Rider Switch

[doctornick]

We will be travelling with a 2 year old to DLR later this year and plan to use Rider Switch on the rides he can't ride. I have a couple of questions regarding this so we can plan ahead:

1. When the person uses the Rider Switch pass, how many people can ride with it? I think it is the swapping person + 2 others, but was not certain.

2. Can you use the pass on a different day (i.e. the following day) or does it have to be used the same day? Is there some sort of date on it?

3. Will they provide Rider Swap tickets if the original riding party is utilizing Fastpass to get on? I've seen mixed information about this, so wanted to see what the current policy is.

Thanks in advance?

 

[Jacie]

1- It's 3 people per pass
2- They are marked with a date and must be used same day
3- Yeah, you can get in the Fast Pass line and ask for Rider Swap. We weren't told differently a single time we did it last week.

One thing to be wary of: Some cast members will ask to see the child you need the swap for. We rode Space Mountain twice and then third time they wanted to see my son and threw a big stink about it. We hadn't taken him up the first two times (he screams when we get close, lol) but they wanted to see him that third time. So just be prepared. That was the only ride we swapped on that they asked to see him. (We swapped on SM, TOT, CA Screamin, BTMRR, and IJ.)

 

[optstud]

We will be travelling with a 2 year old to DLR later this year and plan to use Rider Switch on the rides he can't ride. I have a couple of questions regarding this so we can plan ahead:

1. When the person uses the Rider Switch pass, how many people can ride with it? I think it is the swapping person + 2 others, but was not certain.
3 max

2. Can you use the pass on a different day (i.e. the following day) or does it have to be used the same day? Is there some sort of date on it?

Same day only. Date is handwritten on.

3. Will they provide Rider Swap tickets if the original riding party is utilizing Fastpass to get on? I've seen mixed information about this, so wanted to see what the current policy is.

Yes

We were there last week.
Thanks in advance?

 

[figment_jii]

I second the caveat mentioned by Jacie. I've had mixed results, but it seemed like the more popular attractions (e.g., RSR, Space) wanted to see the child before they would issue the Rider Swap card.

 

[Epek]

So weird how different experiences and CMs can be! I have never once been asked to produce the non riding child.

 

[figment_jii]

I think this is like fair number of things at DLR that does vary by how strictly a CM wants to enforce the rules. I do wish Disney was more consistent with enforcement of their policies so that guests can know what to expect and plan accordingly.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I was always asked to see the child in 2014.

 

[disneymum58]

I have found that they will not issue a rider switch pass, if the child is tall enough, just too scared to ride. Even if they are too young to be left alone I still don't understand why a Rider Switch pass couldn't be used in this case?
They want to see the child so they know that the child actually exists and you're not trying this as a way to get on the ride faster.

 

[agamble]

So weird how different experiences and CMs can be! I have never once been asked to produce the non riding child.

The policy is that the non rider is supposed to be present. Some CM won't ask, but some will. We always bring the whole family to the ride so they see the non riders. Some rides they give the return passes out at the actual ride entrance instead of the queue entrance. This can be a pain because you have to remember to ask for it when you're about to board, Thunder Mountain is notorious for this. Always ask outside the queue though, as they have been known to switch what they're doing mid-day.

Also, we've never had an issue getting a return slip even when using FP. With the FP windows being enforced, it would be unfair for them to refuse to give them to people just because they were using FP. However, we did have an instance where we were not given a return slip because the line was not long. That can be a bit annoying if your party was planning on moving on to something and returning later. I'm sure if we'd pressed it though we would have been given the pass. Also, lines can be short and then 5 minutes later be significantly longer, so get the return pass if possible.

 

[agamble]

I have found that they will not issue a rider switch pass, if the child is tall enough, just too scared to ride. Even if they are too young to be left alone I still don't understand why a Rider Switch pass couldn't be used in this case?
They want to see the child so they know that the child actually exists and you're not trying this as a way to get on the ride faster.

If the child is too young to be left alone, I would push this. The rider doesn't even have to be a child. It can be an adult who cannot or will not ride if they cannot be left alone (ie in a wheelchair or elderly). The front line CM aren't the ones who get to make the decision. They have a policy for a reason. However, not all rides participate in rider switch. The Fantasyland rides do not offer it and neither do rides like Pirates of the Caribbean. Disneyland.com will show a list of rides that offer rider switch. Unfortunately I cannot find an official rider switch policy posted on Disneyland.com. However, this is written under Autism Cognitive disabilities:
Rider Switch
Parties with more than 2 Guests may be able to take advantage of the attraction Rider Switch program, which enables you to experience an attraction while another member of your party waits with the Guest who does not ride. You then “swap” to enable the other party member to enjoy the attraction without having to wait in line again.
For further information on how to use this service, please speak with a Cast Member at each specific attraction.

I have an unused Rider Switch Pass for Grizzly River Run. It reads: This pass allows up to THREE Guests readmission to: Grizzly River Run (stamped) Date__Issued by___ Grizzly River Run (again stamped, but should be a date) Pass does not guarantee immediate boarding and must be surrendered when presented. All riders must meet boarding requirements. Valid only on date of issue. Not for sale.

 

[doctornick]

The policy is that the non rider is supposed to be present. Some CM won't ask, but some will. We always bring the whole family to the ride so they see the non riders. Some rides they give the return passes out at the actual ride entrance instead of the queue entrance. This can be a pain because you have to remember to ask for it when you're about to board, Thunder Mountain is notorious for this. Always ask outside the queue though, as they have been known to switch what they're doing mid-day.

I've always just presented the non-riding child at the ride entrance. Wouldn't have even occurred to me to not do it. If they didn't see the child, that's just inviting people to abuse the system (and we've seen from the GAC system that people have no problems being unscrupulous with such systems). Seems like presenting the child at the entrance is a pretty trivial expectation.

As for the second part, are you saying that you have to have the non-rider go through the queue with you before getting the rider swap pass? I thought they didn't allow riders who aren't tall enough even into the queue. I'm confused as to how that would even work.

 

[Jacie]

I've always just presented the non-riding child at the ride entrance. Wouldn't have even occurred to me to not do it. If they didn't see the child, that's just inviting people to abuse the system (and we've seen from the GAC system that people have no problems being unscrupulous with such systems). Seems like presenting the child at the entrance is a pretty trivial expectation.

As for the second part, are you saying that you have to have the non-rider go through the queue with you before getting the rider swap pass? I thought they didn't allow riders who aren't tall enough even into the queue. I'm confused as to how that would even work.

I've always just presented the non-riding child at the ride entrance. Wouldn't have even occurred to me to not do it. If they didn't see the child, that's just inviting people to abuse the system (and we've seen from the GAC system that people have no problems being unscrupulous with such systems). Seems like presenting the child at the entrance is a pretty trivial expectation.

As for the second part, are you saying that you have to have the non-rider go through the queue with you before getting the rider swap pass? I thought they didn't allow riders who aren't tall enough even into the queue. I'm confused as to how that would even work.

Oh, I have no problem producing my little guy. After days and days of not needing him to be there, we didn't take him to the ride. With some rides (like IJA) he was there anyway because we'd wait outside the entrance or go on the treehouse, but for Space Mountain, I don't think a lot of people actually take their kids all the way up there because you literally turn and come back down. We did have him with us for the first ride and he really screamed because he thought he was going to have to ride (Sigh. One day he will realize how fun it is) so we didn't bother taking him up again. I wish it was consistent. I definitely don't mind producing my child.

Also, my son is 45 inches tall. He is tall enough to ride most of the rides we swapped for and has been for the past year and past three visits. When they have asked to see the child, they've never mentioned how tall he is. Disney World has a page for Rider Swap on their website and it says "If a child does not meet the height requirement or a Guest does not wish to board a particular attraction, no problem!" So I would assume Disneyland would have a similar policy.

 

[agamble]

As for the second part, are you saying that you have to have the non-rider go through the queue with you before getting the rider swap pass? I thought they didn't allow riders who aren't tall enough even into the queue. I'm confused as to how that would even work.

No. You don't take them through the queue. Most of the rides you ask at the entrance and they'll give someone the pass. Some rides, like Radiator Springs, they give you a necklace and you give that to a CM closer to boarding and they hand you the swap pass. But my experience has been with Thunder Mountain that I would ask at the entrance and they'd tell me I needed to ask at boarding. It is odd. Now, I didn't ride Thunder Mountain last trip since I was pregnant, so maybe they've started using the necklaces too.

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

We loved the ease of Rider Swap last disney visit, I am hopingggggggg we have to use it less this time, and that my little guy isn't scared of EVERYTHING, but we shall see...

 

[Epek]

I have no problem bringing the non-riding child either. It totally makes sense that this is the policy. I just have never once been asked to! We've been AP holders for 2.5years and have had 30-some trips in that time.

The policy is that the non rider is supposed to be present. Some CM won't ask, but some will. We always bring the whole family to the ride so they see the non riders. Some rides they give the return passes out at the actual ride entrance instead of the queue entrance. This can be a pain because you have to remember to ask for it when you're about to board, Thunder Mountain is notorious for this. Always ask outside the queue though, as they have been known to switch what they're doing mid-day.

Also, we've never had an issue getting a return slip even when using FP. With the FP windows being enforced, it would be unfair for them to refuse to give them to people just because they were using FP. However, we did have an instance where we were not given a return slip because the line was not long. That can be a bit annoying if your party was planning on moving on to something and returning later. I'm sure if we'd pressed it though we would have been given the pass. Also, lines can be short and then 5 minutes later be significantly longer, so get the return pass if possible.

I've always just presented the non-riding child at the ride entrance. Wouldn't have even occurred to me to not do it. If they didn't see the child, that's just inviting people to abuse the system (and we've seen from the GAC system that people have no problems being unscrupulous with such systems). Seems like presenting the child at the entrance is a pretty trivial expectation.

As for the second part, are you saying that you have to have the non-rider go through the queue with you before getting the rider swap pass? I thought they didn't allow riders who aren't tall enough even into the queue. I'm confused as to how that would even work.

 

[GooniesAndy]

We've only ever had one time where they didn't require the child to be present. There were two little ones in our group who were too scared to go on BTR and so I took them to pilot the Mark Twain while the rest of the group rode, and they showed up with the gift of a pass for me. That same trip (this past November) we also had some rides where the kids had to wait in the line up until a point (can't even remember which rides).