Tower of Terror - Rider Switch

[tseitel]

It doesn't really matter where...

If it's on the internet is must be true.
(I heard that they have a guy that checks everything.)

Bonjour

 

[Robo]

Bonjour

Salut

 

[caracarn]

You do not wait in the library. It is a pass through area.

 

[cakebaker]

Sadly that's not the official Disney line.
It is just someone's interpretation posted on the go.com website.
This has been quoted many times...
and proved to be wrong in the park many times.

Why?
One big reason is because anyone could claim that they don't want to ride, then get a rider swap and 3 other guests could get "no wait" rides.

And proven to be true as well. This is not an "interpretation", it's an explanation of what rider switch is and who qualifies for it posted on their official website. I hold them to what they post as policy and up until the time we no longer needed it, never had an issue. Of course it can be abused as are many things at WDW. If they stopped offering anything that wasn't abuse proof, they'd have to close the parks down.

In all honesty, I don't ever recall reading a post from anyone who claimed they asked for a switch pass, they measured the child and were refused one. I'm sure there must be some, but I've never seen one.

 

[lizard1]

And proven to be true as well. This is not an "interpretation", it's an explanation of what rider switch is and who qualifies for it posted on their official website. I hold them to what they post as policy and up until the time we no longer needed it, never had an issue. Of course it can be abused as are many things at WDW. If they stopped offering anything that wasn't abuse proof, they'd have to close the parks down.

In all honesty, I don't ever recall reading a post from anyone who claimed they asked for a switch pass, they measured the child and were refused one. I'm sure there must be some, but I've never seen one.

From my experience (and it seems at least one other in this thread), they do allow you to do the rider switch with a too tall child, you just have to do it internally so you don't actually get a ticket. So technically I was denied a rider switch pass but still allowed to do the rider switch. One adult does wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction and does not have to wait when returning (through the elevator) to ride again, just how their "official" policy states. It may not be done in the manner you (general you) prefer, but they are still allowing a switch to take place.

 

[jkroach]

And proven to be true as well. This is not an "interpretation", it's an explanation of what rider switch is and who qualifies for it posted on their official website. I hold them to what they post as policy and up until the time we no longer needed it, never had an issue. Of course it can be abused as are many things at WDW. If they stopped offering anything that wasn't abuse proof, they'd have to close the parks down.

In all honesty, I don't ever recall reading a post from anyone who claimed they asked for a switch pass, they measured the child and were refused one. I'm sure there must be some, but I've never seen one.

It wasn't on TOT, but we were denied Rider Switch on Test Track. We didn't think our just barely 3yo DD was tall enough, but they made her get out of the stroller and she was. We decided to take her and she hated it! Luckily it meant she was also tall enough for Soarin'!

 

[cakebaker]

It wasn't on TOT, but we were denied Rider Switch on Test Track. We didn't think our just barely 3yo DD was tall enough, but they made her get out of the stroller and she was. We decided to take her and she hated it! Luckily it meant she was also tall enough for Soarin'!

In your situation, I would've taken the steps I mentioned. My grandson is tall for his age and we had a very short time we had a too tall, too young child. He was never even measured, just gave us the pass and on we went.

He's 3 and we had fully intended to get a switch for TOT and Splash but he decided he wanted to ride everything he qualified for and loved them all so it looks like our switch pass days are numbered. We have enough people in our group that don't care for the few rides he still can't ride so we don't really have a need for it anymore.

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

Sadly that's not the official Disney line.
It is just someone's interpretation posted on the go.com website.
This has been quoted many times...
and proved to be wrong in the park many times.

Why?
One big reason is because anyone could claim that they don't want to ride, then get a rider swap and 3 other guests could get "no wait" rides.

I'm confused. How is it not the Official Disney line? It is not posted on the "Mom's Panel", it's on the official Disney World Website in Guest Services. Where else can you get the Official Disney Policy?

 

[Robo]

I'm confused. How is it not the Official Disney line? It is not posted on the "Mom's Panel", it's on the official Disney World Website in Guest Services. Where else can you get the Official Disney Policy?

The info is confusing.

After spending years on this board, and at WDW, I can just tell you that what happens in the park with the CMs at the attractions does not generally follow the info as posted in that quote.

I can also tell you that many things posted on the official WDW website are simply incorrect.
Disney has a very poor record on maintaining their website.

 

[porschegrl]

From my experience (and it seems at least one other in this thread), they do allow you to do the rider switch with a too tall child, you just have to do it internally so you don't actually get a ticket. So technically I was denied a rider switch pass but still allowed to do the rider switch. One adult does wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction and does not have to wait when returning (through the elevator) to ride again, just how their "official" policy states. It may not be done in the manner you (general you) prefer, but they are still allowing a switch to take place.

I think you may have cracked it. The website can be interpreted as correct in that a switch is allowed with a tall-enough child who doesn't want to ride, but those expecting to receive a pass in such cases may be denied. Rather, the tall-enough child waits with the whole party in line, and then the switch happens at the boarding area/chicken exit/some other designated spot, right?

 

[cakebaker]

I'm confused. How is it not the Official Disney line? It is not posted on the "Mom's Panel", it's on the official Disney World Website in Guest Services. Where else can you get the Official Disney Policy?

Other than in person at the parks, I wouldn't know either. After reading here and before our recent trip I confirmed via chat that this was indeed their policy. I put much more stock in the printed policy than a chat, but it was a second source. Turns out we had no need for it this trip.

I don't care what their practice is or isn't in the parks- their policy is clearly stated in print and I expect them to follow it. If it's wrong, they should fix it. Until then....

I've also never read where someone voiced a complaint in person about it not being followed and still was denied the opportunity to use the switch. But then I never read a post about someone having an issue at all until the pp on this thread. I just don't think it happens very often and it sure didn't to us. I do read on nearly every thread that they won't do it- just not from people who actually tried it.

I'm a little surprised that anyone would be so easily accepting of Disney not following their own policies with the excuse that it's just stated incorrectly states on their website.

My suggestion is try it for yourself and see. You have nothing to lose by asking and then you can decide for yourself how to handle it.

 

[lizard1]

I think you may have cracked it. The website can be interpreted as correct in that a switch is allowed with a tall-enough child who doesn't want to ride, but those expecting to receive a pass in such cases may be denied. Rather, the tall-enough child waits with the whole party in line, and then the switch happens at the boarding area/chicken exit/some other designated spot, right?

Yep, that is correct.

I think they do what they can to keep people from abusing the system. I noticed last month at the parks that they changed the system at RNR- instead of getting a swap pass at the entrance to the ride as in the past, you now wear a lanyard and the CMs at the merge point give the swap ticket. Apparently, there were too many people coming up and getting a swap ticket and then after a few minutes the part of the party who had entered the line would leave the line and not ride.

I do think that Disney should change their policy on their website if they aren't going to follow it at every ride.

 

[porschegrl]

I don't care what their practice is or isn't in the parks- their policy is clearly stated in print and I expect them to follow it.

The website also says that anyone given a rider switch pass will wait in a designated area with the non-rider, which is very much in line with how lizard1 explained the switch works for someone who is tall enough but doesn't wish to ride.

 

[cakebaker]

The website also says that anyone given a rider switch pass will wait in a designated area with the non-rider, which is very much in line with how lizard1 explained the switch works for someone who is tall enough but doesn't wish to ride.

I agree- it's not how they did it with us, but that may have been due to my grandson being so young. I'm sure they're allowed to make allowances depending on individual circumstance.

I've read several posts where they've started handing off the pass inside the queue for everyone as well- I imagine to curb abuse but I have no problem with that either.