Rider Switch changing (Started June 16th)

[OSUZorba]

This ^



My entire life, nearly 30 years of which have been visiting Disney off and on, I left my kids home with grandma and grandpa. I never regretted it and my vacations were so much more enjoyable because I didn't take a tired, cranky, whiney kid. My rule was that I took no one under 7 years old. Never had to push a stroller or any of that nonsense while in the parks. It didn't matter because they wouldn't remember it anyway. I took my boys when they were 10+ and we had a great time, every time.

And then I got a grandchild. And everything changed for me.

My granddaughter will be just shy of 3 when we go this time. I don't mind pushing a stroller or taking her to a shaded area to let her nap or calm her down while her parents enjoy the rides. In fact, she will have a 6 week old brother then too (and he will be going with us). I don't mind lugging the car seat, stroller, bags, etc on the plane. The thought of all that doesn't bother me in the slightest even though I'd have stayed home before I did that with mine when they were little.

My moment of change was when someone once told me...."It's not about what they will or won't remember. It's about what YOU will remember." These are memories I want to have with my granddaughter. I don't care that she won't remember it. Because I will

Yeah. My 2 yo DD has spent 3 weeks at WDW, been on 2 cruises, Hawaii, Multiple National Parks. People say the "they won't remember it" line all the time, but that doesn't mean it has no effect on them. My DD still talks about her last trip to WDW and cruise which were in September and October. My earliest memory is actually from a vacation when I was 25 months and it's not an implanted one.

Regardless of the impact on her, I've loved all my time with her and I will remember it forever. I remember and think about her excitement when she met Olaf at 6 months, I don't bother to think about how she slept horribly at the hotel. I get far better quality time with her on any vacation than I ever do at home.

 

[OSUZorba]

I can certainly see both sides of this ^ this debate. If you want to leave your baby with grandma, do so! If you want to bring her with, do so! No one's going to judge you either way on this decision as both options are perfectly good. Just don't bring her, then complain about how you can't be expected to wait with your baby. You're obviously going to have to do that -- a lot. Should plan on ways of making spending time with your baby something you're content to do and have fun with. Someone above was complaining about how RS was unworkable now because he'd have to wait around with his baby. Well... What else would you do in that half hour if not waiting there? You'd be waiting, pushing a stroller, or rocking your baby somewhere else. I do cringe when people say they can't be expected to wait in line at a theme park because their toddler would get cranky. ROFL. That's most kids. And even more parents. No one is entitled to skip a line because you're impatient. (Not referring to disabilities here for which there are accommodations -- just regular impatience and crankiness of kids -- and adults)

If you are referring to what I said, then you are way off base. I was complaining that the change made it harder to spend quality time with my baby. Sitting around by TT or FoP with a 18 month old isn't much fun and the new changes make that a requirement. And spending time in the preshows (what I was actually talking about) by yourself is also time away from your baby.

But I'm pretty sure you are the one that thinks those rides only take 5 or 10 minutes, so it's clear you've never really had to deal with RS.

 

[QueenHeather]

Obviously the eBay aspect but also Disney allocates a certain amount of FP per hour and if people are using all the rider swaps later in the day, that could mess up how they are spread out. Honestly I don't think it is a big dea lbut some people found issue with it (or at least concern that it could mess up FP lines later in the day)

I agree that this is the reason. Disney wants to control the FP lines. I truly doubt that rider swap passes were messing up the flow of line, but obviously Disney has those numbers and I don't. I'm really just upset that this will put those who need to use rider swap at a distinct disadvantage when the new lands open. My family most often stays off site and therefore cannot get coveted fastpasses. We rely on rope drop strategies and if we must budget in time to ride twice back to back, it greatly diminishes our ability to ride both rides in the land with relatively low wait.

 

[Boski]

I don't understand how eBay allows them to be sold since they clearly state that they are not to be sold and are non transferable.

eBay should not be the governing body of Disney's rules and procedures.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

eBay should not be the governing body of Disney's rules and procedures.

still surprised - I know when people want to sell tickets for things on eBay they at least go to the effort of doing it as like a baseball hat is up for bid and the winner of this hat will also receive two tickets to an event ... so I am not selling the tickets, I am giving them away

 

[MamaBelle4]

eBay should not be the governing body of Disney's rules and procedures.

No, but eBay typically is very stringent on things like this. Couldn't they be held liable for hosting illegal sales?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No, but eBay typically is very stringent on things like this. Couldn't they be held liable for hosting illegal sales?

Have no idea on that but it could also fall under buyer beware. Obviously buying something that says not for sale means, you the buyer, is doing something against policy.

 

[OSUZorba]

This poster didn't say "unworkable," but did indicate that they would cancel their trip if this does actually go into effect.

My point was, that I go to WDW because it is easy and fun to do with my toddler. If they make changes to the system that make it less easy and fun, there are plenty of other places I can go. After thinking about it more, I think I've only actually gone back and used a pass later maybe three times, and I have had a ton of passes go unused. The flexibility of knowing I could go back later let me feel like it was okay to move on so we could do something else (even though I rarely actually went back). Now I will feel much more that it is now or never and that will impact my enjoyment. It has nothing to do with being unworkable, it has to do making my vacation less enjoyable because some people think parents of toddlers are getting some type of unfair advantage.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Sitting around by TT or FoP with a 18 month old isn't much fun and the new changes make that a requirement.

This only becomes a “requirement” if the FP line is super short and you don’t have time to do something else and come back. In which case it’s a short wait anyways. I have a great time with my 2 year old, even when she was 18 or 12 or even 9 months, hanging around while the big kids ride. We chat, learn new words, have a snack, look around at what is near us. If we have more time, we take a walk, find a character, do a diaper change, make friends with other babies hanging out, etc. It is what you make of it.

 

[DizneyMommy]

My point was, that I go to WDW because it is easy and fun to do with my toddler. If they make changes to the system that make it less easy and fun, there are plenty of other places I can go. After thinking about it more, I think I've only actually gone back and used a pass later maybe three times, and I have had a ton of passes go unused. The flexibility of knowing I could go back later let me feel like it was okay to move on so we could do something else (even though I rarely actually went back). Now I will feel much more that it is now or never and that will impact my enjoyment. It has nothing to do with being unworkable, it has to do making my vacation less enjoyable because some people think parents of toddlers are getting some type of unfair advantage.

This has been the system since DL went digital and I’ve never once felt less enjoyment. It is what you make of it

 

[OSUZorba]

This has been the system since DL went digital and I’ve never once felt less enjoyment. It is what you make of it

You also don't have either of the rides I was talking about being the worst offenders, FoP and TT. You also don't have your Soarin' in the Land Building. I'm also assuming you are a local with an AP, so that creates a completely different touring plan. I can enjoy my day with DD, then go back to TT or ToT when DD is asleep at the hotel, would be completely different if I was a local. With the new changes, FoP and TT will basically require the parents to be split for 60-90 minutes straight if we both want to ride and the first half of that will basically require sitting around the ride where there is little to do.

It seems everyone in this thread that are arguing with those of use that actually use the current system thinks that everyone travels and tours just like they do, but we don't and that doesn't mean we are wrong. I know how I use RS and what works for DW, DD and I, and I know this change will negatively impact how I operate at WDW. How much it'll negatively impact will have to be seen, if it is a lot I'll just go on another cruise next year instead of buying another set of APs if it isn't much I'll adapt.

This only becomes a “requirement” if the FP line is super short and you don’t have time to do something else and come back. In which case it’s a short wait anyways. I have a great time with my 2 year old, even when she was 18 or 12 or even 9 months, hanging around while the big kids ride. We chat, learn new words, have a snack, look around at what is near us. If we have more time, we take a walk, find a character, do a diaper change, make friends with other babies hanging out, etc. It is what you make of it.

Thank you for the great parenting tips! You are right, I've taken my baby all over the world, spending tens of thousands of dollars extra. Having her ride in my lap on 8 hour flights. Carrying her thousands of feet up mountains on my back. All because I hate spending time with her and I didn't know I could talk to her while we waited.

And if only they actually told you how long the FP line would take, maybe I would walk the the other side of the park where there is a ride she could do. Or they could just not add the 1 hour restriction and I could do it anyways (like I have done on every other trip, but you and the other guy think I somehow hate spending time with my kid because I am against a new rule that will make me spend less time with them while they are awake).

This thread doesn't need you and @MrInfinity accusing loving parents that want to share their vacations with their toddlers of being bad parents because this new rule will change how we enjoy the time with our toddlers.

 

[Boski]

No, but eBay typically is very stringent on things like this. Couldn't they be held liable for hosting illegal sales?

They could easily just say "not intended for use, for collection or display purposes only". The bigger issue is that 1) there are people out there who are getting them and listing them for sale and 2) there are people out there who are willing to buy them.

 

[DizneyMommy]

You also don't have either of the rides I was talking about being the worst offenders, FoP and TT.

We don’t have FoP but we do have Radiator Springs Racers which is basically TT and extremely popular. It also has a single rider line in addition to FP and standby, so it is a time consuming ride. We ride it every chance we get. And we may be local but we frequently go to the parks with family or friends in town who have tickets and we tour all day with them just like we would if we were on vacation. I understand the concept of waiting with a baby, I really do. I just don’t feel like it is miserable.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We don’t have FoP but we do have Radiator Springs Racers which is basically TT and extremely popular. It also has a single rider line in addition to FP and standby, so it is a time consuming ride. We ride it every chance we get. And we may be local but we frequently go to the parks with family or friends in town who have tickets and we tour all day with them just like we would if we were on vacation. I understand the concept of waiting with a baby, I really do. I just don’t feel like it is miserable.

I don't think anyone is saying it is miserable - just that having added flexibility is nice and if this change reduces the flexibility and will have to adjust. Can you spend the time as you describe? Sure, and we do - but it is also nice to have the flexibility to take the other child and do something else with them - just is more productive use of time often.

I don't think this change is going to change it from being a great experience going to WDW to a miserable one but reducing flexibility is not a positive - if you choose not to use that added flexibility then that is up to you, but for others it was useful to them and their family

 

[OSUZorba]

We don’t have FoP but we do have Radiator Springs Racers which is basically TT and extremely popular. It also has a single rider line in addition to FP and standby, so it is a time consuming ride. We ride it every chance we get. And we may be local but we frequently go to the parks with family or friends in town who have tickets and we tour all day with them just like we would if we were on vacation. I understand the concept of waiting with a baby, I really do. I just don’t feel like it is miserable.

Thanks for once again trying to claim me wanting to spend quality time with my baby makes me a bad parent. I'm sorry that I vacation different than how you spend your weekends, hopefully DHS will come pull my baby away from me any day now.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I would really love this thread to remain open so we can keep informed on updates about this potential new policy.

I think there are a couple of things that all parents can probably agree on.
1) With kids, life is all about adapt and overcome. We all figure out how to do it because there often isn't another option.
2) While we can adapt and overcome, it's often stressful getting used to change.
3) Everyone has different parenting styles, family interests, dynamics, concerns, and ways that we do things. That doesn't mean anyone's way of doing things is more right or wrong than another's- just different. What works for one family may not work the same for another.

 

[Doug M]

How did you even get a Rider Swap for NRJ...all ages can ride since no height requirments.

NRJ?

Edit, never mind. It is Navi River Journey. It isn't in the abbreviations thread.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I don't think I've ever paid attention when I use rider swap- do the CMs actually scan the ticket when you give it to them? If they do, does anyone know if the system differentiates between a RS and a FP for recording purposes? Do they put in the system how many people are using it? For the record, I'm talking about currently, not the new digital policy.

 

[OSUZorba]

I don't think I've ever paid attention when I use rider swap- do the CMs actually scan the ticket when you give it to them? If they do, does anyone know if the system differentiates between a RS and a FP for recording purposes? Do they put in the system how many people are using it? For the record, I'm talking about currently, not the new digital policy.

Currently they just take the paper ticket at the merge point. I've never seen anyone documenting how many people are using it or anything. No scanning. I've always done it by myself though, so maybe they take note if you have multiple people, but I doubt it.

My only concern about the digital part is that it may end up causing bottlenecks at the tapstiles for everyone.

 

[rteetz]

I’m only going to say this once. Please be respectful.

Everyone vacations differently. Rider swap works for some and not for others. This new version is not out yet and we don’t know exactly the ins and outs of it yet.

No need to call people by name or make parenting accusations. If that continues the thread will be closed and other actions taken.