Rider swap and FP experience

[jomass]

I thought that people with small children would find my experience with RS during our week here right now would find this useful. The RS system seems to vary at both the attractions and the parks. We are 4 adults and one child 4 yrs old.

MK- for Splash and Thunder mountains we had FP for 2 of our party. We asked for RS and the 2 were given a pass on a lanyard. We had to give that to the CM at the second terminal in the FP lane. At that point they gave us a RS pass good for 3 people. You simply return when you want and use the FP lane for the remaining 2-3 people. Our RS passes for these 2 were good for a month. Usually they are good just for the day.
For space mountain we were simply given a RS pass at the beginning of the FP line. That one was only good for the day. Again I stress that only 2 of us had FP and they never asked if the ones staying with the child had FP too. So you can pretty much double your FP with using RS

Epcot- we did basically the same thing at test track except the CM did not want to give us a RS because our child was "tall enough" (by about an inch and she is only 4). Anyway she was terrified of going on it and I explained that to him. He reluctantly gave us one. It was good for the day.

AK- we did the same approach as the others and were given one for EE. it was only good for the day. But again we only had 2 FP and the remaining people were able to return using the RS pass. That saved FP selections for other attractions.

We go to HS tomorrow. I will report back on that one too.

 

[cakebaker]

For space mountain we were simply given a RS pass at the beginning of the FP line. That one was only good for the day. Again I stress that only 2 of us had FP and they never asked if the ones staying with the child had FP too. So you can pretty much double your FP with using RS

Those staying behind with the child have never been required to have a fp+. It's how the system works. There was an errant report or 2 of this happening at the start of FP+, but not for a very long time.

Epcot- we did basically the same thing at test track except the CM did not want to give us a RS because our child was "tall enough" (by about an inch and she is only 4). Anyway she was terrified of going on it and I explained that to him. He reluctantly gave us one. It was good for the day.

Good to hear this, as it is Disney's posted policy and one we have used a few times ourselves. For those of us with too tall toddlers, this is really needed. Disney either needs to inform their cm's or change their policy because you shouldn't have to convince the CM to let you have one.

What I find most interesting is you say these were only good for the day- that's a definite change up- they've usually been good up to the end of the month. We almost always use ours right after the first group rides, but for others this is an important change.

 

[Kathryn777]

This was our experience too. The plus is that it ups your FP choices. The downside is it takes SO long to get everyone through the process twice, the too short child can wait a loooong time

But it was good for the tiers at Epcot

 

[cakebaker]

We usually book something for the short one to do while others are riding, or find some fun activity like a splash pad somewhere. There's no way our little one will sit while others ride things he thinks he should be able to ride too!

 

[jomass]

Those staying behind with the child have never been required to have a fp+. It's how the system works. There was an errant report or 2 of this happening at the start of FP+, but not for a very long time.



Good to hear this, as it is Disney's posted policy and one we have used a few times ourselves. For those of us with too tall toddlers, this is really needed. Disney either needs to inform their cm's or change their policy because you shouldn't have to convince the CM to let you have one.

What I find most interesting is you say these were only good for the day- that's a definite change up- they've usually been good up to the end of the month. We almost always use ours right after the first group rides, but for others this is an important change.

That's why I posted it. So people would not think that the others would have to have FP too. That would kind of defeat the whole RS purpose in the first place.

 

[jomass]

Those staying behind with the child have never been required to have a fp+. It's how the system works. There was an errant report or 2 of this happening at the start of FP+, but not for a very long time.



Good to hear this, as it is Disney's posted policy and one we have used a few times ourselves. For those of us with too tall toddlers, this is really needed. Disney either needs to inform their cm's or change their policy because you shouldn't have to convince the CM to let you have one.

What I find most interesting is you say these were only good for the day- that's a definite change up- they've usually been good up to the end of the month. We almost always use ours right after the first group rides, but for others this is an important change.

I will add that the CM wasn't too friendly about it. It started to get heated and it wasn't on my end. I was surprised by his behavior. Although I have read a similar experience on the same attraction, so I can't help but wonder if it's the same guy.

 

[cakebaker]

I will add that the CM wasn't too friendly about it. It started to get heated and it wasn't on my end. I was surprised by his behavior. Although I have read a similar experience on the same attraction, so I can't help but wonder if it's the same guy.

That's unfortunate. I'm as big a Disney fan as they come but I also hold them to a high standard and I would've been lightening quick to report the attitude. I can put up with having issues- I won't put up with a nasty attitude.

 

[jomass]

Just an update for Hollywood Studios. We did RS on both ST and Aerosmith coaster. On the coaster we were given a lanyard to give to the second FP checkpoint CM and received our RS pass there, just like Splash. For ST we were simply given one. There they didn't even ask who was with me or to see our 4 year old. Both passes are good for a month and up to 3 people each. Simply come back when you want and enter the FP lane.

 

[SharonLowe]

I thought that people with small children would find my experience with RS during our week here right now would find this useful. The RS system seems to vary at both the attractions and the parks. We are 4 adults and one child 4 yrs old.

MK- for Splash and Thunder mountains we had FP for 2 of our party. We asked for RS and the 2 were given a pass on a lanyard. We had to give that to the CM at the second terminal in the FP lane. At that point they gave us a RS pass good for 3 people. You simply return when you want and use the FP lane for the remaining 2-3 people. Our RS passes for these 2 were good for a month. Usually they are good just for the day.
For space mountain we were simply given a RS pass at the beginning of the FP line. That one was only good for the day. Again I stress that only 2 of us had FP and they never asked if the ones staying with the child had FP too. So you can pretty much double your FP with using RS

Epcot- we did basically the same thing at test track except the CM did not want to give us a RS because our child was "tall enough" (by about an inch and she is only 4). Anyway she was terrified of going on it and I explained that to him. He reluctantly gave us one. It was good for the day.

AK- we did the same approach as the others and were given one for EE. it was only good for the day. But again we only had 2 FP and the remaining people were able to return using the RS pass. That saved FP selections for other attractions.

We go to HS tomorrow. I will report back on that one too.

There seems to be lots of ways to abuse the system here and as one who does not have a small child, I am not happy to hear this is how the system works. If there are 4 adults and 1 child, only one adult needs the RS and I always thought it had to be ridden right after the other person rode the ride - the meaning of child swap; not that someone could ride freely a month after they had a child with them. If using FP, at least 3 adults should have FP but in reality, I think all 4 should have FP but one waits with the child until the rest return. People are going to start "renting" young children when they hear of this loophole. The whole idea behind child swap was so that one parent could ride, sometimes with other children, while the other parent stayed with the child who couldn't ride. Then, they swapped then and there so that the other parent could ride. I really think you are abusing the system if you are getting extra adults in when they do not have to do the swap themselves.

 

[staceyeileen]

Were you in the park on the last day of the month? That's the only reason I can think of as to why you got RS passes that were only good for that day. I've always seen them good through the end of the current month.

 

[staceyeileen]

If using FP, at least 3 adults should have FP but in reality, I think all 4 should have FP but one waits with the child until the rest return.

This argument has been beaten to death in other threads. If the person who is waiting with the child were required to have an FP, then why would they need the RS pass at all?

 

[cakebaker]

This argument has been beaten to death in other threads. If the person who is waiting with the child were required to have an FP, then why would they need the RS pass at all?

Exactly - those waiting have never been required to have a fp- as you say, that would negate the need for the swap entirely.

There are plenty of abuses that go on with every courtesy Disney offers. But getting a rider swap pass, using it within the deadline Disney gives and having any 3 people you choose ride is not one of tbem. It's called following the rules.And it's nothing new for people to hear about, it's been this way for a long time. I don't think we need to worry about children being rented out.lol

 

[jomass]

There seems to be lots of ways to abuse the system here and as one who does not have a small child, I am not happy to hear this is how the system works. If there are 4 adults and 1 child, only one adult needs the RS and I always thought it had to be ridden right after the other person rode the ride - the meaning of child swap; not that someone could ride freely a month after they had a child with them. If using FP, at least 3 adults should have FP but in reality, I think all 4 should have FP but one waits with the child until the rest return. People are going to start "renting" young children when they hear of this loophole. The whole idea behind child swap was so that one parent could ride, sometimes with other children, while the other parent stayed with the child who couldn't ride. Then, they swapped then and there so that the other parent could ride. I really think you are abusing the system if you are getting extra adults in when they do not have to do the swap themselves.

LOL
Loosen the bone Wilma, this is well within the rules that have been in place for years. I was simply giving current experience for people's benefit. I don't think anybody is going to start an underground child trafficking railroad to the MK. However if you want one to borrow, I think I know of a 4 year old who would love to go again. But I do warn you that she's pretty cranked up on sensory overload after a week at the parks. You are going to wish you had 17 fast passes and a dozen RS per day!

 

[ruthies12]

Thanks for reporting! I had never heard of the lanyard thing going on so that is good to know

 

[Kathryn777]

When I first heard of it I though it was such a "perk" as far as FP+ goes. But in reality it often seems to take as much time to cycle through twice as it does to fp it once and wait for something else. Especially for test track and soarin. I think it took us about 60-90 min to get both groups through the ride for each one. There is always a fp+ wait and then the time to find each other, switch etc etc. I can't wait to not have to use it and we can all ride together. On the plus side there were lots of areas to play around those so my 2 year old happily waited an hour in the after area at test track

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I thought that people with small children would find my experience with RS during our week here right now would find this useful. The RS system seems to vary at both the attractions and the parks. We are 4 adults and one child 4 yrs old.

MK- for Splash and Thunder mountains we had FP for 2 of our party. We asked for RS and the 2 were given a pass on a lanyard. We had to give that to the CM at the second terminal in the FP lane. At that point they gave us a RS pass good for 3 people. You simply return when you want and use the FP lane for the remaining 2-3 people. Our RS passes for these 2 were good for a month. Usually they are good just for the day.
For space mountain we were simply given a RS pass at the beginning of the FP line. That one was only good for the day. Again I stress that only 2 of us had FP and they never asked if the ones staying with the child had FP too. So you can pretty much double your FP with using RS

Epcot- we did basically the same thing at test track except the CM did not want to give us a RS because our child was "tall enough" (by about an inch and she is only 4). Anyway she was terrified of going on it and I explained that to him. He reluctantly gave us one. It was good for the day.

AK- we did the same approach as the others and were given one for EE. it was only good for the day. But again we only had 2 FP and the remaining people were able to return using the RS pass. That saved FP selections for other attractions.

We go to HS tomorrow. I will report back on that one too.

We just went to DHS yesterday.

It is the same in regards to fastpass--only those going in first needed FP.

TOT and RNR gave a lanyard to be exchanged for a rider swap inside. Star tours gave the rider swap at the entrance.

Tower lanyard:

 

[Crystal824]

I thought that people with small children would find my experience with RS during our week here right now would find this useful. The RS system seems to vary at both the attractions and the parks. We are 4 adults and one child 4 yrs old.

MK- for Splash and Thunder mountains we had FP for 2 of our party. We asked for RS and the 2 were given a pass on a lanyard. We had to give that to the CM at the second terminal in the FP lane. At that point they gave us a RS pass good for 3 people. You simply return when you want and use the FP lane for the remaining 2-3 people. Our RS passes for these 2 were good for a month. Usually they are good just for the day.
For space mountain we were simply given a RS pass at the beginning of the FP line. That one was only good for the day. Again I stress that only 2 of us had FP and they never asked if the ones staying with the child had FP too. So you can pretty much double your FP with using RS

Epcot- we did basically the same thing at test track except the CM did not want to give us a RS because our child was "tall enough" (by about an inch and she is only 4). Anyway she was terrified of going on it and I explained that to him. He reluctantly gave us one. It was good for the day.

AK- we did the same approach as the others and were given one for EE. it was only good for the day. But again we only had 2 FP and the remaining people were able to return using the RS pass. That saved FP selections for other attractions.

We go to HS tomorrow. I will report back on that one too.

We just got back yesterday. This was our experience as well. We had three adults, a four year old, and a 10 month old. We would schedule 2 FP for one attraction the baby couldn't ride and the other 2 for anther. For example, 2 for BTMRR at the same time as Splash. It worked fine.

 

[supersuperwendy]

How about in standby? If some of us enter standby and they see the little ones will they give us RS or only in fastpass return?

 

[cakebaker]

How about in standby? If some of us enter standby and they see the little ones will they give us RS or only in fastpass return?

Standby can get the rider switch pass as well. Same procedure and then those who use it, go in the fp+ line.