rider swap on FOP?

[Babsy]

Is a small 4 year old likely to be able to ride on FOP? If not, is it possible to swap out part of the party and then the second half of the party ride. We have FP+ for all. Would that make it easier or harder?

Thank you!

 

[anomamatt]

Depends on how tall they are, 44" is the cutoff.

Yes, you can rider swap FOP. If you have a FP+, go to the FP tapstiles and ask for a rider swap. You get the lanyard. As many people as have FPs and want to ride then enter the FP queue. At the end of the FP queue, you'll trade the lanyard for a rider swap paper pass, it will be good until the end of the month. When you want to use the rider swap, you can have 3 people enter the FP queue with it.

Note: if you start this process at the beginning of your FP window and everyone in your party has a FOP FP, there is a good chance three of you can ride it twice with one set of FPs (and everyone else once).

 

[jnkrim]

I have a similar question. We have a party of 7, one who is 3. I have been able to get 3 FOP FPs. I am thinking DH can take 2 kiddos with him and then I can ride later with a rider swap with the other 2 kiddos. Or should I try for a 4th FP just in case?

 

[housemartin71]

We had a party of 6 with 4 FPs. Those four people rode and we got a rider switch that entitled the non-riding party to go with two other people. My understanding is that you only need enough FPs to cover the initial party.

 

[anomamatt]

I have a similar question. We have a party of 7, one who is 3. I have been able to get 3 FOP FPs. I am thinking DH can take 2 kiddos with him and then I can ride later with a rider swap with the other 2 kiddos. Or should I try for a 4th FP just in case?

Your plan will work. You don't need a 4th FP.

 

[anomamatt]

My understanding is that you only need enough FPs to cover the initial party.

Yes.

But if you have FPs for everyone, you can save the rider swap and use later... And... if you have FPs for everyone, you can even manage to get two rider swaps. You just have to start the process at the very beginning of your FP window to pull it off. Rider swaps are always good until the end of the month, so they can be used later in the day, or later in your trip.

 

[jnkrim]

Thank you! One more question: I noticed one FP ends 10 minutes before the others begin. Does that person need to ride by themselves or it seems like I read there was a 15 minute grace period after the time was up.

 

[anomamatt]

Thank you! One more question: I noticed one FP ends 10 minutes before the others begin. Does that person need to ride by themselves or it seems like I read there was a 15 minute grace period after the time was up.

Yes, the system has an automagic 5 minute before and 15 minute after grace period to yield a green Mickey. Miss than window and it will be at the decision of the CM -- and for FOP unlikely to work out.

 

[jnkrim]

Thanks!

 

[Babsy]

Depends on how tall they are, 44" is the cutoff.

Yes, you can rider swap FOP. If you have a FP+, go to the FP tapstiles and ask for a rider swap. You get the lanyard. As many people as have FPs and want to ride then enter the FP queue. At the end of the FP queue, you'll trade the lanyard for a rider swap paper pass, it will be good until the end of the month. When you want to use the rider swap, you can have 3 people enter the FP queue with it.

Note: if you start this process at the beginning of your FP window and everyone in your party has a FOP FP, there is a good chance three of you can ride it twice with one set of FPs (and everyone else once).

Thank you!!

 

[pooch]

Yes.

But if you have FPs for everyone, you can save the rider swap and use later... And... if you have FPs for everyone, you can even manage to get two rider swaps. You just have to start the process at the very beginning of your FP window to pull it off. Rider swaps are always good until the end of the month, so they can be used later in the day, or later in your trip.

Can you elaborate on this? We have 8 FP plus a baby. So 7 of us ride while 1 stays with the baby. Does that person actually use her FP then? Does the baby come through the queue with us? And how the heck do we get 2 rider swaps out of it all????

 

[anomamatt]

Can you elaborate on this? We have 8 FP plus a baby. So 7 of us ride while 1 stays with the baby. Does that person actually use her FP then? Does the baby come through the queue with us? And how the heck do we get 2 rider swaps out of it all????

Yes, if you all have FPs and are still within the window (plus 15 min grace period) then pocket the first rider swap and have the second group (whether one person or more) take another adult and infant to the FP queue and ask for a rider swap. Then they use their FP. Now you have two rider swaps...

We did this in august. My wife went first, used her FP and got a swap while I watched the kids. Then I used my FP and got a swap. I rode twice (once with FP once with swap). And my wife decided she didn't want to ride again, so I went to the back of the line and gave the swap to the the first group of 3 that I found. They were very very happy. We were leaving the next day so no use for the second one. I like collecting rider swaps for popular rides... fun to give away if we wind up not using them.

 

[pooch]

So that won't work if we all want to ride together (minus the baby sitter of course) but will if we split up correct?

 

[anomamatt]

So that won't work if we all want to ride together (minus the baby sitter of course) but will if we split up correct?

Correct. But you can always have the baby sitter ride.

But with a baby sitter you could also split up but just by 10 mins or so. Have the baby sitter come up with the child each time. And each group asks for a lanyard. That saves a lot of time. You won't ride together but won't be far apart. And FOP isn't a social ride anyhow...

 

[mjonis]

Oh my old brain hurts.
OK, so I made two sets of FP for FOP.
First group of 3 at 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
second group of 2 at 6:50 - 7:50 p.m. (someone has to stay with the child that's too young/short to go on it).

So, if I'm correct:
the "window" is 6:30-7:30 with a 5 minute before and 15 minute after, so it's really 6:25 - 7:45?

But:
Since I'm in group one, can get a rider swap, and my sister (who's in group 2) could get a rider swap and then what, someone can ride twice or something?
Sorry for being dense here.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Oh my old brain hurts.
OK, so I made two sets of FP for FOP.
First group of 3 at 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
second group of 2 at 6:50 - 7:50 p.m. (someone has to stay with the child that's too young/short to go on it).

So, if I'm correct:
the "window" is 6:30-7:30 with a 5 minute before and 15 minute after, so it's really 6:25 - 7:45?

But:
Since I'm in group one, can get a rider swap, and my sister (who's in group 2) could get a rider swap and then what, someone can ride twice or something?
Sorry for being dense here.

Sounds like you have a FP for everyone, and no one has to ride alone. Doesn't sound like you need rider swap. Rider swap is in place so that no one has to stand in standby twice or ride alone (provided that there are more than 2 people in your party riding).

 

[Jojo h]

I would still get a rider swap, then people in the party who want to ride again can. Some people may not agree with me, but WDW is tough with kids who are too short, so if you can get a benefit out of it, I would do so. It's not cheating, it's just using the system as it was intended. We used rider swap last week on FOP: niece was too short, DD didn't want to ride again (we rope dropped it and also had fp later in the day) so we got a rider swap for niece who presented herself with my brother and SIL, and I got one for my DD who presented with my DH and DS. I stayed with the girls while the rest of our party rode together. I ended up not using my fp, but could have after the rest of my party returned. Consequently, we had 2 rider swap fps that SIL, me, DS, and nephew used later that night. We had enough for 6, but our party had dwindled to 4 so we found a party of 2 who were debating whether or not to wait 2 hours to ride. They were very appreciative! It was a father and son from the U.K. Who were there celebrating the parents' 25th wedding anniversary.
My DS and nephew ended up riding it 3 times that day!

 

[pooch]

I agree! Who knew my 5 month old DGD would be this useful on the trip!!!! Jojo H - a question - Was your DD also too short to ride? Or were you allowed a rider swap because she didn't WANT to ride it?

 

[Jojo h]

DD was tall enough and had ridden it earlier in the day. She didn't like it (her glasses kept falling off) so we got a swap because she didn't WANT to ride it at our fp time.

 

[anomamatt]

DD was tall enough and had ridden it earlier in the day. She didn't like it (her glasses kept falling off) so we got a swap because she didn't WANT to ride it at our fp time.

Yep, same here. I have heard reports of CMs not allowing rider swap for kids tall enough that just don't want to ride. But I've never had a problem and Disney's rider swap language on the website doesn't say they have to be too short to get one -- just they won't ride and need to be watched.

And after all, FEA has no height restriction but offers rider swap: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/... so clearly it's supposed to be allowed.

And we use rider swap ALL the time. I'm not sure it was meant to be used in conjunction with FPs, and I have read plenty of moral arguments against it... but then again, they have the lanyards at the FP entry, so they must intend on people with FPs rider swapping... And yes, having a kid who cannot ride impacts touring quite a bit, so rider swap helps even that out.