How strict for child swap?

[juliekzp]

I know that child swap is only for kids who aren't tall enough to ride (as opposed to just not wanting to ride), but how strict are the CMs? Will they actually measure your little one? Or is it enough just to have a smallish kid?

My 3-year-old is very tall but won't want to ride the faster rides (big brother's favorites), so I'm wondering if child swap is an option.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

My son was measured at SDMT and Soarin but not on the other rides.

 

[juliekzp]

Measured to make sure he was too short? Bummer.

 

[MataHari22]

I know that child swap is only for kids who aren't tall enough to ride (as opposed to just not wanting to ride), but how strict are the CMs? Will they actually measure your little one? Or is it enough just to have a smallish kid?

My 3-year-old is very tall but won't want to ride the faster rides (big brother's favorites), so I'm wondering if child swap is an option.

I have never used Rider Switch, but from what I have read, it is not just only for kids who are not tall enough to ride. So, I looked on the WDW website and found this:


"This handy feature allows adult Guests to take turns waiting with youngsters or Guests unable to ride.

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.


Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. See a Cast Member at the attraction for more information.

To Use Rider Switch:

1. Check that Rider Switch is offered at the attraction in question by asking a Cast Member.

2. Enter the normal queue with your entire party. At least one adult member of your party and the Guest who will not be riding will then be issued a Rider Switch Pass and asked to wait in a designated area. This group is “Party 2.”

3. The remaining party members, “Party 1,” ride the attraction.

4. After riding the attraction, Party 1 locates Party 2. The non-rider is then “switched” to Party 1.

5. Party 2 enters without having to wait in the regular queue a second time and boards the attraction. The Rider Switch Pass must be presented to a Cast Member at this time.

If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note: Only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass."


Source:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

 

[Dbktmc]

We used the child swap at SDMT in June. We actually had fast passes for all three of us but my 3 year old became afraid as soon as we arrived at the front of the line. I explained to the cast members what happened and they were very angry with me. I explained my situation (that my 3 year old was terrified and didn't want to ride) to the first cast member and she snapped at me telling me that I should have told the cast member at the fast pass entrance. I tried to explain that I didn't realize that he would be afraid but she was very angry and snapped at me to "go wait over there." My husband and I went to the area she pointed to and waited for another cast member to arrive. This cast member held us to the side and told the original member that we could ride. I got on first while my husband waited with our son. When we swapped positions I asked another cast member where I should wait. She also snapped at me, rolled her eyes and walked away.

Truthfully, we have never been treated so poorly at Disney before and we have made many, many trips. I would suggest either telling the cast member at the beginning that there may be a problem if you anticipate one. I just didn't anticipate it and was really taken aback by the anger we encountered.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Measured to make sure he was too short? Bummer.

Yes, he was measured to make sure he was under the height requirement. BTMRR and Splash did not ask to measure him, you can always give it a try.

 

[Jaya]

They're pretty strict. They insisted that I take MY OWN child back, can you imagine? Obviously, they don't understand the concept of "swapping"; you're supposed to aim for something better than what you had. Darn. I was hoping for one of those Diser's kids who have a high IQ, are in at least five AP classes and never, never eat candy or talk back to their parents. Double darn.

 

[wishinon3stars]

They're pretty strict. They insisted that I take MY OWN child back, can you imagine? Obviously, they don't understand the concept of "swapping"; you're supposed to aim for something better than what you had. Darn. I was hoping for one of those Diser's kids who have a high IQ, are in at least five AP classes and never, never eat candy or talk back to their parents. Double darn.

 

[Alesia]

I have never used Rider Switch, but from what I have read, it is not just only for kids who are not tall enough to ride. So, I looked on the WDW website and found this:


"This handy feature allows adult Guests to take turns waiting with youngsters or Guests unable to ride.

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.


Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. See a Cast Member at the attraction for more information.

To Use Rider Switch:

1. Check that Rider Switch is offered at the attraction in question by asking a Cast Member.

2. Enter the normal queue with your entire party. At least one adult member of your party and the Guest who will not be riding will then be issued a Rider Switch Pass and asked to wait in a designated area. This group is “Party 2.”

3. The remaining party members, “Party 1,” ride the attraction.

4. After riding the attraction, Party 1 locates Party 2. The non-rider is then “switched” to Party 1.

5. Party 2 enters without having to wait in the regular queue a second time and boards the attraction. The Rider Switch Pass must be presented to a Cast Member at this time.

If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note: Only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass."


Source:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

Sadly, you can never, ever trust anything you read on the Disney website.

This is absolutely not how rider switch actually works.

 

[MataHari22]

Sadly, you can never, ever trust anything you read on the Disney website.

This is absolutely not how rider switch actually works.

Well, that sucks. Not to mention frustrating for the people who read that, and then try to use it based on what they have in writing. Makes no sense.

 

[Alesia]

Well, that sucks. Not to mention frustrating for the people who read that, and then try to use it based on what they have in writing. Makes no sense.

Agreed.

 

[stormer]

They made my son get out of his stroller and measure him at EE. I don't remember him being measured anywhere else.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have never used Rider Switch, but from what I have read, it is not just only for kids who are not tall enough to ride. So, I looked on the WDW website and found this:


"This handy feature allows adult Guests to take turns waiting with youngsters or Guests unable to ride.

About 2 years ago now that hit the website. It had never been described like that before. And it's not how it works. I'm not sure who put it up, who wrote it out, who approved it, etc, but it is NOT how the CMs are trained.

What everyone needs to do is take it to Guest Services at the parks so that someone higher up starts noticing the complaints. If everyone just keeps their complaints here or at individual CMs at the rides, it won't go anywhere. But taking it to GS will eventually DO something.

We used the child swap at SDMT in June. We actually had fast passes for all three of us but my 3 year old became afraid as soon as we arrived at the front of the line. I explained to the cast members what happened and they were very angry with me. I explained my situation (that my 3 year old was terrified and didn't want to ride) to the first cast member and she snapped at me telling me that I should have told the cast member at the fast pass entrance. I tried to explain that I didn't realize that he would be afraid but she was very angry and snapped at me to "go wait over there." My husband and I went to the area she pointed to and waited for another cast member to arrive. This cast member held us to the side and told the original member that we could ride. I got on first while my husband waited with our son. When we swapped positions I asked another cast member where I should wait. She also snapped at me, rolled her eyes and walked away.

Truthfully, we have never been treated so poorly at Disney before and we have made many, many trips. I would suggest either telling the cast member at the beginning that there may be a problem if you anticipate one. I just didn't anticipate it and was really taken aback by the anger we encountered.

Something was going on with them or with the perception of the situation. They shold have been GLAD that you weren't forcing him on. When DS decided halfway through the line for Dinosaur that there was NO way he was going on it, and when I listened to him and asked a CM for the exit, they were overjoyed that I wasn't forcing him on. They gave me a FP for later on so that I didn't have to wait in line again, showed me the exit, and told us where to wait for DH.

Holding to the side, however, isn't the normal way swap is done, so if they were feeling like they had to go against policy or their training it would make sense they were stressed, but if they were doing that they were *choosing* to do it at that point.

 

[svecchitto]

When we went last time we did a swap and we were treated like it was such a major inconvenience. I am hoping this time around will be smoother but I will say I'm worried. Worst case I'd pull up the Disney website and show them the info

 

[MagicalMomma6]

When our kids were little, they almost always measured them for the Rider Swap pass.

 

[AgletWDW]

This is disheartening to read. We plan on using the kid swap on our upcoming trip since DD is only 37.25 inches tall. Believe me I'm sure she would love to ride, since she is a little dare devil.

 

[alh2011]

About 2 years ago now that hit the website. It had never been described like that before. And it's not how it works. I'm not sure who put it up, who wrote it out, who approved it, etc, but it is NOT how the CMs are trained.

What everyone needs to do is take it to Guest Services at the parks so that someone higher up starts noticing the complaints. If everyone just keeps their complaints here or at individual CMs at the rides, it won't go anywhere. But taking it to GS will eventually DO something.

I will definitely be going to guest services if have any issues with rider swap. I plan to have a copy of the policy with me. We go in Sept and I plan to use rider swap. My son will just be be tall enough but isn't into the thrill rides. So I plan to use swap for "the child who doesn't want to ride" reason. I'm hoping the CMs will be nice about it but if not I will ask for a manager. If I'm expected to follow their written policies they should also be expected too!!

 

[cakebaker]

We actually never had them measure my grandson when asking for a switch pass. They wanted to see him, but no measuring except at rides he was actually going to ride. We also made use of the rider switch pass on one trip when he was tall enough to ride, but we thought he was not ready. He's very tall for his age and at 2 1/2 could've ridden things we knew he couldn't handle.

I was prepared to push the issue because imo, Disney should be held to the policies and terms they publish. I don't know and I don't care how the CM's are trained. What I know is what they tell me their policies are and I expect them to follow them. I didn't have to because no one gave us a hard time about it.

As for rude CM's- it's great to vent here, but I'd never be treated as some are describing here without a visit to guest services.

 

[alh2011]

We actually never had them measure my grandson when asking for a switch pass. They wanted to see him, but no measuring except at rides he was actually going to ride. We also made use of the rider switch pass on one trip when he was tall enough to ride, but we thought he was not ready. He's very tall for his age and at 2 1/2 could've ridden things we knew he couldn't handle.

I was prepared to push the issue because imo, Disney should be held to the policies and terms they publish. I don't know and I don't care how the CM's are trained. What I know is what they tell me their policies are and I expect them to follow them. I didn't have to because no one gave us a hard time about it.

As for rude CM's- it's great to vent here, but I'd never be treated as some are describing here without a visit to guest services.

Amen!!!!!

 

[disnut8]

We actually never had them measure my grandson when asking for a switch pass. They wanted to see him, but no measuring except at rides he was actually going to ride. We also made use of the rider switch pass on one trip when he was tall enough to ride, but we thought he was not ready. He's very tall for his age and at 2 1/2 could've ridden things we knew he couldn't handle.

I was prepared to push the issue because imo, Disney should be held to the policies and terms they publish. I don't know and I don't care how the CM's are trained. What I know is what they tell me their policies are and I expect them to follow them. I didn't have to because no one gave us a hard time about it.

As for rude CM's- it's great to vent here, but I'd never be treated as some are describing here without a visit to guest services.

And all that is good but please don't vent on the Cast Members at Guest Relations because they have nothing to do with what is published on the website. The people who are publishing on the website probably have never been to a Disney park. So, if you "go off" on a Cast Member who is doing their job to try and make a live customer happy, well, that's not good either.

An example - I had to file for unemployment for a few months so weekly visits to the website were necessary. On one screen, I had to enter my SSN with dashes. On the next screen, no dashes or you would have to refile. Stupid, right? However, the designers of the first screen weren't even in the same building as the designers of the second screen. Weren't even in the same state.