Parent Swap question - aka silly CM?

[ScrapperKimmyD]

Our first experience with the Parent Swap thing (happened the way I thought it was supposed to go)...

DH, DD and I wanted to go on Star Tours. Other DD didn't. So, we asked if we could do the parent swap thing. The CM at the entrance gave us a little card and we all went through the line (we had a special fast pass for it, so we got to take the wheel chair entrance - a walk through a different door, down a hall and up an elevator - very cool!). When we got to the ride, DH and DD walked through the ride and waited on the exit side of the ride. Other DD and I rode the ride, then we got off and DH got on while we waited for him.

That's the way it supposed to work, right? That way, we don't have to get into line twice and we can stay together as a family.

Then...

We wanted to do the same thing with the Indiana Jones ride. We went to the CM at the entrance. He gave us the same card as before and told me to go through with my fast pass, then when I'm done, I would come out with my kids and DH would go in with the card and his fast pass.

What's so special about that? How is that different than me using my fast pass, then DH using his fast pass? What did he need the PS card for? Shouldn't we ALL have gone through the line, one of waited at the exit with the kids, then swap out and the other parent ride the ride? That just didn't make any sense to me!

Do I have the parent swap idea wrong or was the CM just ignorant???

 

[HappyMommy2]

I think this actually is the way it's supposed to work for Indiana Jones. The benefit of having the PS in this case would be that it would let the kids(s) who wanted to ride again go through the fastpass line with the 2nd parent and ride a 2nd time even though they had used up their fastpasses on the first ride.
I definitely prefer the setup like Star Tours has, though, where 2nd parent gets right onto the ride instead of having to go back through the fastpass line--sometimes those fastpass lines can get pretty long!

 

[spazzyjazzy]

Here is my take on it. I think Indiana is different because it is an "open" ride meaning that there is always something moving and there is no barrier between the ride and the person. Unlike Star Tours it is enclosed and no one can get hurt from the outside. I don't think that they would want people waiting there without some type of device keeping them from going on the track.

 

[got2travel]

Unless I'm missing it, you used the parent swap because one child didn't want to ride? That in itself is the wrong way to use a parent swap. It is supposed to be for families with children that are too small to ride.

As to how the swap works functionally, sorry, I don't know. It could just be that there is not a lot of room in the Indy queue to let families wait around.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Most of the rides have the parent and child wait at the exit. They then go in the exit with the parent swap pass when the first adult comes out after the ride. They dont typically have the whole family wait inside the ride.

 

[shellyof4]

Actually, this it is for us most of the time at Disney. All rides are different of course, but most of the time we get the swap pass and then have to go in the fastpass lane. I don't like this as much either but it still has a couple of benefits, one is (like someone else mentioned) your kids get to ride twice where they might normally not. Oh wait, I actually just reread your post...we've NEVER been asked to show our fastpass AND child swap....thus it usually enables 2 other people in our party to ride again in the fast pass line (with say your DH's fp and the dd who didn't want to ride's fp)..........I wonder if it was because your daughter was not unable to ride just unwilling...not sure...like I said, we've never had to show both, just the child swap. You shouldn't have to show both because if you waited in the standby line and got a childswap pass you'd still go in the same line.

Anybody with recent experience know if there any other rides where it's more like star tours? Wait by the exit and then jump on? This is the way Child swap used to be.... Here's to hoping!

 

[disney-super-mom]

The way parent swap works depends on if the attraction has a fastpass line or not.

If there's a fastpass line, then you'll wait in the fastpass line after the swap.

If there's not a fastpass line, then usually you wait at the exit and swap.

 

[shellyof4]

Aaah, thank you...this makes sense

 

[got2travel]

Sorry, did fully read (or maybe didn't fully comprehend). I didn't realize they took the fastpass and the child swap from you. That part doesn't seem right.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

We did Indiana Jones like this:

1. We got 4 fastpasses, but DS2 of course is too small to ride IJ.
2. DH and DS6 used fastpasses to ride, and requested the child swap pass. DS2 and I waited near the exit.
3. When they returned, DS6 and I went on the ride via the fastpass line, turning in the child swap pass. DH and DS2 waited near the exit. I didn't think to turn in our 2nd set of fastpasses, because it made no sense.
4. Later in the evening, DH and DS6 wanted to ride IJ again, so I gave them the other set of fastpasses. DH again requested a child swap pass.
5. DS6 and I rode again using the child swap pass.

I don't think the IJ CMs are supposed to collect fastpasses every time you use a baby swap; otherwise what's the point of getting the baby swap? Also, you can request a baby swap pass without HAVING a fastpass in the first place, it just allows the 2nd set of riders to skip the long wait in line, so I think we used it correctly.

 

[Julia M]

Unless I'm missing it, you used the parent swap because one child didn't want to ride? That in itself is the wrong way to use a parent swap. It is supposed to be for families with children that are too small to ride.

I've actually used fast pass multiple times at WDW with a child who was physically old enough to ride, but scared to, and not old enough to be left alone.

Maybe that's now how it's "supposed" to be, but it's what did happen. Of course, now our child who was scared of everything even loves Rockin Rollercoaster! My how things change!

Julia

 

[Dukland]

We did Indiana Jones like this:

1. We got 4 fastpasses, but DS2 of course is too small to ride IJ.
2. DH and DS6 used fastpasses to ride, and requested the child swap pass. DS2 and I waited near the exit.
3. When they returned, DS6 and I went on the ride via the fastpass line, turning in the child swap pass. DH and DS2 waited near the exit. I didn't think to turn in our 2nd set of fastpasses, because it made no sense.
4. Later in the evening, DH and DS6 wanted to ride IJ again, so I gave them the other set of fastpasses. DH again requested a child swap pass.
5. DS6 and I rode again using the child swap pass.

I don't think the IJ CMs are supposed to collect fastpasses every time you use a baby swap; otherwise what's the point of getting the baby swap? Also, you can request a baby swap pass without HAVING a fastpass in the first place, it just allows the 2nd set of riders to skip the long wait in line, so I think we used it correctly.

This is my understanding, and this is how we did Splash Mountain. One parent took our dd, while the other took ds, who was too small to ride SM, onto Winnie the Pooh. My dd was sure thrilled to ride SM so many times!

And, I think the ChildSwap can be used by anyone with a child who won't be riding. After all, just because a child is big enough to ride a ride, doesn't mean they have to. And why should the whole family have to skip a ride, simply because the littlest one doesn't want to ride?

 

[steen995]

I've actually used fast pass multiple times at WDW with a child who was physically old enough to ride, but scared to, and not old enough to be left alone.

Maybe that's now how it's "supposed" to be, but it's what did happen. Of course, now our child who was scared of everything even loves Rockin Rollercoaster! My how things change!

Julia

So glad to hear that!!! Just got back and my 6yo was too scared for EVERYTHING!! (POTC, wouldn't go on haunted mansion, etc.) Someday then, maybe? There's hope?

 

[DevilDuckie]

Unless I'm missing it, you used the parent swap because one child didn't want to ride? That in itself is the wrong way to use a parent swap. It is supposed to be for families with children that are too small to ride.

Cast Members told us it was for children too small OR too frightened to do a ride. A seven year old may be tall enough for Indy or Space Mountain but too timid. CMs were always accomodating and when we asked we were assured that we were definitely part of the target audience.

 

[Julia M]

So glad to hear that!!! Just got back and my 6yo was too scared for EVERYTHING!! (POTC, wouldn't go on haunted mansion, etc.) Someday then, maybe? There's hope?

When my two kids, who always seemed to be scared got older (in our case, at 12 and 11), dh and required that they ride any ride the adults chose once. After that, if they didn't like it, they never had to ride it for the rest of the trip. However, by that age, we found that they liked all the rides, after giving them a chance. And the biggest problem we have with youngest ds was that he wanted to ride everything, but wasn't tall enough. If it's not one thing, it's another.

Last year, at WDW, after "making" everyone ride RockinRoller Coaster once, it ended up being everyone's favorite ride. I think we rode it 7 or 8 times one day!

Julia

 

[TwingleMum]

Cast Members told us it was for children too small OR too frightened to do a ride. A seven year old may be tall enough for Indy or Space Mountain but too timid. CMs were always accomodating and when we asked we were assured that we were definitely part of the target audience.

I'm glad to hear this. I hate when parents drag some screaming frightened child on a ride they obviously don't want to go on. Its cruel and ruins the experience for everyone else having to listen to a poor frightened child.

 

[dletz]

My daughter commented the other day she didn't want to ride Haunted mansion, it was scary. Well she's not really scared of it, she just doesn't like loud noises, so doesn't like the elevator part. I told her that it's not scary and shes been on it hundreds of times, so she already knows what will happen. She said, okay, I was just testing you. She then happily went on it. Of course as soon as we get in the elevator she turns so we can hold her ears. One guy asked us what was wrong. I said she doesn't like loud noises, so she doesn't like when everyone screams at the end. Other than she was perfectly fine. We really must get her a set of ear plugs for DL. She will watch fireworks and go on rides, but we must hold her ears for anything loud. She watches most movies with her hands over her ears if she thinks there will be a loud sound. So when the music in a movie picks up, there goes her hands.

 

[carolrie]

Indiana Jones used to be a ride that you could walk into the exit with your child swap and be put pretty much right onto the ride. It was so fast and awesome! It was changed a while ago (at least a year maybe more) so that everyone had to go through the film area where the use of a seatbelt is expained. Everything was hush hush about this change, but there must have been some incident (not too tragic or we all would have known). Maybe some scare or someone complaining about not being told about the belts. Maybe someone else will remember an incident or reason for the policy change. The cast members all were pretty quiet about the reason when I asked them. It does make the line a lot longer and is not any better than a fastpass. You only have to use one either a fastpass or child swap and child swap is available for children tall enough for a ride, but who are afraid to ride and a parent has to stay with them. I used to have this system down very well when my children were younger, sadly (for me) my two DD's 8 and 6 are daredevils and want to go on rides that sometimes I am not too keen on. We recetly went to WDW and I talked them into going on Expedition Everest. They loved it, but I thought I was going to DIE. Way too fast backward in the dark. Our picture has my eyes closed just to hold it together until the end of the ride and them laughing with their hands up. Needless to say we do not use child swap anymore. It is a great system for those with kids who are scared or younger. I would much rather see a parent use this system than force a scared child on a ride

 

[dwheatl]

My daughter commented the other day she didn't want to ride Haunted mansion, it was scary. Well she's not really scared of it, she just doesn't like loud noises, so doesn't like the elevator part. I told her that it's not scary and shes been on it hundreds of times, so she already knows what will happen. She said, okay, I was just testing you. She then happily went on it. Of course as soon as we get in the elevator she turns so we can hold her ears. One guy asked us what was wrong. I said she doesn't like loud noises, so she doesn't like when everyone screams at the end. Other than she was perfectly fine. We really must get her a set of ear plugs for DL. She will watch fireworks and go on rides, but we must hold her ears for anything loud. She watches most movies with her hands over her ears if she thinks there will be a loud sound. So when the music in a movie picks up, there goes her hands.

My DD is still like this, and she's 16. Her least favorite ride-Jungle Cruise, because of the pistol. I just read that this is considered a type of phobia, and can be treated in the same way as other phobias by a therapist. Sorry for hijacking the thread. Back to your conversation.