Please School me on FP and Rider Swaps

[vicarrieous]

This will be our first trip to Disney World (minus the times that DH and I were 5) and we will be traveling in November with a 5 & almost 3 year old.

Both of my boys are somewhat of chickens, so I am not sure how rides will go. I am sure things like tea cups, its a small world and slower rides will be fine.

I am wondering about the 7DMT. I think we will want to try it, if we can get FP or get there at rope drop. Just wondering how we will do this since our not yet 3 year old wont be able to ride.

Can you explain to me how one would set this up? Basically FP and a rider swap? What about rides you don't have FP for? Can you still rider swap?

School me please!

 

[sherezada]

This will be our first trip to Disney World (minus the times that DH and I were 5) and we will be traveling in November with a 5 & almost 3 year old.

Both of my boys are somewhat of chickens, so I am not sure how rides will go. I am sure things like tea cups, its a small world and slower rides will be fine.

I am wondering about the 7DMT. I think we will want to try it, if we can get FP or get there at rope drop. Just wondering how we will do this since our not yet 3 year old wont be able to ride.

Can you explain to me how one would set this up? Basically FP and a rider swap? What about rides you don't have FP for? Can you still rider swap?

School me please!

We were on the same boat (5 & almost 3 yr-olds). If you want your 5-yr-old to ride you should get FP for him and DH. You all go together to the FP entrance (so they'll see your 3-yr-old) and request RS. They will give you a RS ticket. After your DH and 5-yr-old come out you can go in with the RS.

 

[vicarrieous]

We were on the same boat (5 & almost 3 yr-olds). If you want your 5-yr-old to ride you should get FP for him and DH. You all go together to the FP entrance (so they'll see your 3-yr-old) and request RS. They will give you a RS ticket. After your DH and 5-yr-old come out you can go in with the RS.

Perfect! Thanks for the explanation! It was concise and easy to understand. Why did I think it was going to be more difficult than that! Just confirming, I won't need a fp then. Only the two of them? Correct?

 

[sherezada]

Correct. You do not need a FP for yourself if you'll be doing a RS.
BTW, my 5-yr-old is a chicken too. He didn't want to get on 7DTM. In fact, I think the only "thrill ride" he agreed to ride was Goofy's Barnstormer. I'd get the FP for your son but play it by ear if he doesn't want to get on once you get there.

 

[vicarrieous]

Correct. You do not need a FP for yourself if you'll be doing a RS.
BTW, my 5-yr-old is a chicken too. He didn't want to get on 7DTM. In fact, I think the only "thrill ride" he agreed to ride was Goofy's Barnstormer. I'd get the FP for your son but play it by ear if he doesn't want to get on once you get there.

Thats what I am thinking as well. He normally isn't big into rides so I am worried once we are there he wont want to go on it. Heck, I am worried my hubby won't want to go on it! Its probably the biggest ride we have planned!

 

[aimes0105]

But if the 5 year old does like it, he can go on again with you using the rider swap.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Some CMs will only give RS if child is not tall enough. If they wont give it to you because child is tall enough. When DGS was 5 he was tall enough for Space Mountain but being "chicken" is not the purpose of RS. We all got in line we kept assuring him he wasnt riding. I went the chicken way to where ride disembarks. Then 3 of us escorted by CM went to front of the line, while the other waited with grandson. Its still technically rider switch. My granddaughter was 2 and 3 months in March, she was tall enough for Goofy but still too short for 7DMT. Height needed is 38"Goofy is 35"

 

[vicarrieous]

Some CMs will only give RS if child is not tall enough. If they wont give it to you because child is tall enough. When DGS was 5 he was tall enough for Space Mountain but being "chicken" is not the purpose of RS. We all got in line we kept assuring him he wasnt riding. I went the chicken way to where ride disembarks. Then 3 of us escorted by CM went to front of the line, while the other waited with grandson. Its still technically rider switch. My granddaughter was 2 and 3 months in March, she was tall enough for Goofy but still too short for 7DMT. Height needed is 38"Goofy is 35"

Maybe you missed my explanation. We will be using rider swap because we have a 2 year old that will not be big enough to ride.

I merely stated that my boy was tentative (chicken) so we shall see if we even get on it in the first place.

 

[tulipgrl7]

Just FYI it isn't only because they aren't tall enough. It can be because they don't want to ride it. My 4 year old is tall enough for 7DMT but she doesn't like it so we rider swap with our 7 year old and we have never had any trouble with any of the rides.

This is copied from Walt Disney World's website:
If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.

 

[DisneyWisher]

This is copied from Walt Disney World's website:
If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.

But it doesn't say the non rider companion will receive a paper RS. The cm wouldnt give us one for Space Mountain, grandson that was tall enough but afraid, he got in line with us. It was a rider switch but done from inside the ride.