SDMT: CM measured child before giving rider switch

[mom2rtk]

See, I'd even be willing to go so far as to say up to 14 would be acceptable, since Disney states that children under 14 cannot be in the parks without an adult. Oh, and I would of course also allow parents of children and adults who have a mental disability making it unsafe for them to be left unattended to also take advantage of rider swap.

How are they going to keep those older kids who presented as not wanting to ride, from actually riding with the group when they return on the RS pass later?


There really is just too much room for abuse.


At least with a "too short" kid, they can't get on later. The height restriction will prevent it. But they need to fix the policy statement on their website and enforce it consistently.

 

[asmit4]

And RS only works on height restricted rides not just any ride.

People have said that the system allows for 'kids who don't want to ride'....so that would include a lot more than just height issues.

Look- if you have an FP...USE it. If dad doesn't want to wait in line either- then he can use his FP too. IF a child who is 6 is too scared to ride a ride -then he can use his FP for something else and mom can ride with him by booking the same FP.

This idea that 1/2 the family can book an FP and then get a 'free' FP for the other 1/2 simply because they have a 1yo in tow is RIDICULOUS. Everyone should use their FPs, then get in line with everyone else and get a rider swap AFTER waiting IN LINE like the rest of us.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Agreed. We don't use RS but if I did, you'd bet that I'd walk around with a printed version of that, and make an issue of it. That's ridiculous that they're going to measure a child in a stroller. I mean, I can see if I'm walking up with a teenager on a new ride, but even still, their written policy as it stands now says if you don't want to ride, you can use RS.

They need to change it if that's what they're gonna do.

Given all the people who consider using - or actually use - strollers for their six, seven, eight, etc., year olds, measuring children in strollers makes absolute sense.

 

[kaytieeldr]

See, I'd even be willing to go so far as to say up to 14 would be acceptable, since Disney states that children under 14 cannot be in the parks without an adult. Oh, and I would of course also allow parents of children and adults who have a mental disability making it unsafe for them to be left unattended to also take advantage of rider swap.

Misconception. You need to be at least fourteen to enter a park alone, but since anyone seven and older can ride alone, swapping shouldn't be allowed even at this lower age.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So the old folks that were selling access to their GACs for years were fine, and just following policies?

It wasn't old folks.

 

[bean]

Last month the CM at Everest wanted to measure my 3 year old 38 inch tall child before we were given a rider swap. I think he was new and overzealous though because the other CMs were kind of laughing at him It was pretty funny when he stood under the height bar.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

To the person complaining that RS should only entitle ONE person to ride the second time around - should one parent really have to miss seeing their kids on a ride?
And to the parents who have used this and say that doing it any way but their way is abusing the system - you seem to all have something in common. One kid. So each parent would be riding alone anyhow. Imagine I told you that you and your spouse had to choose who would go on each ride with your child. You would get annoyed because it is a family vacation, of course both of you should see your child enjoying Disney. Parents of more than one kid feel the same way.

It is absolutely absurd that people are so heated about this topic. I have worked at Disney, done Disney as an adult without children, and have done Disney with children. Even when I was a 19 year old travelling to Disney alone with friends, there was no point that I looked at a family with crying, annoyed kids whose parents were using rider swap and thought, "Gosh I wish I was that parent so I could get extra FP!"

I'm not sure I understand the bolded part. If we ride on Splash Mountain, my husband and I have to decide who will be riding with our child. Same for Thunder Mountain, Barnstormer, and even Dumbo. We don't both ride with her.

How are they going to keep those older kids who presented as not wanting to ride, from actually riding with the group when they return on the RS pass later?


There really is just too much room for abuse.


At least with a "too short" kid, they can't get on later. The height restriction will prevent it. But they need to fix the policy statement on their website and enforce it consistently.

I agree that the height thing is the best way to make sure that no one is cheating the system. However, people seem to be pretty opinionated that kids who are too scared to ride should be eligible for RS. If this is going to be the case, I would say that the cutoff age should be 8 or 14.

 

[rastuso]

I was under the impression that you had to wait in the SB line and only THEN could you get a swap pass.....Hmmm....this changes things up a lot. So what you are saying is....say I have 5yo and a 1 yo. The 5yo is adventurous....so he rides everything and is 40 inches. My 5yo son and I pick the same FPs, my husband picks 3 other FPs....for a total of 6 FP rides....then we walk to each ride-rotate the family, and now we have 6 FPs for the entire family?......all because our 1yo is too short to ride.

I think people using FPs shouldn't be able to use rider swap. Wait in the regular line THEN you get the rider swap- and the 2nd group gets FP status. I was thinking about this entirely wrong. Now I am seeing it from your side of things.

FINALLY you get it. And since the swap pass is good for 3 people, you can get 9 FPs, if your family is the right size, or you go with another family. It only takes one 1 year old in a group to REALLY get a lot of FP+s.

-Jason

 

[Iowajes]

However, people seem to be pretty opinionated that kids who are too scared to ride should be eligible for RS.

Only because Disney says they are in their public information.

I think a lot of people wouldn't argue so strongly if Disney didn't state this as policy.

 

[FLchick415]

I have no dog in this fight, as I don't have children, but I DO have a question...

For those that think this is unfair to others, would you feel it was unfair if YOU were the one getting the advantage?

I'm not trying to be sarcastic, it's an honest question.

 

[delmar411]

See, I'd even be willing to go so far as to say up to 14 would be acceptable, since Disney states that children under 14 cannot be in the parks without an adult. Oh, and I would of course also allow parents of children and adults who have a mental disability making it unsafe for them to be left unattended to also take advantage of rider swap.

Actually it is 7 to ride alone so 7-8 could be the cut off although most parents these days would stroke over leaving their 7yr old unattended. We have been offer rider swap for my 5ft tall 9yr old DS at TOT lots of times when he and I walk the line with the other kids and then exit. But we don't ride it so no need for the swap, we just choose to walk the line sometimes. I did ask once and as long as he is under age 14, the guy would have given us the swap pass. So maybe 14 is the cut off unless there are other issues?

 

[delmar411]

People have said that the system allows for 'kids who don't want to ride'....so that would include a lot more than just height issues.

Look- if you have an FP...USE it. If dad doesn't want to wait in line either- then he can use his FP too. IF a child who is 6 is too scared to ride a ride -then he can use his FP for something else and mom can ride with him by booking the same FP.

This idea that 1/2 the family can book an FP and then get a 'free' FP for the other 1/2 simply because they have a 1yo in tow is RIDICULOUS. Everyone should use their FPs, then get in line with everyone else and get a rider swap AFTER waiting IN LINE like the rest of us.

They have no swap passes at rides other than height restricted rides. So no way to swap out if your kiddo is scared of HM or PP or whatnot.

 

[rastuso]

Every person on this thread that LIKES the advantage, is defending it as their right, and feel that they deserve it. I haven't heard ANYONE say they are doing it because they can, and they realize it is abusing the system.

There is a HUGE difference between people saying "yeah, it's unfair, but Disney allows us to do it", and "I have a small child, so I deserve the extra FP+s".

Would I use this when I go to WDW this Fall with my friend who has a child that is too afraid to ride a lot of stuff, so essentially we could abuse the hell out of this policy? No, I wouldn't.

I used to easily get 8 or 9 FP- a day, and use them well after the return time. But EVERYONE could do that.

This is something that only a small group of, apparently very entitled, parents can do. And using one FP+ to get up to 4 people FP+ rides is some pretty serious abuse, and you KNOW you are abusing it, and that you can only do it because you have a small/scared child.

Honestly, I would be afraid to schedule a trip in advance, assuming I could abuse the system like this, because I really can't see it continuing with FP+.

A group of up to 5 people, with one small child, can quadruple their FP+, if they want to. This is a MUCH more serious issue than the "changing a used FP+ before the system updates" abuse that was quickly stopped by Disney. Now that this is on the DIS, and the cat is out of the bag, I would think Disney will stop it somehow.

-Jason

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I have no dog in this fight, as I don't have children, but I DO have a question...

For those that think this is unfair to others, would you feel it was unfair if YOU were the one getting the advantage?

I'm not trying to be sarcastic, it's an honest question.

I have the ability to get this advantage, but I don't. I understand that it is Disney's rule so no one is technically breaking the rule. However, I think it is a bad rule. And, yes, I do think it is giving an unfair advantage to those with smaller children as they can now select 2 Tier 1 fast passes and 4 Tier 2 passes.

 

[FLchick415]

Fair enough.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Actually it is 7 to ride alone so 7-8 could be the cut off although most parents these days would stroke over leaving their 7yr old unattended. We have been offer rider swap for my 5ft tall 9yr old DS at TOT lots of times when he and I walk the line with the other kids and then exit. But we don't ride it so no need for the swap, we just choose to walk the line sometimes. I did ask once and as long as he is under age 14, the guy would have given us the swap pass. So maybe 14 is the cut off unless there are other issues?

Thanks for the correction. And I'd walk the Tower of Terror line, too. I mean, I love to ride it, but if my daughter decided she didn't want to, I'd still want to go through the line. It's pretty neat. And I guess that maybe 14 is the cutoff. I don't really know. I can see why they would make this rule. As I said, I feel that it should really be just for children who are too short to ride, but Disney didn't ask me my opinion. If it is going to be for kids who are also too scared, I do think that there needs to be a cutoff age and since you can be alone in the parks at 14 (or enter the parks or whatever), it seems that would be the age that makes the most sense to me.

 

[delmar411]

Every person on this thread that LIKES the advantage, is defending it as their right, and feel that they deserve it. I haven't heard ANYONE say they are doing it because they can, and they realize it is abusing the system.

There is a HUGE difference between people saying "yeah, it's unfair, but Disney allows us to do it", and "I have a small child, so I deserve the extra FP+s".

Would I use this when I go to WDW this Fall with my friend who has a child that is too afraid to ride a lot of stuff, so essentially we could abuse the hell out of this policy? No, I wouldn't.

I used to easily get 8 or 9 FP- a day, and use them well after the return time. But EVERYONE could do that.

This is something that only a small group of, apparently very entitled, parents can do. And using one FP+ to get up to 4 people FP+ rides is some pretty serious abuse, and you KNOW you are abusing it, and that you can only do it because you have a small/scared child.

Honestly, I would be afraid to schedule a trip in advance, assuming I could abuse the system like this, because I really can't see it continuing with FP+.

A group of up to 5 people, with one small child, can quadruple their FP+, if they want to. This is a MUCH more serious issue than the "changing a used FP+ before the system updates" abuse that was quickly stopped by Disney. Now that this is on the DIS, and the cat is out of the bag, I would think Disney will stop it somehow.

-Jason

This policy was the same under paper FP so since it hasn't changed in a decade or more and disney had the opportunity to make a change with the introduction of FP+ but didn't, likely means that it is only an issue to unhappy Disers. And Disney being a family operation is going under the same assumption that most of the parents here are....that parents and kids should be able to both choose rides that they like and the family shouldn't be penalized for having a too short child in the group. Because it is either the advantage you claim it to be or else it is a penalty. There is no level playing field. And who do you think disney wants to make happy? NFL should be a big hint...

I don't think it is abuse and I haven't had a too short child for at least 3 yrs.

It really seems like you are just mad about your personal reduction in FPs. But if you tour smartly, you should be able to get a bunch of FP+ anyway.

 

[mom2rtk]

It really seems like you are just mad about your personal reduction in FPs. But if you tour smartly, you should be able to get a bunch of FP+ anyway.

Yes, you can get a bunch of FPs now. They just might not be for the rides you want.

And FWIW, I would be using the RS to its full advantage as long as Disney allowed it (if I had a little one). But I honestly don't get why Disney doesn't require the people returning with the RS pass to use a FP entitlement when they enter the line. Makes no sense to me.

I just like for things to make sense. And this makes no sense to me.

 

[asmit4]

I have no dog in this fight, as I don't have children, but I DO have a question...

For those that think this is unfair to others, would you feel it was unfair if YOU were the one getting the advantage?

I'm not trying to be sarcastic, it's an honest question.

I AM the one getting the advantage....I have a 2yo....and we won't be touring this way.

 

[Gru]

We have used rider swap many times. It was a huge advantage to us before FP+, and now, especially with tiering, I can see how it would be an even bigger advantage.

To the people who are complaining that is not fun to entertain a two year old while everyone else gets to ride, and they would gladly give up their rider swap if you could all just ride together - that is ridiculous! There are tons of things to do to easily entertain a young child - playgrounds located near the bigger attractions, Mickey Bars, animals to watch etc. The justification that it is not a real advantage because of the time you waste having to go through the line twice is ridiculous too! The best part about RS is that you don't have to use it right then! Re-ride later when the younger one is napping in the stroller or when the lines everywhere else are crazy long!

We loved RS and did use it to our full advantage. Now that my DD7 is too tall we will not be using it. She along with my DS13 are too scared to ride EE, SM and RnR. So guess what? I am not RS these rides, we will find something else to entertain us while DH, DS16 and DS11 ride those.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleepy425 View Post
To the person complaining that RS should only entitle ONE person to ride the second time around - should one parent really have to miss seeing their kids on a ride?
And to the parents who have used this and say that doing it any way but their way is abusing the system - you seem to all have something in common. One kid. So each parent would be riding alone anyhow. Imagine I told you that you and your spouse had to choose who would go on each ride with your child. You would get annoyed because it is a family vacation, of course both of you should see your child enjoying Disney. Parents of more than one kid feel the same way.



We would love to stay together on our family vacation! Unfortunately FP+ is forcing families to split up. My DD7 and I are using a FP+ to see A&E, while my DH, DS16 and DS11 are going on SM. My poor DS13 has to use one of his precious FP+ to see A&E with me, because he hates SM and does not feel comfortable going on a ride alone. I feel he should get some type of rider swap!