How to handle child swap....

[BlueChariot]

So, we've been to DL several times (even once while I was pregnant), but never with our baby girl. This year will be a first. At the time of our trip DD, will be 16 months, so obviously there are things she will not be able to ride.

At the same time, since we only go to DL once per year, we really want to get our fill ride wise. We've had conflicting experiences with child swap at WDW. For example, we got two FPs for Star Tours and wanted to use child swap so that we only used one FP at a time (does that make any sense?), but the CM refused to give us a child swap card because we already had two FPs...

Anywho... any tips for child swap at DL?? How does it work at rides like the MH that do not have FPs???

 

[KTR]

We used child swap a bunch on our last trip in April. Whether or not we had FPs had no impact on how child swap worked. We showed the cast member our baby, he/she handed us the child swap pass and then whoever was going entered whichever line was appropriate (FP or standby) based on if we had FPs or not. It worked that way for all rides. We did Matterhorn differently, we all waited in line and then I held the baby at the loading area while everyone rode and then I passed him off and rode with my daughter.

 

[kirstie101]

Last year in DCA we had fast passes for Soarin and we were still given the child swap pass. I even asked the CM if we could use the fast pass and get the child swap pass for DH. He said we could. So I got in the fast pass line first using my fast pass, then when my ride was done and I took the baby, DH got in the fast pass line using the child swap pass and we had a fast pass left to use later (which we never got around to). I dont know if this is how it is always done or not.

I dont remember if we rode any rides using the child swap, that didn't have a fast pass line. I'm interested to hear the answers though!

 

[Love Tink]

Our experience at WDW has been that you can't get a rider switch pass if you are going in the FP line. But during my research for our DL trip last month, I had read (and then double checked) that you are allowed to use rider switch with FP there.

So we tried it on California Screamin' - I told the CM that we needed a rider switch pass and he asked, "Are you going through the Fastpass line?" I told him we were, and he gave us a special lanyard to exchange for the rider switch passes when we got to the loading area.

So, in my experience, it is true. You can use the rider switch with FP at DL. It really means you can basically ride the thrill rides whenever you want with no wait, if you plan carefully.

If the ride doesn't have rider switch (like Matterhorn or TSMM), just ask the CM at the entrance and they will work with you to figure something out.

 

[BayAreaMom]

I'm not sure if I used the Rider Switch correctly on my last trip two weeks ago.
We got 3 FPs for ST. We are a family of four, with 2 adults, 2 kids ages 5 & 2. Obviously, the 2 year old couldn't ride ST.

I was with my 5 year old and had the 3 ST FPs, went to the CM at the FP entrance, and said that my DH wanted to ride with the 5 yo but couldn't because he was with our 2 yo (note he was NOT there at the time). I showed the CM that we had 3 FPs and he gave us the Rider Switch Card. The two of us went on ST, and handed in 2 of our 3 FPs.

Then I met DH, and he took our 5 yo on ST again, handing in the 1 remaining FP and the Rider Switch card.

So with this, my 5 yo did get to ride twice with just 1 original FP.

 

[annadette]

My DH and I were there last may when our daughters were 7 years old, and 12 months old. The baby came on tons of rides with us- I think we rode Pirates and HM about 20 times each with the baby, so don't worry too much about not being lots you can do with the baby. That having been said, when it came to California Screamin, Indiana Jones and Space Moutain, we knew we had to switch off with the baby. So we got our fast passes (I always got one for each of us, so 3 of them) When we got to the line, we got a rider switch pass and got into the fastpass line (me and DD7) - they'd take our fastpasses as normal and then after the ride, my DH would reenter the ride with our daughter to ride again - don't think they took his fastpass from him then, as the switch pass acts as a fastpass for the adult and child. We always ended up with each of us riding once, our DD riding twice and an extra fastpass to use if we wanted to later. It is a great system to use along with the fastpasses, and we always used it with every ride that we couldn't take the baby on - never had a problem. I am disappointed to learn that you can't use baby swap passess and fastpasses together at WDW - that will certainlly cause us to rethink how soon we would visit that park. Guess we'll keep heading to DLR until the baby's older! Have fun on your trip - wish I was there!!!
PS - now thinking about it- some CMs would take the 3rd fastpass, some wouldn't - so always get one on every parkhopper just to be sure - I ended up with lots of leftover fastpasses at the end of our trip.

 

[sonjaandsue]

I'm sorry if I am misreading something but it sounds like the second parent has to start at the back of the line anyway??? So it doesn't sound very helpful to a child swap...

 

[starshine514]

At AK at WDW (January 2010), we went to ride EE using FPs. FIL, MIL, DD5 and I went to ride, but DD5 didn't measure up the the stick at the entrance. They handed us a rider swap pass, even though we had FPs... YMMV

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I'm sorry if I am misreading something but it sounds like the second parent has to start at the back of the line anyway??? So it doesn't sound very helpful to a child swap...

If you have a child swap card you go through the FP line.

 

[annadette]

Yes, the second pair of parent/child goes right through the fastpass line - so as a family, you only have to wait in the line once if you don't have fastpasses, and you don't have to wait at all if you have fastpasses. Plus, some rides are even better - at space mountain, the second parent waits at the ride exit - once the first parent/child ride the ride, the swap pass holder reunites with their child right at the end of the ride, and gets right on that way- even faster than the fastpass line. It is awesome - huge benefit to coming with kids. Only drawback is that you don't get to ride the rides with your spouse unless there's someone else to watch the kids- can they get cast members to babysit please?????