Help for the Baby Swap

[Josiah]

I'm new to the forum, but have a question about the Baby Swap. Here's the deal:

DH and I have 2 grandchildren, boy 9, girl 6. Boy wants to ride everything. Girl, NO. So, DH rides the ride w/boy, and I wait w/girl. Now, it's my turn to ride.

Question: What happens to the boy now? Does he wait while I ride alone, or does he ride twice, once w/him and once w/me?

TIA for help. I've been lurking for months looking for this and other answers. BTW: I've found lots of info here that you don't find anywhere else! You guys are wonderful

 

[Plantlady]

The boy gets a to ride with you. Bonus ride for him.


I have read, just so you know, that if the girl is tall enough for the ride, you can't do the baby swap, even if she doesn't want to ride it. Just FYI.

 

[westjones]

The boy gets a to ride with you. Bonus ride for him.


I have read, just so you know, that if the girl is tall enough for the ride, you can't do the baby swap, even if she doesn't want to ride it. Just FYI.

Oh, I didn't realize this. Bummer! We have a child in our party that won't ride the big rides, but is probably tall enough. I'm surprised he won't do them. My girls have been riding the 'big' rides since age 4 (unless they were too short, but as long as they were tall enough they were on them). This boy is 6 and big for his age and afraid of all of the big rides.
DJ

 

[Josiah]

I didn't realize this, either. I guess I'll have to get out the tape measure!

Maybe we'll have to split up for a bit, then.

 

[beattyfamily]

When you get to a ride, ask the CM at the entrance how they handle child swap. Then the CM will measure the child (if they are close to the height requirement).

If the child is not tall enough, they will give you a special child swap Fastpass which is good for up to 3 people or they will tell you how they handle the swap; some rides have you swap at the exit instead.

If the child is tall enough to ride, they will not give you the special child swap Fastpass and they will tell you that you all must enter the ride together and that you can swap at the ride itself.

Chilp swap pass is only for those not tall enough to ride.

 

[Disneynut71]

with a daughter (3) and a son (9) you can see it's hard when we want to go on all the rides. I try to bring someone with that willl watch my daughter while my son and I ride. 2 years ago I took my aunt who also wanted to ride the thrill rides. I went to the line asked the CM for a baby swap ticket and gave it to my aunt, after my son and I rode my son got to go on again with her. He loved it getting to ride every twice.

This year it's great my daughter is 38 inches and can go on the barnstormer and kali river rapids. She is excited as well as my son who wants to share these rides with his little sister. I still have my helper (this year their grandma) who will help with her as we ride everest.

 

[tink1978]

If they do it by height, do they have a plan for children who cannot ride (cannot move from their wheelchairs, etc), when there parents want to ride the rides? I do not have this problem, but I want to know about this issue, as I am sure that someone has run across it.

 

[Aristomommy]

Last time at WDW, we never had our children measured for baby swap. We had an infant and a 6 year old with us and most of the time DH asked about baby swap before we entered the line. Most of the time the parent with the baby/child waits before the line starts, not in the line. For example at Test Track, DH asked a CM, who gave him the swap ticket and told me to wait in the gift shop (where he and DD came after the ride). DS and I waited in the gift shop and when DH came out, I went through the gift shop entrance with DD.

This varies from ride to ride, but I have not seen CMs giving parents a hard time when their child is too afraid to ride. But it could happen...

 

[tjmw2727]

Last time at WDW, we never had our children measured for baby swap. We had an infant and a 6 year old with us and most of the time DH asked about baby swap before we entered the line. Most of the time the parent with the baby/child waits before the line starts, not in the line. For example at Test Track, DH asked a CM, who gave him the swap ticket and told me to wait in the gift shop (where he and DD came after the ride). DS and I waited in the gift shop and when DH came out, I went through the gift shop entrance with DD.

This varies from ride to ride, but I have not seen CMs giving parents a hard time when their child is too afraid to ride. But it could happen...

Well you wouldn't have noticed it as you have an infant - hence no need to measure!

I can confrim beatyfamilys post as I have had the same experience. Babyswap is offered as a convenience to a family with a child who dosen't meet the restrictions to ride. It is not offered when the child can ride but makes a choice not to.

I can also say that since the introduction of fast pass the way you describe child swap isn't the way they do it any more. The CM's are very strict about giving out the rider swap ticket. Even to the point where they must see the "baby" before giving out the ticket. I know because my bil was walking my neice once when trying to swap - he had to present her to the CM.

FWIW - I like the new way because the child too small to ride doen't have to wait in line when they arn't riding. I also don't mind the CM's enforcing the childswap so as to prevent abuse. We don't need it anymore but its a wonderful convenience for those who do.

To the OP and others with children tall enough to ride who choose not to, FP works just as well. Get a fast pass for everyone including the child not riding and switch off that way. If you have 4 or more nobody still has to ride alone.

TJ

 

[beattyfamily]

Last time at WDW, we never had our children measured for baby swap. We had an infant and a 6 year old with us and most of the time DH asked about baby swap before we entered the line. Most of the time the parent with the baby/child waits before the line starts, not in the line. For example at Test Track, DH asked a CM, who gave him the swap ticket and told me to wait in the gift shop (where he and DD came after the ride). DS and I waited in the gift shop and when DH came out, I went through the gift shop entrance with DD.

This varies from ride to ride, but I have not seen CMs giving parents a hard time when their child is too afraid to ride. But it could happen...

Your child wasn't measured because you have a infant so you automatically qualify.

Yes, they do measure. My 6 year old was measured at Splash and at ToT and since she was tall enough to ride them (but didn't want to) they told us we'd all have to go in the line together and then we could swap at the ride itself.

Every ride/CM might handle baby swap a little different so just ask the CM at the entrance to each ride. They WILL want to see the child in question though to varify that you do have a baby to swap!

 

[tjmw2727]

Here is my child swap 101, very unofficial but based on my many years of using babyswap/childswap as recently as April 2006.

My first 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 still 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 swap pass and the parent riding second and the baby (child) 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.

So in addition to the great explanations already provided - I hope this helps!

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

If they do it by height, do they have a plan for children who cannot ride (cannot move from their wheelchairs, etc), when there parents want to ride the rides? I do not have this problem, but I want to know about this issue, as I am sure that someone has run across it.

In this case (if it were me) I would simply take turns riding, one adult rides while the other adult takes the child to do something they can do and want to do. IMHO separating in this case would be appropriate - if you use fast pass this can minimize the time spent apart. Otherwise I would just skip the rides I want to do but my dd/ds couldn't, there are not to many that require a transfer anymore anway.

If you have a specific sitiuation in mind perhaps a new post on the disability board would be more helpful. (Not to say that you can't post here but child swap really dosen't apply to this situation.)

TJ

 

[Barbers2005]

Last week we had a group of four adults, one four year old, and did a child swap for ToT. They had us take my Dd into line with us. While my Dh and I rode the ride, a cm took MIL, SIL and Dd down a different elevator to the exit. Then DH and I waited while the cm took MIL and SIL back up the elevator to board the ride. We told the first cm when we boarded the ride that we should all wait in line together and he didn't even suggest that some of us come back (we all had fastpasses, so they wouldn't need to issue one). I guess how they do it depends on the ride/individual cm.

 

[tjmw2727]

Last week we had a group of four adults, one four year old, and did a child swap for ToT. They had us take my Dd into line with us. While my Dh and I rode the ride, a cm took MIL, SIL and Dd down a different elevator to the exit. Then DH and I waited while the cm took MIL and SIL back up the elevator to board the ride. We told the first cm when we boarded the ride that we should all wait in line together and he didn't even suggest that some of us come back (we all had fastpasses, so they wouldn't need to issue one). I guess how they do it depends on the ride/individual cm.

This is exactly as beatyfamily described - this is not a baby swap because the child was tall enough for the ride, just taking turns via the exit. Since the 4yo was tall enough to ride he was allowed in the ride queue and through the "chicken exit". This is different from baby swap - if the 4yo wasn't tall enough you would have been given the rider swap pass and asked to wait elsewhere with the 4yo they would not have permitted him/her into the line.

I know its confusing!

TJ

 

[Josiah]

Thanks to everyone who helped to answer my question about the baby (child) swap. It sounds like we need to be aware of the height restrictions for each ride. If our 6 yr old is too short, she is eligible for 'child swap' rules, in general, though each cm may do it slightly differently. We should tell the cm at the entrance for guidance.

If my 6 yr old is tall enough, but chooses not to ride, we should tell the cm at the entrance at let that person guide us as to how to proceed.

I'm glad the 9 year old doesn't have to avoid rides the 6 yr old wants, but the 6 yr old doesn't have to spend too much time waiting around for Bubba.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Josiah]

Thanks to everyone who helped to answer my question about the baby (child) swap. It sounds like we need to be aware of the height restrictions for each ride. If our 6 yr old is too short, she is eligible for 'child swap' rules, in general, though each cm may do it slightly differently. We should tell the cm at the entrance for guidance.

If my 6 yr old is tall enough, but chooses not to ride, we should tell the cm at the entrance at let that person guide us as to how to proceed.

I'm glad the 9 year old doesn't have to avoid rides the 6 yr old wants, but the 6 yr old doesn't have to spend too much time waiting around for Bubba.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Barbers2005]

The funny thing is, my daughter isn't tall enough, but they never actually checked...I guess because she looked about the right height? I mean, she's only 1 or 2 inches too short.

 

[myprinceandprincess]

So just to understand this whole process more clearly...For baby swap you receive a Fast Pass Baby Swap ticket, whether you are using fast pass for that particular ride or not? Or do you just get a ticket if you are using Fast Pass for that ride? I'm sorry I know I asked this question on a previous thread but everytime it's brought up something different is posted...I'm confused....

 

[beattyfamily]

So just to understand this whole process more clearly...For baby swap you receive a Fast Pass Baby Swap ticket, whether you are using fast pass for that particular ride or not? Or do you just get a ticket if you are using Fast Pass for that ride? I'm sorry I know I asked this question on a previous thread but everytime it's brought up something different is posted...I'm confused....

The special swap fastpass is totally separate issue from whether you do Fastpass or standby line.

The second parent will ride with that special Fastpass. The first parent can ride either way; standby or Fastpass line. It's up to you to decide.

So decide how the first parent will ride and get the special swap Fastpass for the second parent.

 

[ajksmom]

The special swap fastpass is totally separate issue from whether you do Fastpass or standby line.

The second parent will ride with that special Fastpass. The first parent can ride either way; standby or Fastpass line. It's up to you to decide.

So decide how the first parent will ride and get the special swap Fastpass for the second parent.

I thought I knew what I was doing, hmm - not I'm not too sure. It'll be DH, myself and DS5 who won't be tall enough for RnRC. If we want to do FP line for it, do we get 1 or 2 FP's to allow DH and myself to ride?

TIA if you can clarify this any further for my somewhat foggy brain,LOL.