Rider switch for older child?

[krismom345]

I know it's designed for kids that don't meet the height requirements- but what about fright requirements? One of my twins won't do "dips" and I'm wondering if they would allow us to use the baby swap thing in his case. Any ideas?

 

[AmyB2006]

I don't think they allow it for that but I could be wrong. How old? Could he wait in line with you then go through the "chicken" exit and wait for you there?

 

[Golf4283]

yea just have them wait in line with you and step through to the exit and wait for you.

 

[krismom345]

I don't really feel comfortable leaving him solo. He's 9- guess I'm sitting out the biggies again. :/

 

[DisneyPope14]

What is the exact travel party size? Is it just you and your twins?

I don't see why you could do rider swap between you and your twins. Just explain your situation to the CM.

 

[JillyBean1899]

How old are your twins? Would you trust the one that doesn't like to ride to wait alone for you? If so, you can ask the CM at the ride if there is somewhere near the exit he can wait for you to get out. For example, on Star Tours, he would be able to walk right through the ride vehicle and out the ramp on the other side, and stand in the hallway up against the wall until you came out.

Otherwise just tell the CM you need to do a rider swap. Some people have said that CMs will refuse to allow you to do it if your child isn't under the height limit, but I personally have never experienced that, and my oldest niece is tall but a chicken so we've made lots of use of the kid swap feature everywhere we've been.

You won't know until you ask

 

[krismom345]

Thanks- I will ask. It's just me and the kids this trip- my daughter is older and can wait with him if they allow us to swap.

 

[5terre]

When DD was 6, they would NOT let us do it on BTMR. She chickened out and they made us cross through the vehicle to exit. I complained and a different CM ended up giving me a FP. I wish we could do this, DH and I want to ride lots of things that DD is not up for, we have to wait in line separately if we want to ride and it uses up time, plus we are not together.

 

[mco65]

I don't really feel comfortable leaving him solo. He's 9- guess I'm sitting out the biggies again. :/

I would ask a CM at the entrance of the ride. I know it used to be fairly easy to get something like this oked.

Fortunately for me, all my kids are past this point. My oldest son took his time and probably didn't ride everything he could until he was about 11 or so.
My girl (twin) was always up for riding anything she could get on.. my son (twin) would probably have been similar to my oldest son and was always a little uneasy about some rides but after seeing his twins sister ride, he eventually caves and rides as well. She has basically had to drag him to just about every childhood milestone.. ie. Riding bikes, skates, swimming, diving and riding big roller coasters!

 

[mjkacmom]

I think a 9 year old can wait alone for a few minutes! I assume he goes to the restroom alone.

 

[krismom345]

Every kid is different. He would be anxious, so I won't do that to him. Yes, he goes to the bathroom solo.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Every kid is different. He would be anxious, so I won't do that to him. Yes, he goes to the bathroom solo.

I'm not trying to be patronizing, I just want to make sure that you understand what the "chicken exit" entails. On Tower of Terror, for example, he would be with you right up until you get on the elevator to start dropping. He would take another elevator to the basement where he would wait for about a minute, maybe two, for your family to finish the ride. There are also cast members around so he wouldn't be alone(but they're not responsible for watching him,which I'm sure you would never assume - just putting it out there to put it out there). He really would only be away from you and the family for a maximum of 3 minutes depending on the ride. Now, for some kids, this is too much and that might very well be the case for your child. I just knew one parent whose child would have handled it, but they thought that the child was going to be alone for a lot longer than that, like for 10+ minutes. I just wanted to make sure you were fully informed, just in case.

 

[krismom345]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'll talk to him about it and see what he thinks.

 

[yulilin3]

Ride swap is used at the discretion of the CM at the podium (entrance) of a ride.
My husband works at TSM and a mom approached him and showed him that her 2 kids were asleep in the stroller (around 5 years old) she asked if she could make the line (it was 60 minutes) while her kids slept, dad would stay with them, and then get a rider swap pass for her kids to go on the ride thru the fp's line. My husband did give her the ticket.
So just ask and explain the situation

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Well, and if he is the kind of kid who doesn't go for it and isn't comfortable staying alone, maybe the two of you can find something fun that can just be "your thing". Like, for example, if your other children are really excited to go on Rock n Roller Coaster, you two could go buy a giant cookie outside of Tower of Terror or a sundae from Hollywood Scoops and people watch (I like to make up full life stories about the people I see like, "That's Susan. She's here on her first trip ever at 45 years old and has discovered that her favorite ride is Star Tours. She thinks the Butterfinger Cupcake at Starring Rolls should be illegal in 48 states.) I know it stinks to miss out on some of the big rides, especially if they are your favorite, but maybe doing something really special with just your son could make it better.

 

[smellyia]

The website actually answers this question:
"What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.

Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. See a Cast Member at the attraction for more information."
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

Now I know what the site says and what a CM does are two very different things, but I would at least TRY with this information. I have read others who have done this and have had no problems using RS, granted some did have to appeal to supervisors. However, I would also point out that part of WDW is suppose to be service and making magical times....why would you go against stated policy? Good luck! I hope you get some pixie dust with luck on using RS throughout your trip.

 

[#1DopeyFan]

My youngest DS had just turned 8yo on our last trip and he waited by himself on several rides...as others have said, he walked through with us and then "chicken exited" right before. The choice of either riding a ride he "hated" or waiting by himself for 5 minutes was a no brainer to him. Lol

 

[Schmeck]

Ride swap is used at the discretion of the CM at the podium (entrance) of a ride.
My husband works at TSM and a mom approached him and showed him that her 2 kids were asleep in the stroller (around 5 years old) she asked if she could make the line (it was 60 minutes) while her kids slept, dad would stay with them, and then get a rider swap pass for her kids to go on the ride thru the fp's line. My husband did give her the ticket.
So just ask and explain the situation

Why wouldn't the family have just waited until the kids woke up and rode together? The mother rode all by herself? Isn't that the anti-rider swap?

 

[yulilin3]

Why wouldn't the family have just waited until the kids woke up and rode together? The mother rode all by herself? Isn't that the anti-rider swap?

not sure if it's anti-rider swap...she rode with an older child . The point I was trying to make was that it's always good to ask the CM at the entrance, not just decided that it can/can't be done and never try

 

[tink20]

What we did (which won't work as well now) But we had 4 in our group, we would get 4 FPs and I would ride once w/DD then DH would ride once w/DD. (for the rides DS didn't want to go on)

We tried once when DS was tall enough to get rider swap on TOT and the CM said no, that he was tall enough. (DS did finally ride the next year....he doesn't like it)

Anyway, make your FPs selections for the rides he won't ride then you and your DD can take turns w/the other child. Like I said this worked better w/FP-.

But I would definitely try rider swap first.