gives me a headache ... Just think of all the combinations you can do ... )
Enjoy your trip!
Rose

 

[mill4023]

A couple of things that people are getting confused about.
First, for most of the rides, people with a baby swap pass go through the FP line. So in my example above, the first time, 2 or 3 of us are using FP's to go ride and the second time, 3 of us are using the baby swap pass to go through the FP line.

For most of the rides, the baby swap pass is given at the entrance to the line. But there are a few rides where the baby swap procedure is different. Star Tours, for instance. At Star Tours, everyone in the party(including babies) waits in line until you are at the ride platform, then someone waits with the baby just outside the ride vehicles. After the first group has ridden, you take the baby on the ride, hand him/her to the other adult, who exits the other side and waits while you ride. So in the case of Star Tours, I assume everyone old enough to ride would have to have a FP to use the FP line.

 

[princesstommi]

Sorry, that's just not true. Children who are too short for a ride will not be allowed in the line. Baby Swap fast-passes are given outside at the attraction entrance for smaller children. I would guess that all 3 two-year olds are less than 40" tall.

So then the group of 5 adults would only need 3 fastpasses to get 5 people on the ride with the baby swap option?

I guess I'm just confused. Sorry.

 

[mill4023]

So then the group of 5 adults would only need 3 fastpasses to get 5 people on the ride with the baby swap option?

I guess I'm just confused. Sorry.

For the majority of rides where baby swap passes are given BEFORE you wait in line, that is exactly correct.
Oh, actually, they would only need 2 FP's, because the baby swap pass allows 3 riders. So the first 2 could go with FP's and the remaining 3 could go with the baby swap pass.

Simplified case: 4 adults, 1 baby
4 park passes, so get 2 FP's for ride A, 2 FP's for ride B.
Everyone walks up to ride A line entrance together, you request a baby swap pass.
2 adults ride w/ FP's for ride A.
When done, the other 2 adults go on ride A w/ baby swap pass.
Repeat for ride B.

 

[DISUNC]

I'm sooooooooooooooooooooo confused over this thread!!!!

I swear I am getting old age dyslexic!

I'm trying to figure this one out!
14 people! 7 fastpasses! 2 rides! 3 babies that everyone wants to swap!!!!!!

 

[SamanthaL]

Thanks everyone!! I think I got it straight. The way we did the swap before was correct then. Get FP's, request BS ticket, FP people ride then BS people ride.

I have never done it with such a huge group or this many little ones. We want to ride the big rides but with 3 toddlers, long waits are out of the question! I am the one running the show so all these different options will keep me awake tonight for sure.

I know we will get FPs for RnR and TOT at the same time. We will do the same at Splash and Thunder. Soarin' and? Any suggestions? Test track maybe? Are they close together?

You guys are great as usual!! This little brain child came to me this morning upon getting out of bed so I know it is time to see the Disney therapist!!

Oh and thanks for not roasting me and telling me how selfish I am for getting FPs for 2 rides AND baby swap passes too. I expected someone to yell at me!! It just isn't possible to see everything with such a large group when 3 of the group can't ride!!

 

[gepetto]

We will do the same at Splash and Thunder. Soarin' and? Any suggestions? Test track maybe? Are they close together?

I would suggest getting to Epcot fairly early, because Soarin' FP's run out quickly.