Rider swap update!

[VTGirlinNC]

We just got home last night from an amazing week at Disney. We have annual passes and go 3-4 times per year. We’ve been using rider swap for 3 years and noticed a change on this trip. I’ve been reading about a possible change to the expiration date on the ticket, and that is starting to be implemented. MK, HS and EP were good through April, but AK (expedition Everest) expired that same day (4/5). I bet the other parks will follow suit...just wanted to give everyone a heads up as you plan your trip!

 

[subtchr]

Yep, starting February 1, this policy was implemented on Flight of Passage and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. So they have expanded it to Expedition Everest, too? Any others?

 

[VTGirlinNC]

Yep, starting February 1, this policy was implemented on Flight of Passage and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. So they have expanded it to Expedition Everest, too? Any others?

Just EE. We did not need a swap for 7 dwarfs so I did not see that ticket. We got swaps for Test Track, RNR and Splash...these all expired 4/30.

 

[DisneyFive]

We used rider swap a lot when the kids were little but never realized that any of them were good for more than the day of. Seems to kind of defeat the intent of it?

But whatever, I can't talk, I'm not ashamed one bit to say that I also took full advantage back in the day when the return window wasn't enforced for paper FP's. (returning anytime that same day after the start of the return window).

Dan

 

[ArielSRL]

We used rider swap a lot when the kids were little but never realized that any of them were good for more than the day of. Seems to kind of defeat the intent of it?

Sometimes it is hard to get back to it in one day for various reasons such as its hard to keep the non-rider busy during the wait to get through the ride twice, or just that in general it can take awhile to do two cycles of the ride (I'm looking at you Splash Mtn....).

 

[VTGirlinNC]

We used rider swap a lot when the kids were little but never realized that any of them were good for more than the day of. Seems to kind of defeat the intent of it?

But whatever, I can't talk, I'm not ashamed one bit to say that I also took full advantage back in the day when the return window wasn't enforced for paper FP's. (returning anytime that same day after the start of the return window).

Dan

This happened a lot on our trip...it was spring break so getting through the FP line was not quick. After waiting outside test track for 30 min with a 3 year old, I gave up and decided to walk her around the boardwalk. We never made it back into the park that day. With the new rules, however, we will need to stick around if my husband and I both want to ride with our son. Thankfully, my little one is 39.5 inches. She will be able to ride almost everything on our next trip!

 

[Harlaxton]

It's basically to stop people from selling hard-to-get FP's on eBay. Welcomed change in my opinion.

 

[ArielSRL]

It's basically to stop people from selling hard-to-get FP's on eBay. Welcomed change in my opinion.

There seem to be so many people that dislike/hate/disparage the RS system and the reasons they do are because of those that take advantage ("cheat") the system with it. I mean, in life, there will always, unfortunately, be cheaters. I just don't like that the people that use it as it was intended are made to "suffer" because of a few bad apples. I mean, I have never even heard of people selling their RS passes on ebay. Not to say it doesn't happen but the few that do have caused so many guests to begrudge all the guests that use RS.

In any case, my youngest is 39.5" and we don't plan to use the RS pass at all for our June trip (one park day at MK along with a few resort days) so it really doesn't affect me personally now, but as someone who used it in the past and knows how much it helped out our family when my kid wasn't tall enough, it is disappointing to see some of the reactions.

Alas, I digress.....

 

[Jessirip]

On 4/4 our switch ticket for Big Thunder expired same day.

 

[VTGirlinNC]

There seem to be so many people that dislike/hate/disparage the RS system and the reasons they do are because of those that take advantage ("cheat") the system with it. I mean, in life, there will always, unfortunately, be cheaters. I just don't like that the people that use it as it was intended are made to "suffer" because of a few bad apples. I mean, I have never even heard of people selling their RS passes on ebay. Not to say it doesn't happen but the few that do have caused so many guests to begrudge all the guests that use RS.

In any case, my youngest is 39.5" and we don't plan to use the RS pass at all for our June trip (one park day at MK along with a few resort days) so it really doesn't affect me personally now, but as someone who used it in the past and knows how much it helped out our family when my kid wasn't tall enough, it is disappointing to see some of the reactions.

Alas, I digress.....

Agreed...it's a shame a few bad apples ruin it for the rest of us. We ended up giving ours away to random people on our last day. Pixie dust!

 

[otten]

If they're really concerned about people selling RS tickets they might also want to train CMs to ensure that they take the swap ticket when the rider boards. On our last trip 3/4 times the cm didn't take the swap ticket, including on FOP. We easily could have used it again or I guess sold it. We didn't. I brought it home with me.

 

[HelloTheDrakes]

Could someone point me to a site or page here that discusses rider swap protocol? I did not realize there was a certain ticket or pass you needed to use it. I've never used it (no kiddos) but am going with family with 3 smaller kids who won't be able to ride everything. As one of the veterans in the group, I want to make sure I have my information correct before advising family. Thank you!

 

[gap2368]

Could someone point me to a site or page here that discusses rider swap protocol? I did not realize there was a certain ticket or pass you needed to use it. I've never used it (no kiddos) but am going with family with 3 smaller kids who won't be able to ride everything. As one of the veterans in the group, I want to make sure I have my information correct before advising family. Thank you!

it is easy if there is someone too small to ride a ride then you all go up to the line ask the CM for a rider swap pass one adult stays with too small kids ( or kids) and then they can ride when everyone else gets off ( with 2 or 3 people)

 

[randumb0]

Big Thunder Mountain expires on the same day

 

[Bambi19]

Agreed...it's a shame a few bad apples ruin it for the rest of us. We ended up giving ours away to random people on our last day. Pixie dust!

Someone gave theirs to my family, so we got to ride splash mountain. It was magic for my son because we couldn't get a FP for it (and we couldn't wait in standby unless the wait was super short.)
I made sure to tell him that nice people gave it to us to be kind.

 

[gap2368]

I just looked up on eBay and someone is selling a rider swap pass for $15 is expired the end of last month but that is just sad people are doing this. can see them adding rider swap to the MB or card this way no one can sell them.

 

[JimmyBean42]

Last time we were there (November), they were strict on seeing my DW and my DD that could not ride. Which I was fine with. The only spot where it was a pain was Soarin' b/c they had to come down to the entrance of the ride instead of heading straight for Nemo when we split up, but hey that's the cost of getting the parent swap. And once it was a pain b/c they had a Pooh FP+ at the same time we had a BTMR one, but oh well. But I could see people abusing this and others getting frustrated and complaining. It's a shame that people always look to exploit things that help people into their own personal benefit.

 

[gap2368]

Someone gave theirs to my family, so we got to ride splash mountain. It was magic for my son because we couldn't get a FP for it (and we couldn't wait in standby unless the wait was super short.)

I got hurt going to RnR and hat to sit on a bench for abotu 15 minutes the CM that was with me walked be through tthe exit to the ride when I was ready to get on when we were in the back hall way she pulled out some rider swap passes ( 15 of them) and told me to have fun and that I could give them out if I wanted ( this was either friday or statureday befoe NEY) I had a great time that day giving out most of the rider swap passes I also got 4 other any time passes for any rides at HS that day just for being nice to 2 diffrent CM that day

I can tell you it is so nice to give out rider swap passes too

 

[JimmyBean42]

I just looked up on eBay and someone is selling a rider swap pass for $15 is expired the end of last month but that is just sad people are doing this. can see them adding rider swap to the MB or card this way no one can sell them.

I saw that too but thought " what reasonable person would buy an expired rider swap pass?". In all fairness people are selling old FP+ paper tickets as well. I have a few in our disney scrapbook but wouldn't sell them for a few bucks. We like them for nostalgia purposes (wish we would have been able to use some of them when we were there though!!!).

 

[gap2368]

I saw that too but thought " what reasonable person would buy an expired rider swap pass?". In all fairness people are selling old FP+ paper tickets as well. I have a few in our disney scrapbook but wouldn't sell them for a few bucks. We like them for nostalgia purposes (wish we would have been able to use some of them when we were there though!!!).

I just counted mine I have 30 rider swap re entry passes and 2 ( well 3 but one is for ice cream) no strings attached That I have not used I am ike you wish I used them but would never in a million years sell them ( I have given some away to people I have seen at disney) most of the time I get a rider swap pass is becuse I am being nice to a CM and they just give me one ( or a few)