Is Parent Swap possible?

[smscrapbooks]

I've never done child swap, but this is something different. I want to take my two oldest kids (5 and 7) on Soarin', but the youngest, age 1, can't ride. My husband was going to wait with him while we ride, but I'm concerned they will be stuck waiting a long time. We don't have fast passes and were going to go at rope drop. My husband is in a wheelchair so he would be waiting with my son while he sits in his stroller. We've done this in the past, but I think ds might get cranky if he's sitting there for 45+ minutes. Could my husband wait in line while I let the baby roam and then we switch when they are ready to ride? This is probably impossible, but I thought I would ask. DH can't ride Soarin' because he is unable to transfer. Any other thoughts/ideas?

 

[lizard1]

I don't think a child swap would be possible because there isn't any way for him to meet you at the end of the line.

One alternative could be that you could all wait in line together (though the line is a bit of a pain for a wheelchair, since there are slopes and you would have to sit still on a slope in places) and then have him exit instead of getting on the ride. That way, you would be able to help with the baby until it was time to ride.

 

[SirDuff]

I don't think a child swap would be possible because there isn't any way for him to meet you at the end of the line.

One alternative could be that you could all wait in line together (though the line is a bit of a pain for a wheelchair, since there are slopes and you would have to sit still on a slope in places) and then have him exit instead of getting on the ride. That way, you would be able to help with the baby until it was time to ride.

I don't think that would work as children who are too small for a ride are not allowed in the line for that ride.

I do agree that the idea of a parent swap would be impossible (or, at least, very difficult) at Soarin'

 

[Heidi K]

Maybe they can watch the Circle of Life movie or ride Living with the Land while you are on Soarin?

 

[tjmw2727]

YES - rider swap or baby swap is available on all height restricted rides where you have a child who isn't tall enough to ride (ie your 1 year old!) including Soarin!

All of you have to approach the line (FP+ if you have one or standby if not) and ask the CM for a "rider swap pass" your baby will have to be with you so the CM knows you qualify to receive the pass. Then the parent riding 2nd will then be given a rider swap pass (a paper pass) and he/she can leave with the baby to do something else while the first party rides. The rider swap pass can then be used anytime that day by the parent who did not ride the first time with 2 additional riders. (RS pass is good for up to 3 riders).

This was our experience in August 2014

There is more detailed info on the family boards if you care to do some searching to verify.

 

[SirDuff]

YES - rider swap or baby swap is available on all height restricted rides where you have a child who isn't tall enough to ride (ie your 1 year old!) including Soarin!

All of you have to approach the line (FP+ if you have one or standby if not) and ask the CM for a "rider swap pass" your baby will have to be with you so the CM knows you qualify to receive the pass. Then the parent riding 2nd will then be given a rider swap pass (a paper pass) and he/she can leave with the baby to do something else while the first party rides. The rider swap pass can then be used anytime that day by the parent who did not ride the first time with 2 additional riders. (RS pass is good for up to 3 riders).

This was our experience in August 2014

There is more detailed info on the family boards if you care to do some searching to verify.

All very true. However, that isn't what the OP is asking for.

Her husband will NOT be riding Soarin'. There will only be one group of people riding (her and her sons); she wants to do the swap at the ride itself - so that her husband will wait in the line and she will ride the ride. The child swap (which you described) will not help them.

 

[mistysue]

YES - rider swap or baby swap is available on all height restricted rides where you have a child who isn't tall enough to ride (ie your 1 year old!) including Soarin!

Generally helpful, but you may want to read the post a little more clearly.

OP, is it realistic that the baby can be in his lap? If not, this might be a situation where the baby naps in the stroller and those of you riding drop what you are doing and run to soarin the moment he's asleep. Otherwise, can DH successfully move around the park with the baby? I don't know his abilities but it may also be best to try to rope drop soarin if your DH can go slowly to catch up. As a general rule they also will not let your stroller into the pavillion, which may be rough for him to manage if the baby is mobile. Even with a fast pass we always plan to wait 25-30 minutes for somebody in our party to do soarin. We can usually fit in living with the land twice with the baby.

 

[Punchy]

Your husband will just have to find a way to entertain the kids while you ride twice with each kid. Can't they do another ride or have an ice cream or something?

 

[OurBigTrip]

Your husband will just have to find a way to entertain the kids while you ride twice with each kid. Can't they do another ride or have an ice cream or something?

The rider swap won't work for what the OP needs.

 

[lanejudy]

OP, unfortunately I don't believe your suggestion can work -- there really isn't any way for you to meet DH at the ride after he waits in line. First, the baby won't be allowed into the line, and second, the Soarin' line is approximately one-quarter mile long and you would have to push your way through other guests in line to get to the front.

Options might be limited, depending on DH's abilities with the little one. Would one of those stuffed animal style back-pack leashes be possible to allow the little guy some movement rather than restricting him to the stroller? I can see how that might be challenging and frustrating if he's usually a very mobile little one. Can DH manage him well enough to do any other rides or shows while waiting for the rest of you to ride? Would it be easier (maybe not!) for DH and the baby to stay at the resort room while you and the older kids go ride Soarin'? Just thoughts, may or may not work out...

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

as I noted in other post where you asked this question, strollers unless tagged as a wheelchair are not allowed in soarin building

 

[smscrapbooks]

Well, I think I'm going to have to pass on Soarin' for this trip. Our 18 month old is VERY active and will take off running so at this point I don't think we have any good options. I do have a friend who lives in Orlando who is meeting us at the park that day so I might ask her to take the kids on Soarin' while my husband and I do other things with the baby.

 

[mistysue]

That is sad, I'm sorry OP.

As a last effort, it may be worth asking if the CM's working there have any suggestions. I don't know what they would be but if they come up with something it may work out and if they come up with nothing you are right where you expected to be.

 

[tjmw2727]

I did read the post thanks -
I was responding to the post that said rider swap wasn't available at Soarin as well as to the OP.

With rider swap the OP could ride with one child while the dad baby and the other child did something else and then the OP can return with the other child later in the day via RS. This way dad can keep two kids busy with the other shows in the land pavilion, snacks in the food court or the boat ride instead of just waiting. Then the OP and the other child can return and ride any time that day with the RS pass.

Generally helpful, but you may want to read the post a little more clearly.

OP, is it realistic that the baby can be in his lap? If not, this might be a situation where the baby naps in the stroller and those of you riding drop what you are doing and run to soarin the moment he's asleep. Otherwise, can DH successfully move around the park with the baby? I don't know his abilities but it may also be best to try to rope drop soarin if your DH can go slowly to catch up. As a general rule they also will not let your stroller into the pavillion, which may be rough for him to manage if the baby is mobile. Even with a fast pass we always plan to wait 25-30 minutes for somebody in our party to do soarin. We can usually fit in living with the land twice with the baby.

 

[Aladora]

I did read the post thanks -
I was responding to the post that said rider swap wasn't available at Soarin as well as to the OP.

With rider swap the OP could ride with one child while the dad baby and the other child did something else and then the OP can return with the other child later in the day via RS. This way dad can keep two kids busy with the other shows in the land pavilion, snacks in the food court or the boat ride instead of just waiting. Then the OP and the other child can return and ride any time that day with the RS pass.

I think you might have misunderstood the OP. She was not asking if she could use rider swap to ride twice, once with each of the older kids. She was asking if her DH could wait in line with the two older kids while she took the baby to play and then when her DH got to the front of the line, she wanted to give DH the baby while she went and rode Soarin' once with the older two kids since her DH cannot ride at all.

Also, the PP was not saying that RS was not available to the OP, just that it was not going to be implemented in the way she was hoping it would be.

OP, sorry but it does not seem as though RS will work for your family in this situation but I really hope you have a great time no matter what!

 

[tjmw2727]

Wow - thanks for the judgment on not only my reading comprehension skills but the quality of my responses! I didn't realize alternate suggestions were not welcome on this board.
No worries I won't be posting here anymore.

I think you might have misunderstood the OP. She was not asking if she could use rider swap to ride twice, once with each of the older kids. She was asking if her DH could wait in line with the two older kids while she took the baby to play and then when her DH got to the front of the line, she wanted to give DH the baby while she went and rode Soarin' once with the older two kids since her DH cannot ride at all.

Also, the PP was not saying that RS was not available to the OP, just that it was not going to be implemented in the way she was hoping it would be.

OP, sorry but it does not seem as though RS will work for your family in this situation but I really hope you have a great time no matter what!

 

[Coonhound]

Wow - thanks for the judgment on not only my reading comprehension skills but the quality of my responses! I didn't realize alternate suggestions were not welcome on this board.
No worries I won't be posting here anymore.

Wow, overreact much? You just misunderstood the post, that's all. There's no reason to go off in a huff.

 

[mickmomolly]

Are the older kids helpful with the baby? If so, you can get the child swap, and wait in line with the 5 year old, and have the 7 year old help with the baby... Then switch it out so the 5 year old helps. That way the younger child doesn't have to help as long, since id imagine he might be less help they could ride the land while they wait, depending on the line ride it a few times! I know I'm the friend who goes to the parks and says, ok, give me the baby you go have fun, and a magic trick I use when necessary is the magic of YouTube on my phone. Yes, I know there are so many magical things to do in Disney... But if 20 minutes of watching a train will allow his parents to enjoy a ride? I'm in. Another option is first aid, and the baby care centers, can provide a closed environment the kid can't run out of, but I know they are few and far between in Disney.

 

[Goofy14sure]

I don't believe a stroller can even be taken into the building. I suggest going at rope drop and trying. If the wait time is already too long, then don't ride. It would depend on how long your husband can watch the baby, and you could set a time limit you were comfortable with

 

[SirDuff]

Are the older kids helpful with the baby? If so, you can get the child swap, and wait in line with the 5 year old, and have the 7 year old help with the baby... Then switch it out so the 5 year old helps. That way the younger child doesn't have to help as long, since id imagine he might be less help

That was actually going to be my suggestion as well. More, overall, waiting for the baby and dad, but there would always be another child waiting with them. They wouldn't have to do the two ride back-to-back either, which might make things easier.

The swap, as it is normally used, wouldn't help them (usually one parent rides each time), but perhaps this adaptation could make it helpful.