How strict are they on height requirements for child swap?

[KimR]

The good news is this is our very first trip where everyone is tall enough to ride most of the rides (DD is now 40 inches!) and we will ALL be able to ride many of the rides together - so much fun!!! But the BAD news is that my DD is rather timid when it comes to rides and while right now she is saying she wants to ride everything she is tall enough to ride I have a feeling that when it comes time to actually ride, she will chicken out.

I know technically, the baby swap is only allowed if you have a child who does not make the height requirement as opposed to one that just doesn't want to. I'm wondering though, how strict on this are they really? I only ever remember once when the CM actually asked to see our DD before he would give us our child swat passes - this was at Test Track. I was surprised because it seems that usually they just give them to us, no questions asked, although the CMs might have noted DDs height on the other instances and I just wasn't paying attention. Will we still be able to use the child swap option? Now I can see that DD being 40 inches may not be such a good thing after all - that child swap has come in handy on past trips!

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

We did the child swap on EE and my DD was plenty tall to ride, but was too afraid. They didn't question it at all. You shouldn't have a problem.

 

[milmore104]

I used CS a lot during our laast trip and DD was just barely tall enough but didn't want to ride a lot of them. I never once had anyone question me. I usually just wlak up and ask for a CS ticket and they hand me one! But if this is the case I would suggest getting fast passes.

 

[bicker]

They were extremely meticulous with us. It was actually annoying, since DN1.5 didn't understand why she had to go all the way up to the entry of the attraction, where she could see others were excitedly going in, only to have to turn around and walk back out (so the CM could physically hand the child swap ticket to daddy, instead of having one of the rest of us walk the ticket over to him). YMMV.

 

[cleo]

You can use Child Swap for any reason, or no reason at all. There are no restrictions regarding 'why' you use it.

 

[bicker]

We were told something different by the CMs staffing the entry at Space Mountain, in January.

 

[cleo]

Isn't that just the way of it? We've used it many, many (MANY!) times without ever being asked 'why'. But I fully believe some CM somewhere got it 'round their neck that you had to have a 'good reason'.

Sheesh.

 

[LMC]

We did have a CM at space mtn tell us once that he needed to see our DS who was 3 or 4 at the time and under 40". I was off with sleeping DS walking around so he was not there for the CM to see when DH went on the ride w/ DD. Was also told that kids being afraid was not a reason for child swap as we've had those issues too.
You can always use the "my kid gets motion sickness" and I could take him/her on but then someone will be cleaning up after him. We have one of these type kids too, alot of issues, motion sickness being one of them. I think they would rather not have to stop the ride to clean up yuck and they will just give the swap ticket. I know I'm not cleaning it up if they force the issue of ds riding!
In December, most of the time they issued the swap but in instances where they wouldn't I would show DS's GAC and get the swap ticket.

 

[tjmw2727]

Our experience in December 05 and last week was that the child had to be with you when doing the swap and unable to ride due to the height restriction.

As explained to me and my sister in law: "The purpose of the parent/guardian swap is not to lessen the wait but to allow a family with a child who dosen't meet the requirements to only wait once rather than twice". Once a child can ride then its a choice and not a restriction." Loosely quoted but to the point of what two cm's told us. So basicly if the child can ride then the swap is probably not an option depending on the CM.

It seemed on this past weeks trip that the CM's were being more strict with the parent swap passes, which was fine with us!

If you have a child who meets the height restriction but chooses not to ride your best option is using fast pass and splitting up. My oldest dosen't like TOT but my youngest does. Instead of trying to use parent swap we just split up, dh and dd ride TOT while dd and I see BaTB and meet up later.

Have Fun
TJ

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Sorry this is a little OT, but I have never used CS before. I thought that the family, in my case, DH, me and DS2 all stood in line and just told the CM that we wanted to do the CS. I didn't know we needed a ticket. Could someone explain to me how this works I am confused.

TIA

 

[tjmw2727]

Sorry this is a little OT, but I have never used CS before. I thought that the family, in my case, DH, me and DS2 all stood in line and just told the CM that we wanted to do the CS. I didn't know we needed a ticket. Could someone explain to me how this works I am confused.

TIA

That used to be the case and still is on a few attractions. Others issue a parent/guardian swap ticket, much like a fast pass instead. Here is my version of parent swap 101:

My advice on parent swap is to tell the CM at the attraction before you enter the line that you want to use child 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 so everyone must enter or 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 still does 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 line and ask to use parent swap. The CM will give you the pass and the parent riding second and the baby can then leave to do something else while the first party rides. 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" not to expeidate the wait. We just returned last week and I heard several parents badgering CM's with "we have a baby I was told we can get right on". Remember that parent swap isn't fast pass but just an attempt to help families with young children avoid a double wait.

Easy to use, difficult to explain!! Just remember to ask every time as it can vary even on the same attraction depending on the CM working the line.

HTH
TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

They were extremely meticulous with us. It was actually annoying, since DN1.5 didn't understand why she had to go all the way up to the entry of the attraction, where she could see others were excitedly going in, only to have to turn around and walk back out (so the CM could physically hand the child swap ticket to daddy, instead of having one of the rest of us walk the ticket over to him). YMMV.

Us too! My 2yo neice thinks she is 5 and can do anything her brother and cousins (my dd's) can do. I will say though, its better than having them wait the line with you and then switch at the exit as used to be the case and was the case at Star Tours. That was torture enough so that we used FP and spit up the next day we rode so dear neice didn't have to endure!!

TJ

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

That used to be the case and still is on a few attractions. Others issue a parent/guardian swap ticket, much like a fast pass instead. Here is my version of parent swap 101:

My advice on parent swap is to tell the CM at the attraction before you enter the line that you want to use child 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 so everyone must enter or 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 still does 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 line and ask to use parent swap. The CM will give you the pass and the parent riding second and the baby can then leave to do something else while the first party rides. 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" not to expeidate the wait. We just returned last week and I heard several parents badgering CM's with "we have a baby I was told we can get right on". Remember that parent swap isn't fast pass but just an attempt to help families with young children avoid a double wait.

Easy to use, difficult to explain!! Just remember to ask every time as it can vary even on the same attraction depending on the CM working the line.

HTH
TJ

Thanks TJ that does help!

 

[bicker]

I heard several parents badgering CM's with "we have a baby I was told we can get right on".

And I think this is the core of the problem. I believe baby swap may soon become another casualty of abuse by guests who use it for benefits it isn't intended to provide.

 

[Schmeck]

When Disney restricts access to a ride through height requirements, they kindly allow the child swap. Of course there are those that try to abuse this system, so the CMs need to see the ineligible child first.

When a child becomes tall enough to ride, then there is no restriction for that child to ride, and thus Disney may not offer child swap. You can try to talk the CM into giving in, with some mild threats of vomit, etc, but don't expect to be given the pass. (You just get put in the 'obnoxious' category for guests. )

 

[pepperw23]

We did Child Swap when DD was 10...lol. You should be good to go.

 

[tjmw2727]

And I think this is the core of the problem. I believe baby swap may soon become another casualty of abuse by guests who use it for benefits it isn't intended to provide.

Yes - ITA but I hope not. My dd's are way past us needing it but it was nice when we did - even waiting at the exit with the baby/toddler was better thna two waits or skipping a ride. Now my sil and bil are discovering Disney with my neice and nephew and it has been wonderful for our family together and we try not to take advantage and use FP as much as we can.

So even though we don't need it any more and my sil/bil won't need it much longer I hope that it can be managed in a way that keeps it in place. Most families don't want to skip the line - but if they can find a way to wait only once per family that is a nice treat.

(Ot but HI to MA - I miss ie, we recently moved from Wakefield to Delaware so hi from a former MA resident - at least it's a bit warmer here - sometimes LOL)

TJ

 

[bicker]

Most families don't want to skip the line

Well, they do, but I know what you're saying...

but if they can find a way to wait only once per family that is a nice treat.

I think the key would be to cut down the benefit:

First, only two people should get to ride the second time instead of the current three.

Second, the baby swap pass itself, still issued by a CM, but using a machine, and is timestamped with a one hour deadline. (There is probably a way, with a complicated two-pass process [the baby swap pass and a "swap validation pass"], to have the one hour deadline start when the folks who rode the ride first get off the ride, but I doubt people would find such a system better.)

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We've had to do the baby swap on many occasions. Ds just turned 40" this last trip in January. Before that we always asked for a child swap and they never asked to see ds. In January when we got on soaring dd (7 and about 43" tall) got really scared and starting crying. A kind CM came over and let DH take her off the ride before it started and gave him a baby swap for himself and the other two kids who were on the ride. Hope this helps.

 

[LMC]

Some of my DS's disabilities include Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Vestibular Occular Dysfunction and Dyspraxia. So I'm not being mildy obnoxious when I say he will get motion sick I am being realistic. I can't get in a car and drive 30 min's w/o a puke bucket or even walk into a restaurant w/o him getting sick if he finds the smells offensive (ask the folks at the mexican restaurant in Epcot about us freaks (me and DS) who where there at the end of December who spent the entire lunch time in the bathroom for him puking while the other kids were eating w/ my sister). Then our gracious waiter sat DS at another table (which meant he was giving up another customer and tip) away from food so I could actually eat my lunch. I am not abusing the system, DS has a disability, would you want to get on a ride right after him if he just got sick? I would think they would shut the ride down long enough to clean up then that would inconvenience how many people? I think I am being VERY considerate in not taking my DS on these rides I know will make him sick. That way the CM's aren't cleaning it up and the guests are not delayed in getting to ride.
So anyone can think what they want but until they've walked in my shoes.....

When Disney restricts access to a ride through height requirements, they kindly allow the child swap. Of course there are those that try to abuse this system, so the CMs need to see the ineligible child first.

When a child becomes tall enough to ride, then there is no restriction for that child to ride, and thus Disney may not offer child swap. You can try to talk the CM into giving in, with some mild threats of vomit, etc, but don't expect to be given the pass. (You just get put in the 'obnoxious' category for guests. )