Where do Kids have to Stand when Child Swapping?

[Shellyb84]

I don't think this is an "official" policy, I think it's the CMs way of being nice.

This usually happens in situations where everyone intends to ride but then a child can't/won't when you reach the boarding area. (Ex. Once DS was "tall enough" at the entrance to Test Track, but "too short" at the boarding area. The CMs had DH and DS cross through the cars and wait there to do a swap after I rode with the other kids.)

This seems confusing and potentially dangerous to be a policy intended for everyone who simply doesn't want to ride.

Maybe they are just being nice. I just assumed since this is what they've done 99% of the time it was pretty standard, and their way of not giving out a bunch of return FPs for people that can, but won't ride.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

The child(ren) and the adult staying with them stay anywhere outside of the attraction queue. You go up to the queue entrance and advise the cast member you want to do a child swap. They will give a paper ticket to the adult staying with the kid(s) so that they may enter the FP line (along with up to 2 others) when it is their turn to ride. The ticket is good until at least the end of the day. The adult and kid(s) not riding are welcome to go off and do something else. They don't have to stay near the attraction.

Every paper child swap pass we got this July (and there were many over the course of 18 days) said it was good until July 31.

We never had to wait at any particular location while the first group rode. For logistics sake, the people in our party who were waiting usually did so near the ride (or at least someplace with AC nearby), since CMs often wanted to see our kids that were too small. (Some CMs didn't seem to care; usually we had to show the CMs our too small children only for the very popular rides, like FOP and 7DMT.)

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I don't think this is an "official" policy, I think it's the CMs way of being nice.

This usually happens in situations where everyone intends to ride but then a child can't/won't when you reach the boarding area. (Ex. Once DS was "tall enough" at the entrance to Test Track, but "too short" at the boarding area. The CMs had DH and DS cross through the cars and wait there to do a swap after I rode with the other kids.)

This seems confusing and potentially dangerous to be a policy intended for everyone who simply doesn't want to ride.

This July 1-18, the only time I noticed anyone waiting right by a ride loading zone was on BTMRR when a little girl completely flipped out and the CMs let her and her mom off the ride. They were allowed to wait while the dad and son rode, then the mom and son rode.

 

[Shellyb84]

This July 1-18, the only time I noticed anyone waiting right by a ride loading zone was on BTMRR when a little girl completely flipped out and the CMs let her and her mom off the ride. They were allowed to wait while the dad and son rode, then the mom and son rode.

I don't think I've ever noticed anyone waiting at a loading area.

 

[FreeTime]

I don't think I've ever noticed anyone waiting at a loading area.

We have also been able to do this at BTMR but it was years ago. They have a holding pen. I noticed it was still there in our last trip. This is the only attraction that I am aware of that has the holding area. It may be the disabled entrance area.

 

[JPKnapp]

Is it close to where you board the attraction, or is it back at the entrance of the attraction?

Check out this post I put together with a graphic explanation of rider swap. https://www.disboards.com/threads/rider-swap-graphically-explained.3606277/

To get beat use of Rider Swap, use the return tickets at different times. You don't have to go right away. Good luck.

 

[bwbuddy5]

Check out this post I put together with a graphic explanation of rider swap. https://www.disboards.com/threads/rider-swap-graphically-explained.3606277/

To get beat use of Rider Swap, use the return tickets at different times. You don't have to go right away. Good luck.

That's awesome

 

[LoveMMC]

This was my question. We have done the rider swap many times. This year my DS is 40" My son has autism and my DD has severe anxiety. We are getting a DAS for my son. We went to Wonderland in Canada yesterday- I was getting clawed by DS (who is usually so sweet and passive) desperate to get on the small kids coaster. My husband has my daughter who wanted to ride, but was terrified last minute and had an anxiety attack- screaming not ride- (which we were fine with - we weren't forcing her- she wanted to ride then panicked last minute) Everyone staring- 3/4 of us in tears Looked like crap parents.
So anywho - we are going to ride splash. My son never has, but will love. I'm not expecting daughter to- she won't be able to. So hoping we can enter together. Son and husband ride. I wait with daughter then I switch and son and I ride.
Technically can't do rider swap because all tall enough. Going to talk at cast member at Splash. Wondered if we could swap at exit.

 

[HopperFan]

Just talked to DD who used to work at Soarin'. She said YES, if the family arrives at theaters and tall enough child does not wish to ride, a parent may stay outside theater with them and then swap off. If the child appeared old enough and able they are permitted to wait alone outside theater.

I'm not sure there is space at all attractions but I can think of quite a few this could work in. It could resolve the entire child swap but they are tall enough problems.

 

[whiporee]

Check out this post I put together with a graphic explanation of rider swap. https://www.disboards.com/threads/rider-swap-graphically-explained.3606277/

To get best use of Rider Swap, use the return tickets at different times. You don't have to go right away. Good luck.

That's a nice piece of explanation, but -- and I hesitate to say this -- getting 6 Fps for the use of three is not what RS is designed for. The point of RS is to allow each parent to enjoy a ride, not to give one parent an additional FP. The way it's intended to work is both parents use their FPs for the rides and then the one who says behind gets an RS to use later. I'd hesitate to suggest to someone to plan on using RS this way, because it's the kind of thing WDW can make go away, and while there is nothing inherently against the rules in using it the way you suggest, it's the kind of loophole MB and the linking of everything is designed to eliminate. So if someone is making plans based on the ability to do this, they might end up disappointed with one parent left out if the CM refuses to give a RS to a parent without a FP.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is when they get a child swap pass, which is usually just given when the child isn't tall enough. If the child is tall enough but doesn't want to ride, typically you will have to do rider swap. One person rides while the other waits with the child and then they switch out.

Child swap, rider switch, etc. same thing.

Anyone being allowed to swap with a tall enough child should call it what it is, and that's pixie dust.

I've never known them to handle the 2 differently.

Same.

As far as I know there is no such procedure at Disney.

Agreed.

Except for by oixie dust.

Like when my kid was freaking out halfway through the dinosaur line and I took him out over hubby's objections. The CM who let us out through a side door gave me a rider switch pass for me for later. Which was pixie dust.

Maybe they are just being nice. I just assumed since this is what they've done 99% of the time it was pretty standard, and their way of not giving out a bunch of return FPs for people that can, but won't ride.

Just being nice.

 

[CarolynFH]

I don't think this is an "official" policy, I think it's the CMs way of being nice.

This usually happens in situations where everyone intends to ride but then a child can't/won't when you reach the boarding area. (Ex. Once DS was "tall enough" at the entrance to Test Track, but "too short" at the boarding area. The CMs had DH and DS cross through the cars and wait there to do a swap after I rode with the other kids.)

This seems confusing and potentially dangerous to be a policy intended for everyone who simply doesn't want to ride.

Just talked to DD who used to work at Soarin'. She said YES, if the family arrives at theaters and tall enough child does not wish to ride, a parent may stay outside theater with them and then swap off. If the child appeared old enough and able they are permitted to wait alone outside theater.

I'm not sure there is space at all attractions but I can think of quite a few this could work in. It could resolve the entire child swap but they are tall enough problems.

In March our DGS didn't want to ride RnR but was more than tall enough. We talked to the CM at the FP entrance (we all had FP) and he told us we could do an "internal swap" and just needed to let the loading CM know. We all went through the FP line but when we got to the point where they asked how many in our party, our son explained the situation to the CM. DS and DGS were shown through the chicken exit door, and when we got off the ride they were waiting just inside the gift shop, behind a little fence right next to where everyone exits and can see all the photos. DGS then went with us, and our son went to the CM at the unloading dock. We were all talking together (it was first RnR ride for several in our group) so I don't know whether DS was allowed to get into a car at the unloading dock or was shown back through the chicken exit door. In any case, he rode by himself. So it wasn't like a child swap where anyone got to ride twice, but at least everyone who wanted to ride got to ride.

(Of course, a few hours later, after his older brother talked to him, DGS announced he wanted to ride RnR. I, the designated FP scheduler, was very happy that I had left our last day unscheduled and that I was able to book an RnR FP for all eight of us! We'll always treasure those photos!)

I agree with @HopperFan - I think there are a number of attractions where an "internal swap" is possible. On our first trip way back in 1994, child swap was generally done that way, at least for Space Mountain, which DD was too short to ride at that time. In that case, DS and I rode first and DH and DD were taken to the unloading dock. When our ride was finished, they were waiting for us, and DH climbed into the rocket with DS and they went through to the loading dock and the ride while DD and I exited.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

getting 6 Fps for the use of three is not what RS is designed for. The point of RS is to allow each parent to enjoy a ride, not to give one parent an additional FP.

The counter-argument to this is what about the poor Kid who isn't tall enough - I think the policy is in place with the small child in mind too (and the extra FP for the adult is no big deal). Take a family of 4 for instance riding splash mountain... the too small kid's fastpass opportunity gets completely wasted and she sits there waiting while parent 1 and 2 each ride once and the taller kid rides twice. The small kid can't fastpass a ride on her own...so I guess you could use their fastpass for another big ride (let's say Space Mountain)...so now that child waits around some more while an adult rides that.

That's why you would book 2 fastpasses for Splash (adult & kid), and say 2 for magic carpets (adult & kid), and get the rider swap at splash so that both adults can ride that (and yes the big kid rides twice so that each parent gets an enjoyable experience with their child). If not for this procedure...my 3 year old would not use any of her fastpasses, basically her fastpass experience would consist of watching us use a FP+ on Big Thunder, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain...and then we'd waste her 3 FPs. The way described above, the adults and older child got ride all three of those rides, and the small child got to fastpass 3 rides (for example Magic Carpets, Speedway, and Pooh).

Basically, IMO the difference between fairness and abuse can change with some perspective.

EDIT: I will add that I acknowledge that in my example we turned 12 fastpass slots (3 per person) into 18 actual individual ride experiences. But in no way was it done maliciously, we just want the 3 year old to have a good time too.

 

[whiporee]

The counter-argument to this is what about the poor Kid who isn't tall enough - I think the policy is in place with the small child in mind too (and the extra FP for the adult is no big deal). Take a family of 4 for instance riding splash mountain... the too small kid's fastpass opportunity gets completely wasted and she sits there waiting while parent 1 and 2 each ride once and the taller kid rides twice. The small kid can't fastpass a ride on her own...so I guess you could use their fastpass for another big ride (let's say Space Mountain)...so now that child waits around some more while an adult rides that.

That's why you would book 2 fastpasses for Splash (adult & kid), and say 2 for magic carpets (adult & kid), and get the rider swap at splash so that both adults can ride that (and yes the big kid rides twice so that each parent gets an enjoyable experience with their child). If not for this procedure...my 3 year old would not use any of her fastpasses, basically her fastpass experience would consist of watching us use a FP+ on Big Thunder, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain...and then we'd waste her 3 FPs. The way described above, the adults and older child got ride all three of those rides, and the small child got to fastpass 3 rides (for example Magic Carpets, Speedway, and Pooh).

Basically, IMO the difference between fairness and abuse can change with some perspective.

EDIT: I will add that I acknowledge that in my example we turned 12 fastpass slots (3 per person) into 18 actual individual ride experiences. But in no way was it done maliciously, we just want the 3 year old to have a good time too.

Everyone wants their family to have the best time possible. All of us here, everyone there, everyone. I don't think anyone maliciously acts at the MK. They just want what's best for their family, and their vacation they spent a lot of money on.

Without arguing the merits of the behavior, all I can say is because you used the RS the way you did, you got 50 percent more FPs for your party than most people at the parks. If everyone in your situation did the same thing, the FP waits would increase, probably dramatically. And that would force Disney into changing the policy. Having touring with twin three years olds a while ago, I understand your situation. But planning to use the way the PP described could set someone up for disappointment if a CM requires everyone in the party to have FPs, which I think is the inevitable place Disney will end up.

 

[Aurora0427]

We leave Wednesday and will do child swap a lot because we'll have 3 adults, my 6 year old who can ride almost everything, and our 18 month old. I'll try and remember to report back what they instruct us to do.

I will say that the two times we did this with our older daughter were different. At space mountain they told my husband he had to wait in the standby line, and gave me a pass to go through the fast pass line when he was finished riding. This was probably 2014. In 2015, my daughter and my husband went to ride ToT. She got all the way to the elevators, and flipped out. They sent them out through the exit and gave my husband a pass to return- but they told him to come back through the exit, which he did.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Everyone wants their family to have the best time possible. All of us here, everyone there, everyone. I don't think anyone maliciously acts at the MK. They just want what's best for their family, and their vacation they spent a lot of money on.

Without arguing the merits of the behavior, all I can say is because you used the RS the way you did, you got 50 percent more FPs for your party than most people at the parks. If everyone in your situation did the same thing, the FP waits would increase, probably dramatically. And that would force Disney into changing the policy. Having touring with twin three years olds a while ago, I understand your situation. But planning to use the way the PP described could set someone up for disappointment if a CM requires everyone in the party to have FPs, which I think is the inevitable place Disney will end up.

I believe they already put some RS changes in place at Disneyland recently so it will be interesting to see what they do at WDW