rider switch dumb questions

[hllb]

We have done RS many times over the past few years and they never handed the RS pass to the waiting parent. Actually the most common thing on our last trip was to give the riding parent a lanyard and then once they reached the next CM they got the RS pass. I think this was to keep people from exiting the line at the entrance after getting the RS pass and then going back for more?!?!?

That is probably a good solution for it!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Wait. So you can't use Rider swap if you have a fastpass?

Brother his wife and their best friend are going with their 2 yr old

Brother and best friend will ride Big Thunder, with a fastpass, and are bringing up wife and child so she can get a rider switch.
She was going to take the rider switch and go on after with the best friend. Does this not work?

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Wait. So you can't use Rider swap if you have a fastpass?

Brother his wife and their best friend are going with their 2 yr old

Brother and best friend will ride Big Thunder, with a fastpass, and are bringing up wife and child so she can get a rider switch.
She was going to take the rider switch and go on after with the best friend. Does this not work?

Yes, you can use Rider Swap with FP.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Yes, you can use Rider Swap with FP.

so she won't need to get that as a fast pass, because she will have rider swap.

but does this mean she can then have a fastpass for a different ride, do a ride swap, and give that to brother and friend so they can ride? Or would she have to go and physically ride it herself, then they can ride.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

so she won't need to get that as a fast pass, because she will have rider swap.

but does this mean she can then have a fastpass for a different ride, do a ride swap, and give that to brother and friend so they can ride? Or would she have to go and physically ride it herself, then they can ride.

You have to ride the ride to get a switch pass but she can certainly fp something else herself. Maybe something near BTMRR that the 2 yr old can ride or she can fp another “big” ride for later in the day and dad and bf can ride on the switch pass.

 

[Kalia]

My daughter (9) has anxiety and is on medication for this. She will not cope with any attraction where people scream. Mostly we are happy to go at her pace but my son’s favourite ride is the mine train. I had hoped to rider swap so my husband and I both could have the company of out younger son, rather than riding alone. Might this be possible if I explain the circumstances? I have fast passes for all of us so if it isn’t possible to rider swap, how wrong would it be to let my son use his sister’s fastpass so he can go on again with whichever Parent didn’t ride the first time?

 

[TinkLoverSam]

My daughter (9) has anxiety and is on medication for this. She will not cope with any attraction where people scream. Mostly we are happy to go at her pace but my son’s favourite ride is the mine train. I had hoped to rider swap so my husband and I both could have the company of out younger son, rather than riding alone. Might this be possible if I explain the circumstances? I have fast passes for all of us so if it isn’t possible to rider swap, how wrong would it be to let my son use his sister’s fastpass so he can go on again with whichever Parent didn’t ride the first time?

Nothing wrong with your son using your daughter’s fp

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

so she won't need to get that as a fast pass, because she will have rider swap.

Correct. Only the first group of people entering the FP line would need a FP. The Rider Swap ticket will be good for up to 3 people to ride again via the FP line.

but does this mean she can then have a fastpass for a different ride,

Yes, she can have a FP for different ride (preferably a kid-friendly ride so that the 2yo gets to have some fun too!) while the other 2 adults are riding Big Thunder.

Rider Swap tickets are small paper tickets that allow up to 3 guests, any 3 guests (that meet the height requirement), to ride via entering the FP line. They are not "assigned" to anyone.

 

[heather13]

how wrong would it be to let my son use his sister’s fastpass so he can go on again with whichever Parent didn’t ride the first time?

Totally not wrong IMO! We did that a lot when my mother and daughter wouldn't ride things like BTMRR. My other daughter rode about five times in a row between several FP and standing in line. That's how she became a roller coaster lover.

 

[Kalia]

Thanks!

 

[10CJ]

My daughter (9) has anxiety and is on medication for this. She will not cope with any attraction where people scream. Mostly we are happy to go at her pace but my son’s favourite ride is the mine train. I had hoped to rider swap so my husband and I both could have the company of out younger son, rather than riding alone. Might this be possible if I explain the circumstances? I have fast passes for all of us so if it isn’t possible to rider swap, how wrong would it be to let my son use his sister’s fastpass so he can go on again with whichever Parent didn’t ride the first time?

I have heard mixed things on using rider switch for something other than height restrictions. However both FEA and Navi are listed as having Rider Switch so they obviously allow it for things other than height in some situations.

 

[10CJ]

so she won't need to get that as a fast pass, because she will have rider swap.

but does this mean she can then have a fastpass for a different ride, do a ride swap, and give that to brother and friend so they can ride? Or would she have to go and physically ride it herself, then they can ride.

Brother and friend could book FP for Ride 1. Everyone goes up to Ride 1 FP entrance and requests rider swap pass. You then should have a FP for ride 1 valid for three people.

The wife can book a FP for Ride 2. If it is a ride with Rider Swap, she would need to go and use her FP for the ride, riding by herself. She would have to go up with the child you want to switch out and request the ticket but she would need to enter the que since she is the one with the FP. Then she should have a FP ticket good for three people.

 

[AuroraRose22]

According to Disney's own website:

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party can’t or don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out!

If a child does not meet the height requirement or a Guest does not wish to board a particular attraction, no problem! With Rider Switch, one adult can wait with the non-rider (or riders) while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. When the other adult returns, they can supervise the non-riding Guests, and the waiting adult can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again!

Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.



While I'm not debating that the CM's may be adhering to a height restriction only rule, I wonder if bringing up the website on a phone if they try to give a guest a hard time about switching with a child who is tall enough but not willing to ride and tactfully pointing out that they're contradicting their own online Guest Services information would make a difference? If they're going to stick to that rule, they need to update their online information, otherwise it isn't fair to guests who may be making plans and fastpass choices based on incorrect information.

 

[mesaboy2]

According to Disney's own website:

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party can’t or don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out!

If a child does not meet the height requirement or a Guest does not wish to board a particular attraction, no problem! With Rider Switch, one adult can wait with the non-rider (or riders) while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. When the other adult returns, they can supervise the non-riding Guests, and the waiting adult can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again!

Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.



While I'm not debating that the CM's may be adhering to a height restriction only rule, I wonder if bringing up the website on a phone if they try to give a guest a hard time about switching with a child who is tall enough but not willing to ride and tactfully pointing out that they're contradicting their own online Guest Services information would make a difference? If they're going to stick to that rule, they need to update their online information, otherwise it isn't fair to guests who may be making plans and fastpass choices based on incorrect information.

This passage from the website is often cited and your strategy often suggested, I know I’ve read it dozens of times here on the boards. CMs will follow their training over the website. You can go to Guest Relations and discuss your concerns, but I’m sure many have before you for years with no effect.

 

[AuroraRose22]

It's odd that they don't change the website if they have no intention of honoring what it says. Seems like it would be a simple enough thing to change a few lines of text if they intend Rider Swap to be limited to adults with children too small to ride, particularly if they keep getting complaints...

 

[erikawolf2004]

We told the CM at the entrance we were doing a RS, they would give the riding parent a lanyard and the other parent would leave the line. Then at the loading area we exchanged the lanyard for the RS ticket. It is great for families with multiple ages.

 

[tjmw2727]

Agree 100% they should update the website to match the actual procedure in the parks!

In my experience going to GR and quoting the website won't get you anything but lost time. I wasn't angry or upset but when my then 4yo nephew was barely tall enough but afraid to ride TOT and we weren't given the RS pass I did go to GR to see what the rules were. Not to argue with them but to clarify in order to help my sister in law plan for the rest of the trip with a timid but barely 40 inch 4 year old I posted the responses up thread so I won't repeat.

To be fair the CM at TOT offered us an alternative type of switch but it required my nephew to wait the line and although waiting wasn't a problem for him he was very afraid of the queue so we never found out what the alternative would have been.

When I my share experiences on these threads it is to hopefully help families with a tall enough child avoid disappointment if they don't get a RS pass. I feel like it is better to plan for not qualifying and get some pixie dust if you do get one from a CM than to plan for the swap and be denied.

/

According to Disney's own website:

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party can’t or don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out!

If a child does not meet the height requirement or a Guest does not wish to board a particular attraction, no problem! With Rider Switch, one adult can wait with the non-rider (or riders) while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. When the other adult returns, they can supervise the non-riding Guests, and the waiting adult can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again!

Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.



While I'm not debating that the CM's may be adhering to a height restriction only rule, I wonder if bringing up the website on a phone if they try to give a guest a hard time about switching with a child who is tall enough but not willing to ride and tactfully pointing out that they're contradicting their own online Guest Services information would make a difference? If they're going to stick to that rule, they need to update their online information, otherwise it isn't fair to guests who may be making plans and fastpass choices based on incorrect information.

 

[columbusdizfan]

I just thought I'd add that we were successful on 7DMT bringing our daughter who was tall enough but would not ride (even though it was her favorite two years before) through the line with us. She and one parent were let out the ride exit and waited right there until the first riding parent was back from the ride and the other parent rode.

 

[pooch]

So if my DD has a FP but will wait with GDD while the rest of us ride using OUR FPs, can she use hers in conjunction with the 3 RS passes to take all 3 DGSs on the ride a second time?

 

[adelew]

Your scenario is a bit confusing, but it seems like you're stating that you don't have a family member who doesn't meet the height requirement. If that's the case, they would not give you the pass. You have to show the baby/small child to the CM before they give you a rider switch pass.

They couldn't give you the pass at the end of the ride because the baby can't enter the line, so the CM at the ride exit wouldn't be able to verify that you have a little one.

And one other point to clarify, even if you show the small child they don't just hand you a pass and let you walk off with it. One of you must enter the line and

On many of the