Rider Swap at Pandora

[luckyduck517]

I have tried searching the forums/ google with mixed results, so I just wanted to get some feedback on if my plan for reserving fastpasses is correct! We are traveling to DAK this summer for 1 day (after a cruise) and will be traveling with 6 adults and my 15 month old daughter. 4 of us have been to DAK since Pandora opened, 2 of the adults have not. We haven't been to WDW with a young child since I was a child, so the rider swap system is all very new to us.

My question is about rider swap/ fastpass for flights of passage. What I would like to do is have 5 adults ride FOP with their fastpass while one waits with the baby, then have the one who didn't ride use rider swap, and bring 2 of the adults with her during that ride so she doesn't have to ride alone. My understanding is that will be possible, but should I get a fastpass for that adult that isn't riding in the first group?? Some of the sources I've looked at have said that no, I shouldn't get a fastpass for that rider swap person (even indicated it might mess up the system?), while others have indicated that I should. If the rider not riding the first time doesn't need a fastpass for FOP, I was thinking they could use that to get a fastpass to ride na'avi river ride while group 1 is on FOP, but I don't want to take the chance that it might mean not getting on FOP!!

Thanks all for any help you can give!

 

[yesdnil]

We went before they changed the system, and the adult waiting definitely did not need a fastpass. But when they updated rider swap a few months back, I heard that they changed this. The change might be why you're getting conflicting feedback

 

[sponica]

This experience thread might shed light on it.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/my-experience-with-rider-swap-2-23-thru-2-28.3737373/

 

[luckyduck517]

Thanks for posting that! From the most recent posts, it looks like the person staying behind does not need a fastpass, which is what I was hoping for (I see some rumored changes, but nothing defined except for the one ride where the OP had a problem, but the other rides were all fine). I also just checked the Disney mom's panel and it looks like there it also says that the 2nd group doesn't need a fastpass. I would think that if the rules had changed Disney would take down that, since it's on an official Disney website!

 

[wendlle]

Thanks for posting that! From the most recent posts, it looks like the person staying behind does not need a fastpass, which is what I was hoping for (I see some rumored changes, but nothing defined except for the one ride where the OP had a problem, but the other rides were all fine). I also just checked the Disney mom's panel and it looks like there it also says that the 2nd group doesn't need a fastpass. I would think that if the rules had changed Disney would take down that, since it's on an official Disney website!

Don't believe ANYTHING read on the Mom's panel. I've read so much wrong information on that page over the years and it's never taken down.

 

[luckyduck517]

hmm ok, thanks for letting me know. I'll likely get a fastpass for everyone then if I can, since I don't really want to take the chance of getting closed out!

 

[jenmsmith]

FWIW, in our late March trip, both parties did NOT need Fastpasses to do Rider Switch at Flight of Passage, or any of the rides we did RS.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I just went in September and the person that stayed behind did not need a fastpass. You did have to put the rider swap fast passes on your magic band and you then had a window of time you had to ride it.

I did have one ride that the cast member questioned it and stated all needed their own fast pass but that was the ONLY one who said that and when we mentioned this was the last ride of the day and had done it multiple times that way during that day they just let us go as we did previously.

We had a VERY young baby with us so we had to riderswap for a LOT of rides.