Rider Switch With Big Kid

[hultrain]

My daughter is 9 and plenty tall enough for pretty much all the rides at DLR but she’s a big chicken and will only ride the most sedate of attractions. Can we use rider switch with her even though she’s tall enough to go on the ride?

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I think if you tell the CM, they will be accomodating..

 

[Disney_Alli]

Be prepared that they might not let you. Disney says 7 is old enough to ride and wait alone so they might suggest waiting in line together and then your daughter uses the chicken exit and waits for you to ride. I hope it works for you though

 

[mouschievous]

Be prepared that they might not let you. Disney says 7 is old enough to ride and wait alone so they might suggest waiting in line together and then your daughter uses the chicken exit and waits for you to ride. I hope it works for you though

We did the wait in line then opt out with my 11 year old nephew. Obviously he is 2 years older, but it worked out really well. The CMs kept an eye on him and we were only ever gone for 5 minutes or so.

 

[figment_jii]

My situation was a little different at GotG (the child was about 5 at the time, so not old enough to be left alone), but the CM had one of ride and the other waited off to the side with the child. When the first person was done, the first person and child exited the ride, while the second person rode. We did ask about getting a rider swap at the entrance (he wasn't really keen on riding to begin with and we were 95% sure he would not want to ride it when we got to the front of the line), but the CM said that we could swap at the ride point because he was tall enough to enter the queue (so essentially, they would not issue a child swap for a child that was tall enough to ride).

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I would not be comfortable leaving my “tall enough to ride” child alone while we rode, no matter for how long. Luckily, ability to ride is not the only factor, at least not according to Disney. If anyone has an issue simply show the CM Disney’s own policy:

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/rider-switch/

 

[katyringo]

When we did rider switch this last trip in July, they didn’t even need us all there. It was very chill and a just a “hey we need rider switch, scan, done”

 

[Mamabun]

I have been to both WDW and DL several times with big kids who did not want to ride - we have occasionally been issued a rider swap (more frequently with big kid who had a an obvious disability), but the typical process has been to all enter the line, then swap at the boarding point. We have never been asked to leave the kid alone, always one of the adults waits with the kid and then immediately rides when another adult has finished their ride. Sometimes an older kid who rode with first adult is allowed to re-ride (like with rider swap), sometimes they don't offer that.

I have seen people try showing CM's the online policy on their phone or even printed out, but I have never seen that make a CM change their mind - I've always assumed they must have strict guidelines from their supervisors that they need to adhere to on this.

 

[hultrain]

There is no way my 9 year old is going to be ok waiting with a CM, nor would we feel comfortable doing that. Annoying that they don't follow their own online guidance. Guess we will have to ask and hope for the best.

 

[coldbeaver]

I see that doesn’t mention fast past as other members here have talked about. That’s good news for me. Looks like I can let the CM know and wait in line and let the wife have the kiddo when she’s done and ride without issues