Rider Switch changing (Started June 16th)

[Boski]

I read the Doctor Disney and WDWNT article. Where does it say that everyone in the party must have a fastpass to get the rider switch, including the waiting parent?
Also, doesn't rider switch also work for standby? The person receiving the rider switch doesn't have to have a fastpass, so why different if you have a fastpass?

Interestingly enough @MrInfinity had some really good posts (and Hopperfan as well) on the thread that got closed down that RS was more or less designed for ONLY those riding rides in the SB line as opposed to those using FPs.

 

[OSUZorba]

I 'didn't', so why did you put this after my quote??

Yeah, I was talking about the previous poster (PP) at that point, without quoting them. Sorry.

 

[whiporee]

I read the Doctor Disney and WDWNT article. Where does it say that everyone in the party must have a fastpass to get the rider switch, including the waiting parent?
Also, doesn't rider switch also work for standby? The person receiving the rider switch doesn't have to have a fastpass, so why different if you have a fastpass?

The question is usually about using a FP and then getting a RS from the FP line. The arguememt is that if someone is going to use a FP to get a RS, then everyone in the party should have a FP. There’s not been any question about getting a RS from the standby line; it’s using the FP to get additional FP for people who didn’t have one in the first place.

 

[danikoski]

The question is usually about using a FP and then getting a RS from the FP line. The arguememt is that if someone is going to use a FP to get a RS, then everyone in the party should have a FP. There’s not been any question about getting a RS from the standby line; it’s using the FP to get additional FP for people who didn’t have one in the first place.

And from what I understand, it's currently up to the CM if everyone needs the FP. I've seen reports that FoP CMs want everyone to have a FP for instance, but other ride CMs don't necessarily.

It would be nice if Disney would just come out with their policy and date of implementation. Put the implementation out 60 days so that it doesn't effect current vacationers and vacation planners. And write up the differences to the old system so folks can guage better how it impacts them. But alas, Disney doesn't always roll out new policy that way...

 

[SirDuff]

You guys are making this crazier than it needs to be! It's a simple process. Cranky kid? Have dad go buy them a churro or ride Dumbo. Elderly dementia adults that cannot be left alone? This should be a non issue if your party has a FP!!! One adult goes then the other. I will be travelling with my 93 year old Grandmother, similar situation and would never leave her alone, but my mom is there too. If she wanted to ride a coaster, we would just all get a FP and take turns staying with Grandma. At this point we still have the toddler, but if she's still around when he's tall enough for all rides, we would just divide up the party on anything my mom wants to go on. Plus, has RS ever worked for the elderly? Why not get a DAS then?

The person with the DAS has to be riding the ride. Absolutely useless in this situation.

 

[mom2rtk]

The question is usually about using a FP and then getting a RS from the FP line. The arguememt is that if someone is going to use a FP to get a RS, then everyone in the party should have a FP. There’s not been any question about getting a RS from the standby line; it’s using the FP to get additional FP for people who didn’t have one in the first place.

And the ability to use RS to bypass FP+ tiering. Nobody cared when they could pull FP for any given ride on any given day.

 

[nkosiek]

The question is usually about using a FP and then getting a RS from the FP line. The arguememt is that if someone is going to use a FP to get a RS, then everyone in the party should have a FP. There’s not been any question about getting a RS from the standby line; it’s using the FP to get additional FP for people who didn’t have one in the first place.

So, let's just say there's a group of 8 (6 big kids, a paying toddler and an infant). Say 5 of the big kids have a FP for Space @ 1pm while at the same time, the other big kid and toddler have a FP for Winnie the Pooh and plan on taking the infant. Would you be opposed if the one big kid got a RS for Space? Clearly the only reason they don't have one is so that they can hang with the little people while everyone else rides. It also means that the toddler gets to actually utilize their FP instead of letting it fall by the wayside.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I find the "Disney didn't intend for this" arguments on these types of threads curious. The posters saying that could be CMs or have CM family members so maybe they do have insight into what Disney intends but I often have no idea what my company intends.

But I have to believe Disney intended for people using FPs to be able to get RS since they printed out stacks of RS tickets and gave them to CMs manning the FP lines. It may be that the system wasn't optimally designed for use with FP but they could always have not allowed it from the get go or made these types of changes years ago if they didn't intend it. I think the fact that FOP is so popular with so little FP availability and the fact that they know they have a bunch of new big rides coming with height restrictions is making them rethink what they want now. Which is fine if it's true. It's good that they're looking forward and trying to change policies and procedures that may be fine now but not be what they want when SWland (among other things) goes live.

 

[OSUZorba]

And the ability to use RS to bypass FP+ tiering. Nobody cared when they could pull FP for any given ride on any given day.

Isn't this only an issue for Soarin and TT? Unless you did it near rope drop, even if you used RS to bypass tiering, it would be a 3-4 hour time commitment, so I have my doubts that it happens that often.

The argument for allowing split FPs, especially at EPCOT, is it would be hard to leave the land, go to another ride or character meet, wait in standby, then get back to Soarin in a reasonable amount of time, so you end up with a ton of families sitting around in the land with bored kids (even living with the land can have a fairly long line at certain times).

But I am much more concerned with the one hour requirement and the one at a time requirement. These are just made that much worse if they then require everyone to have a FP too.

 

[linzbear]

You guys are making this crazier than it needs to be! It's a simple process. Cranky kid? Have dad go buy them a churro or ride Dumbo. Elderly dementia adults that cannot be left alone? This should be a non issue if your party has a FP!!! One adult goes then the other. I will be travelling with my 93 year old Grandmother, similar situation and would never leave her alone, but my mom is there too. If she wanted to ride a coaster, we would just all get a FP and take turns staying with Grandma. At this point we still have the toddler, but if she's still around when he's tall enough for all rides, we would just divide up the party on anything my mom wants to go on. Plus, has RS ever worked for the elderly? Why not get a DAS then?

Buying a cranky kid sugar does not make the kid less cranky, and usually make it worse. Waiting in more lines is also a generally bad idea. In any case, our previous choice was to hold onto the pass for another day and had to the room for a break. This seemingly is going to change to just not using it. It's fine, we'll deal, it's just frustrating.

 

[Boski]

I find the "Disney didn't intend for this" arguments on these types of threads curious. The posters saying that could be CMs or have CM family members so maybe they do have insight into what Disney intends but I often have no idea what my company intends.

But I have to believe Disney intended for people using FPs to be able to get RS since they printed out stacks of RS tickets and gave them to CMs manning the FP lines. It may be that the system wasn't optimally designed for use with FP but they could always have not allowed it from the get go or made these types of changes years ago if they didn't intend it. I think the fact that FOP is so popular with so little FP availability and the fact that they know they have a bunch of new big rides coming with height restrictions is making them rethink what they want now. Which is fine if it's true. It's good that they're looking forward and trying to change policies and procedures that may be fine now but not be what they want when SWland (among other things) goes live.

I think its more RS predates FP and came about when the lines were just SB, and in the past Disney never looked to change the RS program. So it just sort of existed when they rolled out the FP program and they said it was OK to work with the new system. Like you pointed out, the CMs have been issuing them to FP users for as long as FP has existed. So its not a case of Disney didn't intend its more a case of a earlier system not evolving to work with a newer system.

 

[WillowRain]

Buying a cranky kid sugar does not make the kid less cranky, and usually make it worse. Waiting in more lines is also a generally bad idea. In any case, our previous choice was to hold onto the pass for another day and had to the room for a break. This seemingly is going to change to just not using it. It's fine, we'll deal, it's just frustrating.

Treats worked for me, it's vacation, you've spent a lot of money to be there, you do what you need to do. But luckily, we didn't wait longer than 20 mins for any ride, and my son was fine. He was content just being in Disneyland. You have to look at it this way, they COULD just eliminate RS all together and force parents to wait twice. But they aren't, so be grateful for that. The system worked perfectly fine at Disneyland and I have faith that it will work the same at WDW.

 

[whiporee]

So, let's just say there's a group of 8 (6 big kids, a paying toddler and an infant). Say 5 of the big kids have a FP for Space @ 1pm while at the same time, the other big kid and toddler have a FP for Winnie the Pooh and plan on taking the infant. Would you be opposed if the one big kid got a RS for Space? Clearly the only reason they don't have one is so that they can hang with the little people while everyone else rides. It also means that the toddler gets to actually utilize their FP instead of letting it fall by the wayside.

The "toddler gets to utilize their FP" argument has never held much for me, because it's not about the toddler missing out as much as it is about the parent missing out on something they want to do do, and in my past life with toddlers that was like 90 percent of life, period.

My personal belief is if you don't have a FP for a ride, you shouldn't get FP benefits for a ride. Under your scenario, the big kid gets the benefit of 2 FPs, and at least one other kid gets the benefit of 2 FPs. 10, maybe 11 for the "cost" of 8, presumably as a reward of sorts for going on the ride with the toddler. I don't see it as a detriment to go on a ride with one or two of the younger kids -- I just see it as a trade off and part of being a parent. That's the way we did it -- heck, one of my 11-year-olds doesn't like roller coasters, so that's how we still do it -- one of us takes two on the coaster, the other hangs out with the one who doesn't want to ride and does something they want to do. I might miss out on two minutes of riding, but I don't see that as a "rewardable" situation, or that I've really "missed out" on anything. In your scenario, the big kid who didn't do Space got to experience Pooh with two kids -- not a thrill per se but still an experience.

I know others disagree, but to me this whole argument is much more about parents than kids, and if you break it down into those typical choices parents have to make between kids -- the softball game versus the soccer practice versus the theater rehearsal -- it doesn't seem like anything different than par for the course.

 

[WillowRain]

@whiporee TOTALLY!!!! YOU ARE STILL IN WDW/DISNEYLAND, and not everyone gets to be there. So you miss a ride, that's life!

 

[Wubar]

The "toddler gets to utilize their FP" argument has never held much for me, because it's not about the toddler missing out as much as it is about the parent missing out on something they want to do do, and in my past life with toddlers that was like 90 percent of life, period.

My personal belief is if you don't have a FP for a ride, you shouldn't get FP benefits for a ride. Under your scenario, the big kid gets the benefit of 2 FPs, and at least one other kid gets the benefit of 2 FPs. 10, maybe 11 for the "cost" of 8, presumably as a reward of sorts for going on the ride with the toddler. I don't see it as a detriment to go on a ride with one or two of the younger kids -- I just see it as a trade off and part of being a parent. That's the way we did it -- heck, one of my 11-year-olds doesn't like roller coasters, so that's how we still do it -- one of us takes two on the coaster, the other hangs out with the one who doesn't want to ride and does something they want to do. I might miss out on two minutes of riding, but I don't see that as a "rewardable" situation, or that I've really "missed out" on anything. In your scenario, the big kid who didn't do Space got to experience Pooh with two kids -- not a thrill per se but still an experience.

I know others disagree, but to me this whole argument is much more about parents than kids, and if you break it down into those typical choices parents have to make between kids -- the softball game versus the soccer practice versus the theater rehearsal -- it doesn't seem like anything different than par for the course.

Couldn't agree more. If the CMs actually enforced the rider switch language, which refers to children too short or ANYONE who doesn't want to ride, then what is to stop a group of 6 or 8 friends taking advantage of the "extra FPs" that those who love it insist aren't a gift or advantage? Say that I can't find a FP for 8 people for soarin', but I can find one for 4 people. So we all go and get RS for that, saying someone doesn't want to ride because they are afraid of heights, while the other 4 go find a FP for 4 on TT and get a RS there. Then they all swap out afterwards and ride the other ride. Boom - 2 Tier 1 rides using 1 FP.

I get the RS concept. But you're supposed to ride it back to back, not 6 hours later or by the end of the month. Crankiness, hunger, late for an ADR are not excuses - you don't make it back within the new time limit for the RS, you lose it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

@whiporee TOTALLY!!!! YOU ARE STILL IN WDW/DISNEYLAND, and not everyone gets to be there. So you miss a ride, that's life!

Yeah but come on, with all due respect, the argument, whelp you're in Disney it's better than nothing works for some things (like a hot day vs a working day) but it shouldn't be a sin to want to experience all that you can.

Expectation-wise it's unlikely you'll get to experience everything you want (except if you go during a hurricane lol) but I really don't think we need to give people a hard time because they actually want to experience an attraction and then call it-well that's life.

As for missing a ride..people do need to understand that if you're a frequent enough visitor it's less harmful but for less frequent visitors it can be a real bummer. I still haven't seen Fantasmic! in my trips (at least I have no memory from my earlier trips and in 2011 and in 2017 we were rained out), never got to go on Backlot tour as it was closed in 2011 and then closed down for good several years back, etc. You get the picture. Sometimes missing a ride really really sucks. It happens and you try to shrug it off but don't shame people for wanting to experience something. They may never get that chance to ride it or ride it again and I think we all know how that can feel.

I say this as actually having no problem with having people ride back to back, a 1 hr time limit, etc. I just think we can understand the desires people want without the whole guilt trip.

 

[OSUZorba]

Treats worked for me, it's vacation, you've spent a lot of money to be there, you do what you need to do. But luckily, we didn't wait longer than 20 mins for any ride, and my son was fine. He was content just being in Disneyland. You have to look at it this way, they COULD just eliminate RS all together and force parents to wait twice. But they aren't, so be grateful for that. The system worked perfectly fine at Disneyland and I have faith that it will work the same at WDW.

Again, Disney doesn't offer RS out of the goodness of their heart, they do it because they want that family's business. Every major park operator offers some version of RS for the same reason. If Disney eliminated, they would lose a significant amount of business to their competition or other vacation options that would be more toddler friendly.

 

[OSUZorba]

Couldn't agree more. If the CMs actually enforced the rider switch language, which refers to children too short or ANYONE who doesn't want to ride, then what is to stop a group of 6 or 8 friends taking advantage of the "extra FPs" that those who love it insist aren't a gift or advantage? Say that I can't find a FP for 8 people for soarin', but I can find one for 4 people. So we all go and get RS for that, saying someone doesn't want to ride because they are afraid of heights, while the other 4 go find a FP for 4 on TT and get a RS there. Then they all swap out afterwards and ride the other ride. Boom - 2 Tier 1 rides using 1 FP.

I get the RS concept. But you're supposed to ride it back to back, not 6 hours later or by the end of the month. Crankiness, hunger, late for an ADR are not excuses - you don't make it back within the new time limit for the RS, you lose it.

If you are "supposed to" how come that has never been the rule? If you are "supposed to" why don't they use universal's or Cedar Point's system? Just because people on a forum make something up, doesn't mean it is true. Disney makes a ton of money off families with small kids, they want that business, RS and it's flexibility is a big part of getting that business.

Not sure why people make up this "supposed to" thing on here, but if that is what Disney wanted that is what it would be.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I think its more RS predates FP and came about when the lines were just SB, and in the past Disney never looked to change the RS program. So it just sort of existed when they rolled out the FP program and they said it was OK to work with the new system. Like you pointed out, the CMs have been issuing them to FP users for as long as FP has existed. So its not a case of Disney didn't intend its more a case of a earlier system not evolving to work with a newer system.

Yes but whether the RS system evolves or not is a choice made by Disney. They made a choice that the system was fine the way it was. Or fine temporarily. Or not worth the cost the change. Or exactly how they wanted it to work at the time. Whatever the case, it was Disney's decision not some circumstance outside their control.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Treats worked for me, it's vacation, you've spent a lot of money to be there, you do what you need to do. But luckily, we didn't wait longer than 20 mins for any ride, and my son was fine. He was content just being in Disneyland. You have to look at it this way, they COULD just eliminate RS all together and force parents to wait twice. But they aren't, so be grateful for that. The system worked perfectly fine at Disneyland and I have faith that it will work the same at WDW.

you are right, they could eliminate it - but one reason many families vacation at WDW is because Disney makes it relatively easy to vacation there as a family. Not saying all families would stop going or anything, but removing something that improves how a family vacations there isn't necessarily the best for their bottom line

I also found it about 10x more challenging to navigate Disneyland as Walt Disney World so while that model might work great for you it doesn't for everyone