Rider swap changes

[blana]

We were at California Adventure today and got rider swap at Guardians of the Galaxy. Today was their first day of electronic rider swap. If you're doing the swap, make sure everyone who is swapping is at the podium with their tickets. Don't let the riders go ahead through the line once they've approved you for rider swAp. All tickets attached to the swap have to be scanned in order to be allowed back on the ride. It's basically another fast pass attached to your account. When you g o through the line e, you'll scan your ticket just like for fast pass.

 

[cmwade77]

Interesting, I hadn't heard about this, but it makes sense as it eliminates another potential point of abuse that people kept the rider swap passes and used them days, weeks or even months later, which was never the intent of rider swap.

 

[az4boys]

We were at California Adventure today and got rider swap at Guardians of the Galaxy. Today was their first day of electronic rider swap. If you're doing the swap, make sure everyone who is swapping is at the podium with their tickets. Don't let the riders go ahead through the line once they've approved you for rider swAp. All tickets attached to the swap have to be scanned in order to be allowed back on the ride. It's basically another fast pass attached to your account. When you g o through the line e, you'll scan your ticket just like for fast pass.

We don't have kids young enough to do rider swap anymore, but I think others have planned to buy MP for only half their family and let the other half use the rider swap. I wonder if this would change their ability to do that.

 

[SMD]

There were also people who didn't have a kid to show, so they pretended they forgot to get the ride swap at the beginning of the queue and asking for pass at the end. It's too bad that kids that are genuinely upset that they can't ride or afraid to ride will not have to spend more time in front of the ride to get the swap, but Disney cracks down on points of abuse eventually. At least single rider is still an option on some rides so you don't have to take the non-riders there.

 

[cmwade77]

There were also people who didn't have a kid to show, so they pretended they forgot to get the ride swap at the beginning of the queue and asking for pass at the end. It's too bad that kids that are genuinely upset that they can't ride or afraid to ride will not have to spend more time in front of the ride to get the swap, but Disney cracks down on points of abuse eventually. At least single rider is still an option on some rides so you don't have to take the non-riders there.

It should only add a few minutes to them at the front of the ride, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue and I would imagine that you can hand them the passes of those not riding.

 

[SMD]

It should only add a few minutes to them at the front of the ride, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue and I would imagine that you can hand them the passes of those not riding.

True. But previously the CMs were rarely asking to see the non-riders at all. So they were often on another ride or in another land while the first half of the party was riding. There are also very few non-riders who I imagine have much difficulty waiting for the swap, but for the ones that are really afraid they'll be forced on the ride, that's unfortunate.

 

[chicagodisfan]

We were at California Adventure today and got rider swap at Guardians of the Galaxy. Today was their first day of electronic rider swap. If you're doing the swap, make sure everyone who is swapping is at the podium with their tickets. Don't let the riders go ahead through the line once they've approved you for rider swAp. All tickets attached to the swap have to be scanned in order to be allowed back on the ride. It's basically another fast pass attached to your account. When you g o through the line e, you'll scan your ticket just like for fast pass.

So, did you have a FP for the adult who was staying back with the non-riding child? It used to be that you could get FPs for the adults and kids that could ride and then the non-riding adult would go on later with the rider swap pass. Is this still the case? Is there a time limit on the rider swap pass now?

 

[blana]

So, did you have a FP for the adult who was staying back with the non-riding child? It used to be that you could get FPs for the adults and kids that could ride and then the non-riding adult would go on later with the rider swap pass. Is this still the case? Is there a time limit on the rider swap pass now?

I actually did have a FP as well as the rest of my family, but I don't think you had to. The rider swap was added to my pass and my kids' passes on top of the FP on our tickets.

 

[DellyHoliday]

hmmm I'm a bit confused. So, does rider swap now have a specific return time now? or can you return at any time like it did previously?

 

[DellyHoliday]

Interesting, I hadn't heard about this, but it makes sense as it eliminates another potential point of abuse that people kept the rider swap passes and used them days, weeks or even months later, which was never the intent of rider swap.

CMs wrote date on the Rider Switch passes so you can only use it on that day. It did act as anytime fastpass for that day though which was nice.

 

[chicagodisfan]

I actually did have a FP as well as the rest of my family, but I don't think you had to. The rider swap was added to my pass and my kids' passes on top of the FP on our tickets.

Great, thanks! That makes sense. Did you have to use it by a specific time?

 

[cmwade77]

CMs wrote date on the Rider Switch passes so you can only use it on that day. It did act as anytime fastpass for that day though which was nice.

The problem is a lot of them didn't do that, so there became an issue. Now some attractions do have a pass they can give to kids when they are upset that they can't ride because they aren't tall enough that are intended for future use when they are tall enough. But that is different.

 

[NorthernCalMom]

The only time we used the child switch in the past was when our kids (who are now 9 & 11 & ride pretty much anything) were infants/toddlers. This year we're meeting family who have a little one who's never been to Dland & isn't really sure about some of the rides. She might want to ride them, or she could chicken out at the last moment. I was planning to get fastpasses for all of us but also ask for a rider switch pass, just in case, so one of the adults in our group can see her off & still do the ride after the others did it. Would this "just in case" scenario still work with the current electronic pass?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

We were at California Adventure today and got rider swap at Guardians of the Galaxy. Today was their first day of electronic rider swap. If you're doing the swap, make sure everyone who is swapping is at the podium with their tickets. Don't let the riders go ahead through the line once they've approved you for rider swAp. All tickets attached to the swap have to be scanned in order to be allowed back on the ride. It's basically another fast pass attached to your account. When you g o through the line e, you'll scan your ticket just like for fast pass.

I don't understand. The child has to go with both parents to the second scanner? If so, I'm not too happy about that. It can be a real pain if you have a toddler, have to park the stroller, etc. what if your child is alsleep in the stroller? You have to wake them up and cary them through the fast pass line? How do you get back out?

 

[SMD]

The only time we used the child switch in the past was when our kids (who are now 9 & 11 & ride pretty much anything) were infants/toddlers. This year we're meeting family who have a little one who's never been to Dland & isn't really sure about some of the rides. She might want to ride them, or she could chicken out at the last moment. I was planning to get fastpasses for all of us but also ask for a rider switch pass, just in case, so one of the adults in our group can see her off & still do the ride after the others did it. Would this "just in case" scenario still work with the current electronic pass?

It seems like this new system is designed to prevent exactly this kind of abuse. Where the whole party rides and a rider swap is obtained so that some of the party can ride again without waiting. If the child decides not to ride, why not just ask if they're able to issue a swap before exiting the queue?

 

[tnzzz]

I don't understand. The child has to go with both parents to the second scanner? If so, I'm not too happy a lot that. It can be a real pain if you have a toddler, have to park the stroller, etc. what if your child is alsleep in the stroller? You have to wake them up and cary them through the fast pass line? How do you get back out?

I don't quite get how that would work either. In the past you took the child up to the first check in point and showed the CM there. I'm hoping it means they just program the digital swap at this point. We also never bothered with a second fast pass for the other parent because they didn't actually need to be in line when utilizing the swap option. The perk to that was we could occasionally double up on FP, so I wonder if that will change. Hope for some clarification.
Also, for those talking about abuse of the swap system, honestly I feel that is in large part because DL did not regulate the system for each ride. Some CM don't care to see the child, some rides you don't even request the swap until you are off the ride (like splash mountain) and there is no way to prove you have a child that qualifies at that point anyway. Some give you a lanyard to swap for a pass at the next check point, but many just request you verbally tell them and have to take you at your word. So yes, it's easy to lie I think, but that's because of the way it's set up on some rides. I'm hoping this new system is streamlined so each ride has the same approach. It was often confusing before because the process varied with each ride.

 

[disland7]

I don't understand. The child has to go with both parents to the second scanner? If so, I'm not too happy a lot that. It can be a real pain if you have a toddler, have to park the stroller, etc. what if your child is alsleep in the stroller? You have to wake them up and cary them through the fast pass line? How do you get back out?

This is my worry too. It almost eliminates all the benefits of a rider swap for us.

 

[Disneyplannergirl]

I don't understand. The child has to go with both parents to the second scanner? If so, I'm not too happy about that. It can be a real pain if you have a toddler, have to park the stroller, etc. what if your child is alsleep in the stroller? You have to wake them up and cary them through the fast pass line? How do you get back out?

This is my concern too. If anyone knows whether kids have to stay in line past initial scanner it would be very helpful.

 

[NorthernCalMom]

It seems like this new system is designed to prevent exactly this kind of abuse. Where the whole party rides and a rider swap is obtained so that some of the party can ride again without waiting.

Oh, that's not what I meant... but I didn't even think of people abusing it in that way (I'm one of those boring stick in the mud kind of sticklers for rules...). We never had that problem with our kids... they knew exactly what they did & did not want to ride, while the little girl who'll be with us next week (my niece) is the more indecisive type. Guess you're right & I'll ask the cast members to see what they suggest (& will report back here what I found out when we're back).

 

[beachdreamr1229]

It seems silly that the kid would have to go all the way to the second checkpoint. As a mom of multiples, it would be ridiculous to drag all my too-young/too-small kids through the line, plus it would clog it up. I'm hoping they just have to show at the first checkpoint, which is how it's always been really. Can someone clarify?