Rider switch with 3 kids?

[NikkiC0509]

Hi!

Our trip is in Sept and our kids will be 11, 9, 8, and 1yr. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the rider switch option. This is the first trip that the older kids are all tall enough to ride the big rides and of course mom and dad both want to experience the rides with them. Can someone please explain if it's possible for the 3 older kids to ride once with me and once with my husband on those rides using the rider switch? I've done tons of research and still can't figure it out!

Its been almost 4 years since I've been to Disney and I feel so out of the loop! Any helpful tips or suggestions would be immensely appreciated! Thanks soooo much in advance!

 

[Pemeberly]

According to this official Disney site about rider swap: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

"If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one other Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note that only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass."

So this makes it sound like no, that's not possible. Only one kid can come back through with rider swap. That being said, I can't tell you if this is a rule they strictly follow or not

Kenny the Pirate says (from 2015) that a rider switch pass can work for up to three people. http://www.kennythepirate.com/2015/01/05/how-to-use-child-swap-or-rider-switch-at-walt-disney-world/ ...sounds better for your situation but not perfect.

Edit: From more research, it looks like most bloggers say 1 adult and two kids can use a rider swap. But, the "official" rule from the first link appears to be just 1 adult and 1 kid, so it sounds like there's no guarantees.

 

[Imagineer5]

It's up to 3 people with 1 switch pass. In your case, you could have 1 parent and the 3 kids enter the stand by line (or FP line if you have a FP for it), show parent 2 & 1 year old, and obtain a rider switch. Those 4 ride right away. Then 2nd time through, Parent 2 plus 2 kids can ride.

I've never tried bringing more than 3 people through with 1 pass, but maybe a CM would be lenient but I wouldn't bet on it. The older kids will just have to take turns on who gets to ride a 2nd time.

 

[NikkiC0509]

It's up to 3 people with 1 switch pass. In your case, you could have 1 parent and the 3 kids enter the stand by line (or FP line if you have a FP for it), show parent 2 & 1 year old, and obtain a rider switch. Those 4 ride right away. Then 2nd time through, Parent 2 plus 2 kids can ride.

I've never tried bringing more than 3 people through with 1 pass, but maybe a CM would be lenient but I wouldn't bet on it. The older kids will just have to take turns on who gets to ride a 2nd time.

That's what I was thinking. I know all 3 of them won't want to ride certain rides twice so they may have to decide amongst themselves who gets to do what twice. And we are staying long enough that they could end up all doing them twice throughout the trip. I guess I was hoping maybe someone has experienced this before. I've never gone with 4 kids (2 are mine, one is a step daughter and now our new baby) and it's stressing me out a bit lol.

 

[NikkiC0509]

According to this official Disney site about rider swap: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

"If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one other Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note that only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass."

So this makes it sound like no, that's not possible. Only one kid can come back through with rider swap. That being said, I can't tell you if this is a rule they strictly follow or not

Kenny the Pirate says (from 2015) that a rider switch pass can work for up to three people. http://www.kennythepirate.com/2015/01/05/how-to-use-child-swap-or-rider-switch-at-walt-disney-world/ ...sounds better for your situation but not perfect.

Edit: From more research, it looks like most bloggers say 1 adult and two kids can use a rider swap. But, the "official" rule from the first link appears to be just 1 adult and 1 kid, so it sounds like there's no guarantees.

I've read both of those but thank you! I was just hoping someone would have more insight. I think I'm just over thinking it.

 

[Alesia]

The website is just flat wrong (which is not an uncommon occurrence.)

Only 3 people can go through the line with a rider switch pass. You're not going to get an exception.

 

[Dis703]

Every time we've used Rider Switch, the pass they have given me has indicated only a total of 3 people can use it. I suppose it's possible that a CM or two may let it slide and allow an additional guest to ride, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[NikkiC0509]

The website is just flat wrong (which is not an uncommon occurrence.)

Only 3 people can go through the line with a rider switch pass. You're not going to get an exception.

Was never asking for an exception. I know only 2 people can go. Wanted to hear other large families experiences.

 

[Pemeberly]

The website is just flat wrong

But that's SO unlike them!

 

[HopperFan]

I would be prepared for "3" to go the second time with a plan. Make a list of the rides this will happen on, then talk to the kids and have them figure out which one they will sit out on the second ride. If they end up letting all of them back, then it will be nice pixie dust.

 

[Madzac]

I also have 4 kids. When we went as a family of 5 rider swap was awesome! Older two kids got to go twice! Now it's much harder as family of 6!

What we did...if there was a ride everyone wanted to do twice no one did... I go with two of the kids and kid #3 waits with dad and little one. Then dad and kid #3 go. Everyone goes once. Has saved some fights

Looking forward to the next trip where everyone is tall enough for everything!!!

 

[Tarzan]

If it's a ride that you are using FP+ to enter, make sure to get one for parent 2 too.
When parent 1 finishes the ride, parent 2 can enter with FP+ and the 3 children can use the rider switch.

 

[ateam79828592]

We have 4 kids (3 that can ride everything and 1 that is too small). We USUALLY do FP+ for parent 1 & 3 kids. Then rider swap right away for using the FP+ for parent 2 and rider swap for 3 kids. If for some reason we aren't able to ride again right then or rode stand by (e.g. don't have a FP+ for the 4th person), we have asked the CM at the FP+ if we could get 4 people (1 parent + 3 kids) in with the rider swaps and we have been told yes several times.

 

[megster1123]

I just now thought of this scenerio and want to make sure I understand correctly - I think it'll actually be my husband that won't be riding. Can I rider switch and be the adult both times? He's really not into coasters of any kind so I'll probably be the one riding with the kids.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I just now thought of this scenerio and want to make sure I understand correctly - I think it'll actually be my husband that won't be riding. Can I rider switch and be the adult both times? He's really not into coasters of any kind so I'll probably be the one riding with the kids.

Yes

 

[Mainemama]

We have had to deal with his at DL, where rider swap commonly only allows 1 child and the adult. We take turns. We discuss who wants what ride twice and have typically been able to negotiate. Sometimes a Popsicle or other snack beats the second ride anyway! The FP suggestion is also really good!

 

[Kathryn777]

I just now thought of this scenerio and want to make sure I understand correctly - I think it'll actually be my husband that won't be riding. Can I rider switch and be the adult both times? He's really not into coasters of any kind so I'll probably be the one riding with the kids.

We do that ALL the time. I'm not a coaster fan.


If you get fp for all of you, you can do it.

1 parent fp, 3 kids fp. Get a rider swap
2nd parent fp, 3 kids on rider swap. It just says three guests.