What is child-swap and how does it work?

[moppy]

I keep reading bits about child swap for rides...We are going to Disney in September with our two kids, 2 & 3...sounds like something we could use...any info. would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[WDSearcher]

It's pretty simple. When you get to the front of the line with your child, you let the attractions CM know that you want to do the "child swap" with your spouse or traveling companion or whoever you're with. You will get on the ride while your partner takes the child and waits in an area near the boarding platform. After you ride, then you get off the ride, go take the child from your partner, and then your partner gets on the ride (without having to go through the line again).

All rides or attractions that have a height requirement will allow you to "child swap" at boarding.

 

[mommystieg]

You need to tell the first CM you see that you need to do a child swap. They give you what is essentially a fastpass and it works something like this: When you walk up to the attraction there is usually a CM there measuring kids for the height restriction--we tell them that we need to do a child swap. DH waits in line and rides with DD#1 then when they get off he hands me the pass and DD#1 and I return to the CM at the FastPass entrance and we ride. The first year we visited WDW, the CM at the entrance to BTMRR must not have understood because when we got to the loading area the CM's there were vry concerned that our youngest child (who was too small to ride) had made it to the loading area.

 

[beattyfamily]

Are they all handled with a Fastpass voucher now? I remember Test Track and a couple of others where you meet at the Exit??

I know RnR gives out Fastpass vouchers but was wondering about others like ToT, Mission Space, Test Track, Splash/Space Mountain etc...

 

[dis4fun]

We haven't used it in a couple of trips because our youngest can and does ride everything now We while we were using it, we found that the swap does not work the same on all the rides. The best bet is to ask the first castmember you see for instructions.

One good benefit is if you have older children that ride, they can ride again with the other parent/ridepartner. My older boys loved this! We didn't know about this until it was suggested by a castmember and from then on, they were allowed to ride twice. They were not so happy when DD was finally tall enough to ride everything with us. That cut out their automatic 2nd ride.

 

[HoosierFantasia]

We used this a lot in June. SM, BTMRR, SM, ToT. They all do the the fastpass when you enter the line. It actually worked really well this way. I would get in line with my 4 yo DD and tell the CM that we need a baby swap pass. He would give me a child swap fastpass that is good for up to 3 guests to return whenever you want. When we got off the ride my wife and DD could then go ride it. If wife didnt want to DD and I would save it and use it later in the day to ride again.

I know I am going to get flamed for this, go ahead I can take it, but you can abuse the system by telling the CM you need a child swap, he gives you a child swap fastpass you wait in line a little bit and then hop into the fastpass line. If you werent planning on using the child swap for its intended purpose. It's unethical, but easily done and can save lots of time. I am sure before too long they will ask to see the baby and make sure you qualify for a pass, but they never did to us.

Bill

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by HoosierFantasia
I know I am going to get flamed for this, go ahead I can take it, but you can abuse the system by telling the CM you need a child swap, he gives you a child swap fastpass you wait in line a little bit and then hop into the fastpass line. If you werent planning on using the child swap for its intended purpose. It's unethical, but easily done and can save lots of time. I am sure before too long they will ask to see the baby and make sure you qualify for a pass, but they never did to us.

Bill

They absolutelly asked us to see our child at ToT. I hope they catch on to this abuse at all rides and nip it in the bud!