Parent swap and older children riding twice?

[moonbill2002]

So we visited a theme park this past weekend and every ride operator was nice enough to allow my husband to ride with my older two (11 and 14) after I had ridden with them while I stayed behind with our 3 1/2 year old. So this enabled them to ride twice, with each of us. I'm wondering if Disneyland will be the same way? Anyone have experience with this? Otherwise, my hubby and I will have to take turns riding "alone" if they don't allow the older kids to go again with the other parent. Curious if the park allows this or if we should even ask?

 

[Eeyore617]

We did the rider swap lots last week. I believe it's only good for two people, but I could be wrong. I only have one child tall enough to do those rides, so he got to ride them all twice (once with me and once with dad). We did it for ST, SM, SM, BTMRR, SOC, and GSS. On most of the rides (not BTMRR), the CM actually wanted to see the parent with the young child in order to give you the pass.

 

[moonbill2002]

Oh, they actually give out passes for the swap? At the theme park we were at this weekend, we all waited in line (the 5 of us), then when it was our turn, I rode with my 11 year old and 14 year old while my husband stayed in the line. Then, when we were done with our ride, I got out and took over with the 3 year old. And my husband got into the ride with the other 2. I didn't realize there were actual passes they hand out for the swap.

 

[cougarfan84]

Oh, they actually give out passes for the swap? At the theme park we were at this weekend, we all waited in line (the 5 of us), then when it was our turn, I rode with my 11 year old and 14 year old while my husband stayed in the line. Then, when we were done with our ride, I got out and took over with the 3 year old. And my husband got into the ride with the other 2. I didn't realize there were actual passes they hand out for the swap.

That is the way they used to do it at DL as well. Now, you just ask the cast member at the entrance to the ride for a child swap pass. It is essentially a FP that is good for the rider sitting off the ride and one other person. To use it, most rides just have you enter the FP line as if you have a regular FP. This varies from ride to ride, though, so as the CM where to go to use the pass.

The positive to DL using passes is that 1)you don't have to wait in line with everybody else and can instead enjoy something else while everybody else rides the ride, and 2)you don't have to use the pass immediately after the rest of your group gets off (though you do have to use it that day).

The one negative to issues passes is that you have to usually wait in the FP line instead of getting straight on the ride (like they used to do before they started issuing passes).

 

[Eeyore617]

Yes, the rider swap cards are 4x6 brightly colored pieces of card stock with the ride's name and directions of where to go once the first part of your group has ridden. Sometimes the first CM at the entrance to the ride would give it to us, otherwise they would scan a card and have you give it to a CM further on in the line and then you'd get the rider swap pass. I would wait by the exit with my DD in her stroller. Once DH and DS were done riding, I'd return to the FP line with DS (but for ST and Space Mt. you're instructed to go in through the exit and it's much faster and virtually no wait!)