Questions about RSR fastpass vs. rider switch pass based on height restrictions

[Jennmarie13]

I finally registered today after reading threads on this forum for weeks. SO helpful! Hoping someone can help me with a couple questions.

Our family will be at DLR the first week of July. We are staying at GCH so have early entry each morning. There's 4 of us: me, DH, DS (9), and DD (2 1/2). DD is a little shy of the 40 inches required for RSR. Unless she has a major growth spurt in the next couple of weeks, she may miss out on the RSR fun.

Our plan for RSR is to ride standby during our early entry day for DCA. We would like to ride once during the day and once at night, if possible. Obviously if she is tall enough we will just ride standby during early entry and then wait for FP machines to open at park opening. If she is too short, though, can someone confirm that the following is true...we would not need to obtain a Fastpass for the second ride? We could simply all wait in standby line and ask for rider switch pass which would then allow DH & DS to ride then and DS and I to ride later at night? There are no restrictions on return time for a rider switch pass?

Also, is there a viewing area at RSR for non-riders where the one of us waiting with our daughter could watch the other two?

Finally, since my DD is under 3, does that mean her ticket cannot be used to obtain a FP for any ride? If yes and she is tall enough for a FP ride but we only have 3 Fast passes, will we still all be allowed on?

THANKS!

 

[cseca]

I finally registered today after reading threads on this forum for weeks. SO helpful! Hoping someone can help me with a couple questions. Our family will be at DLR the first week of July. We are staying at GCH so have early entry each morning. There's 4 of us: me, DH, DS (9), and DD (2 1/2). DD is a little shy of the 40 inches required for RSR. Unless she has a major growth spurt in the next couple of weeks, she may miss out on the RSR fun. Our plan for RSR is to ride standby during our early entry day for DCA. We would like to ride once during the day and once at night, if possible. Obviously if she is tall enough we will just ride standby during early entry and then wait for FP machines to open at park opening. If she is too short, though, can someone confirm that the following is true...we would not need to obtain a Fastpass for the second ride? We could simply all wait in standby line and ask for rider switch pass which would then allow DH & DS to ride then and DS and I to ride later at night? There are no restrictions on return time for a rider switch pass? Also, is there a viewing area at RSR for non-riders where the one of us waiting with our daughter could watch the other two? Finally, since my DD is under 3, does that mean her ticket cannot be used to obtain a FP for any ride? If yes and she is tall enough for a FP ride but we only have 3 Fast passes, will we still all be allowed on? THANKS!

1. Yes on the rider switch pass
2. No restriction on return time
3. There's an area beside Flo's where you can see the cars at the start of the race
4. No ticket for under 3 so yeah, you can't get a FP but she'll still be allowed on no worries.

 

[figment_jii]

I don't know exactly how rider switch works, but regardless I would still consider getting a FP regardless because the standby wait time can be considerable. With a FP, you're likely to wait less than 30 minutes to ride. In the standby line, the wait times can easily exceed 90 minutes.

Also, is there a viewing area at RSR for non-riders where the one of us waiting with our daughter could watch the other two?

You can see a portion of the race over by Flo's.

Finally, since my DD is under 3, does that mean her ticket cannot be used to obtain a FP for any ride? If yes and she is tall enough for a FP ride but we only have 3 Fast passes, will we still all be allowed on?

If the child does not require a ticket to enter the park, you do not need a FP for her to ride a FP ride with you.

 

[SMD]

So you're going to have one parent ride with your son in the morning with FP and get a rider swap, then the other parent will use their morning FP, then only 1 parent will use the rider swap and ride again with your son at night? If all 3 of you want to ride at night, you'll either have to do rider swap during early entry, use that ride swap, then get evening FPs. Or if you get the swap pass in the morning and save it, have one parent use their FP to ride solo and the other use single rider when you go back. I know that sounds confusing, but the way you described it, your sons rides twice and you each ride once.

 

[cseca]

Oh forgot to mention the pass is valid for 3 people

 

[Jennmarie13]

I guess I was under the impression that with a switch pass my son and I would not have to wait in the standby line for the second ride. Isn't there usually a special place for switch pass riders to return? Either the ride exit or FP entrance?

 

[Malcon10t]

I guess I was under the impression that with a switch pass my son and I would not have to wait in the standby line for the second ride. Isn't there usually a special place for switch pass riders to return? Either the ride exit or FP entrance?

You will use the FP line.

 

[SMD]

I guess I was under the impression that with a switch pass my son and I would not have to wait in the standby line for the second ride. Isn't there usually a special place for switch pass riders to return? Either the ride exit or FP entrance?

You go through the FP return, which is also used for DAS returns. You may have to wait to get to the CM who collects FPs, it can be anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Then you go into the last set of switchbacks where the queue merges with the standby line.

 

[rydersmommy]

We got Fastpasses for RSR this morning. DS was too short DH and I rode using Fastpasses and got rider swap for my mom who stayed with DS while we rode. Right after we got off we met up with her and she and I used swap pass in Fastpasses line to ride and DH took DS to ride another ride in Carsland. It worked smoothly. Wish DS could have ridden but he was just a little too short

 

[agamble]

We used rider switch on RSR last May because DD was tall enough, but we had a newborn too. DD was just under 3 and did not have a ticket, but they let her go through FP with us. When you go through the line for a ride you can get a rider switch pass if someone is staying off. This is true even if you are using a FP. So, if your husband rides with your son he can ask for a switch pass for you. Usually they'll want to see you and the non-rider, so you'll all have to go to the ride. This would allow you and your son to ride again later. However, you only get one pass. SO, if you all want to ride in the evening you'll have to get FP too OR go through standby twice in the morning (once for each of you). Either way would allow both you and your husband 2 rides each, and your son four. If your daughter is tall enough she won't need the FP ticket if she doesn't have a park ticket. That goes for all of the 40" rides. My daughter was 40" without shoes, so with shoes she easily measured up to all rides. If your daughter is 40" with shoes, it may be close if she doesn't stand tall. People say the Jelly Fish ride height marker is off and that barely 40s won't be able to ride, we didn't have that issue. Also, kids are taller in the morning. So, she may qualify in the morning for RSR and be too short at night.