Riderswap issue today at SDMT

[cnunley424]

Last Fall on SDMT they were not giving out rider swap passes. You had to go thru the FP or standby line with the child that was not riding, then they would take you and the child off to the side, let the rest of your party ride, and then swap when they returned.

 

[MIndy S]

Last Fall on SDMT they were not giving out rider swap passes. You had to go thru the FP or standby line with the child that was not riding, then they would take you and the child off to the side, let the rest of your party ride, and then swap when they returned.

This wouldn't bother me one bit. At least you'd only have to go through once. I think I heard this is how they do RS at TOT too?

 

[Anabelletoronto]

I don't see why the whole family doesn't just wait together and then when you get to the end, half of you ride while the other half waits with the kid and then you switch.
That's my plan with my kid in case she gets scared before a ride. My husband will ride and I will let people pass us in line. Then when he is done, I will pass my kid to him and ride alone.
I know some rides end in different places than where they start, but a lot don't.

 

[MIndy S]

I don't see why the whole family doesn't just wait together and then when you get to the end, half of you ride while the other half waits with the kid and then you switch.
That's my plan with my kid in case she gets scared before a ride. My husband will ride and I will let people pass us in line. Then when he is done, I will pass my kid to him and ride alone.
I know some rides end in different places than where they start, but a lot don't.

I don't believe they will even allow the short child in the queue at all.

 

[cnunley424]

This wouldn't bother me one bit. At least you'd only have to go through once. I think I heard this is how they do RS at TOT too?

Yes, I've heard they've been doing this at TOT recently.

 

[ForMyBoys]

Maybe it’s just me but I never saw it as a "strategy" to get extra adult fastpasses. I saw it as a way to get to enjoy a ride w/ FP with your older children and then with your younger children. For instance I get a FP for me and my two oldest on space mountain and my husband does not. Then hopefully we can all ride together (including DH w/o fastpass), and then DH can ride w/ the older two so he doesn't ride alone. Then when I book a FP for my youngest for what he likes, like Alladin's carpet or Dumbo my DH can go with him. To me its fair since there are very different rides you would ride with a 2 year old vs. a 14 year old. If they did decide to do away w/ rider swap unless all members riding have FP then I would hope they would allow a parent to ride along with a younger kid who has a FP for rides geared towards younger kids.

 

[HopperFan]

That’s your opinion.

I still think that no one should have to ride alone unless there’s no other option (such as my family, 2 adults and 1 too-short kid).

Well yes, just about everything on here is opinion. But it is a fact that there was no FastPass when Rider Swap was initiated. FastPass does change the dynamics of the system and how it is implemented does impact other guests.

If you think no one should have to ride alone, what about folks with uneven numbers in their party. I ride alone often with complete strangers on some rides. I don't want to either. That simply isn't a valid complaint when you look at the bigger picture.

There are two cases where I would disagee: 1) the second group might miss the FP window due to queue or ride length (e.g. FOP unless you arrive right when the window starts) and 2) when there is an odd number of people so no one has to ride alone. It’s usually the tall enough kid who is riding twice.

I would have no problem if to get a rider swap everyone in the party had to tap in a FP. But I hope they keep rider swap available starting with FPs.

(1) And I addressed that in my comment. That I could certainly see that as a valid way to implement it so the second set of FP+ users are not penalized for missing their window while they wait if the FP+ line is long.

(2) I don't think that should be factored in. As I said above, we are a group of 5 and sometimes 3. I very often am riding alone or stuck with a stranger. It's not fair to me as much as it's not far to a group that wants to use rider swap. Why shouldn't we get a pass so I can wait and ride with someone?

And that is what I think is fair, everyone who is riding FP+ must have a FP+ combined with the RS. I think everyone gets so caught up in the FP+ thing they forget we can go on rides standby, and much of what the wee ones do don't need a FP+. And we can also roll those FP+, we've done a dozen in a few hours, jumping from one ride to the next.

 

[etoiles]

My two year old is a maniac and a runner. There is no way he would just wait at the ride entrance patiently for me and DH to take turns riding. He would either escape or act crazy. I don't think he's that unique for his age either. I will be very annoyed if that is expected of him.

I planned my fast passes using rider swap and have no shame doing so. What else are my four year old and two year old supposed to do while we are taking turns if I can't use a fast pass for something enjoyable for them. Between parking the stroller, diaper changes, potty breaks, restraining my two year old I promise I'm not pulling anything over anyone and anyone childless or with older kids will get much more accomplished than we will, even using rider swap fast passes. And my children will be much more pleasant if they can go on a ride while they're waiting which will make the experience better for all.

 

[Anabelletoronto]

I don't believe they will even allow the short child in the queue at all.

Well my kid isn't too short but she may freak out by the end of the line. She is very tall for her age. 6

 

[KrazeeK120]

Well yes, just about everything on here is opinion. But it is a fact that there was no FastPass when Rider Swap was initiated. FastPass does change the dynamics of the system and how it is implemented does impact other guests.

If you think no one should have to ride alone, what about folks with uneven numbers in their party. I ride alone often with complete strangers on some rides. I don't want to either. That simply isn't a valid complaint when you look at the bigger picture.

I said “unless there’s no other option.”

And if you’re an odd numbered party, you’re still “with” your party, just a row in front of or behind, rather than literally on the ride separated from the rest of your family.

I truly just don’t see the harm in letting a kid ride with Dad so that Dad doesn’t have to have the entire experience alone.

The scenario would be the exact same if the family used the standby line initially (kid gets an extra ride).

 

[Skallywag Steph]

I don't understand how it's any different than getting a rider switch by going through standby. No one has a fast pass going into the ride but the waiting parent will get a rider switch (fast pass) because someone has to stay with the child. Two other people get to come along too. It's printed right on the switch. Isn't that what rider switch was intended for?

 

[anomamatt]

(2) I don't think that should be factored in. As I said above, we are a group of 5 and sometimes 3. I very often am riding alone or stuck with a stranger. It's not fair to me as much as it's not far to a group that wants to use rider swap. Why shouldn't we get a pass so I can wait and ride with someone?

But, for example, sometimes Mom and Dad both want to ride with a tall-enough kid. Why make them choose? Letting the kid ride twice solves the problem.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of abuse with RS. And I've used the RS FP loophole before.

 

[JFox]

Is RS ONLY for kids that do not meet the height requirement or also for kids who do not want to ride? To scared.

 

[Dis703]

I don't see why the whole family doesn't just wait together and then when you get to the end, half of you ride while the other half waits with the kid and then you switch.
That's my plan with my kid in case she gets scared before a ride. My husband will ride and I will let people pass us in line. Then when he is done, I will pass my kid to him and ride alone.
I know some rides end in different places than where they start, but a lot don't.

If a child is too short they won't be allowed to enter the line at all, so this wouldn't work if the height minimum is the issue.

 

[Wubar]

Is RS ONLY for kids that do not meet the height requirement or also for kids who do not want to ride? To scared.

Per Disney, it's supposed to be both situations. BUT....apparently some CMs will only give it out for a kid that is too short, or will give you a hard time if the child is tall enough but doesn't want to ride. YMMV.

 

[whiporee]

I'm not arguing the morality of it one way or the other -- I'm just saying that I predict that policy will change to say you only get a RS from the FP line if you had a FP to begin with. So in order to get the RS, both parents have to be at the RS point, and if that's off the FP queue, WDW is going to require you to have a FP to get there.

So if you're basing your touring strategy around both parents being able to ride and only using one FP in conjunction with RS, I think you may end up disappointed. I don't know for sure, but given some of the anecdotal evidence we're seeing, I think that will be the future.

 

[Kathlita]

Two people ride, two wait, all have FP+ according to "Disney rules". Then why do they need Rider Swap? It's only a benefit if the second group does NOT need a FP. If it takes twice as long to get through rides and in the meantime, you have to keep a baby happy, I would not call that "gaming the system". If you've ever taken a young child to the parks, you know what I'm talking about.

 

[Jasten]

Two people ride, two wait, all have FP+ according to "Disney rules". Then why do they need Rider Swap? It's only a benefit if the second group does NOT need a FP. If it takes twice as long to get through rides and in the meantime, you have to keep a baby happy, I would not call that "gaming the system". If you've ever taken a young child to the parks, you know what I'm talking about.

I absolutely think its gaming the system in the case of entering fp line with two parents and a small child, if only one of the parents have a fp and both parents ride. The one without fp should have to get in the reg line.
I mean, why dont we just form 30 person groups and rider swap our way to unlimited fast passes.....if you both want to ride the ride with a short wait using fp, you both should use a fp.....thats fair. I dont understand why that scenario should entitle you to additional fps....

 

[Skallywag Steph]

I absolutely think its gaming the system in the case of entering fp line with two parents and a small child, if only one of the parents have a fp and both parents ride. The one without fp should have to get in the reg line.
I mean, why dont we just form 30 person groups and rider swap our way to unlimited fast passes.....if you both want to ride the ride with a short wait using fp, you both should use a fp.....thats fair. I dont understand why that scenario should entitle you to additional fps....

This is from Disney's website

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/fast-pass-plus/family-ride-planning/

 

[whiporee]

Two people ride, two wait, all have FP+ according to "Disney rules". Then why do they need Rider Swap? It's only a benefit if the second group does NOT need a FP. If it takes twice as long to get through rides and in the meantime, you have to keep a baby happy, I would not call that "gaming the system". If you've ever taken a young child to the parks, you know what I'm talking about.

Because here's the way that people can use the system. Family with three kids, one of them below height limit. Parent one gets FP for Soarin', takes one kid, gets RS for other parent, so that's five for the price of two. Parent two takes other kid to TT, gets rider for other parent. Another five for the price of two. So both parents get both rides, both other kids get FPs to both rides twice. That's ten FPs for the price of four, and FPs to both Tier one rides.

No one would argue that it's hard to do the parks with a small child -- I did it with 18-month-old twins and a five-year-old. it's also hard to do the parks with an old person, someone in a wheelchair, someone who is large, someone who uses the bathroom every 15 minutes. But how difficult it is really isn't the point of those objecting. If a lot of families are using four FP to get 6 RS, that causes further backup in the lines and attaches an additional benefit to those families who use RS this way.