Rider Swap/Fastpass +????

[scrappinam]

We have never used rider swap before because we always had a grandma with us who didn't like to ride much and stayed with the little ones. Grandma isn't going this time so I have a few questions about how rider swap works.

We are a family of 6. My husband, myself and three of our children will be wanting to do the thrill rides. One of us will need to stay with the baby who is one and therefore has no ticket.

If we have all have fp+ for BTMRR, then I know we all need to go to the fp+ line within our window of time. What happens at this point?
When we tell the cm we want a rider swap

Do they give us some kind of paper pass?

How long do i have to use the rider swap pass?

How many of my kids will they let ride with me if I have a rider swap pass?

Do we return to the fp line to use the rider swap?

Will they give us a rider swap for the standby line? Is there any point in getting a rider swap for standby?

 

[kmb584]

We have never used rider swap before because we always had a grandma with us who didn't like to ride much and stayed with the little ones. Grandma isn't going this time so I have a few questions about how rider swap works.

We are a family of 6. My husband, myself and three of our children will be wanting to do the thrill rides. One of us will need to stay with the baby who is one and therefore has no ticket.

If we have all have fp+ for BTMRR, then I know we all need to go to the fp+ line within our window of time. What happens at this point?
When we tell the cm we want a rider swap

Do they give us some kind of paper pass?

How long do i have to use the rider swap pass?

How many of my kids will they let ride with me if I have a rider swap pass?

Do we return to the fp line to use the rider swap?

Will they give us a rider swap for the standby line? Is there any point in getting a rider swap for standby?

My best advice is to only get FP+ reservations for the first group of people riding. Your rider switch pass will act as a FP for those in the second group so it's silly to waste a reservation on everyone.

You'll approach the FP+ entrance (or stand-by if you don't have FP+ for a certain attraction) with the entire family and tell the CM that you'll be doing a rider switch. S/he will give you a rider switch pass and those not riding will find something to do nearby while the others enter the queue. When Group A is finished, Group B (up to 3 people) will enter the FP+ queue with their rider switch pass.

 

[JohnneeO]

Do they give us some kind of paper pass?

Typically, yes.

How long do i have to use the rider swap pass?

Typically, anytime later that day until park close.

How many of my kids will they let ride with me if I have a rider swap pass?

Typically, the Swap pass is good for four people (the pass holder and three guests).

Do we return to the fp line to use the rider swap?

Yes

Will they give us a rider swap for the standby line?

Yes.

Is there any point in getting a rider swap for standby?

Absolutely! Rider Swap is even more helpful when riding standby, as the second group of riders (who are using the rider swapo pass) completely avoid the standby line.




Depending on your apetite for certain rides, you can actually manage your group's FP usage to obtain mulitple Rider Swaps for the same ride.

For example, at the beginning of the FP+ window, Parent 1 takes kids on the ride via FP+ and obtains a rider swap for Parent 2. After Parent 1 and group returns, Parent 2 rides using their FP+, and requests another Rider Swap. Now you have two passes for 4 riders via the FP line good anytime that same day. (I am assuming CM turnover on the FP line, so that Parent 2 is requesting the Rider Swap from a different CM.) Also an option if the standby line is manageable.

When requesting the rider swap, just point out the other parent and the baby. When handing out rider swaps, CM typically only confirm the basics; someone in your party cannot/will not ride the attraction, and another member of your party, who wants to ride the attraction, must stay behind and take care of the member who cannot/will not ride the attraction.

It's good pratice to request rider swap passes whenver you can, even if one parent does not want to ride a particular attraction. By obtaining the pass, those of your party who want to ride the attraction can do so a second time via the FP line. It's always good to have options!

And of course there is no obligation to use a rider swap pass. If you do not need it, you can keep it a souvenier, or be an angel to group entering the standby line, and give it away!


One caveat is that sometimes attractions can be configured so that rider swap happens within the attraction itself. On the big Harry Potter Ride at US IOA, everyone goes through the entire queue (Hogwarts castle), and there is a waiting room just off the ride platform for the non-rider and caretaker. Not sure if exists at all at WDW; I think it might have at one time for TT in Epcot.

 

[mousefan4ever]

So according to this...when my group of 4 goes in May( grandma, 2 kids and myself), I could ride a ride with my oldest while my mother stays with my daughter and use rider swap so my mom can then ride it with my oldest too?

 

[maciemouse]

We used it just this weekend. We did it in the fast pass lane. They did make me take my whole party to ask for the rider swap. They did it the same way on Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest. They wanted to see the entire party for some reason.

 

[jimim]

Hi everyone. I have been reading up on ride swap. We never used it before cause usually if one of the kids couldn't go on something I went myself and my wife hung out in a shop with the kid. But this trip we are with friends who's kids never have been to Disney. So pretty much the ride swap allows kids to get on rides more than once pretty much. Meaning if I dont do and watch my son who is only a year and half. I would get the ticket. When they get back I can go then but take my neighbor's kids with me so they can go again?

Right? If so thats kinda cool. Would give them the opportunity to ride TSM and a few other really fun rides more than once.

jimi

 

[ibela]

Hi everyone. I have been reading up on ride swap. We never used it before cause usually if one of the kids couldn't go on something I went myself and my wife hung out in a shop with the kid. But this trip we are with friends who's kids never have been to Disney. So pretty much the ride swap allows kids to get on rides more than once pretty much. Meaning if I dont do and watch my son who is only a year and half. I would get the ticket. When they get back I can go then but take my neighbor's kids with me so they can go again?

Right? If so thats kinda cool. Would give them the opportunity to ride TSM and a few other really fun rides more than once.

jimi

Mostly right. Rider swap you can go with 3 people so that the person that had to stay behind doesn't have to ride alone. Rider swap is only available for rides where children don't meet height requirements so TSM, which has no restrictions, doesn't offer a rider swap. We've used it on Soarin', Test Track, RnR, ToT, Splash Mountain, etc.

 

[deltapilotwife]

question- where do you get the rider swap? Is it for all the rides with height requirements or just some?

I thought this could be done but in November we went to Star Tours with our fast passes and I was told there's no such thing. I would just have to wait with DD3 for the rest of our group (DH, friends and friend's DS10) to get back then I could go myself with my fast pass since our window has just opened.

I opted not to bother.

 

[delmar411]

question- where do you get the rider swap? Is it for all the rides with height requirements or just some?

I thought this could be done but in November we went to Star Tours with our fast passes and I was told there's no such thing. I would just have to wait with DD3 for the rest of our group (DH, friends and friend's DS10) to get back then I could go myself with my fast pass since our window has just opened.

I opted not to bother.

It is for all rides. You asked for a switch pass and they said they didn't know what you were talking about?? Did you ask any other CMs?

 

[deltapilotwife]

It is for all rides. You asked for a switch pass and they said they didn't know what you were talking about?? Did you ask any other CMs?

We just asked the CM at the FP entrance. They said they don't do that with Fast Passes since i had my own. Seemed odd but we've been skipping the big rides with DD and this was the first time we went with others and had to deal with the height requirements.

Now I know to keep asking.

 

[jimim]

Mostly right. Rider swap you can go with 3 people so that the person that had to stay behind doesn't have to ride alone. Rider swap is only available for rides where children don't meet height requirements so TSM, which has no restrictions, doesn't offer a rider swap. We've used it on Soarin', Test Track, RnR, ToT, Splash Mountain, etc.

ok so even if my son doesn't want to go on it and my wife can't go and watches him they won't give a ride swap for her when i get out with my daughter for her to go?

jim

 

[jimim]

We just asked the CM at the FP entrance. They said they don't do that with Fast Passes since i had my own. Seemed odd but we've been skipping the big rides with DD and this was the first time we went with others and had to deal with the height requirements.

Now I know to keep asking.

that doesn't make sense cause pretty much they r telling u to ride alone then.

 

[iheartjuppy]

Here's Disney's list of what rides offer Rider Swap (Star Tours is on the list):
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

 

[Love Tink]

We just asked the CM at the FP entrance. They said they don't do that with Fast Passes since i had my own. Seemed odd but we've been skipping the big rides with DD and this was the first time we went with others and had to deal with the height requirements.

Now I know to keep asking.

You happened to run into a CM who was handling Rider Switch according to the stated guidelines. Rider Switch is supposed to be for people using the stand by line, not the FP line. (If you have FP, you use those to bypass the line - you don't need a Rider Switch.) It is to keep families from waiting twice in stand by - or, as Disney calls it, the "regular" or "normal" queue.

Many people on here seem to have managed to get Rider Switch passes even when they also had FP. Like many things at WDW, CMs bend the rules to make guests happy. But sometimes you will run into a CM who follows the rule and won't give you a Rider Switch if you are using the FP line.

 

[delmar411]

You happened to run into a CM who was handling Rider Switch according to the stated guidelines. Rider Switch is supposed to be for people using the stand by line, not the FP line. (If you have FP, you use those to bypass the line - you don't need a Rider Switch.) It is to keep families from waiting twice in stand by - or, as Disney calls it, the "regular" or "normal" queue.

Many people on here seem to have managed to get Rider Switch passes even when they also had FP. Like many things at WDW, CMs bend the rules to make guests happy. But sometimes you will run into a CM who follows the rule and won't give you a Rider Switch if you are using the FP line.

This is the silliest thing that I see repeated here on the boards (never by an actual CM either). Walking up to a CM and asking for a rider swap and them checking the child/baby and handing it over is not pixie dust they are sprinkling it is policy.

 

[jimim]

Ya I don't see how a regular line or fast pass makes a difference. The point is so each person can enjoy a ride with a kid that can't go on it. So how is going through either line diff except wait time. They still got a kid that can't go on and someone has to stay back.

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