How is rider swap working with FP+?

[doconeill]

Currently the Disney website says that only 2 guests are allowed per rider switch pass. Not sure if that is a change or if it has always read that way. I know we have used rider swap in the past and 3 were let on with the second group.

It is incorrect, at least for now. The site has rarely been correct on this (and many other things )

As for the original question, who knows? I don't think the intent of rider swap is to allow the essential doubling of FP+ reservations, but reading the posts here people were obviously doing it with FP. It seems like the way it should operate is that all the adults that want to ride the ride make FP+ reservations and then swap at the entrance. But that may be too hard for Disney to enforce.

It certainly isn't the intent, but it's been around a while...it's the original "double dipping". It doesn't work well in all instances, like I illustrated above. But it made things easier for parents and CMs. It leaves this loophole though.

Here's an old post I had made that explained what kind of advantage you could get over regular guests and why it may have been policy to require swapping a FP for a RS pass (I later learned that there was NO policy on this):

It all depends on what you think the intent of Rider Switch is. My opinion is that it is to help minimize how long a group with a small child have to wait for everyone to ride an attraction. Otherwise without using Fastpasses (because you can't realistically use Fastpass every time) you'd have to wait 2xStandby. With RS, you wait 1xStandby and 1xFastpass. This is STILL longer than you'd wait if you could all go on the ride together.

However, it is NOT meant to give eligible groups an ADVANTAGE over other guests either. Requiring everyone to have a FP if the first group is going to use a FP makes sense here. Otherwise FPs can be held for other attractions simultaneously and you would get through attractions significantly FASTER than another guest. But the only advantage you get in this case is that you don't have to ride alone.

Take this example: 2 Adults, 9 year old and 3 year old. Standby wait is 50 minutes, FP wait is 10 at both Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Next Fastpass times are at least two hours away.

If the 3 year old is tall enough to ride both attractions, you could either ride both standby (total wait time: 100 minutes), or get FPs for one and ride standby on the other (total wait time: 60 minutes). So at best you can get through in 60 minutes. Everyone gets 1 ride on each attraction.

Now, if the 3 year old was not eligible to ride and there was no form of rider swap available, the wait time now goes up to 200 minutes for each adult to get through the standby lines! But the 9yo gets a couple extra rides.

Now, if the 3 year old is not eligible in either case and Rider Switch is used...

First case, Standby only: You approach and get RS pass. One adult and 9yo ride SplM standby, then other adult uses the RS pass and enters FP line with 9yo riding again: total wait time 60 minutes. Repeat at BTM, another 60 minutes - total wait time: 120 minutes. The group gets a 20 minute "munchkin penalty", but its still 80 minutes less than if there wasn't an option.

Now add FP...if the waiting adult is required to have a FP as well, then you need to get 3 FPs for one attraction - you can get a 4th for something else but its only one so its a minor perk. Trade one FP for the RS pass, and use the other two. When they return, use the RS pass. Wait time so far: 20 minutes. Then ride the other attraction via standby and RS. Wait time: 60 minutes, for a total of 80 minutes. 40 minutes saved, and the 9yo gets an extra ride.

Now, if the waiting adult is NOT required to get a FP...

Take two tickets and get two FPs for SplM, and take the other two and get two FPs for BTM. Assume they have roughly the same return time.

Do the FP/RS wait games on both attractions. Total wait time: 40 minutes!!!! That is a HECK of an advantage, using a single FP cycle when others would have to wait two cycles to collect them to get the same wait times.

 

[DIS kid at heart]

The system won't allow you to make a FP+ selection for anyone in your family/friends who does not have a ticket.

The band has many functions - FP+ is just one of them. Open resort room door, charging privs (you probably COULD give the 2yo charging privs - if they can remember the PIN ), trigger special experiences - even lost child identification.

You mean it triggers special experiences with the FP+??

Lost child identification is an awesome plus. I'm seriously considering a child leash for my very energetic DS2. Unfortunately, I don't see him keeping a MB on his wrist.

Is he allowed on rides with us that we have FP+ for, for example, TSMM? I know he did ride this last year with our regular FP.

 

[doconeill]

You mean it triggers special experiences with the FP+??

No, it has nothing to do with FP+.

Special experiences would be things like at a princess meet and greet, the princess knowing the child's name before you even approach, without even having to perform an obvious action like scanning at a touchpoint as you would with FP+. Another is having a custom message display on screens in some attractions when you are in the area.

Is he allowed on rides with us that we have FP+ for, for example, TSMM? I know he did ride this last year with our regular FP.

Yes, it works the EXACT same way as Fastpass in that regard.

 

[DIS kid at heart]

No, it has nothing to do with FP+.

Special experiences would be things like at a princess meet and greet, the princess knowing the child's name before you even approach, without even having to perform an obvious action like scanning at a touchpoint as you would with FP+. Another is having a custom message display on screens in some attractions when you are in the area.



Yes, it works the EXACT same way as Fastpass in that regard.

Thanks for all the help!!

 

[morethananyonex]

Currently the Disney website says that only 2 guests are allowed per rider switch pass. Not sure if that is a change or if it has always read that way. I know we have used rider swap in the past and 3 were let on with the second group.

It is incorrect, at least for now. The site has rarely been correct on this (and many other things )

Okay, so just to clarify before I make any changes to our FP+, the rider swap passes get in 3 people total, not 2, right?

 

[skittlesrock]

So what is going on with the fastpasses? I don't know if there's an actual answer in this thread about this question. I was wondering this exact same thing and haven't got an answer from the CM's. They ALL give me different answers from there's no such thing as rider's switch pass to just swapping the child at the entrance. no pass needed! I've really stressed myself out with this and I'm going to ask here again!!

Are you able to have parent A make a fastpass selection for an attraction, and the other parentB receive a rider's swap pass for the same attraction while parent B makes another choice and do the same thing (get rider's pass)?? EX. Parent A gets fastpass for soarin, Parent B gets rider's swap pass for soarin, Parent B gets fastpass for test track, parent A gets a rider's swap pass for test track??

 

[ampc3]

that is exactly how we did with FP- in the past, we always split up(more rides for older kids) I believe it should work the same way, but haven't read if it has changed with fp+ .. Just remember you need to show the child at each enterence. Hopefully some one that has done it with fp+ will come along shortly

 

[doconeill]

So what is going on with the fastpasses? I don't know if there's an actual answer in this thread about this question. I was wondering this exact same thing and haven't got an answer from the CM's. They ALL give me different answers from there's no such thing as rider's switch pass to just swapping the child at the entrance. no pass needed! I've really stressed myself out with this and I'm going to ask here again!!

Are you able to have parent A make a fastpass selection for an attraction, and the other parentB receive a rider's swap pass for the same attraction while parent B makes another choice and do the same thing (get rider's pass)?? EX. Parent A gets fastpass for soarin, Parent B gets rider's swap pass for soarin, Parent B gets fastpass for test track, parent A gets a rider's swap pass for test track??

I don't know what CMs you are asking. Rider Switch operations have not (yet) changed. Whether they ever will remains to be seen.

You are also asking if you can do something very specific that not many people have the opportunity to try. But I have said before, yes, I believe you will be able to do this.

 

[skittlesrock]

But I have said before, yes, I believe you will be able to do this.

So should I assume you can do this and switch all my fastpasses yet again?? I would hate to get to an attraction and the CM say "oh sorry but the both of you have to have a fastpass in order to be able to do rider switch..

 

[shadeauxe]

Technically, I believe you have to wait in the standby line in order to use rider swap. Maybe they are not very consistent about enforcing this, but that is what I was told by a cast member.

 

[skittlesrock]

Technically, I believe you have to wait in the standby line in order to use rider swap. Maybe they are not very consistent about enforcing this, but that is what I was told by a cast member.

So you're saying parents with small children are not allowed to makes fastpass choices to the rides that small children can't ride??!!
You weren't very clear in your answer

 

[doconeill]

So should I assume you can do this and switch all my fastpasses yet again?? I would hate to get to an attraction and the CM say "oh sorry but the both of you have to have a fastpass in order to be able to do rider switch..

It's up to you, not me. But unlike with regular FP, I think it is harder for them to verify that the other adult has a valid FP+ without scanning, and I'm not sure how they'd scan it without them believing you are entering the line.

Technically, I believe you have to wait in the standby line in order to use rider swap. Maybe they are not very consistent about enforcing this, but that is what I was told by a cast member.

According to _very_ knowledgeable CMs (including trainer CMs) I've talked to, there is no actual policy on what line you can used when using Rider Switch. CMs who insist the other adult also have a Fastpass were not doing so by any proscribed procedure.

 

[shadeauxe]

According to _very_ knowledgeable CMs (including trainer CMs) I've talked to, there is no actual policy on what line you can used when using Rider Switch. CMs who insist the other adult also have a Fastpass were not doing so by any proscribed procedure.

Ok, that's just what I was told when we did rider swap in April of last year.

 

[morethananyonex]

It's up to you, not me. But unlike with regular FP, I think it is harder for them to verify that the other adult has a valid FP+ without scanning, and I'm not sure how they'd scan it without them believing you are entering the line. According to _very_ knowledgeable CMs (including trainer CMs) I've talked to, there is no actual policy on what line you can used when using Rider Switch. CMs who insist the other adult also have a Fastpass were not doing so by any proscribed procedure.

With all your knowledge, if you were in a situation where you could utilize RS to get around the tiers would you do it or would you consider the chance of it not working too high?

Still unsure of what we should do. In order for it to work for us we need the swap ticket to get 3 people in not 2.

 

[shadeauxe]

So you're saying parents with small children are not allowed to makes fastpass choices to the rides that small children can't ride??!!
You weren't very clear in your answer

See a later post where someone contradicts what I said.

When I was there in April, we had fast passes and could use them, but we were not allowed to use them and get a rider swap card. They directed the first group of riders through the standby line instead. This happened on more than one ride in more than one park.

 

[doconeill]

Ok, that's just what I was told when we did rider swap in April of last year.

Yup, that seems to come up every so often. But many others are able to do it without issue.

With all your knowledge, if you were in a situation where you could utilize RS to get around the tiers would you do it or would you consider the chance of it not working too high?

Still unsure of what we should do. In order for it to work for us we need the swap ticket to get 3 people in not 2.

Personally, I think trying to split the FP+ up and coordinate times, etc. is not worth the effort. But I'm also more laid back in my touring style as well. And if you're dealing with three or more riders, splitting FP+s can end up with odd numbers and in some cases someone else can ride twice, in others you can't, etc.

I would just do the Rider Switch at the attractions I don't get FP+ for.

 

[summermac]

Technically, I believe you have to wait in the standby line in order to use rider swap. Maybe they are not very consistent about enforcing this, but that is what I was told by a cast member.

We never had to ride standby to get a rider swap. We all went to the FP line and asked for a rider swap. Then one adult took my daughter elsewhere and after we were done riding, the one member who didn't have a FP now used the rider swap to enter the ride queue with how many ever people were permitted on the rider swap plus the person who had stayed behind. This allowed at least 2 people to get a 2nd ride on every attraction that my daughter was too short for and sometimes three people b/c a couple of times my mom stayed behind with her as she was scared to ride anyway. Yeah, we bucked the system. LOL

 

[morethananyonex]

Personally, I think trying to split the FP+ up and coordinate times, etc. is not worth the effort. But I'm also more laid back in my touring style as well. And if you're dealing with three or more riders, splitting FP+s can end up with odd numbers and in some cases someone else can ride twice, in others you can't, etc.

I would just do the Rider Switch at the attractions I don't get FP+ for.

If the RS gives 3 people the ability to ride it works for our party that everyone could ride either with a FP+ or RS, but I think we're thinking along the lines of what you said, it's too much trouble, and we're worried about risking all of us getting to ride if the CMs don't allow us to do what we would have to do. Oh well, at least half our party may get bonus rides on whichever one we hold FP+ for.

 

[Lolsmum]

Just checking, rider swap technically only works with kids who are too short to ride, right?

My son is nowhere near too short, but he's a huge chicken and on top of that has a strong tendency towards motion sickness so the few roller coasters he has tried have almost all led to a sick child.

My husband and I are just going to have to trade off skipping rides while the other goes with our daughter, aren't we? We'd like to have the chance to each ride with her on some rides and not have my son waiting around for hours while we do it, but we can live without it.

 

[disneymomma2]

Just checking, rider swap technically only works with kids who are too short to ride, right?

My son is nowhere near too short, but he's a huge chicken and on top of that has a strong tendency towards motion sickness so the few roller coasters he has tried have almost all led to a sick child.

My husband and I are just going to have to trade off skipping rides while the other goes with our daughter, aren't we? We'd like to have the chance to each ride with her on some rides and not have my son waiting around for hours while we do it, but we can live without it.

You can do rider swap with your child who doesn't want to ride. Your other child can ride twice, once with each parent. No need to skip rides, just ask the ride attendant at the beginning of the ride to get. Rider switch card. Make sure you all are there when you ask.