SDMT: CM measured child before giving rider switch

[sheila <3 WDW]

Wanted to share my experience. It was our 4th trip to Disney. Our kids are 6 and 2. We've gone when DD was 3 (twice) and then last year when they were 5 and 1. We've used rider switch quite a bit.

This trip when we asked for a rider switch for the Seven Dwarf Mine Train, the cast member made us get DS out of the stroller and check to see if he was tall enough. He wasn't. He is only about 36 inches and the height minimum is 38.

Just wanted to share. I'm not upset they made us measure him, but I was surprised.

 

[prudence64]

I think they are supposed to but most dont

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Hmmmm that's never happened to me before. I hope that's not going to be a common thing. While my 5 year old may be (almost) tall enough for a ride like Everest I think he would be terrified so we do rider switch so DS and I both get to ride.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Just checked the WDW website. It doesn't say the child must be under the height limit. It says either too small or do not want to ride. Wonder if they're changing it.


"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."

 

[TowMater92]

Rider Swap is for families with children that are to short to ride not children that don't want to ride. Where would you draw the line if it didn't matter if the were tall enough 10yo, 12yo, 18yo? The system would be abused if they let anyone that didn't want to ride get a rider swap.

 

[tjmw2727]

This has always been our experience - many trips over many years! Despite what the "official" website says we have never been able to get a rider switch pass for a child who met the height requirement.

A particular problem for us was at Soarin with a baby sleeping in a stroller when strollers are not allowed in the Land pavilion ! Yes you have to carry the sleeping child to the CM at the entrance to obtain the RS pass. All in all I don't mind if it keeps the abuse down.

Most recently my nephew was just a hair over 40 and not interested in TOT (including the queue) and we were not issued the RS pass. The CM said it was for guests who could not ride and not guests who chose not to ride.

 

[CinderElsa]

Rider Swap is for families with children that are to short to ride not children that don't want to ride. Where would you draw the line if it didn't matter if the were tall enough 10yo, 12yo, 18yo? The system would be abused if they let anyone that didn't want to ride get a rider swap.

Especially for a new attraction. It might be appropriate to be lax with the requirements in a different situation, but not at this time and with this ride.

 

[kmb584]

Rider Swap is for families with children that are to short to ride not children that don't want to ride. Where would you draw the line if it didn't matter if the were tall enough 10yo, 12yo, 18yo? The system would be abused if they let anyone that didn't want to ride get a rider swap.

Actually, that's untrue. Disney's official written policy states...

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.

CM seemingly use their own discretion as to how they're going to implement rider switch and whether or not they'll issue a switch pass because a child simply doesn't want to ride. It's an issue and one that the company needs to address. They need to base it solely on height or on height/no desire to ride, not on what a CM thinks the policy is.

 

[tjmw2727]

Actually, that's untrue. Disney's official written policy states...



CM seemingly use their own discretion as to how they're going to implement rider switch and whether or not they'll issue a switch pass because a child simply doesn't want to ride. It's an issue and one that the company needs to address. They need to base it solely on height or on height/no desire to ride, not on what a CM thinks the policy is.

Since FP started and they changed from the actual rider switch at the exit to the rider swap pass I have never ever been able to get a RS pass for a child who is tall enough to ride but doesn't want to.

...... again despite what the website says actual experience of this is rare.

 

[ckergald]

For what it's worth one of my 2 sons hates all rides. When I brought him to Toy Story Mania and asked for a rider swap so both me and my wife could take my other son on the ride we were refused a rider swap as there is no height limit on that ride.

 

[canalwen]

I'm sorry, I have been to Disney many times but never with very small children. I am going in July with my grandchildren. We know some of them are to short for some rides. But we were under the impression that we all wait in line together, then some ride while others remain in line and wait until there is an adult to stay with the kids. Is this NOT how rider swap works? If not, can someone please explain how it really works. Thanks

 

[tjmw2727]

I'm sorry, I have been to Disney many times but never with very small children. I am going in July with my grandchildren. We know some of them are to short for some rides. But we were under the impression that we all wait in line together, then some ride while others remain in line and wait until there is an adult to stay with the kids. Is this NOT how rider swap works? If not, can someone please explain how it really works. Thanks

That is the way it worked prior to FP and FP+.

Now (per our experience as recently as April) you go to the attraction and tell the CM at the line entrance that you would like to rider switch. They will ask to see the child who is not eligible to ride (ie too short!) and then give you a paper "rider switch pass". The pass is good for up to three guests at that attraction anytime that day.

The first party can then ride via the standby line or the FP line (for the FP line each person riding first needs a FP+ reservation) and the other adult can take the non rider elsewhere to have ice cream, play, ride something else or just stay at the attraction and wait.

The 2nd parent can then ride that attraction using the rider swap pass with up to 2 others (3 total) as soon as the first party is done or anytime later that day.

 

[bcalloway]

That is the way it worked prior to FP and FP+.

Now (per our experience as recently as April) you go to the attraction and tell the CM at the line entrance that you would like to rider switch. They will ask to see the child who is not eligible to ride (ie too short!) and then give you a paper "rider switch pass". The pass is good for up to three guests at that attraction anytime that day.

The first party can then ride via the standby line or the FP line (for the FP line each person riding first needs a FP+ reservation) and the other adult can take the non rider elsewhere to have ice cream, play, ride something else or just stay at the attraction and wait.

The 2nd parent can then ride that attraction using the rider swap pass with up to 2 others (3 total) as soon as the first party is done or anytime later that day.

Now I am so confused. I asked this question on another thread and was told that not all people had to have the FP. I thought it seemed like people with small kids were getting an advantage (my kid is 4 so I liked this ) but was told that it was ok.

 

[daisyx3]

Long, long ago we used this at kali river rapids because my 3 year old son and 9 year old DD wanted to ride, but my 6 year old DD refused to ride water rides. They let us do it then. Must have changed.
Daisyx3

 

[tjmw2727]

Now I am so confused. I asked this question on another thread and was told that not all people had to have the FP. I thought it seemed like people with small kids were getting an advantage (my kid is 4 so I liked this ) but was told that it was ok.

Sorry if I was unclear - only the people riding first need FP if they want to use the FP line.

So the first parent/party to ride needs a fp+ for everyone riding first if they want to use the FP line, if the first party riding is using standby then just enter that line after getting the RS pass.

The second parent/party can use the RS pass to rider later and bring along 2 others using the FP line, the RS pass works as your FP.

 

[bcalloway]

Thank you! Makes sense to me now.

 

[mare1203]

This is most likely to help with those using rider swap to game the system. It's odd that they asked to measure, though. The rule is that you have to see the kid who doesn't want to ride (though at most attractions CM's will give guests the benefit of the doubt). Usually the CM just needs to see the child who isn't riding (cuts down on people just pointing to a random area of strollers and saying that's my kid over there...you'd be surprised how many do this). There is some gray area on kids who just don't want to ride because some parents would let a 10-year-old wait at the gift shop while other parents wouldn't allow it for a 16-year-old. Even if a parent says a teen doesn't want to ride the CM should still give you the rider swap, but some will do it begrudgingly because the spirit of the rider swap is for children who can't wait by themselves. For most rides it's not something the CM's will adhere to strictly, but for a new ride like Mine Train it isn't atypical for them to be more strict for a while.

Rider switches are good for up to 3 guests to go in the FP line. Unless you have a FP+ for the first ride, then the parent riding first will wait in stand-by and the parent waiting first will then use the FP line for their rider switch. For parties of 4 or 5, your 1 or 2 additional party members can ride twice. For parties of 6 or more the rider switch is only good for up to 3 and thus not everyone else in your party could ride twice.

 

[rastuso]

This is most likely to help with those using rider swap to game the system. It's odd that they asked to measure, though. The rule is that you have to see the kid who doesn't want to ride (though at most attractions CM's will give guests the benefit of the doubt). Usually the CM just needs to see the child who isn't riding (cuts down on people just pointing to a random area of strollers and saying that's my kid over there...you'd be surprised how many do this). There is some gray area on kids who just don't want to ride because some parents would let a 10-year-old wait at the gift shop while other parents wouldn't allow it for a 16-year-old. Even if a parent says a teen doesn't want to ride the CM should still give you the rider swap, but some will do it begrudgingly because the spirit of the rider swap is for children who can't wait by themselves. For most rides it's not something the CM's will adhere to strictly, but for a new ride like Mine Train it isn't atypical for them to be more strict for a while. Rider switches are good for up to 3 guests to go in the FP line. Unless you have a FP+ for the first ride, then the parent riding first will wait in stand-by and the parent waiting first will then use the FP line for their rider switch. For parties of 4 or 5, your 1 or 2 additional party members can ride twice. For parties of 6 or more the rider switch is only good for up to 3 and thus not everyone else in your party could ride twice.

Wow, so you can abuse the crap out of this? A family of 4 can have a small child, then the parents can get different FP+, and double the amount of rides the family gets. If they didn't do this reinforcement, each child could simply choose their favorite ride, and ride it twice, while their sibling rode the other twice, and both parents ride both rides. All with essentially using only ONE FP+ for the family.

-Jason

 

[surferdave]

That makes it pretty crappy for families with kids who are afraid of some of the rides.

Whatever WDW does, they should make their published description of the rule match the practice or vice versa.

 

[cllrn]

I don't think this is just for rider swap. We were there last week (5/30) and found the CM at the 7DMT to be particularly strict and downright rude. Our family had fastpasses, but when we arrived to the attraction it was down due to a technical problem. At that time the CM at 7DMT told us we could come back anytime that day and they would honor our fastpasses. OK, great, right? Seemed simple enough. Well. when we came back to ride the CM there at that time was quite curt and said NO. I was rather ticked, as our whole family of 6 originally built our entire day around riding the mine train. It wasn't our fault it wasn't working during our fastpass window! I had even seen on my iPhone & MDX app that I had a "bonus fastpass" for up to 6 people issued to me sometime during that day (I'd NEVER seen or heard of this before-surprised to see.) I tried to tell the CM this. She made my family stand off to the side and then told me I had to bring it up on my phone and show her to prove it. My battery was running low by this time and I was trying to hurry before it died. Then she tried to argue with me about how many people it allowed--she didn't see where it read "for up to 6 people." My whole family almost lost our on our 7DMT ride even though we legitimately had fastpasses. Make sure you have your phones on and you Apps up on the screen to prove your case guys.