Issues with Rider Swap

[DizneyMommy]

We were allowed to swap Navi because my daughter was asleep in the stroller. No one ended up using the swap because as it turned out my husband had no interest in riding it when she woke up, but we asked when we went up with our FP if swap was available because she was out cold and they said yes. I would not rely on that though. Just an FYI.

I think you got lucky/ got a sweet CM who made an exception. Napping is a temporary problem and Navi has no height limit, they would not usually give any RS for a ride like that.

 

[tchris4]

I think you got lucky/ got a sweet CM who made an exception. Napping is a temporary problem and Navi has no height limit, they would not usually give any RS for a ride like that.

totally agree with you. the disney website does say it is available. Actually the whole interaction with the CM was odd. He told me it was offered; then said he had no lanyards, and when I questioned him, he then pulled one out and said oh here it is. I would not rely on my experience but it did happen.

I only asked at the ride when she was napping because I read about it here; also read the same thing about FEA (no swap needed for us)

 

[DisneyOma]

Guess what? Everyone is ENTITLED to use the system Disney designed. You and others on this board do not get to tell a family that you have to use Rider Swap the way YOU think it should work. You don't get to tell a family that they have to tour the way YOU want them to tour. You don't write, enforce or interpret the rules. It's loaded with entitlement for you to suggest that others should give up rides if they can't tour the way you think they should. Wow - disgusting suggestion to call someone entitled and tell them not to ride when they're using a rider swap pass exactly as allowed.

Did you read the post I quoted? This doesn't sound entitled to you? Quoted from the post:

"Sometimes your schedule doesn't allow you to do back to back groups with each group waiting with the child. You need some flexibility which is why passes are good all day (even though they cut back from some being good for multiple days - they're still all day). That is why rider swap is needed at the FP line. All you do by changing it to standby only is create a whole new set of headaches for families with small kids who already have enough headaches even optimally touring with them."

Heaven forbid there's a glimmer of a headache on vacation. Heaven forbid waiting for a turn messes with a schedule they've created. Rider swap is a privilege, not "needed for the FP line" And the touring optimally? That's total entitlement. They've got small kids, it's going to be hard to do a lot at WDW. People are not entitled to experiencing everything at WDW, and WDW does not have to make it so.

 

[nco91590]

They've got small kids, it's going to be hard to do a lot at WDW. People are not entitled to experiencing everything at WDW, and WDW does not have to make it so.

But they HAVE decided to make it easier for parents to enjoy thrill rides and also the slow rides. How can it seem like an entitlement when it's actually nothing outside of the normal policy? RS is not a privilege...it's a Disney ride policy. And a consideration that Disney made FOR parents of small children. Sure, they could take it away....but until they do, who cares how it's used?

A PP made an excellent point that parents with really small children usually aren't at the parks from sun up to sun down. So they're not the ones taking all the 4th, 5th, 6th FPs. We always go to RD, leave after lunch and so far have only made it to ONE firework show. I know my family spends less time at the park than most people.

 

[Amanda999]

But they HAVE decided to make it easier for parents to enjoy thrill rides and also the slow rides. How can it seem like an entitlement when it's actually nothing outside of the normal policy? RS is not a privilege...it's a Disney ride policy. And a consideration that Disney made FOR parents of small children. Sure, they could take it away....but until they do, who cares how it's used?

A PP made an excellent point that parents with really small children usually aren't at the parks from sun up to sun down. So they're not the ones taking all the 4th, 5th, 6th FPs. We always go to RD, leave after lunch and so far have only made it to ONE firework show. I know my family spends less time at the park than most people.

 

[Lady and the Buc]

I received a ticket for RS at EE. I got off and handed my wife a ticket. The CM would not let her on.

Apparently they do not honor Airport parking tickets. Who knew? Wife came over, called me an idiot and grabbed the right ticket.

 

[abinormal]

Does anyone have a swap pass from today or recently? I have someone on FB saying they’re only for one extra person now and I don’t believe them.

 

[Tksolomom]

The webite says 1, the physical tickets say 3.

 

[Crystal824]

I really don’t understand how people think rider swap is a huge problem.To compare:

At 8 months and 2 years my kids needed naps; we were done in the parks by 12pm and DH and I MIGHT have managed to fit in a rider swap or two on splash or BTMRR in between all the rides of dumbo, IASW, etc.

Next year my youngest will be over 40” and won’t really need a nap (3 almost 4). Not much rider swap. But you will see all FOUR of us FP+’ing and/or in line for 7DMT, splash, BTMRR, Star Tours, ToT, Kali, Soarin, TT, toy story rides, Mission Space, etc. And yes, with a good touring plan we’ll fit in all the kiddie rides too.

Explain to me again how we were taking advantage of the system more when they were younger?

I agree. Also my family, which includes 3 kids (7,3,and 10 months now) rarely get a 4th FP. I understand that many of the headliners FPs are gone by the time you get to the park. However, we usually do our 3 and maybe a RS (often times we forego the RS because the kids are ready to go). Most families are getting more FPs than us even with the RS. Also, we typically book FP for everyone who can ride the headliner and then something small the too short kid can do. If the headlines is 7DMT, we are booking that and usually Winnie the Pooh or Tea cups. Those FPS are easy to get.

Honestly, I'm looking forward to the days when we can all ride everything together. I'm certain we will all get to experience more attractions when that day comes.

I don't think I am getting anything extra with RS. As long as Disney keeps its policy the way it is, I intend to keep using it that way. We don't use it to break tiers mostly because each park has a headliner that is a tier 1 everyone can ride. We book them all for that...ie Frozen Ever After, Navi, etc. At AK, we booked everyone for FOP given this discussion want their to be any issues with us riding it. Now we can each ride FOP with the FP and get two RS tickets. We won't do that because of the amount of time it would take. That would be unfair to our two younger children who enjoy doing other things together, but we could. I agree that would be excessive, which is why we typically book one set of FPs for the headliner and then something else the littles can do that is nearby.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We've only used it on RnR at RD where we did not have FP and FoP when we all had FP. Usually we just take turns riding with FP if my daughter doesn't want to ride. The program has so much inconsistency that I don't like to deal with it.

 

[BrookieM2001]

I agree. Also my family, which includes 3 kids (7,3,and 10 months now) rarely get a 4th FP. I understand that many of the headliners FPs are gone by the time you get to the park. However, we usually do our 3 and maybe a RS (often times we forego the RS because the kids are ready to go). Most families are getting more FPs than us even with the RS. Also, we typically book FP for everyone who can ride the headliner and then something small the too short kid can do. If the headlines is 7DMT, we are booking that and usually Winnie the Pooh or Tea cups. Those FPS are easy to get.

Honestly, I'm looking forward to the days when we can all ride everything together. I'm certain we will all get to experience more attractions when that day comes.

I don't think I am getting anything extra with RS. As long as Disney keeps its policy the way it is, I intend to keep using it that way. We don't use it to break tiers mostly because each park has a headliner that is a tier 1 everyone can ride. We book them all for that...ie Frozen Ever After, Navi, etc. At AK, we booked everyone for FOP given this discussion want their to be any issues with us riding it. Now we can each ride FOP with the FP and get two RS tickets. We won't do that because of the amount of time it would take. That would be unfair to our two younger children who enjoy doing other things together, but we could. I agree that would be excessive, which is why we typically book one set of FPs for the headliner and then something else the littles can do that is nearby.

As far as I'm concerned, this is the way the system was DESIGNED to work. You get a FP for a height restricted ride for most or some of the party, depending on how many babies/adults your party has, and then get a FP for something like Pooh or Imagination for the baby(s) and remaining adult(s). Then, when FP riders are finished, they stay with the littles while the other adult(s) get a chance to ride with the RS, potentially with an older child who already rode with a FP. Otherwise, whats the point of RS? Disney designed it this way so the adults with babies dont have to just sit on a bench and melt in the sun or get in a big standby and wait with the little ones. Its not playing the system, its what you're meant to do.

 

[whiporee]

As far as I'm concerned, this is the way the system was DESIGNED to work. You get a FP for a height restricted ride for most or some of the party, depending on how many babies/adults your party has, and then get a FP for something like Pooh or Imagination for the baby(s) and remaining adult(s). Then, when FP riders are finished, they stay with the littles while the other adult(s) get a chance to ride with the RS, potentially with an older child who already rode with a FP. Otherwise, whats the point of RS? Disney designed it this way so the adults with babies dont have to just sit on a bench and melt in the sun or get in a big standby and wait with the little ones. Its not playing the system, its what you're meant to do.

I'm pretty sure RS predates either FP system, so when it was designed it didn't have anything to do with that program. And I don't think it's designed to keep the little ones entertained at all. I think it's to prevent parents from having to wait twice in a line if they have a child that's too small for a ride. I don't think it has anything at all to do with evening out FPs and making sure the little kids maximize their FPs; I think it's a pure kindness shown parents and nothing more. WDW has lots of options to keep the little ones entertained without using FPs while they wait -- at least three playgrounds, rides like the carousel or Philomagic that rarely have lines -- and I don't think keeping people from melting in the sun has ever been a priority.

And why doesn't anyone lament the little ones having to wait for the RS riders? If the argument is that the little ones go on something while the FPers use their passes, why don't they worry about the little ones having to wait while the second group goes? If it's such a concern on the front end, why isn't it ever mentioned on the back?

 

[HopperFan]

The webite says 1, the physical tickets say 3.

I believe the website says 1 holder plus 1 guest for a total of 2,

the paper pass says a total of 3, so the holder plus 2 guests.

I'm pretty sure RS predates either FP system, so when it was designed it didn't have anything to do with that program. And I don't think it's designed to keep the little ones entertained at all. I think it's to prevent parents from having to wait twice in a line if they have a child that's too small for a ride. I don't think it has anything at all to do with evening out FPs and making sure the little kids maximize their FPs; I think it's a pure kindness shown parents and nothing more. WDW has lots of options to keep the little ones entertained without using FPs while they wait -- at least three playgrounds, rides like the carousel or Philomagic that rarely have lines -- and I don't think keeping people from melting in the sun has ever been a priority.

And why doesn't anyone lament the little ones having to wait for the RS riders? If the argument is that the little ones go on something while the FPers use their passes, why don't they worry about the little ones having to wait while the second group goes? If it's such a concern on the front end, why isn't it ever mentioned on the back?

This is correct, the RS started so folks didn't have to wait in the SB line twice. There was no FP at all. It was not designed for the small children, it was designed so the tall enough riders didn't have to wait in the long line twice.

When FP came along, Disney didn't adjust the program to match up with it the offering causing some issues. They could easily adjust this by requiring FP+ for all riders OR use the SB line.

It may be that in time they will adjust it to reflect it's original purpose, especially based on some reports that have come out.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I believe the website says 1 holder plus 1 guest for a total of 2,

the paper pass says a total of 3, so the holder plus 2 guests.



This is correct, the RS started so folks didn't have to wait in the SB line twice. There was no FP at all. It was not designed for the small children, it was designed so the tall enough riders didn't have to wait in the long line twice.

When FP came along, Disney didn't adjust the program to match up with it the offering causing some issues. They could easily adjust this by requiring FP+ for all riders OR use the SB line.

It may be that in time they will adjust it to reflect it's original purpose, especially based on some reports that have come out.

What reports?

 

[Kasper11]

So question about this. Do you have to have a fast pass in order to do rider swap? If you are just waiting in the stand by line is it possible to do rider swap as well? It was my understanding that you could do rider swap from the stand by line so that the second parent/adult would not have to wait in line again.

Thank you

That is correct. Rider swap is available for both standby and fast pass if the ride offers it. It works the same both ways.