Confused about FP w/ child swap

[Hot Lava]

I have been reading the Unoffical Guide. And in the section it talks about the child swap and FPs, it mentions that you can ask for a "special" FP for those who need to child swap. Additionally that it was good for up to 3 adults on one FP (w/ at least one child). Has anyone ever used this? Reading the book was the first mention of this I have ever seen.

 

[stevehousse]

All the time! For my family its me, DW, and DS 4 and DS 2. The little one can't go on let's say big thunder mountain, so if we are going in the standby line, me and DS4 will go first, ask the cm at te entrance for a baby swap, they will give u a fast pass baby swap so once me an ds4 r off the ride, my DW then takes the baby fast pass in with DS4 and they get to use the fast pass line and ride! It's great! My kid gets to ride twice and both me and the DW don't have to miss out on any attractions and we don't have to wait for the standby line! Thi also works if u already have a fast pass as well. Just ask te fast pass attendant for a baby swap and same thing!

 

[EOD K9]

What is so confusing? When your child throws a tantrum, you ask for a new one that is well behaved. I don't see an issue here.

 

[Ember]

I have been reading the Unoffical Guide. And in the section it talks about the child swap and FPs, it mentions that you can ask for a "special" FP for those who need to child swap. Additionally that it was good for up to 3 adults on one FP (w/ at least one child). Has anyone ever used this? Reading the book was the first mention of this I have ever seen.

We used a lot this past trip. One or more people in your party stand in the regular line while someone waits with the child and then when the one party gets off the ride the person with the child swaps out and uses the fast pass line and can take up to three people with them. So for us my husband took our oldest on a ride and then switched out with me and I then took the oldest with me in the FP line. The only catch is that the child you are swapping must be under the height requirement for the ride so we were fine on rides like Rockin Rollercoaster, but we weren't allowed to do it for ToT even though our 3 year old was sleeping and just barely over the 40 inch mark.

 

[Hot Lava]

No, they way this particular version is described in the Unofficial Guide is different. And like I said, I had never heard of it before. Maybe I misread it, but I tried to read over a couple times to get the jist. When I have it handy, I will post what it says. I don't have it with me right now.

 

[Sumrdog]

The unofficial guide also describes a method of passing off the child in the Dumbo line so that one adult gets in and waits at a certain interval in the line after the first parent and child get in line. So mathematically the child and first parent will get off the ride when its almost close to the time of the second parents turn. The first parent can then in theory toss the child to the parent holding them a place in line...Is this the swap you were asking about? Because I don't think it will work with the new Dumbo set up.

As for the child swap, we have done it a bunch of times as described by previous posters. Once the cast member gets a visual on the short kid and parent remaining behind they will give out the baby swap pass. It works quite well.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Are you talking about using FP and Child Swap together.

This works well with parties of 4 where only one member can't ride but has a ticket.

We get 2 FPs for say Soarin' and then get a child swap pass since my son is too small to ride. Then we can also get two FPs for Test Track and another child swap.

At the correct FP return time my husband rides with my daughter using the the FPs. Then I ride with my daughter again using child swap. Repeat at the next FP ride.

 

[Hot Lava]

I think @randomprincess's description comes closest,except according to the guide.

I have a Kindle, so I am not sure of exact page location 10634 of 23963). it is in Part Six, WDW w/ Kids.

On most FP attractions, Disney handles switching off somewhat differently. When you tell a cast member that you want to switch off, he or she will issue you a special "rider exchange" FP for 3 people. One parent and the nonriding child (or children) will at that point be asked to leave the line. When those riding reunite with waiting adult the waiting adult and two other persons fro the party can ride using the special FP.

and then a little further down:

B/c the rider exchange pass can be used by the adult holding it as well as by three companions, this yields a "four for the price of one" scenario in terms of FP currency.

It then goes on to describe how you could obtain many FPs at the same time with a group of a large enough size.

So no waiting in the regular line (this is a FP thing), but also different from the regular FP that you get out of the machine, b/c every riding person does not need to obtain a FP for any given ride.

 

[sublimesting]

Basically you get a a child swap ticket which is an instant FP. But the other parent has to get in the stand by line at that point unless they have grabbed a FP for that line, then both of you get to skip the stand by line.

 

[Hot Lava]

Basically you get a a child swap ticket which is an instant FP. But the other parent has to get in the stand by line at that point unless they have grabbed a FP for that line, then both of you get to skip the stand by line.

Except that isn't what this says in the Unofficial guide. And it is even saying you basically only need one FP for four adults when you have the kid. This is what I am trying to suss out. Is this true, has anyone here actually done this?

 

[RandomPrincess]

Except that isn't what this says in the Unofficial guide. And it is even saying you basically only need one FP for four adults when you have the kid. This is what I am trying to suss out. Is this true, has anyone here actually done this?

You need 2 FP for 4 adults unless someone is riding alone. 2 go on with the FPs and then 2 or 3 can go with the Child Swap. If someone wants to ride alone then you would need only on FP or you could skip the FP and use the Single rider line with Child Swap as well.

 

[Hot Lava]

You need 2 FP for 4 adults unless someone is riding alone. 2 go on with the FPs and then 2 or 3 can go with the Child Swap. If someone wants to ride alone then you would need only on FP or you could skip the FP and use the Single rider line with Child Swap as well.

Still not the scenario described in UG:

B/c the rider exchange pass can be used by the adult holding it as well as by three companions, this yields a "four for the price of one" scenario in terms of FP currency.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Still not the scenario described in UG:

B/c the rider exchange pass can be used by the adult holding it as well as by three companions, this yields a "four for the price of one" scenario in terms of FP currency.

What that line says is the Chip Swap pass is good for up to 4 people. The person who waited gets the pass and can bring up to 3 friends. four (total that can use the pass) for the price of one (person who had to wait).

 

[englanddg]

I'm sorry, I know a bit off topic, but if I'm taking the kid to Disney (which I do) and there is a ride she can't do...I really don't care to do it without her.

I already feel guilty that I booked Palo and Remy on our cruise, knowing that I can't bring her with me (which I think is a STUPID) policy.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I'm sorry, I know a bit off topic, but if I'm taking the kid to Disney (which I do) and there is a ride she can't do...I really don't care to do it without her.

I already feel guilty that I booked Palo and Remy on our cruise, knowing that I can't bring her with me (which I think is a STUPID) policy.

Last trip the only rides we rode without our kids were Forbidden Journey and Hulk at IOA. Although my daughter rode some without us - her grandparents took her on. This trip my daughter will be over 40 and my son will not so we will be possibly swapping. If she likes the ride she can ride once each of us if not then we will just move on. Although I might do the new ST and TT myself if she doesn't want a second ride since I haven't experienced them yet.

With a baby it's super easy to swap without guilt since they we would wait until they were napping (which is a lot).

 

[englanddg]

Last trip the only rides we rode without our kids were Forbidden Journey and Hulk at IOA. Although my daughter rode some without us - her grandparents took her on. This trip my daughter will be over 40 and my son will not so we will be possibly swapping. If she likes the ride she can ride once each of us if not then we will just move on. Although I might do the new ST and TT myself if she doesn't want a second ride since I haven't experienced them yet.

With a baby it's super easy to swap without guilt since they we would wait until they were napping (which is a lot).

Yeah, I'm not faulting those who ride swap. Not in the slightest.

Just my personal feeling...still struggling with the Remy/Palo thing internally, I suspect. I really don't care to experience one minute of disney on my own (i've had my fair share) without her involved...and yet, I want the FOOD!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

We used it all the time. You have to walk up to the line, show the CM (usually the one manning the FP line) who is not riding along with the person staying with him or her, then the rest of the group can go through. The pass is good for up to 3 people to reboard. I believe you can also use this pass if a member of your group is too scared to ride.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I'm sorry, I know a bit off topic, but if I'm taking the kid to Disney (which I do) and there is a ride she can't do...I really don't care to do it without her.

I already feel guilty that I booked Palo and Remy on our cruise, knowing that I can't bring her with me (which I think is a STUPID) policy.

Well, isn't it just you two when you go? You see, my parents would switch off and take my brother (or me when I was little) on something we could do. So we weren't bored. For example, one parent would do Space Mountain And especially when I got older, it meant I got to ride everything twice, so neither of them was ever alone. It works for some, doesn't work for others. I can understand why you wouldn't want to leave your kid alone while you ride a ride. One it's lonely, two, it just doesn't feel safe. For a long time I didn't even like leaving my brother while I went to the bathroom. Even now I find a bench and he has to park it and not move until I get back. First couple of times I didn't like him going to the men's room himself, but I was younger than that and my dad let me in the ladies room by myself. But still. Last August I was in Epcot and I walked into the ladies room and there was a man there. He looked drunk and gave me a weird look. I didn't care that it was an emergency; I found another bathroom. Just weird.

 

[Hot Lava]

First couple of times I didn't like him going to the men's room himself, but I was younger than that and my dad let me in the ladies room by myself. But still. Last August I was in Epcot and I walked into the ladies room and there was a man there. He looked drunk and gave me a weird look. I didn't care that it was an emergency; I found another bathroom. Just weird.

Did you report that guy? That is potentially a dangerous situation.

Letting your boy go alone into the men's bathroom is different that girls into the ladies'. men can cry foul all they want, but it is. I do not know how I will deal with it.
Several years ago in a mall in MD, a mother let her two young sons go into the men's bathroom. A man in there assaulted them. A worst nightmare come true.

 

[sublimesting]

Did you report that guy? That is potentially a dangerous situation.

Letting your boy go alone into the men's bathroom is different that girls into the ladies'. men can cry foul all they want, but it is. I do not know how I will deal with it.
Several years ago in a mall in MD, a mother let her two young sons go into the men's bathroom. A man in there assaulted them. A worst nightmare come true.

Last year at Disney I was in the men's room and a little boy came in, knelt in front of the urinal and proceeded to splash pee all over his arma and hands, shove his hands as far into the pipe as they would go and play with the urinal cake....then he simply walked out. Somewhere some parents have no clue their little kid did this and just went on as normal anout their day. Another time I saw two little boys crawling around the toilets in the stalls. Just ALL OVER the floor and base of the toilet.

I guess my point is: Parents, do NOT let your kids go into a bathroom alone....EVER!