Rider Swap Fast Pass ?

[t_catt11]

Another thing that is being taken advantage of.

How long till Disney stops doing this kindness due to people pushing the intended purpose?

People never cease to amaze me, a company tries to do something nice and help people and they have to see how much they can push it.

Nice.

How is it being taken advantage of? If mom sits out with the baby while dad rides with the older kids, is it a problem that mom gets to ride later via the fastpass line, along with the older kids? This is how rider swap has always worked.

I've seen a lot of rules mongering, but I cannot, for the life of me, see why this could possibly be an issue. Are you begrudging the kids getting to ride again? Is it the "all day" issue?

Please, explain the problem to me. I truly do not understand.

 

[mom133d]

It is only for rides with a height requirement and I think all of those have fast passes. Not 100% sure if all height requirement rides do so don't hang me, but I think so. Does PW? that one I'm not sure of.

Check. When I measured him the other night, I got 44 inches. He has his annual physical in 2 weeks, right before we leave, so we'll have a better idea. Then it will be up to him to stand up straight.

 

[Hannathy]

How is it being taken advantage of? If mom sits out with the baby while dad rides with the older kids, is it a problem that mom gets to ride later via the fastpass line, along with the older kids? This is how rider swap has always worked.

I've seen a lot of rules mongering, but I cannot, for the life of me, see why this could possibly be an issue. Are you begrudging the kids getting to ride again? Is it the "all day" issue?

Please, explain the problem to me. I truly do not understand.

I have a problem with saving them and coming back.

They are to be used so that both parents can ride as close to the same time as possible so they don't have to wait in the same line twice. When you switched at the exit you road right then and there. I have no problem with the older siblings going then to. But should be used then.

 

[t_catt11]

I have a problem with saving them and coming back.

They are to be used so that both parents can ride as close to the same time as possible so they don't have to wait in the same line twice. When you switched at the exit you road right then and there. I have no problem with the older siblings going then to. But should be used then.

The purpose is so that both parents can ride without standing in line twice. I agree at this. But your logic falls apart after that.

Does Disney say anything about riding as close to the same time as possible? I'd venture a guess that if this was the purpose, then there would be a return time.

If you can't ride because you have a young child, odds are good that the child needs extra attention. Say that child is a baby. Babies sleep in mom's arms. If baby is breastfed and is hungry, by your logic, too bad for mom.

If you ride immediately upon exit, or if you ride four hours later, you've made zero impact in the overall line. Nobody has to wait one second longer to ride than they would have otherwise. The exact same number of populated ride vehicles goes through either way.

If you were somehow against rider swap passes in general, I'd disagree, but I'd at least understand your point (maybe that couples with young kids are getting unfair extra rides for older kids?). As is, I truly cannot see who is hurt by holding a rider swap pass until later in the day.

These kinds of imaginary rules - and thus, imaginary rule breakers - only end up making the rulemonger unhappy. Relax.

 

[SnyderD]

We have something similar to the Fast Pass at a theme park a few hours away. As for the Rider Swap, it sounds like a pretty good idea. I've missed many a ride because I took kid duty so the other adults could ride - and vice versa. Probably always be kinks people wish weren't there, but sounds pretty helpful, overall.

 

[DavidNYC]

I have a problem with saving them and coming back.

They are to be used so that both parents can ride as close to the same time as possible so they don't have to wait in the same line twice. When you switched at the exit you road right then and there. I have no problem with the older siblings going then to. But should be used then.

Absolutely no reason in the rules or logically that they have to be used as close to the same time as possible. People with young children (and luckily Disney) know that this isn't always possible or reasonable depending on numerous factors. The pass is so someone who waits with a child while others ride does not have to go through the regular line when it's their turn to ride. Whether they do that immediately after or later in the day has no effect on ANYTHING.

I can't even imagine how someone can think that if I decide to give up a morning of riding to stay with kids for 3-4 rides in a row rather than take my turn, that I shouldn't be allowed to use the passes in the afternoon.

Tell ya what - I think it's not fair that people without kids seem to be able to get on a lot more rides than I do in a day just because I have twin toddlers. I pay the same price as them. Perhaps Disney should find a way to make that more fair. Maybe everyone should get a set number of rides per day. [For those without a sense of sarcasm - I'm not really proposing this . . .]

 

[DopeyDame]

I have a problem with saving them and coming back.

They are to be used so that both parents can ride as close to the same time as possible so they don't have to wait in the same line twice. When you switched at the exit you road right then and there. I have no problem with the older siblings going then to. But should be used then.

Huh? Where in the world did you get that idea?
Think through how the swap passes are actually used. Say you have a family, mom, dad, Big Kid, Little Kid. Mom, dad, and Big all want to ride Tower of Terror. Little is, obviously, little. So they get a baby swap pass. Dad and Big get in line for tower of terror (maybe fastpass line, maybe not).
In your world, mom and little now have to sit on a bench in front of tower of terror for the next half hour (at best, assuming fast pass) twiddling their thumbs waiting for Dad and Big so that mom can ride immediately after they get off. Mom and little are bored and getting more bitter at Dad and Big with each passing minute. They aren't having fun and aren't spending money. Why in the world would you subject them to that????

Instead, the reasonable (and Disney-sanctioned) thought is that Mom and Little don't sit there waiting for Dad and big to return - isntead, they go have some fun for themselves! When Dad and Big get off the ride, mom and little may be half way through Disney, Jr. or Beauty and the Beast show, or maybe they just bought an ice cream, or maybe they're watching Little participate in the Jedi show. Whatever... they are off having their own fun and will meet up with Dad and Big when they can. And mom and Big will go back to Tower of Terror later in the day while Dad and Little go do some fun stuff on their own.

The swap is intended not just so that the parents don't have to miss out on a ride, but so that the little kids can actually enjoy themselves in the park as well! It is, after all, a vacation for the whole family!

 

[tjmw2727]

I have a problem with saving them and coming back.

They are to be used so that both parents can ride as close to the same time as possible so they don't have to wait in the same line twice. When you switched at the exit you road right then and there. I have no problem with the older siblings going then to. But should be used then.

The purpose is to eliminate a double wait for families who can't ride together due to a Disney imposed restriction. So - I don't see the issue - what difference does it make when the 2nd parent rides? Not an argument just a question?

If Disney wanted a time restriction it would be printed on the pass and enforced just like FP. In fact some of the RS passes in the past were good for a number of days !!

For us it was a lifesaver, - dh and dd would ride via standby, I got the RS pass and then took younger dd to do something else. It could be diaper change, snack, playground or favorite attraction. Then we would meet up and continue touring. At some point that day I would backtrack with or without older dd to use my RS pass and ride while DH did something with the non rider.

The alternative is have a baby/toddler/preschooler wait for a very long time while both parents and an older sibling enjoy an attraction they can't ride. This is exactly what the pass was designed to avoid - a double wait ! Personally I don't see separating and riding later as abuse at all.

 

[bonitag]

It seems like individuals that do not have kids have the most problem with those of us who do. I can't really understand it! It's Walt Disney World for goodness sake. Heaven forbid for people to have kids there....
I agree with everyone who has posted different instances that you can't always ride back to back. One thing for sure is that if you have a toddler that is anxious to ride the smaller rides, it is hard to keep them still for that long to wait for the others to ride twice in a row. It seems like forever for them when they are waiting. We usually go back later and ride. I didnt think it should be that big of a deal.
But then again the folks who complain about it is probably the same people that hate strollers and everything about kids.

 

[Hannathy]

Just wanted to point out that for years before there was such a thing as fast pass Baby swap did happen at Disney and you did wait at the exit for the other parent to come off the ride. Disney just went to FP's for swapping because it was easier for them than having someone at the exit dealing with waiting families and putting a person on the ride, because often the would have to walk the waiting parent over to the ride.

Giving a FP for baby swap is a relatively new thing at Disney

 

[t_catt11]

Just wanted to point out that for years before there was such a thing as fast pass Baby swap did happen at Disney and you did wait at the exit for the other parent to come off the ride. Disney just went to FP's for swapping because it was easier for them than having someone at the exit dealing with waiting families and putting a person on the ride, because often the would have to walk the waiting parent over to the ride.

Giving a FP for baby swap is a relatively new thing at Disney

So improvement is a bad thing? Should we go back to A-E tickets?

I agree with the PPs... why should the little one have to wait twice, back to back?

 

[tjmw2727]

Just wanted to point out that for years before there was such a thing as fast pass Baby swap did happen at Disney and you did wait at the exit for the other parent to come off the ride. Disney just went to FP's for swapping because it was easier for them than having someone at the exit dealing with waiting families and putting a person on the ride, because often the would have to walk the waiting parent over to the ride.

Giving a FP for baby swap is a relatively new thing at Disney

Rider Swap passes came about when they implimented fast pass. I have two family members who are CM's and they said it elminates having non riders in the lines - and the possibility of someone riding in error.

Yes - prior to that everyone waited the line including the children who were too short and the switch was done at the exit.

A rider swap pass is good for that attraction, up to 3 guests anytime that day, there is nothing that says you need to use it immediately. So I still don't see how using a Rider Swap as instructed is abusing it.

 

[twilightsparkle]

What if you have a child who meets the height requirement for a ride, but is too scared to ride, can you ride swap then? Or is ride swap only for parents of children who are under the height requirement?

 

[DopeyDame]

What if you have a child who meets the height requirement for a ride, but is too scared to ride, can you ride swap then? Or is ride swap only for parents of children who are under the height requirement?

Rider swap is only for kids who are under the height requirement. Sorry! The tall-enough kid can wait in line with all of you and then take the chicken exit at the very end if he/she wants.

 

[DopeyDame]

Just wanted to point out that for years before there was such a thing as fast pass Baby swap did happen at Disney and you did wait at the exit for the other parent to come off the ride. Disney just went to FP's for swapping because it was easier for them than having someone at the exit dealing with waiting families and putting a person on the ride, because often the would have to walk the waiting parent over to the ride.

Giving a FP for baby swap is a relatively new thing at Disney

True, but irrelevant. back in the day (waaaaay back), the little kids were allowed in the line, so the only time the family was actually split up with the little kid waiting was for the 3-4 minutes of actual ride time. Now the little kids are not allowed to even enter the line, so they have to be split up for the line/preshow/attraction/exit process. So your misinterpretation of the rule isn't going back to how it used to be, but making things worse than how they used to be.

Fortunately, Disney chose to use the available technology to improve the park experience for families with little kids (without any impact at all to everyone else.)

 

[twilightsparkle]

Thanks dopeydame, I am torn between hoping he tall enough to ride, but worried he will be scared of some of the rides, and wanting him to just be to short so we can swap.

BTW, I like the way they do the swap now It was a real pain to wait in line with a toddler. it's nice that you can take the toddler to go do something else while the others are on the ride.

 

[DavidNYC]

Just wanted to point out that for years before there was such a thing as fast pass Baby swap did happen at Disney and you did wait at the exit for the other parent to come off the ride. Disney just went to FP's for swapping because it was easier for them than having someone at the exit dealing with waiting families and putting a person on the ride, because often the would have to walk the waiting parent over to the ride.

Giving a FP for baby swap is a relatively new thing at Disney

Of course that was how it was done when there were no passes. Unless you give someone a physical pass, there's no other way to administer it (other than just taking someone's word for it). Once they had the option of using passes, then could then administer it how they wanted and they specifically made it useable all day. So this is more support for the proposition that they intended it to be used anytime that day.

 

[DavidNYC]

Rider swap is only for kids who are under the height requirement. Sorry! The tall-enough kid can wait in line with all of you and then take the chicken exit at the very end if he/she wants.

While I think this answer is technially accurate, execeptions have been made. It can't hurt to ask or check with guest services. Expect an answer of no, but it can't hurt to ask.

 

[mumofcrzykids]

During the week before easter we went to get Rider Swap passes for Rockin Rollercoaster, well we had to show our ENTIRE group before they would give us one, then the CM standing at the FP line watched to make sure the 3 people riding right away went on right then and there. Then watched to make sure the other 3 of us waited in the vicinity. He kept looking at us to see when the other half of our party came out. Id imagine its only a matter of time before they require you to use them immediately after the first members of your party exit.

 

[t_catt11]

During the week before easter we went to get Rider Swap passes for Rockin Rollercoaster, well we had to show our ENTIRE group before they would give us one, then the CM standing at the FP line watched to make sure the 3 people riding right away went on right then and there. Then watched to make sure the other 3 of us waited in the vicinity. He kept looking at us to see when the other half of our party came out. Id imagine its only a matter of time before they require you to use them immediately after the first members of your party exit.

This is highly unusual, to say the least.