How does Child Swap work?

[agame2323]

DS is 3yr old and its just the wife and I attending the parks. We have our favorites (SM, Everest, TT, RCC...) and it sounds like we would NOT be able to ride together. I heard of Child Swap but never had to use it... until now.

 

[k8Davies]

If I remember rightly (did this in 2014) so they might have changed it.

But what we did is at the start of the ride told the CM and they gave us a (Fastpass Type) child swap Ticket so one of us went in to the Standby line and queued then when either DH or I came off the ride the second person handed in the ticket and went through the FP queue.

I hope the system is the same when we go in November, as my DS will be 3 and there is a couple of Big rides (TOT) that I would like to ride. AS I would like to use my FP+ for rides we can all go on together.

 

[dlavender]

Someone will need to stay with the child.......Is that what you are asking?

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

Everyone waits in line together once. When you approach the loading area you tell a cast member that you would like to take advantage of the Child Swap. CM asks who's waiting and who's riding, those waiting are taken to a side area to wait. Those riding continue on to loading area. When you return from the ride, tell the CM you are part of a Child Swap. They will direct you to meet up with waiting members of your party. Child that isn't riding swaps between party members and those that waited are directed to the loading area. You do not have to wait for other party members to return from their ride before you leave through the exit.

We have used this a few times and our older child was able to ride with both parents, so DH and I each rode with older child once, older child able to ride twice total, and younger child waited with each parent once. When my ride was done I took younger child out to get ice cream while older child rode with DH.

Hope that helps!

 

[tjmw2727]

Everyone waits in line together once. When you approach the loading area you tell a cast member that you would like to take advantage of the Child Swap. CM asks who's waiting and who's riding, those waiting are taken to a side area to wait. Those riding continue on to loading area. When you return from the ride, tell the CM you are part of a Child Swap. They will direct you to meet up with waiting members of your party. Child that isn't riding swaps between party members and those that waited are directed to the loading area. You do not have to wait for other party members to return from their ride before you leave through the exit.

We have used this a few times and our older child was able to ride with both parents, so DH and I each rode with older child once, older child able to ride twice total, and younger child waited with each parent once. When my ride was done I took younger child out to get ice cream while older child rode with DH.

Hope that helps!

This is no longer how it works especially since a child who isn't tall enough to ride is not allowed in the queue at all!

The first party rides via the fp+ or standby, when you enter you ask the CM for a "rider switch pass" the non riding child must be present to assure that you qualify. Then the first party rides while the adult(s) riding second take the child and can either wait or take the child to enjoy another attraction, ice cream, show whatever.

Then the adult(s) who didn't ride the first time can return anytime that day and ride via the FP+ line. The rider switch pass is good for that attraction, up to 3 riders and always good for at least that day.

Not sure what your question is though OP as if there are only the 3 of you there is no way to ride together on attractions where the 3yo isn't tall enough to ride.

 

[agame2323]

DS is 3yr old and its just the wife and I attending the parks. We have our favorites (SM, Everest, TT, RCC...) and it sounds like we would NOT be able to ride together. I heard of Child Swap but never had to use it... until now.

 

[agame2323]

This is no longer how it works especially since a child who isn't tall enough to ride is not allowed in the queue at all!

The first party rides via the fp+ or standby, when you enter you ask the CM for a "rider switch pass" the non riding child must be present to assure that you qualify. Then the first party rides while the adult(s) riding second take the child and can either wait or take the child to enjoy another attraction, ice cream, show whatever.

Then the adult(s) who didn't ride the first time can return anytime that day and ride via the FP+ line. The rider switch pass is good for that attraction, up to 3 riders and always good for at least that day.

Not sure what your question is though OP as if there are only the 3 of you there is no way to ride together on attractions where the 3yo isn't tall enough to ride.

Sorry. I meant, we WOULD NOT be able to ride together.

 

[khertz]

You go up to the CM at the entrance to the ride and ask for a rider swap pass. They will hand you a paper pass that can be used as a fastpass that will expire at the end of the month. The first rider goes on the ride either through the standby line or the FP+ line if they have a FP reservation while the other parent waits with the child. Whenever the second rider is ready to go on the ride (can be immediately after or even another day if it hasn't expired), they can use the paper rider swap pass to go through the FP+ line.

Occasionally, some rides will give the first rider a lanyard instead that they have to bring to the CM at the FP/standby merge point and they will exchange it there for the rider swap pass. This happened to us at Soarin and Mine Train. I think I read somewhere though that they do this when the CM out front has run out of rider swap passes for the moment and they are all with that second cast member who has been collecting them from people.

 

[khertz]

Also, this frees up the parent waiting with the child to go take them to do something else. What my DH and I do is the person waiting with my kids will take them on something nearby, like on the Carousel or Teacups, while the other is riding Mine Train.