Rider swap clarification

[MickeyWaffles]

Our FP window opens this week and I have a quick rider swap FP+ question. I've seen lots of threads about rider swap but I just want to be sure this is an accurate scenario.

Everyone else in my party books FP+ for Soarin.

I book FP+ to take my 2.5yo and 1yo on FEA since they can't do Soarin.

If we get a rider swap pass at Soarin when everyone else goes to use their FP, I could theoretically go on it later even though my booked FP was for FEA and they are in the same FP tier?

On DD's first trip we didn't bother to use rider swap at all because I was pregnant with DS so this is all new to me. I generally don't even want to go on rides my kids can't go on but I'm considering Soarin since I haven't seen the new version yet.

I'm not even sure we will do this, but this will be our second day at Epcot and my DD loves Frozen - no one else in my party will want to ride that a second time after using their tier 1 FP on FEA on an earlier day.

Thanks!

 

[OSUZorba]

Yes, only the first set of people riding has to have a Fast Pass. Everyone, including the kids must be present at the start of the queue to get a child swap pass, however. So will have to drag your kids all the way to Soarin', which means taking them out of their strollers.

I think what you are doing is exactly what Disney intends, which is to give your small kids a fun experience while others are riding an older ride. But some people think this is an abuse, so expect some flaming for asking.

 

[DavidNYC]

Perfect plan. Nice thing about doing that for Soarin is that you have Living with the Land right there too which is a great thing to do with little kids while they’re riding Soarin. And remember, you can bring 2 others with you on Soarin so if you have older kids they can ride it again with you.

 

[Ambehnke]

Yes we did this our last trip. As PP said expect some backlash from these boards, but I don't want my daughter to have to sit out of a decent ride because I would rather ride Soarin than FEA...and we may do it one or two trips and then she'll be tall enough to ride too, so it's not like we are trying to cheat the system. Take any backlash with a grain of salt. If Disney didn't intend it to be that way they would close it like they are the other FP "loopholes".

 

[JohnneeO]

I think you have it right. As far as I understand, Disney doesn't (or at least shouldn't) care what you are are doing with the younger ones while the rest of your party rides Soarin'. You can ride FEA, LWTL, shop, eat, or just wait.

 

[MissMaryQC]

Mind if I piggy back here? I'm new to the Rider Swap rule as well, but we want to use it for Flights of Passage in AK this September. If DD (3) waits with us in the FP line I can ride with DH while DD waits with my mom, then my mom can ride with me or DH after?

Does DD have to wait the entire queue, or can she just come up with us so the CM can see we actually have a child unable to ride?

Thanks in advance.

 

[gap2368]

Mind if I piggy back here? I'm new to the Rider Swap rule as well, but we want to use it for Flights of Passage in AK this September. If DD (3) waits with us in the FP line I can ride with DH while DD waits with my mom, then my mom can ride with me or DH after?

Does DD have to wait the entire queue, or can she just come up with us so the CM can see we actually have a child unable to ride?

Thanks in advance.

If some one is too small to ride they are not allowed the line. when you go in the FP line ( or standby) you will need to show the CM at the ride your too small child, they will either give you the paper pass right then or give you a lanyard to hand to the next Cm who will give you the RS then. after the first group rides you meet your party that did not ride and you then go on. With the rider swap ( thought the FP line) you have until the end of the month to use rider swap pass and you can take 2 people with you.

 

[DavidNYC]

Mind if I piggy back here? I'm new to the Rider Swap rule as well, but we want to use it for Flights of Passage in AK this September. If DD (3) waits with us in the FP line I can ride with DH while DD waits with my mom, then my mom can ride with me or DH after?

Does DD have to wait the entire queue, or can she just come up with us so the CM can see we actually have a child unable to ride?

Thanks in advance.

If she is not tall enough to ride she is not allowed into the queue at all! You'll just go with her to the CM at the entrance to the line and they'll give you a swap pass (although they've tried a few different methods of actually handing out the passes, they all start with going to the CM at the line entrance). DD will wait outside the entire ride with the waiting adult (hopefully to do something interested for her while they wait).

 

[Lalalyn]

If she is not tall enough to ride she is not allowed into the queue at all! You'll just go with her to the CM at the entrance to the line and they'll give you a swap pass (although they've tried a few different methods of actually handing out the passes, they all start with going to the CM at the line entrance). DD will wait outside the entire ride with the waiting adult (hopefully to do something interested for her while they wait).

What is the official policy if the kid is tall enough to ride but just does not want to?

One of my twins does not like roller coasters. For 7DMT, twice on our last trip we went up to the CM at the entrance, said we would like to do rider swap, they took a quick look at DH standing with her and gave us the pass.

Another time, the CM said she had to go through the line with us and we would have to do the swap there. I must have stared daggers at him because another CM came up and said "just give it to them, but that isn't the policy." I wasn't sure what she meant but took it and went on my way.

 

[bumbershoot]

But some people think this is an abuse, so expect some flaming for asking.

As PP said expect some backlash from these boards

Literally never seen anyone complain about doing that. Confused by the concept that anyone thinks it's abuse.

Mind if I piggy back here? I'm new to the Rider Swap rule as well, but we want to use it for Flights of Passage in AK this September. If DD (3) waits with us in the FP line I can ride with DH while DD waits with my mom, then my mom can ride with me or DH after?

Does DD have to wait the entire queue, or can she just come up with us so the CM can see we actually have a child unable to ride?

Thanks in advance.

As you approach the line area (can be described as the entrance to the ride or the start or even the end of the line depending on how your mind visualized things) you'll see people in line. There will be a CM somewhere around there manning that part of the line. Find them. Show them the too-little child. Once that is done and the pass is given, the child and adults who will rise later leave the line area.

This isn't being done at the seating area, but as you leave the main park pathways and approach the line itself.

 

[bumbershoot]

What is the official policy if the kid is tall enough to ride but just does not want to?

One of my twins does not like roller coasters. For 7DMT, twice on our last trip we went up to the CM at the entrance, said we would like to do rider swap, they took a quick look at DH standing with her and gave us the pass.

Another time, the CM said she had to go through the line with us and we would have to do the swap there. I must have stared daggers at him because another CM came up and said "just give it to them, but that isn't the policy." I wasn't sure what she meant but took it and went on my way.

In-park, always-been-the-rule, policy is that swap is for too-short people.

Somehow the info on the website was changed to include people who just don't want to ride. This is NOT how it generally works in the parks.

As for swapping at the seating area, that doesn't really happen, as there is no safe spot for anyone to stand and wait.

 

[MissMaryQC]

As you approach the line area (can be described as the entrance to the ride or the start or even the end of the line depending on how your mind visualized things) you'll see people in line. There will be a CM somewhere around there manning that part of the line. Find them. Show them the too-little child. Once that is done and the pass is given, the child and adults who will rise later leave the line area.

This isn't being done at the seating area, but as you leave the main park pathways and approach the line itself.

Great, thank you! The last time we used something like this, I was a kid and I remember we all had to line up together, then there was like a room where the folks with the babies had to stay. Glad to know a lot has changed since then, lol! I doubt DD would be too happy to wait in line and then be told she wasn't allowed on the ride.

 

[Ambehnke]

Literally never seen anyone complain about doing that. Confused by the concept that anyone thinks it's abuse.



As you approach the line area (can be described as the entrance to the ride or the start or even the end of the line depending on how your mind visualized things) you'll see people in line. There will be a CM somewhere around there manning that part of the line. Find them. Show them the too-little child. Once that is done and the pass is given, the child and adults who will rise later leave the line area.

This isn't being done at the seating area, but as you leave the main park pathways and approach the line itself.

People will often say it's not to be used with fastpass it is meant to not have to wait standby twice. Or that if you are going to use with FP that all riders should have a FP and just the person riding twice should use the rs pass. This isn't how it works in the park but people often see the way op posted about as cheating the system on here.. I've been called out on it before when sharing my experience. So that was where my post came from.

 

[Lalalyn]

In-park, always-been-the-rule, policy is that swap is for too-short people.

Somehow the info on the website was changed to include people who just don't want to ride. This is NOT how it generally works in the parks.

As for swapping at the seating area, that doesn't really happen, as there is no safe spot for anyone to stand and wait.

From this link, I see where it says it is for those either not tall enough or who don't want to ride. It also is vague about where the "waiting area" is -- usually outside the attraction.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

I get how people can use it to game the system. But, this seems to be trying to be sensitive to kids who might be scared of even standing in the line -- dark, rumbling and loud in some situations.

 

[JohnneeO]

Great, thank you! The last time we used something like this, I was a kid and I remember we all had to line up together, then there was like a room where the folks with the babies had to stay. Glad to know a lot has changed since then, lol! I doubt DD would be too happy to wait in line and then be told she wasn't allowed on the ride.

Universal still does it this way. They have rooms inside the Jurassic Park, Dudley Do-Right, and Harry Potter FJ rides at IOA, and inside the MIB and Escape from Gringots rides at US.

 

[Ambehnke]

From this link, I see where it says it is for those either not tall enough or who don't want to ride. It also is vague about where the "waiting area" is -- usually outside the attraction.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

I get how people can use it to game the system. But, this seems to be trying to be sensitive to kids who might be scared of even standing in the line -- dark, rumbling and loud in some situations.

There is no waiting area. They can't enter the line if they are too short. If they don't want to ride they can wait in line and exit to the other sides and CMs can direct to where to meet their party.

 

[gap2368]

From this link, I see where it says it is for those either not tall enough or who don't want to ride. It also is vague about where the "waiting area" is -- usually outside the attraction.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

I get how people can use it to game the system. But, this seems to be trying to be sensitive to kids who might be scared of even standing in the line -- dark, rumbling and loud in some situations.

I have seen CM give out rider swaps to people that are tell enough to ride I have also seen them not, one time in TOT a little girl was scared she was screaming the whole time in the room where you see the move her dad ( I guess it was her dad) was trying to tell her she did not have to ride, when the door opens about half the room complained to the CM about hows card this little one was. I felt so bad for her. I do get them second guessing people that ask for it that are tall enough to ride but something should be done as some line are scary

 

[Lalalyn]

There is no waiting area. They can't enter the line if they are too short. If they don't want to ride they can wait in line and exit to the other sides and CMs can direct to where to meet their party.

But how is that rider swap? My tall enough three year old can't stand there by herself while we all ride. An adult -- who wants to swap and ride with his other kids -- has to stand with her. So they stand at the unloading, wait for us to ride and then that adult rides again with the kid who just rode?

Not complaining. We would do this if this is how it is supposed to work, but seems confusing.

 

[Ambehnke]

But how is that rider swap? My tall enough three year old can't stand there by herself while we all ride. An adult -- who wants to swap and ride with his other kids -- has to stand with her. So they stand at the unloading, wait for us to ride and then that adult rides again with the kid who just rode?

Not complaining. We would do this if this is how it is supposed to work, but seems confusing.

You can wait with your tall enough 3 year old I believe and then they will load you again. OR you can ask outside the queue if they will give you a RS which they very well may and then go ride something else with your 3yo.

 

[allysetraskos]

But how is that rider swap? My tall enough three year old can't stand there by herself while we all ride. An adult -- who wants to swap and ride with his other kids -- has to stand with her. So they stand at the unloading, wait for us to ride and then that adult rides again with the kid who just rode?

Not complaining. We would do this if this is how it is supposed to work, but seems confusing.

It only works if there is 2 adults (or teen old enough to watch the smaller child).. If you travel as a single parent there will be nobody to watch your 3 year old so you wouldn't be able to do the swap or go on the larger ride.