Tips - In the Theme Parks

[kaanay]

For parents with kids too small to ride an attraction: Use the "baby swap" (which is really an "adult swap".) First, parents and kid(s) all line-up together; Parent A rides first with any older kids, while Parent B stays to one side with baby or under-height kids. Once the ride is over the parents change places, and again one parent rides while the other one waits.

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

This isn't exactly how a child swap works...and this would not be possible for those rides that do not depart/enter and arrive/exit from the same place (think Rock N Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest).
You approach the CM and advise them of the child swap, they give you a ticket similar to a fast pass - that's how you avoid waiting in the stand-by line for the child swap.
Excellent tip though! We did not know about this when we went on our first trip.

 

[sdarl]

Thanks so much for that tip! We're thinking of going, and I was a bit scared based on how complicated it was the last time I went with little kids (niece and nephew.)

 

[loriandmatt]

and to add on to the kid swap tip.....

if the ride/attraction is one where you want/need to utilize fast pass, be sure to get a fast pass for each ticketed person in your group (obviously you can't get one for a kid under the age where you don't need a ticket to get into the park). when your fast pass time window arrives go to the fast pass entrance line with everyone in your party and your fastpasses. they will collect the fastpasses for the group and then give you your child swap pass.

also - note that this is sometimes a problem with Soarin. you can't take a stroller in that building, so you have to take the baby out of the stroller, go in and collect the fastpasses for everyone, then take them out again if you leave and return at your fast pass time. bummer, but you can deal with it if you know about it up front.