Rider Swap with Disabled Adult

[Buddy40]

My wife and I will be taking her adult sister who is developmentally and physically disabled, to WDW this Christmas (yes well aware of the crowds). Due to my sister in law’s physical disabilities she won’t be able to go on many rides except for the mildest ones. For those rides my wife & I would still like to ride, do they offer a rider swap for an adult. I know one of us could just exit with my sister in law out the chicken exit, but it would be preferable if we could both ride it either together or separately. We will be focusing more on characters, shows/parades, and the general holiday vibes for this trip. But my wife & I would still want to hit some rides like Tron, Space Mtn, Everest, FOP, etc. thanks.

 

[lanejudy]

Rider Switch is available, though how it works may vary by attraction. It may be put on your MDE for the waiting adult and they can wait anywhere. Or they may require all of you to enter the queue and allow a wait/swap near the boarding.

 

[Buddy40]

Thanks!

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks!

Unfortunately, I have read posts where rider swap was denied when the non-rider was an adult, even when clearly unable to wait alone. I would purchase LLMP or LLSP for the rides you list above. That allows each of you to go through the LL and avoids possibly being denied rider switch for the ones most important to you.

 

[Evita_W]

Unfortunately, I have read posts where rider swap was denied when the non-rider was an adult, even when clearly unable to wait alone. I would purchase LLMP or LLSP for the rides you list above. That allows each of you to go through the LL and avoids possibly being denied rider switch for the ones most important to you.

That isn't supposed to happen anymore under the new rules when DAS was changed.

 

[lanejudy]

OP did not indicate the non-rider had to avoid the queue, just that she wouldn’t be riding. How the swap is handled will be up to the CM at each attraction.

It gets trickier when an adult non-rider cannot do the queue.

 

[Buddy40]

We do plan to apply for DAS if that matters. My sister-in-law is developmentally disabled and physically handicapped. So she may qualify. She can wait with us through a queue that is wheelchair accessible. She just won't be able to ride many rides and we don't feel comfortable leaving her to wait alone. Based on Disney's webpage (link below), it suggests that the rider switch occurs outside the attraction main entrance. Years ago I recall the rider switch area being near the ride loading area. But that doesn't appear to be the case per the website description.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

We do plan to apply for DAS if that matters. My sister-in-law is developmentally disabled and physically handicapped. So she may qualify. She can wait with us through a queue that is wheelchair accessible. She just won't be able to ride many rides and we don't feel comfortable leaving her to wait alone. Based on Disney's webpage (link below), it suggests that the rider switch occurs outside the attraction main entrance. Years ago I recall the rider switch area being near the ride loading area. But that doesn't appear to be the case per the website description.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

Recall that DAS is for the benefit of the disabled guest, not the party. So if she does not ride you are not supposed to use DAS to access the LL, and if she can wait in a standard queue she should not qualify for DAS.

 

[Buddy40]

Recall that DAS is for the benefit of the disabled guest, not the party. So if she does not ride you are not supposed to use DAS to access the LL, and if she can wait in a standard queue she should not qualify for DAS.

There are attractions that she can ride (e.g., Haunted Mansion, Small World, Ariel, etc). Whether or not she qualifies for DAS is TBD. My question was specific to those attractions she can't ride and whether DAS made a difference to how they handled the rider switch. Thanks.

 

[HopperFan]

There are attractions that she can ride (e.g., Haunted Mansion, Small World, Ariel, etc). Whether or not she qualifies for DAS is TBD. My question was specific to those attractions she can't ride and whether DAS made a difference to how they handled the rider switch. Thanks.

As posted above, if she is not riding you will not use the DAS on those rides.

Each ride is going to handle the situation different. Some may have you handle rider switch outside the ride, some will handle it at loading and some will handle it by moving you from loading to unloading (like Space Mountain). You will just need to approach the CMs at the entrance and ask them how to handle Rider Switch at that ride.