Rider swap clarification

[fan1080]

It's still only for guests who don't meet the height requirement. There have been people who have received "pixie dust" and been accommodated, but there have been plenty of recent reports that the swap pass is still only for those who aren't allowed to ride due to the height requirement.

In some (many?) situations, it would take longer to get the issue resolved through guest relations than it would to just stand in the line twice.

Other than current reports from the field, how do you know it's still only for guests too short to ride?

Was the original policy different than the current one?

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I'm sure a big part of the reason that rider swap, in practice, is not offered for everyone who "doesn't want to ride" is because of the potential for abuse. People could claim that their tall enough child doesn't want to ride to get the rider swap pass (while part of the group uses their fast passes) and then take that same child on the ride later on using the rider swap pass and essentially double up on fast passes for rides since they wouldn't have to have a fast pass to use the rider swap pass. It's situations like this that rider swap is not meant for, but it's impossible to really police it except by enforcing the rule that if you're tall enough, you don't qualify for a rider swap pass, which is what they mostly seem to do.

From what I've seen, they do sometimes seem to be a bit more lenient if the child seems frightened (but is tall enough) or if they are really young (actually I'm a little surprised pp didn't get it for their 4 yo on TOT).

A good thing to keep in mind though, if there's a ride that you're sure your tall enough kid will not ride, get fast passes for everyone else and the adults can just take turns staying back with the kids and everyone still gets to ride that wants to. If you're not sure if your kid will ride, get a fast pass for them too and you can always take them out the chicken exit if they get scared.

In regards to getting a rider swap for an adult who doesn't want to ride, why would that even be a thing? I understand that the website indicates it could happen, but as several people have pointed out, it's not likely to, and there really wouldn't be a need for rider swap as the adult could wait by themself while everyone else rides, or go through the line with everyone and use the chicken exit. The point of rider swap is to enable families to ride when they have someone too short to ride (and therefore not allowed in the queue) and too young to wait outside the ride alone.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I get the rider swap- but how is it that you don't need fast passes for all riders? That doesn't seem right.

You can go in the standby line if you want and still get rider swap. It doesn't matter which line the first group uses (although if going in the fast pass line, the first group needs fast pass), the rider swap pass is always good for up to 3 people to go through the fast pass line after the first group returns. Disney advertises that if the first group uses their fast pass on a ride, the second group of riders (with the too short kid) can then use their fast pass on a different ride while they are waiting for the first group to get done on their ride.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

All this talk about height requirements, but Disney's website allows anyone (defined as "a guest") to use Rider Swap if they don't want to ride. We have a senior who doesn't want to ride some attractions, he would seem to meet this second qualifying rule for Rider Swap. This second requirement has no limitations on height, so anyone not wanting to ride doesn't have to ride.

Accordingly, any guest can use Rider Swap. Seems crystal clear. Still, I plan to print out this web page and take it to the park.

Why would you need rider swap for a senior? Wouldn't they be able to wait outside the ride while everyone else rides and find something else to do? Or go through the queue with everyone else and use the chicken exit? I don't see why there would be a need for a rider swap pass.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I highly doubt you'll get a swap pass if you have an adult in the party who doesn't want to ride.

Sorry I am only pointing you out but there are disabled adults who can't watch them selfs and at the end of my grandmas life my mom would not leave her alone for a minute

 

[KrazeeK120]

Other than current reports from the field, how do you know it's still only for guests too short to ride?

Was the original policy different than the current one?

Because that's what people are reporting is going on. If most people are reporting that a policy is being enforced in a certain manner, it's pretty safe to assume that it's the official policy. The bottom line is that it doesn't matter what the website says. It matters what the CM at the attraction says. Someone upthread pointed out that there's a disclaimer which says that the terms & conditions can be changed at any time.

Honestly, I don't know how long rider swap has been a "thing." Longer than I've been going to Disney (10 years), and I have no idea what the original policy was a decade+ ago.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Sorry I am only pointing you out but there are disabled adults who can't watch them selfs and at the end of my grandmas life my mom would not leave her alone for a minute

I agree, but I still don't think a swap pass will be issued.

In addition, I think that the number of senior citizens knowingly nearing the end of their life who are visiting Disney is very, very few.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I agree, but I still don't think a swap pass will be issued.

In addition, I think that the number of senior citizens knowingly nearing the end of their life who are visiting Disney is very, very few.

Actually, if someone is unable to ride due to a physical limitation, and can not be left alone, i am willing to bet the family would get a swap pass.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

Why would you need rider swap for a senior? Wouldn't they be able to wait outside the ride while everyone else rides and find something else to do? Or go through the queue with everyone else and use the chicken exit? I don't see why there would be a need for a rider swap pass.

Yeah, you're right. I hadn't thought of the chicken exit. (we wanted our senior to accompany us in the entire line but not ride.)

Hey, I just thought of a question. Are there attractions that offer Rider Swap, but don't have a chicken exit?

 

[KrazeeK120]

Actually, if someone is unable to ride due to a physical limitation, and can not be left alone, i am willing to bet the family would get a swap pass.

I know I've read at least one story on this forum about a family with an adult child who has severe disabilities (can't remember if it was mental or physical) and couldn't ride something that the rest of the family wanted to, and they were denied a swap pass.

I suppose there are a lot of factors in play - the particular CM, the time of year, the ride in question, etc.

I'm just trying to be realistic. From the many, many threads I've read on this topic in the time I've been on the boards, the lesson I've learned is that if all members of your party are tall enough to ride, be prepared to be denied the swap pass. It obviously doesn't hurt to ask, but the only time you can be guaranteed to swap pass is if you have a too-short person in your party.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Yeah, you're right. I hadn't thought of the chicken exit. (we wanted our senior to accompany us in the entire line but not ride.)

Hey, I just thought of a question. Are there attractions that offer Rider Swap, but don't have a chicken exit?

I'd be willing to bet that all rides have an exit near the loading area for emergency purposes.

 

[fan1080]

Because that's what people are reporting is going on. If most people are reporting that a policy is being enforced in a certain manner, it's pretty safe to assume that it's the official policy. The bottom line is that it doesn't matter what the website says. It matters what the CM at the attraction says. Someone upthread pointed out that there's a disclaimer which says that the terms & conditions can be changed at any time.

Honestly, I don't know how long rider swap has been a "thing." Longer than I've been going to Disney (10 years), and I have no idea what the original policy was a decade+ ago.

Or, it could be that WDW's training of a newly updated policy has not yet caught up.

There are plenty of instances where WDW policy has been inconsistently enforced.

Happy travels.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Or, it could be that WDW's training of a newly updated policy has not yet caught up.

There are plenty of instances where WDW policy has been inconsistently enforced.

Happy travels.

It's not a newly updated policy though. I started heavily researching my recent trip back in January, and the "does not want to ride" but was there at that time. I have no idea how long it was there even before that.

From all I've gathered, it's pretty consistently enforced. I haven't seen many reports of "all tall enough" parties being granted a swap pass.

I really just want to stress that no one with an "all tall enough" party should EXPECT to receive a swap anywhere. It would be nice, yes, but not expected.

 

[Dismama2boys]

Or, it could be that WDW's training of a newly updated policy has not yet caught up.

There are plenty of instances where WDW policy has been inconsistently enforced.

Happy travels.

It's not newly updated. This exact same conversation has been happening here for years.

 

[Gracie09]

It's not newly updated. This exact same conversation has been happening here for years.

This

 

[ArielSRL]

I get the rider swap- but how is it that you don't need fast passes for all riders? That doesn't seem right.

This is so the too short child (and the supervising adult) can book a FP for and enjoy a more age/height appropriate ride, instead of being SOL.

 

[kreckl]

Yes, but so then they are choosing to get some fast passes for one ride, or another. We do that all of the time with our family- some choose FEA and some TT. So why does the adult who is getting ( and using) a FP for one ride get another for a different ride?

 

[Ava]

It obviously doesn't hurt to ask, but the only time you can be guaranteed to swap pass is if you have a too-short person in your party.

Even this isn't 100% guaranteed. We were denied a Swap pass at Splash two years ago even though we had a child who was too short, because the standby wait was less than 15 minutes. The CM told us they don't give out passes when the line is short because you "don't need it." I tried countering that Splash is a long ride so the wait would likely be longer by the time the first group finished, but he wouldn't budge. I've also read reports of this policy being enforced at other rides. It only happened to us that one time though, and we were able to successfully use Rider Swap both at the FP line & standby line throughout the rest of our trip.

My youngest is now 41" tall but timid when it comes to rides. She won't ride anything that resembles a rollercoaster (she doesn't even like going over hills in the car) so I'm fairly certain 7DMT, BTMRR, & Barnstormer are out for her. I will try to get her on Soarin, Test Track, and Star Tours but won't be surprised if she decides not to ride once we're in line, or refuses to get in line altogether. We'll make it work. I have FPs booked for all of us for the things she's tall enough for (except TOT) so she can decide when we're there if she wants to try. If she doesn't want to get in line, we'll just take turns using our FPs and my 8yo can use 4yo's band for a 2nd ride. If she gets in line then changes her mind, we'll ask about swapping internally or getting a pass at that point. If the CM says no to both of those options, either my wife or I will skip the ride. Missing out on a few rides isn't going to ruin my vacation.

 

[ArielSRL]

Yes, but so then they are choosing to get some fast passes for one ride, or another. We do that all of the time with our family- some choose FEA and some TT. So why does the adult who is getting ( and using) a FP for one ride get another for a different ride?

I'm assuming it's because Disney has a high level of families as their clientele and they would like to keep them mostly happy so they will continue to revisit and spend money. This is a workable soLution for families who have children that don't meet all the height requirements.

 

[Ava]

Yes, but so then they are choosing to get some fast passes for one ride, or another. We do that all of the time with our family- some choose FEA and some TT. So why does the adult who is getting ( and using) a FP for one ride get another for a different ride?

Because that's just the way the Rider Swap program works in conjunction with FP+. Disney has had Rider Swap in some form or another long before the current FP system was implemented. It's only being seen as an "issue" now that FPs are more limited and therefore seen as a valuable commodity.

If Disney wanted to require every eligible rider in a party to hold a FP+ for the height-restricted ride before issuing a Rider Swap pass at the FP line, they certainly could. But they don't. It allows the waiting adult & small child to use their own FPs to go on a different ride while they wait. There are many rides that a 3-year-old can't ride, but you still have to buy them a ticket that comes with their own FP entitlements. This allows you to actually use them.

Your family members choosing different FPs because those are your preferences is different than a child being prohibited from riding a ride due to their height, and an adult being required to stay with them because the child is too young to wait alone.