Sorry...need rider switch/FP+ help!

[jaz0308]

I just need to clarify if I understand this process. Party will be myself DH, DS6 and DD4. DD will be too short (and scared) to ride some rides. Do I understand that DH and DS can FP+ a ride (such as SDMT) and I can receive a rider switch pass to ride with DS later even if I haven't reserved a FP+ for myself? This is the way I seem to understand it but honestly, it seems unfair that I don't have to have a FP too! Although, I'm happy if that's the case b/c then i can take DD on Dumbo while they ride SDMT and still get to enjoy it myself after! Thanks for clearing my overloaded brain!

 

[DavidNYC]

Exactly correct. Touring with little kids adds enough additional time to your day so enjoy the benefit! You can use your FP for a 2nd ride the little one can't ride and get a switch for that too (although your other child won't be able to do that 2nd one twice since he won't have a FP for that and will only be able to use the swap pass).

 

[jaz0308]

Exactly correct. Touring with little kids adds enough additional time to your day so enjoy the benefit! You can use your FP for a 2nd ride the little one can't ride and get a switch for that too (although your other child won't be able to do that 2nd one twice since he won't have a FP for that and will only be able to use the swap pass).

Very cool...thanks (from a fellow New Yorker!)

 

[DisneyWisher]

Here's what I did when booking rides that we needed rider switch passes for...it was me (gma) DD, DSIL and DGD1 I booked FPs as
Space Mountain DD and me
Splash Mountain DD & DSIL
Big Thunder DSIL & me we still had 1 FP each left to book. I booked Speedway, I didn't actually ride, someone had to take photos.

 

[doconeill]

Alas, there are still CMs that seem to make you have to have FP+ for everyone:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=51508381

 

[jaz0308]

Alas, there are still CMs that seem to make you have to have FP+ for everyone:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=51508381

Hmmm...so this changes things some. Not sure if I'll just chance it and hope for the best or make all FP+ the same and change them as necessary. I have 17 days to decide!

 

[ajh88]

I just need to clarify if I understand this process. Party will be myself DH, DS6 and DD4. DD will be too short (and scared) to ride some rides. Do I understand that DH and DS can FP+ a ride (such as SDMT) and I can receive a rider switch pass to ride with DS later even if I haven't reserved a FP+ for myself? This is the way I seem to understand it but honestly, it seems unfair that I don't have to have a FP too! Although, I'm happy if that's the case b/c then i can take DD on Dumbo while they ride SDMT and still get to enjoy it myself after! Thanks for clearing my overloaded brain!

In our recent experience, yes this is correct. The 2nd rider does not need a FP to ride. My thought process was because it is not required to have a FP to ride in the first place - you can use rider swap in stand by lines. When the 2nd rider returns, they have no idea if the swap pass was obtained via FP or stand by line. I thought it was interesting the expiration date was like a week out, so you didn't even have to use it right away or the same day.

We always had FP reservations even with the swap, but at Test Track it took DH and DD over 30 minutes and my return window had expired on my FP, so I was thankful it was not a requirement to use rider swap!

In hindsight, I suppose we could have used it to get a couple more rides in, by scheduling separate windows or whatever, but it didn't seem worth trying to keep track of it all for one extra turn on Test Track (DD doesn't do coasters).

ETA: the swap passes stated they were good for up to 3 additional guests and there is no language to indicate a FP is required. Perhaps it is a training issue with some CM's if they are requiring all parties to have a FP.

 

[doconeill]

In our recent experience, yes this is correct. The 2nd rider does not need a FP to ride. My thought process was because it is not required to have a FP to ride in the first place - you can use rider swap in stand by lines. When the 2nd rider returns, they have no idea if the swap pass was obtained via FP or stand by line. I thought it was interesting the expiration date was like a week out, so you didn't even have to use it right away or the same day.

We always had FP reservations even with the swap, but at Test Track it took DH and DD over 30 minutes and my return window had expired on my FP, so I was thankful it was not a requirement to use rider swap!

In hindsight, I suppose we could have used it to get a couple more rides in, by scheduling separate windows or whatever, but it didn't seem worth trying to keep track of it all for one extra turn on Test Track (DD doesn't do coasters).

ETA: the swap passes stated they were good for up to 3 additional guests and there is no language to indicate a FP is required. Perhaps it is a training issue with some CM's if they are requiring all parties to have a FP.

The Rider Switch pass has no language about requiring FP because FP is not required to utilize it in general. The question comes up with regards to the first set of riders using FP/FP+ while the party only partially has booked FP+. It can give a significant advantage to guests with a child, and Disney tries not to give advantages as much as minimize disadvantages.

However, as I stated - there is no actual policy on this at this time, and never has been.

 

[alicat8]

I wonder if they'll figure out some sort of policy soon. I need to book FP in a few weeks and this will have a huge impact on how I plan!! I don't want to get stuck and have half of us not be able to ride because their FPs were booked for something else.

 

[doconeill]

I wonder if they'll figure out some sort of policy soon. I need to book FP in a few weeks and this will have a huge impact on how I plan!! I don't want to get stuck and have half of us not be able to ride because their FPs were booked for something else.

I doubt there will be any changes soon, if ever. It's been this way for years...and occasionally someone reports an issue. It's rare, but it happens.

 

[alicat8]

I doubt there will be any changes soon, if ever. It's been this way for years...and occasionally someone reports an issue. It's rare, but it happens.

Yeah that's kinda what I figured. I've never used rider swap. I have this unreasonable fear of "breaking the rules" so even if there is no policy, I'll have some anxiety every time we try to use it!!

 

[ajh88]

Yeah that's kinda what I figured. I've never used rider swap. I have this unreasonable fear of "breaking the rules" so even if there is no policy, I'll have some anxiety every time we try to use it!!

I understand, I get the same way. That is why I always had FP booked for everyone, just in case, but then we ended up wasting a couple of them because they didn't ask for them. We had never used it before this trip either and I didn't want to make plans that would be foiled. Turns out it would not have been a problem for Star Tours or Test Track on this trip.