Rider Swap

[mamacass]

So we’ve never had to use rider swap but we will need to on our upcoming trip. How does it work with ILL? We have to buy for the two kids if we all want to wait together? I’m assuming they can’t come thru the line without paying first? Can the adult who is waiting with the kids have another adult wait with them so they don’t have to ride by themselves? Same with Genie plus? We add the kids on and then use the switch when it’s our turn? Thanks for any help!

 

[lanejudy]

Are the kids tall enough to ride? If not, they are not allowed to enter the queue. Your whole party will approach the CM at the entrance to request a Rider Swap. The 1st group will ride while someone waits nearby with the little ones. Then the adult who waited can ride with 1 other person -- both can wait, or someone who rode as party1 can ride again.

 

[mamacass]

They are right on the edge for some, 38 and 42”. So if they are tall enough but don’t want to ride they can wait in the queue with us and then we do rider switch? If they are not tall enough then they can’t go thru at all? I thought they might enjoy some of the queues but ultimately wouldn’t ride. But if we do ILL we would need to buy for them if they are going thru the queue? Sorry but this is so confusing with rider switch, genie plus, ILL and das in there too!

 

[Anna131517]

They are right on the edge for some, 38 and 42”. So if they are tall enough but don’t want to ride they can wait in the queue with us and then we do rider switch? If they are not tall enough then they can’t go thru at all? I thought they might enjoy some of the queues but ultimately wouldn’t ride. But if we do ILL we would need to buy for them if they are going thru the queue? Sorry but this is so confusing with rider switch, genie plus, ILL and das in there too!

When we used rider swap at FOP our youngest and my husband did not go in the que with me and our older kids. We told the cast member at the beginning of the que that we were doing rider swap and he told my husband where to wait with her. Then when I was done he went. No one rode more than once.

 

[accm]

I don't know how it works for ILL, but with Genie+, I booked a LL for everyone who was tall enough. We went to the front of the line, talked to a CM and she added a rider swap to my son's magicband. My son and I rode while my husband waited with my younger son. When we were done, I stayed with my younger son while my husband went with my older son. I believe it would work the exact same way with ILL if you have a kid who is too short, but I don't think you can do rider swap for a kid who doesn't want to ride.

 

[lanejudy]

If they are not tall enough then they can’t go thru at all? I thought they might enjoy some of the queues but ultimately wouldn’t ride

Correct. If not tall enough, they will not be allowed into the queue.
If you use Genie+ or $LL anyone entering the queue will need the G+ / $LL even if not riding. Too many people would try to cheat and claim non-rider status if allowed into the queue.

 

[mamacass]

Ok so if a child is too short and will wait with a parent, where does the CM have them wait? Say it takes 15 minutes to go thru LL, doesn’t that negate the purpose of rider swap if they next group also has to wait the 15 minutes? Sorry I’m still confused

 

[sponica]

Ok so if a child is too short and will wait with a parent, where does the CM have them wait? Say it takes 15 minutes to go thru LL, doesn’t that negate the purpose of rider swap if they next group also has to wait the 15 minutes? Sorry I’m still confused

We only did RS on a couple rides. My daughter who is tall enough to ride everything, hates every ride with a height limit....the rides where we attempted to rider swap, we had a lightning lane for space mountain. I waited with the non riding child outside the gift shop exit.

The purpose of rider swap is so the second group doesn't have to spend time in line again, which is negated when everyone has an ILL or a lightning lane.

But if you were riding space mountain standby and the standby wait was 55 minutes, group 1 would wait the 55 minutes in the line whereas the group 2 adult would go in through the lightning lane entrance after group 1 exited the ride.

 

[lanejudy]

The too-short child and waiting adult can wait wherever they wish -- a nearby ride the little one likes, restroom break, snack break, shopping, etc. As PP mentions, if using $LL/Genie+ there is little "saved" by Rider Swap unless arriving near the end of your window. If riding standby the 2nd party would not need to repeat a long standby queue and instead use the LL.

If the kids are tall enough to enter the queue, often a "rider swap" digital pass is not given and instead the CMs have you swap at/near boarding. If using a $LL or Genie+, you will need one for everyone who enters the queue including the non-riders.

 

[mamacass]

I guess that makes sense. I know that sometimes the LL can still have a long wait. I was just hoping we could all wait together. I know the kids would like the Tower of Terror atmosphere in the queue but not the actual ride itself.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I guess that makes sense. I know that sometimes the LL can still have a long wait. I was just hoping we could all wait together. I know the kids would like the Tower of Terror atmosphere in the queue but not the actual ride itself.

if not tall enough can not be in line even if not riding. also remember the nonride elevator has an CM in character which can seem like you are going to ride the ride

 

[sponica]

sometimes the LL can still have a long wait

I didn't run into that many LLs with a long wait, or that I would consider a long wait. The notable exceptions are when there's down time. When we went in April the safari LL wait was long because a jeep got stuck behind some animal that decided to hang out on the road. Rise of the resistance was down for a good chunk of one day, so they were just pushing through as many ILLs as possible.