Possible Change Coming to Rider Switch (see post #12)?

[zuzu310]

Ok so I know that usually the rider swap pass is good for 3 guests but then I just saw on Disney World's site this "If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note: Only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass."

So is the Rider Swap pass only good for 2 guests instead of 3 now?

Thanks!

 

[volfan1978]

We wore rider swap out a couple of weeks ago, and every pass we got was for a total of 3 guests.

 

[Kathryn777]

Maybe they mean the person who had to wait and 2 guests?

 

[Mainemama]

That is strange wording. DLR does have some passes that only allow 2 to ride. These were primarily in CA. Not sure if the we page you were looking at might refer to DLR?

 

[zuzu310]

That is strange wording. DLR does have some passes that only allow 2 to ride. These were primarily in CA. Not sure if the we page you were looking at might refer to DLR?

So I double checked and I was on the Walt Disney World site and not Disneyland. Ug....wonder if it will be changing??? I hate when stuff is up in the air and I need to make FP+ soon.

 

[zuzu310]

It also doesn't list SDMT as an option. We have a baby as well as an older child.

 

[Mainemama]

You can definitely RS 7 dwarves. I hope it remains 3 riders. We have 2 older kids, and it is so hard to negotiate who gets the extra ride!

 

[tinkerbesh]

Last week we got RS passes for both 7DMT and BTMRR, and both were for 3 riders.

 

[zuzu310]

Last week we got RS passes for both 7DMT and BTMRR, and both were for 3 riders.

That is good!! We don;t go until September so I am hoping it holds true for then.

 

[DisFam95]

I thought the Rider Switch was only for kids that weren't able to ride (didnt meet the height requirement) but this says a child that does not want to ride.

That changes everything. My 9yr old is a scared to death of SM (since he rode it at Halloween w/ the darn flaming death skull screaming at him when he was 7)

Also says 2 guests per pass so that sounds like the person that waited plus one.

From the WDW site under Guest Services

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
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.

Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. See a Cast Member at the attraction for more information.

To Use Rider Switch:

1. Check that Rider Switch is offered at the attraction in question by asking a Cast Member.

2. Enter the normal queue with your entire party. At least one adult member of your party and the Guest who will not be riding will then be issued a Rider Switch Pass and asked to wait in a designated area. This group is “Party 2.”

3. The remaining party members, “Party 1,” ride the attraction.

4. After riding the attraction, Party 1 locates Party 2. The non-rider is then “switched” to Party 1.

5. Party 2 enters without having to wait in the regular queue a second time and boards the attraction. The Rider Switch Pass must be presented to a Cast Member at this time.

If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note: Only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass.

 

[zuzu310]

I thought the Rider Switch was only for kids that weren't able to ride (didnt meet the height requirement) but this says a child that does not want to ride.

That changes everything. My 9yr old is a scared to death of SM (since he rode it at Halloween w/ the darn flaming death skull screaming at him when he was 7)

Also says 2 guests per pass so that sounds like the person that waited plus one.

From the WDW site under Guest Services

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
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.

Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. See a Cast Member at the attraction for more information.

To Use Rider Switch:

1. Check that Rider Switch is offered at the attraction in question by asking a Cast Member.

2. Enter the normal queue with your entire party. At least one adult member of your party and the Guest who will not be riding will then be issued a Rider Switch Pass and asked to wait in a designated area. This group is “Party 2.”

3. The remaining party members, “Party 1,” ride the attraction.

4. After riding the attraction, Party 1 locates Party 2. The non-rider is then “switched” to Party 1.

5. Party 2 enters without having to wait in the regular queue a second time and boards the attraction. The Rider Switch Pass must be presented to a Cast Member at this time.

If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note: Only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass.

I thought it sounded like guests that are scared to ride also. I had never heard of that. We wouldn't be using it that way this year because I have a 1 year old but if you are going to use it in that capacity, I would have it ready on your phone for the CM in case you have problems. I also read it as the guest plus ONLY 1 other person. I emailed Disney about it. If they get back with me, I will update this.

 

[zuzu310]

Here is the email I got back from guest services. Don't know if it will be changing in the future...Looks like they may be cutting it back to 2 guests. Kind of sucks for people with older children and a baby.

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

We're glad you and your family are going to be visiting us! Only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass. I do apologize for any inconvenience. We hope you and your family have a terrific visit to Walt Disney World!

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Have a magical day!

Sincerely,

Kaitlyn Owens
eCommerce Sales and Service Team

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and should be confirmed just prior to your visit.

 

[mesaboy2]

I don't think anything's changing. Inconsistent info, especially on subjects like this, from Disney websites and CMs is nothing new.

 

[Angel Ariel]

For whatever reason, Rider Switch seems to be one of the most inconsistent policies across the board for Disney (in terms of how it's written in different places, and what answers you get about it when you ask CMs). There've been so many posts about RS changing over the last year, but then people come back and say it's still the same. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[vicb]

For whatever reason, Rider Switch seems to be one of the most inconsistent policies across the board for Disney

I remember many years back when my DS was tall enough to ride RnRC but too scared, he made it all the way to the loading zone and just couldn't do it. I was allowed to wait with him while DH and DD rode, when they came back DH and DS went into gift shop and I rode with DD. Maybe that was a fluke?

 

[pbb322]

We just got back yesterday and used RS several times, it was always a ticket that said it was good for 3 guests to ride, and we used it for 3 guests each time. I will note, however, that before they would give me the pass for 7DMT they made me take DD3 out of her stroller and demonstrate that she did not meet the height requirements. I started to argue with the CM and tell them that the website does not require the person not to meet the height requirements, but I decided to just let it go since DD was not tall enough and was awake. If they had done that when I used it while she was napping in the stroller at BTMRR, I would have been annoyed. They also would not give me a RS pass at Splash Mountain when we rode it right after rope drop with almost no line, saying they do not give them out when there is no line. I wondered what would happen if we got off the ride and suddenly the line was now at 30 minutes, but DH really did not care if he did not get to ride it, so again we just said ok. So, yes, it might be a good idea to be able to pull the policy up on your phone because they are very inconsistent.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The rider swaps we have been getting have also been 3 people.

 

[tjmw2727]

My actual experience with Rider Swap has always been very different with what has been posted online via the Disney website but very consistent in actual use in the parks for the past several years up to April 2015.

IME - the "paper" Rider swap pass is good for that attraction for up to 3 people anytime that day (sometimes longer) and this information is printed clearly on the swap pass. The "paper" Rider swap pass will only be issued on height restricted rides if you have a person in your party who does not meet the restriction. That person must be present when getting the RS Pass. This includes Soarin when sometimes you have to present a sleeping baby to get the pass despite the fact that strollers are not allowed in the pavilion.

IME - a person who is tall enough to ride but chooses not to will not be eligible for a "paper" Rider swap pass but instead the family "may" be allowed to switch riders at the exit avoiding an additional wait.

Again IME the verbiage on the official website has been very different from the actual experience in the park for at least 2 years now so I doubt anything is changing unless they finally update the website to reflect what actually happens in the park !

 

[soniam]

We (DH, DS8, and me) did rider swap in late July. DS had been acting up and had been warned multiple times. So, he didn't get to ride Test Track, while DH and I switched off. You can do rider swap, even if the person meets the ride requirements. I would think it wouldn't even have to be a child. What if you have an adult that requires someone with them (like Alzheimer's) and doesn't want to ride, but the other people in the group want to ride?

EDIT: We didn't do the paper swap. We just used the back/chicken exit to return to the loading platform.

 

[bumbershoot]

Again IME the verbiage on the official website has been very different from the actual experience in the park for at least 2 years now so I doubt anything is changing unless they finally update the website to reflect what actually happens in the park !

It's not just your experience. The website has had that BAD info up at least two years; it popped up during the changes to the site that ultimately were a portent of MDE.

And I can't even remember a dis'er coming back to report success in getting a pass for a situation where the kid just didn't *want* to ride.