Optimizing Rider Swap with FP+

[Texas Crude]

I'll be in WDW from April 27th to May 3rd with my family and am trying to figure out how to optimize the FP+ with Rider Swap, neither of which I've ever used.

It will be my wife, 5 year old daughter, 2 year old daughter, and 1 year old son... so we'll have 3 admissions that can utilize FP+.

Our 2 year old (almost 3) is still pretty small, and won't be able to do anything with heigh restrictions above 36", though I do think she'll be tall enough for barnstormer.

My question is how do I use these two systems together? I'm thinking it doesn't make sense to ever pull 3 fast passes for the same ride / time slot, since my wife can go with the 5 year old on SM, grab me a rider swap badge, then I can go again with the 5 year old without a FP.

If I did have a FP for SM, could I then go again (after using the rider swap badge), get another badge for my wife, and then let her go with our DD again when I'm done? That would essentially let everyone ride it twice with 3 fast passes... is that possible? Anyone done this recently that can pass on some strategies?

It's all a bit confusing to me!

 

[wishiwereindisney]

subbing

 

[staceyeileen]

If I did have a FP for SM, could I then go again (after using the rider swap badge), get another badge for my wife, and then let her go with our DD again when I'm done?

Yes, you can do this. Not sure if you're technically allowed to do this, but that's another question. I personally would probably not do this back-to-back. I'd probably wait a few hours before going back to ensure I'd have no problems with a CM questioning me.

 

[iheartjuppy]

We have a nearly 6 and a nearly 3, the nearly 3 won't be able to go on much. I think right now our plan is to do:

FP+ me and DS5 - BTMRR (DH and DD2 come for the rider swap badge)
FP+ DH - Splash (alone), (DS5, DD2 and I will come for the rider swap badge)

Later DH and DS5 can ride BTMRR together while I hang with DD and DS and I will ride Splash while DH hangs with DD.

We've each only used up 1 FP+. I'm not exactly clear on where in the line process you get the rider swap, so even if we all have to wait in line four times, it will be the FP+ line so hopefully that won't be so bad. Fingers crossed! Last year DS was too young/short/timid to ride anything that would have warranted rider swap so this is our first go at it!

 

[snoopy5386]

Get 1 FP+ for the thrill rides, 2 if your oldest wants to ride twice. So let's say Dad gets a FP+ for Space Mountain, rides it with FP+, family gets rider swap pass, Mom and oldest ride it with the pass. Meanwhile, Mom and kids get a FP+ for Pooh and ride that while Dad is riding Space Mountain with his pass. OR Dad and oldest kid have FP+ and ride Space Mountain with FP+ while Mom and other kids use their FP+ for another ride and then get a rider swap pass and Mom and oldest ride Space Mountain with rider swap pass.

As to your question, can each parent get a rider swap pass? I think it is against the rules, but we have done it. We've each approached the CM separately with one too short child and asked for the pass. 90% of the time they give it to us with no questions, 5% of the time they ask where the other parent is and the other 5% they insist both parents be present to get the pass in which case we come back and get a second one a few hours later. It's a gray area (there are no limits on how many/often you can get or use these passes) that some might deem against the rules, but we see it as using the system to our advantage.

 

[Andyman33]

as I always say...and I am a parent that will be using child swap...dont' try to "game the system" because when people try to push the rules then the rules get strict and those that try to use them in the SPIRIT of the idea get screwed too...

 

[Texas Crude]

How long are the rider swap passes good for?

 

[staceyeileen]

How long are the rider swap passes good for?

They are typically good for anytime that same day. Although, a few weeks ago at Thunder Mountain I got a rider swap ticket that said it expired in 5 days. That was an anomaly.

 

[triana00]

How long are the rider swap passes good for?

Our BTMRR one was good through the end if the week. On February 28, the one we got for the speedway was valid thru the end of March