Some positive news on fast pass +

[moran66]

I am here now first about me I am a old fast pass runner and have been to Disney 10+ times in the last 4 years. So when they announced the new fast pass + we were not too pleased and very against the new system. It works ok and dare I even say it better if you have a child under the height restrictions. If they gave you 5 per day and allowed u to do different parks I would say it is better and I can only hope that is what Disney is working toward. I'll try to keep this part short like I said we are still here at akl on vaca. 3 is ok since our kids are tired at 3 ish anyway and need a break so we started off at ak and we did the safari fp then me and dd4 did kali river rapids got a child swap and dw and dd4 did it again while me and dd2 did a walking tour of the safari near it repeat for Everest and we are in business and that ate up a good 5 6 hrs doing that same deal for Mk so far with height req rides etc. so it works well for us but my apologies to the ppl without a small child it is a major downgrade. Oh and the child swap they gave us is also good for 5 days or so each time .

 

[mom2rtk]

I already posted on the "FP+ strategies" thread that I'm renting a baby for my next trip.

 

[ciera321]

I already posted on the "FP+ strategies" thread that I'm renting a baby for my next trip.

Can we do that right next to the stroller rental?

 

[mom2rtk]

Can we do that right next to the stroller rental?

If that means I can turn it back in at the end of every park day, I sure hope so.

 

[shanlynn1012]

I may be missing something but can you please help me understand the benefit to kids under the height restriction? ? I am traveling w a baby five and eight yr old. Thanks

 

[Angel Ariel]

I may be missing something but can you please help me understand the benefit to kids under the height restriction? ? I am traveling w a baby five and eight yr old. Thanks

If you want to ride multiple rides that the little one can't, it can help your FP+ usage. For example, if you want to ride TT and Soarin' both, one spouse can get a FP+ or Soarin' and the other a FP+ for TT.

Spouse #1 brings too-short child to Soarin' entrance, asks for a Rider Swap pass, then rides Soarin' via FP+ line.

When spouse #1 exits the attraction, Spouse #2 goes up to the FP+ entrance and turns in the RS pass and is allowed entry through the FP+ line (without having to have a FP+ for Soarin').

Spouse #2 repeats what Spouse #1 did, just at TT instead of Soarin'. Spouse #1 rides TT via the Rider Swap pass.

RS passes are good for up to 3 people (at least they were in October), so if you have one child under the height requirement, and one child over - the child who is tall enough gets to ride twice - once with each parent.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Saw the headline and was hoping the 1st post was gonna say they got rid of it.

 

[Autumnslight]

Can you still get a rider swap pass if you have a child who meets the height limit but refuses to ride the ride? We have a trip planned in June with a 7 year old and a 41" tall 3 year old who rode Test Track once, screamed in terror the whole time, and still talks about how much she hated it three months later...

 

[Angel Ariel]

Can you still get a rider swap pass if you have a child who meets the height limit but refuses to ride the ride? We have a trip planned in June with a 7 year old and a 41" tall 3 year old who rode Test Track once, screamed in terror the whole time, and still talks about how much she hated it three months later...

Generally speaking, rider swap is only for those that don't meet the height requirement. I have read posts of others who have had occasional luck with cms, but it seems to be a bit up to their discretion.

 

[DavidNYC]

Can you still get a rider swap pass if you have a child who meets the height limit but refuses to ride the ride? We have a trip planned in June with a 7 year old and a 41" tall 3 year old who rode Test Track once, screamed in terror the whole time, and still talks about how much she hated it three months later...

Mixed results. Some places on the website it says for those too short. Some places it says those who cannot or do not want to ride. Seems cast members follow both rules at random times. I wouldn't plan FP+ counting on them but you can always try it when you're there (especially if they're borderline height and young you might not get questioned. If you have 3 year old, my guess is they'll give it to you more often than not even if 41". But that's educated guess based on what I've seen and not necessarily policy.

 

[ArwenMarie]

No offense to anyone who does this, you have to do what you have to do...but why does this rule seem so wrong to me, especially since they put such strict FP+ limits in? It seems like both parents should have to have the FP+, not one. So we have tiers in Epcot but if you have a small kid, you get more?

 

[Laketravis]

I predict an entirely new and controversial topic for the DIS boards - instead of how to gain that extra inch or two in height to get your kid on the ride, it will be how to squish them down an inch or two to get a Rider Swap pass.

 

[harbin]

Anyone can rent my 3 year old for a VERY cheap price...right around 3pm nap time when the melt down starts... I'll take him back around five after he's rested... seriously this is what it is coming to LOL

 

[morethananyonex]

No offense to anyone who does this, you have to do what you have to do...but why does this rule seem so wrong to me, especially since they put such strict FP+ limits in? It seems like both parents should have to have the FP+, not one. So we have tiers in Epcot but if you have a small kid, you get more?

Considering it took us an hour to get our entire party through Soarin' (using FP+ & rider swap) because we can't ride it together, I don't really feel too guilty. In order for our entire party to do TT and Soarin with FP+ and RS to get around the tiers, it would take close to 2 hours. That is the same as waiting in standby for both of them during our last visit.

Using rider swap in conjunction with FP+ is very helpful, but having to ride twice to get your party through, especially those rides with long waits after the merge point, is a pain in the ***. I would rather tour with a family that can ride together and not be able to access the RS.

And to add, even though we could get around the tiers, we chose to ride TT single rider to minimize our waiting. Much better option than FP if you can ride separate IMO.

 

[Mad Hattered]

That's it. I am totally ripping the tag off my mattress that says it's illegal to do so. Enough with rules!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Considering it took us an hour to get our entire party through Soarin' (using FP+ & rider swap) because we can't ride it together, I don't really feel too guilty. In order for our entire party to do TT and Soarin with FP+ and RS to get around the tiers, it would take close to 2 hours. That is the same as waiting in standby for both of them during our last visit.

Using rider swap in conjunction with FP+ is very helpful, but having to ride twice to get your party through, especially those rides with long waits after the merge point, is a pain in the ***. I would rather tour with a family that can ride together and not be able to access the RS.

And to add, even though we could get around the tiers, we chose to ride TT single rider to minimize our waiting. Much better option than FP if you can ride separate IMO.

Not saying anyone should feel guilty. Hope I didn't come across that way.

That makes sense about the time to get through the ride.

 

[Angel Ariel]

No offense to anyone who does this, you have to do what you have to do...but why does this rule seem so wrong to me, especially since they put such strict FP+ limits in? It seems like both parents should have to have the FP+, not one. So we have tiers in Epcot but if you have a small kid, you get more?

You never had to have a regular fp when it was the legacy system either. The rider swap pass is the fp for the second person.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I predict an entirely new and controversial topic for the DIS boards - instead of how to gain that extra inch or two in height to get your kid on the ride, it will be how to squish them down an inch or two to get a Rider Swap pass.

I have been seriously considering doing that to my DD who is 42 inches.

To those who think it is wrong, just consider: I have one day in MK on spring break. My kids refuse to commit to riding a mountain. They want to ride Haunted Mansion at least twice because it is their favorite ride in the universe, and little DD can't ride that alone. My DH wants to ride Splash and chickened out in the past, so I have to be nice and let him, even though it is my favorite. Most of Fantasyland, Buzz, Speedway, and Jungle Cruise are must-dos, and we can't ride everything at RD and check for a 7DMT soft opening too.

We all have FP+ for Peter Pan and Jungle Cruise. DH has FP+ for Splash. The kids and I have FP+ for HM so we can guarantee one ride w/o a long wait. I will not be riding a mountain.

Who would not be tempted to drag 42 inch DD over to Splash when DH uses his FP+, explain that she is afraid to ride, and ask for a child swap pass?

 

[jennilouwho]

No offense to anyone who does this, you have to do what you have to do...but why does this rule seem so wrong to me, especially since they put such strict FP+ limits in? It seems like both parents should have to have the FP+, not one. So we have tiers in Epcot but if you have a small kid, you get more?

I wrote Disney a month ago asking if it would work this way and they encouraged me to split up the FP+, so if they are saying "go for it" I think it's fine. It does take up a lot of time for both parents to get to ride.

 

[Zeebs]

The people it benefits is the kids, well two of my three anyway. Because then they can ride with each of the parents when they go. We did it on our last trip the wee man got 2 rides for Splash and BTM.

That said I would much rather be all of the right height and all ride together, 2 inches off I am stretching her each day.

Kirsten