Parent ride swap...

[fan1080]

But anywhere your a single rider, your at an advantage. Even thought there's no designated single rider line, they will move single riders along much quicker to fill spots.

I was able to walk directly onto the AK Safari ride as there was one seat left in the jeep. The CM let me in thru the handi-cap entrance. (For that I did have my DS2 in my lap, but was considered one passenger).

I'm just saying, one person can move thru a line much quicker than a whole group and the CMs do notice single riders and move them along.

That's worked best for us, much better than baby swap.

I agree and is why I mentioned to use what works best, based on the wait times. If the waits are really short for the fastpass line, there will be little affect for a single rider to move through a line faster.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

The only time we've had trouble is on TSM at Studios. The CM's try to INSIST every time that DD18mos can ride alone or in my lap. I would not feel comfortable with her riding alone as she's very small for her age and I'm too "selfish" to wait in that line and not really get to enjoy the ride since I have a toddler in my lap grabbing at everything. Inevitably the CM's will give us a childswap, but I get annoyed having to argue for it every time.

Eventually its great though as DS5 gets to ride twice.

Child swap is only supposed to be available on rides with a height requirement, so that's why you're having trouble getting a RSP for TSM. TSM does not have a height requirement, so they're not obligated to give out RSP since the child CAN experience the attraction. If you've been able to get them, count yourself fortunate.

 

[MelissathePooh]

Child swap is only supposed to be available on rides with a height requirement, so that's why you're having trouble getting a RSP for TSM. TSM does not have a height requirement, so they're not obligated to give out RSP since the child CAN experience the attraction. If you've been able to get them, count yourself fortunate.

They have child swap at TSM BECAUSE when they ride first opened Disney recognized how unfriendly it was for small children (infants, toddlers) and did NOT ALLOW children under 1 on the ride. Child swap is available for attractions that aren't age appropriate - not just with height requirements. They have stacks of childswap tickets at TSM, they just try to talk you into riding before they give you one.

 

[doconeill]

Let me clarify a bit...

Rider Switch passes (as they are formally called) are GENERALLY only available at attractions that have a Fastpass queue AND a height requirement. Any attraction with a Fastpass queue can SUPPORT Rider Switch passes, but they are usually only available at those with height requirements.

Disney does recognize that there are some situations (sleeping infant, etc.) where you can't necessarily take the child with you, but doesn't want you to miss out on an experience. They are supposed to try and take reasonable actions to take care of you. However, it may not be a simple thing to do at some attractions.

I have never heard of Rider Switch passes being available at TSM. Doesn't mean there aren't, but given that there is no height restriction, how do you place a limit on them to prevent abuse of them?

To the previous poster about not being able to get a Rider Switch pass at ToT - this should not be a problem, EVER. The greeter CM - the one at the ride entrance, who makes sure the guests meet the height requirements, should have the Rider Switch passes. If they don't, something is wrong.

About the situation at The Land and strollers - that is something Disney definitely needs to work on. I'm not sure how - The Land's layout is horrible for strollers to be inside. The only thing I can think of is that a CM who is outside (do the CMs who corral the strollers have a particular name?) would have the passes, and for any case where the child is obviously not tall enough could give it to the group. Of course, order kids in strollers is more problematic. But I agree with the policy that they must be able to see - and measure if there is any question - the child.

I suggest those that have been affected by this send emails to Guest Communcations (sorry, I don't remember the address offhand) and explain about the situation at The Land and their contradictory policies. The more people they hear from affected by it, the more likely they will consider doing something about it.

I've only had a problem a couple of times in getting RS passes - in both cases it was at RNRC, and it was the same problem both times. We got there at rope drop (prior to TSM, so everyone headed to RNRC and TOT first), and asked for an RS pass because our youngest was too small (still is). The CM told us we wouldn't need it - the park just opened and the standby line was short. Without getting into the fact that he really couldn't deny giving one out when requested since we met the criteria, I simply explained that "Sure, its short now. But it will be at least 20-25 minutes for DW and DD#1 to get through the whole thing and come out again, and by then plenty more people will have arrived, so there is no guarantee that the standby line would still be short." Both times the CM - reluctantly - gave me the pass.

I wonder if it was the same CM both times...

 

[Disney Dider]

Are you sure that only the fast pass attractions have rider swap or whatever its called? I ask because my son is tall and 8 years old. But he has a heart defect and cant ride all the rides. When we go to Disneyland we have been able to do this. Like the Matterhorn has no fast pass and we can still rider swap. We are making our first trip to the World next winter.

 

[doconeill]

Are you sure that only the fast pass attractions have rider swap or whatever its called? I ask because my son is tall and 8 years old. But he has a heart defect and cant ride all the rides. When we go to Disneyland we have been able to do this. Like the Matterhorn has no fast pass and we can still rider swap. We are making our first trip to the World next winter.

Well, it depends what YOU mean by "rider swap". A lot of people interchange Rider Swap, Child Swap, Baby Swap, and Rider Switch freely, while generally referring to Rider Switch passes.

You can't use the Fastpass line if there isn't one. So getting a pass that gives you access to a Fastpass line that doesn't exist isn't very helpful.

Some CMs can be liberal with giving out the RS passes, but the policy is its a height limit and that's it.

There are other possible ways to do old-fashioned "child swaps", but how they are handled, if they are even possible, depends on the attraction. Most attractions at WDW do not load and unload in the same area like at a lot of amusement parks, so you can't wait with a child at the loading area for the other adult to return to take the child while you then get on.

You can always speak with the CM what the possibilities are for a particular attraction. I've never had to do it so I'm not sure how they are handled at the different attractions.

I believe that at Tower of Terror, the option is for one adult and the child to use the "chicken exit", which is the central REAL elevator. This takes you up to the exit corridor, near the photo booth. You wait there for the first adult to return, and then you can go back down the elevator to the loading area.

I don't know if in your situation a Guest Assistance Card can be obtained, possibly with a doctor's note. Asking over in the disABILITIES! forum might net you an answer on that. I understand these cards are simply an indication to the CMs that extra accomodation may be necessary. Even if he couldn't qualify for a GAC, I'm sure they can make many recommendations.

 

[d-r]

we've baby swapped at rides like pooh and pan because a baby fell asleep or the haunted mansion because a toddler was going through an afraid of the dark phase. And I don't count myself as "fortunate" for both mom and dad to ride a kiddee ride with one kid while the other kid skips it with mom then dad when I've paid for the passes. There are a host of reasons why a child might not want to ride a ride without a height requirement, or a child who is tall enough not want to ride a given ride for that matter. It's disney world, just be normal and explain the situation to the cast member without tripping out about it. It's not a big deal, it is just rides. you aren't "getting away" with anything, somebody still waits in line. You can call it rider swap, baby swap, child swap whatever. And when toy story ride first opened they would not let babies ride for that matter.