Rider Switch changing (Started June 16th)

[DizneyMommy]

They already monetized FP at Disneyland. And now that they know that they can, you bet they will have an upcharge service at WDW in the future..

Not really. You can still get FP for free the same old way with your ticket and the machine. MaxPass just lets you get them through the app without walking over to the ride. And it includes photopass so it’s not just for the fastpasses. I don’t know how WDW could do that since you already use the app for FP’s and not a paper kiosk anymore.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Not really. You can still get FP for free the same old way with your ticket and the machine. MaxPass just lets you get them through the app without walking over to the ride. And it includes photopass so it’s not just for the fastpasses. I don’t know how WDW could do that since you already use the app for FP’s and not a paper kiosk anymore.

For WDW they would either remove the '3 FP included in your park ticket' aspect and have you purchase FP outside of your park ticket like EP is for Universal (aside from staying at the 3 upper tier hotels that have EP included) or charge for additional FPs beyond the # that comes included in your ticket which for CL they have started that program already.

 

[DizBelle]

It would close that loophole if they require the whole group to hold FP.

I would argue that that loophole while advantageous for families with small children, still doesn’t give them an advantage over families without. Even at a park like Epcot using it for both Soarin’ and TT, I would argue your wait times in the FP line twice for those attractions would be similar to another group using FP for TT and waiting stand by for Soarin.

The benefit over those without small children is that some of the party gets to experience the attraction twice. While those that don't use RS experience it only once.

 

[DizneyMommy]

The benefit over those without small children is that some of the party gets to experience the attraction twice. While those that don't use RS experience it only once.

Um, no. We would muuuuch rather all be tall enough and get to ride together as a family than have to spend twice as much time at the ride riding it twice!

 

[HopperFan]

I honestly believe this is the motivation for the change.

As I believe they are looking more and more into monetizing FP, they are making it harder for those of us who stay off site to make the system work.

We tour like you mention, rope drop, get rider switch pass, circle back later so the other parent can ride with the taller kids and have that experience together.

Riding back to back will diminish the experience.

I think WDW is hoping that changes like this push people on site or push people to pay for extras like EMM to accomplish what we used to be able to accomplish.

I'm extra salty today, but just my .02

Honestly surprised that Pandora doesn't host an EMM, 2 popular rides, a quick serve capable of breakfast but not utilizing it and a land easily contained.

Think EMM for Toy Story Land and then another for Star Wars Land could be complete sellouts if they did it.

 

[ninafeliz]

The benefit over those without small children is that some of the party gets to experience the attraction twice. While those that don't use RS experience it only once.

Sure, 1-2 people get to ride twice, and I feel that is usually 2 kids that are tall enough to ride riding twice, once with each parent (that's the only way its ever been used with us). But that's not really a perk or benefit, except possibly from some of those kids point of view! I would so much rather we all be able to just ride once together and move on than have 2 people be able to ride twice, no matter what the ride! Even something like FOP isn't even close to enough to compensate for the PITA doing RS is compared to not having to do it. I mean, I love my kids and love taking them to Disney when they are small, but one nice side effect of them getting taller will be not having to use RS to take FOREVER to ride rides twice through.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Anyone who thinks we are at an advantage because we have a toddler and utilize RS (and have to ride headliners twice, spending twice as much time on each ride) is more than welcome to to spend a day touring with us and see how much of an advantage it is not! It is a courtesy afforded to families so one person doesn’t have to sit out of every ride. It certainly doesn’t make Touring with a toddler magically easier!

 

[ninafeliz]

Anyone who thinks we are at an advantage because we have a toddler and utilize RS (and have to ride headliners twice, spending twice as much time on each ride) is more than welcome to to spend a day touring with us and see how much of an advantage it is not! It is a courtesy afforded to families so one person doesn’t have to sit out of every ride. It certainly doesn’t make Touring with a toddler magically easier!

AMEN! I know we choose to do it, and I love it, but it has its challenges and is certainly different than touring without needing RS.

 

[ArwenMarie]

They've already monetized FP+ (club level FPs)

Which means they have already monetized RS as well

 

[ninafeliz]

Honestly surprised that Pandora doesn't host an EMM, 2 popular rides, a quick serve capable of breakfast but not utilizing it and a land easily contained.

Think EMM for Toy Story Land and then another for Star Wars Land could be complete sellouts if they did it.

I wish they would do this for either or both lands! We did the one at DHS a few years ago, and we will be doing our 3rd one at the MK in June, and they were both great. DHS would be even better with TSL or dare I say SWGE! I think they would actually be hard to book when they opened up so many people would be interested. Unless they price was so high they priced out even people willing to do the upcharge events...

 

[ninafeliz]

They've already monetized FP+ (club level FPs)

Which means they have already monetized RS as well

How have they monetized RS? I really think this is something they will never charge for. Eliminate, possibly (although I don't think so, but I can certainly be wrong), but charge for, no.

 

[DizneyMommy]

They've already monetized FP+ (club level FPs)

Which means they have already monetized RS as well

That doesn’t make sense. FP and RS are independent things. You can get one without the other. You can get RS in the standby line. And someone buying club level FP’s doesn’t necessarily every get a RS

 

[HopperFan]

I wish they would do this for either or both lands! We did the one at DHS a few years ago, and we will be doing our 3rd one at the MK in June, and they were both great. DHS would be even better with TSL or dare I say SWGE! I think they would actually be hard to book when they opened up so many people would be interested. Unless they price was so high they priced out even people willing to do the upcharge events...

We LOVED the one at DHS, the attractions/characters were perfect for us and the breakfast was awesome. It was created by Disney Events who always has great food. I figured it was practice run.

We did MK once, it was a dud (no 7DMT) and I was disappointed with the food (I think it comes from BOG). I doubt I'll ever do it again .......... but I'd jump on Pandora, TSL and SWW - the attractions alone make it worth the price.

 

[ninafeliz]

We LOVED the one at DHS, the attractions/characters were perfect for us and the breakfast was awesome. It was created by Disney Events who always has great food. I figured it was practice run.

We did MK once, it was a dud (no 7DMT) and I was disappointed with the food (I think it comes from BOG). I doubt I'll ever do it again .......... but I'd jump on Pandora, TSL and SWW - the attractions alone make it worth the price.

I will never forget standing in Pixar Place during the DHS EMM taking pictures of my kids with the green army men when someone with them said "here they come." I turned my head and a WALL of people being led by CMs was heading down the walk toward TSMM, the front of the RD crowd. It was impressive, and amazing. I thought I snapped a picture, but unfortunately I guess I didn't actually hit the button because I didn't have one. They told us we had time for one last ride, we ushered our 2 kids into the line and beat the RD for probably our 6th or 7th ride on TSMM of the morning. It was a great morning!

 

[ninafeliz]

Honestly surprised that Pandora doesn't host an EMM, 2 popular rides, a quick serve capable of breakfast but not utilizing it and a land easily contained.

Think EMM for Toy Story Land and then another for Star Wars Land could be complete sellouts if they did it.

Quoting you again because as I think about it, I think the hang up for Pandorra is the length of time FOP takes to ride from entering the line to exiting. Realistically, from 7:45-9:00 I think you could maybe do Navi once and FOP twice max, which is kind of a different feel for an EMM than all of the rides on SDMT at MK and TSMM when they did it at DHS. Even at DHS ST took a decent time to ride, and we only did that once. Just a thought.

 

[HopperFan]

Quoting you again because as I think about it, I think the hang up for Pandorra is the length of time FOP takes to ride from entering the line to exiting. Realistically, from 7:45-9:00 I think you could maybe do Navi once and FOP twice max, which is kind of a different feel for an EMM than all of the rides on SDMT at MK and TSMM when they did it at DHS. Even at DHS ST took a decent time to ride, and we only did that once. Just a thought.

True but given the popularity I think folks would pay it. We did the AP Preview, rode river 1, FOP 2 or 3, wandered the store and at a nice meal. Even if they told folks they would get one ride each plus breakfast I still think they'd pay it. It's not much more than a character meal and I'd easy pass on that for FOP.

Based on all the offerings that offer FP+ for pay wrapped in an "event" ....... I've come up with each FP+ is worth $15. So if you did 3 rides and ate, good deal.

 

[North of Mouse]

I'm glad they are tightening the loophole. 1 hour expiration seems bad, make it a few hours or by the end of the day.

When Disney tries to make it easier for some people, there always seems to be people that exploit it with loopholes. Then, they (Disney) tighten it up, or take it away - ruins it for the ones that need it, and use it the way it was intended.
Seems an hour, or two, at most would be sufficient though.

Actually wish a couple other loopholes would be closed!

 

[Wubar]

When Disney tries to make it easier for some people, there always seems to be people that exploit it with loopholes. Then, they (Disney) tighten it up, or take it away - ruins it for the ones that need it, and use it the way it was intended.
Seems an hour, or two, at most would be sufficient though.

Actually wish a couple other loopholes would be closed!

Of course there are, those that always try to game the system. Ethics or morals aside, it is all about their own personal benefit - if it isn't against the rules, it's fair game.

 

[OSUZorba]

Sure, 1-2 people get to ride twice, and I feel that is usually 2 kids that are tall enough to ride riding twice, once with each parent (that's the only way its ever been used with us). But that's not really a perk or benefit, except possibly from some of those kids point of view! I would so much rather we all be able to just ride once together and move on than have 2 people be able to ride twice, no matter what the ride! Even something like FOP isn't even close to enough to compensate for the PITA doing RS is compared to not having to do it. I mean, I love my kids and love taking them to Disney when they are small, but one nice side effect of them getting taller will be not having to use RS to take FOREVER to ride rides twice through.

Anyone who thinks we are at an advantage because we have a toddler and utilize RS (and have to ride headliners twice, spending twice as much time on each ride) is more than welcome to to spend a day touring with us and see how much of an advantage it is not! It is a courtesy afforded to families so one person doesn’t have to sit out of every ride. It certainly doesn’t make Touring with a toddler magically easier!

This is exactly what I was trying to say when people started saying I must not like spending time with my kid. I so much prefer doing things together at Disney, RS takes away from that, especially on rides with long door to door times like FoP, but I still like to do some adult rides so it is a balance. There is a reason why I have an extra FoP RS pass from my last trip though, just not worth being split up for another 45 minutes to ride it again.

I personally never wait in standby for RS rides, because I don't want to be split up that long (I think I have once over 20ish park day and it was a short line), so I would really prefer the US or Cedar Fair system, especially if you have to ride back to back anyways.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

While the hour time limit is doable, I do wish that the second group using rider swap could ride immediately, ie go up the exit or something without having to wait in another line. Going through fastpass is ofcourse shorter than having to wait in standby again, but you're still having to spend more time waiting in line. The amount of time it sometimes takes to get two groups through the line often makes it easier to save the rider swap for later.

Cedar Point for instance allows the second group to go straight up the exit and ride immediately. You're issued a rider swap card for the day and the first group turns it over to the ride operator when they ride and you get it back when the second group goes through the exit and rides. This makes it so you can't save up swaps for later and encourages you to swap immediately, but since it takes almost no time at all to do a swap, it's not really a big deal to do it immediately.

With all things with Disney, I will adapt to these changes, but I do wish there was a bit more flexibility built into the new program, or a more immediate boarding for the second group.