New Rider Swap Experience (so far)

[TXAKDisneyFan]

On day 3 of our trip (we’ve been to EPCOT, DHS, and now MK). All the rides we’ve swapped at thus far (Soarin’, RnRC, ToT, 7DMT, Splash,...) have been using the electronic RSs (I’d seen some reports of a few attractions still using paper). The only ride we’ve had to scan our MBs at the second touch point has been SpaceMtn. ALL of them have had problems (iPads/other handheld device not responding, won’t scan, etc) - the CMs have seemed somewhat annoyed (not rude about it at all tho). I asked one and he said it’s been a problem since they started using the electronic RS.

We have had to wait around outside attractions instead of finding something to do w the little ones like we would otherwise (logistics of our family w 2 or 3 littles).

As a side note, DH rode Splash and I have a RS for it. A torrential downpour started before I could get on. We went and asked the CMs what happens if a ride is shut down while someone is holding a RS, and they said they honestly didn’t know. I have NOT gotten an anytime FP+ email (like I have in the past). The CMs said just come back later and explain what happened; hopefully whoever is there later believes me.

 

[dlavender]

On day 3 of our trip (we’ve been to EPCOT, DHS, and now MK). All the rides we’ve swapped at thus far (Soarin’, RnRC, ToT, 7DMT, Splash,...) have been using the electronic RSs (I’d seen some reports of a few attractions still using paper). The only ride we’ve had to scan our MBs at the second touch point has been SpaceMtn. ALL of them have had problems (iPads/other handheld device not responding, won’t scan, etc) - the CMs have seemed somewhat annoyed (not rude about it at all tho). I asked one and he said it’s been a problem since they started using the electronic RS.

We have had to wait around outside attractions instead of finding something to do w the little ones like we would otherwise (logistics of our family w 2 or 3 littles).

As a side note, DH rode Splash and I have a RS for it. A torrential downpour started before I could get on. We went and asked the CMs what happens if a ride is shut down while someone is holding a RS, and they said they honestly didn’t know. I have NOT gotten an anytime FP+ email (like I have in the past). The CMs said just come back later and explain what happened; hopefully whoever is there later believes me.

I'm shocked that WDW rolled out a new feature/plan/IT and didn't have all the kinks worked out first /sarcasm

 

[10CJ]

I am sorry it has been so frustrating. I wish they would drop the one hour return window. Just making it expire at the end of the day and limiting it to having only one switch at a time seems sufficient and would eliminate some issues.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

DD and I rode Space w our FP+, and DH got a RS. The CM at Space said even tho I already had a RS (for Splash), DH (and our daughter) could have a separate one for Space. However, the FP line for Space was nuts and we didn’t have time to wait. We assumed DH’s Space RS would “go away” after the one hour time limit was up.

Pirates also went down and we were issued multiple experience “anytime” FP+. We just tried to use them on BTMRR, but the CM was unable to issue DH a RS without deleting MY Splash RS (which I was told I could use any time today since Splash was down earlier). The CM said DH STILL has a Space RS, even tho it should’ve only worked til like 3:30 pm.

So I’m riding Splash now, and we’ll go back to BTMRR after this. Hopefully/supposedly we should be able to get a RS then. We’ll see.

 

[10CJ]

This sounds way more complicated than it needs to be.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Aaaaand now the BTMRR handheld thing isn’t working

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

The CM had to get a paper FP+ that he filled in the details (return time, number of people) on.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Oh, and he wrote “return after 7:55 pm.” We got in a VERY LONG FP+ line at 7:48. Hopefully we’re out and able to use the RS within the hour.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Anecdotally, this is our fourth time to WDW in 12 months. Implementation of the electronic RS doesn’t seem to have lowered either overall or FP+ wait times.

 

[10CJ]

Thanks for the updates.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Thanks for the info, I am ready to just not bother with it at all.

 

[khertz]

Going digital doesn't bother me too much (though it seems there are a lot of kinks yet to work out) but this one hour window to use it is absurd. I've been missing WDW because we haven't been since 2016 and probably won't be back until 2020, but maybe it's a blessing in disguise since it will give my little one time to grow and we won't have to use RS as much as we have in the past.

 

[Crystal824]

Going digital doesn't bother me too much (though it seems there are a lot of kinks yet to work out) but this one hour window to use it is absurd. I've been missing WDW because we haven't been since 2016 and probably won't be back until 2020, but maybe it's a blessing in disguise since it will give my little one time to grow and we won't have to use RS as much as we have in the past.

This is how I feel too. I don't care that they are going digital. I honestly don't care that you can only have one at a time. Although I think there should be an exception to the one at a time rule for situations like where the OP posted, the ride went down, etc. Say you have a fP for Splash, you get a RS but can't use it because the ride went down. Then you have your BTMRR FP, now you can't get a RS because you haven't used Splash RS. There should be a way to override that because Splash going down wasn't your fault. I suppose you could get around this by different people getting the RS for these different attractions....maybe I haven't used the system yet.

Really it is the one hour window is what frustrates me. Sometimes you just can't do back to back RS. For us, this new system rolled out after our 60 day mark but before our trip, which is at the end of this month so we didn't plan for this. We have ADRs, etc planned near FP times. I already know this is going to be a problem. I have no problem with having to use the RS that day. I just think you should have longer than one hour. With kids, one hour goes so fast.

 

[Hope Soda]

We have had to wait around outside attractions instead of finding something to do w the little ones like we would otherwise (logistics of our family w 2 or 3 littles).

So they make you hang around by the attraction entrance? So if I wanted to take one little one to the bathroom or find a more quiet/shady place to nurse the baby, that's no longer allowed?

 

[Crystal824]

So they make you hang around by the attraction entrance? So if I wanted to take one little one to the bathroom or find a more quiet/shady place to nurse the baby, that's no longer allowed?

I don't think they actually make you stay at the entrance. However, you only have one hour to use the RS from the time the first person gets in line. Therefore, you have to wait for the first person to go through the FP line and experience the attraction. Then switch the kid when they get off. One hour doesn't leave a lot of time to take the child to actually do something else especially if it isn't really close by. Also, you have to be ready to switch given the time frame. For some attractions this won't be bad. 7DMT comes to mind. The ride is fast, the FP line is usually fast...not a big deal. Also, you have the teacups and carousel nearby if you wanted to do something. Others it will be harder like Splash. The FP line can be long and the attraction is also fairly long. There also isn't anything nearby other than that typically overcrowded play area at Splash. You will probably just have to wait so you can make the RS time.

 

[Hope Soda]

I don't think they actually make you stay at the entrance. However, you only have one hour to use the RS from the time the first person gets in line. Therefore, you have to wait for the first person to go through the FP line and experience the attraction. Then switch the kid when they get off. One hour doesn't leave a lot of time to take the child to actually do something else especially if it isn't really close by. Also, you have to be ready to switch given the time frame. For some attractions this won't be bad. 7DMT comes to mind. The ride is fast, the FP line is usually fast...not a big deal. Also, you have the teacups and carousel nearby if you wanted to do something. Others it will be harder like Splash. The FP line can be long and the attraction is also fairly long. There also isn't anything nearby other than that typically overcrowded play area at Splash. You will probably just have to wait so you can make the RS time.

Oh, okay. I was thinking about rides like Primeval Whirl, for example. My middle kid isn't able to ride this yet, so we usually just go on Triceratop Spin while we wait. I also figured we could try out the dig site in the area. It sounds like that won't be a problem. The only problem I'm foreseeing now is if riding twice takes so long that it interferes with another reservation, as we used to be able to just save the rider swap pass for later if we needed to. So I'll just put larger cushions in my touring plan.

 

[tarak]

This sounds way more complicated than it needs to be.

Yes. It’s just goofy. I’m glad there are only two rides my youngest can’t go on at this point. We probably won’t be back for two years and I’m hoping she grows a lot in the meantime because she’s turned into a bit of a coaster junkie.