How many kids get back in with rider swap?

[Ava]

That's horrible to make them wait in line. My nephew would have a meltdown if he had to do that!

The poster I was quoting has a 9-year-old non-rider. I would in no way expect or advocate making a young child wait in a long line for a ride you know he won't ride, but for a child who is old enough to understand choices and compromise I don't think it's terrible to have them walk through the FP line or do a short wait so the rest of the group can ride something that they enjoy. Most of the ride queues themselves are pretty cool at WDW so the wait would not be completely boring, and (if it were my child) I'd then let him choose the next ride for the family. Even my 5-year-old can understand that the whole trip doesn't revolve around her, and every member of the family gets to do things that they enjoy. Sometimes that means others need to wait, or do things they don't necessarily want to do, but that's part of being in a family.

 

[Jaime4004]

The poster I was quoting has a 9-year-old non-rider. I would in no way expect or advocate making a young child wait in a long line for a ride you know he won't ride, but for a child who is old enough to understand choices and compromise I don't think it's terrible to have them walk through the FP line or do a short wait so the rest of the group can ride something that they enjoy. Most of the ride queues themselves are pretty cool at WDW so the wait would not be completely boring, and (if it were my child) I'd then let him choose the next ride for the family. Even my 5-year-old can understand that the whole trip doesn't revolve around her, and every member of the family gets to do things that they enjoy. Sometimes that means others need to wait, or do things they don't necessarily want to do, but that's part of being in a family.

Same philosophy here. The kids know we're doing most rides together, as a family, and no one is the center of the universe. Anyone who doesn't want to ride, will wait. We are also not talking about super long lines - I don't want to wait in those either! Waiting in line won't bother DS9 anyway, he'll just be relieved that he doesn't have to ride. He's my most easy going kid.

 

[staceyeileen]

FWIW, my 7yo nephew went through the line at 7DMT this last weekend only to chicken out at the loading area. His dad was given a FP ticket (I assume it was a rider swap ticket but I didn't actually see it) to come back at a later time.

Side note - he actually brought the 7yo back in with him the 2nd time because he swore he really did want to ride it this time. He chickened out again. LOL

 

[cakebaker]

I wouldn't have a problem with taking an older child through the line when they don't want to ride, but for the younger ones like my grandson who is just 3, they're not old enough to understand that they have to go thru the line but don't get to ride. There's nothing he isn't willing to try, it's us that are keeping him back.

Qualified or not, he's not getting on TOT. He hates dark, but doesn't realize what he's getting into. He rode HM and then promptly refused to get on IASW because he was afraid- this after riding Barnstormer and SDMT multiple times. Hopefully we won't run into that issue.

 

[volfan1978]

Ok, hypothetical question...are CM's required to issue a rider switch pass if the requirements of the program are met? In other words, say I get to Splash Mountain at rope drop and it's completely empty--and I have a 15 month old. If there's no line, will they still issue a rider switch pass? If so, let's say I take the rest of the kids on the ride and the wifey stays with the baby--so she gets a pass. When I get off the ride, if the standby line is still short can she just pocket the rider switch pass, take the kids to ride via standby line, and get another rider switch pass since I'd be staying behind with the baby this time? Then we'd have two passes to come back and use later in the day when it's hot and lines are insane.

I know that sounds like a really sleazy question, but I'm just trying to understand the possibilities...

 

[aaarcher86]

He rode HM and then promptly refused to get on IASW because he was afraid

Smart kid! Great instincts!

 

[cakebaker]

Smart kid! Great instincts!

True! It just would've been nice if he'd made that decision before it was time to load him in the boat. A 2 yr old screaming at the top of his lungs-"No nana, don't make me go, I'm scared!!!", when he'd given no indication he had a problem up until that moment, was a bit embarrasing. lol

 

[cakebaker]

Ok, hypothetical question...are CM's required to issue a rider switch pass if the requirements of the program are met? In other words, say I get to Splash Mountain at rope drop and it's completely empty--and I have a 15 month old. If there's no line, will they still issue a rider switch pass? If so, let's say I take the rest of the kids on the ride and the wifey stays with the baby--so she gets a pass. When I get off the ride, if the standby line is still short can she just pocket the rider switch pass, take the kids to ride via standby line, and get another rider switch pass since I'd be staying behind with the baby this time? Then we'd have two passes to come back and use later in the day when it's hot and lines are insane.

I know that sounds like a really sleazy question, but I'm just trying to understand the possibilities...

Doesn't matter what the lines are like. You're entitled to a rider switch pass. Once you have the pass, when you use it is up to you as long as it's before the expiration time printed on the pass.

 

[Ava]

Ok, hypothetical question...are CM's required to issue a rider switch pass if the requirements of the program are met? In other words, say I get to Splash Mountain at rope drop and it's completely empty--and I have a 15 month old. If there's no line, will they still issue a rider switch pass? If so, let's say I take the rest of the kids on the ride and the wifey stays with the baby--so she gets a pass. When I get off the ride, if the standby line is still short can she just pocket the rider switch pass, take the kids to ride via standby line, and get another rider switch pass since I'd be staying behind with the baby this time? Then we'd have two passes to come back and use later in the day when it's hot and lines are insane.

I know that sounds like a really sleazy question, but I'm just trying to understand the possibilities...

You can get a rider switch pass no matter how long the line is, however I don't know that you'll be able to pocket the pass and go request another one. It will likely be the same CM at the ride entrance both times, and if it's not busy they will probably remember that they just gave your family a pass a few minutes ago. (Also, to me that is abusing the system.)

 

[cakebaker]

When I get off the ride, if the standby line is still short can she just pocket the rider switch pass, take the kids to ride via standby line, and get another rider switch pass since I'd be staying behind with the baby this time?

I totally mis-read this. I thought you were asking if you could ride stand by and use the rider switch later.

No, you could not do that. 1) It's an abuse of the rider switch pass. They can put you out of the park for violating those kinds of rules. Not saying they will, but they can. 2) There aren't that many people asking for rider switch passes, especially in the morning when it's not busy. You have to bring the baby when you get the pass so the CM can see they actually exist. The CM will undoubtedly remember you and you'll be caught.

I'm all for using rider switch pass to it's full advantage. But I also am just as firmly against abusing it. It's abusing perks like these that cause us all to lose them. So just don't do it. It should be enough that getting the switch allows some in your party to re-ride.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Obviously the disboards is only a small subset of the total disney vacationers but I don't think a lot of families posting here use less fast passes because of rider swap-based on previous threads I've seen here I realize that many advocate using it to get around the tiering system at epcot (1/2 of your party gets fast pass for soarin and 1/2 for test track then rider swap to use fast pass for both) and using it to get multiple rides on headliners at MK like SM and 7DMT by making separate fast pass windows and requesting rider swap both times-as a PP mentioned RS passes do not have to be used right away so it can/is being used by guests to game the system just like SDFP-I do have a toddler just under 40 inches so we do know how hard it can be to tour the parks-I just think that like everything else disney does people find a way to abuse/over utilize the privilege

I think one problem and the reason why not everyone needs the FP is that you run the risk of the waiting member's FP being invalid depending on when you arrive for the window and how long things take. So by not requiring it except for the first members to go in seems to be the present solution.

 

[Dis703]

Do we have to use the rider switch right away or can we use it later in the day?

They typically have an expiration date at the end of the month so you can use it anytime before it expires. We used most of ours on different days.

 

[Dis703]

Duplicate post. Sorry not sure how to delete.

 

[cakebaker]

I think one problem and the reason why not everyone needs the FP is that you run the risk of the waiting member's FP being invalid depending on when you arrive for the window and how long things take. So by not requiring it except for the first members to go in seems to be the present solution.

I agree, also if everyone was required to have a fp+, there would be no need for a rider switch pass. The only benefit would be that the parent staying back could ride with the child again.

 

[CMNJ]

I think one problem and the reason why not everyone needs the FP is that you run the risk of the waiting member's FP being invalid depending on when you arrive for the window and how long things take. So by not requiring it except for the first members to go in seems to be the present solution.

I agree I think that's why Disney has it the way they do-my point was just that just like the other loop holes disney has inadvertently created (sdfp with ticketless magic bands, throwaway rooms, etc) people take advantage of the loophole then claim they are "just following disney's rules"-I wasn't debating if disney should have rider swap-I think it is a great thing to offer parents of small children so that they can both enjoy rides with height requirements.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree I think that's why Disney has it the way they do-my point was just that just like the other loop holes disney has inadvertently created (sdfp with ticketless magic bands, throwaway rooms, etc) people take advantage of the loophole then claim they are "just following disney's rules"-I wasn't debating if disney should have rider swap-I think it is a great thing to offer parents of small children so that they can both enjoy rides with height requirements.

Understood.

I only wish they had it on TSMM--if for anything, I don't think it is safe for very young babies with poor neck control.

I get why they don't. But I just won't take a young baby on it.

 

[Ava]

Disney could require all eligible riders to scan a FP+ at the ride entrance before they issue the Rider Switch pass - the group who rides using the pass doesn't need to scan their FP again, so it wouldn't matter if the FP window had expired or not by the time they come back to use the pass.

It's nice that they don't require it, though, because it allows the waiting adult and small child to have a FP for a different ride at the same time.

 

[cakebaker]

Disney could require all eligible riders to scan a FP+ at the ride entrance before they issue the Rider Switch pass - the group who rides using the pass doesn't need to scan their FP again, so it wouldn't matter if the FP window had expired or not by the time they come back to use the pass.

But what's the point of having the rider switch pass if everyone has to have a fp+?

 

[CMNJ]

But what's the point of having the rider switch pass if everyone has to have a fp+?

So that you wouldn't have to worry about the second half of your party missing your fast pass window and also so that they don't have to ride alone
Plus ride switch applies to the standby line as well

 

[CMNJ]

It's nice that they don't require it, though, because it allows the waiting adult and small child to have a FP for a different ride at the same time.

I think this may also be a reason that they don't require the remaining adult to scan their fast pass-so that the small child can still have the benefit of using their 3 fast passes per day despite the rest of the family members going on those big rides-not so that the rest of the family can essentially get double fast passes by splitting up their fast passes and using rider swap