New Rider Switch Policy is Terrible

[maria_wdw2012]

Or maybe my kids are just terrible. But today I tried to do rider switch with my husband for Splash Mountain. I was told I only had one hour to redeem it. Long story short, I have twins toddlers who had a meltdown after Dad left and I couldn't get them to settle down within the hour window to use the pass.

I get that people are abusing it and they had to crack down but it seems to restrictive to me, especially with little ones who may not be so crazy about sitting out a whole hour plus so mom and dad can ride. Come on Disney at least give us the option of redeeming it later I the day!!!!

 

[geekza]

First of all, welcome to the boards.

I don't necessarily think the policy is a bad one. It keeps people from using the Rider Switch privilege as a sort of de facto FastPass. It definitely sounds like it didn't work for you and as a parent who at one time had a child who would sometimes have meltdowns (I mean, I don't know a young child who doesn't every now and then) I can understand your disappointment at not being able to use your Rider Switch. Still, I think it's a reasonable policy that would work for the vast majority of folks. I'm sorry you didn't get to ride, though. That's a bummer.

 

[wdwfan22]

I'm sorry but a 1 hour window is more than enough time for both parents to ride. Ride switch isn't meant to be a anytime fastpass.

 

[maria_wdw2012]

if only they'd just open up the window to redeem it. Before I think it was until the end of month, which was probably longer than needed and I can totally see people abusing that (selling it to someone else). I think they've just gone the other way and made it too restrictive.

 

[maria_wdw2012]

I'm sorry but a 1 hour window is more than enough time for both parents to ride. Ride switch isn't meant to be a anytime fastpass.

Yes I agree one hour is enough but it would have been nice to schedule that one hour window for later in the day. But that was not an option.

 

[PorterRedkey]

Once Dad gets back, you go and ride using the rider switch. Dad handles the kids, so he deals with the meltdown when you are riding.

I am just sure why you couldn't use your pass. Unless Dad isn't good with meltdowns.
That is more of a husband problem, rather than a kid problem.

 

[NickMaio]

1 hour with kiddies seems tight. I thought it was a couple of hours.....
Bummer.

Bathroom blowouts - - food breaks - - meltdowns - ect......

 

[larryz]

Once Dad gets back, you go and ride using the rider switch. Dad handles the kids, so he deals with the meltdown when you are riding.

I am just sure why you couldn't use your pass. Unless Dad isn't good with meltdowns.
That is more of a husband problem, rather than a kid problem.

She said something about Dad running away... and if the kids are melting down, I can see why.

 

[TwilightZone]

I hate to be that guy, but when I was too little for rides such as splash mountain, we just skipped them until I and my sister were tall enough to go on them. Maybe keep that advice in your mind next trip?

 

[maria_wdw2012]

Once Dad gets back, you go and ride using the rider switch. Dad handles the kids, so he deals with the meltdown when you are riding.

I am just sure why you couldn't use your pass. Unless Dad isn't good with meltdowns.
That is more of a husband problem, rather than a kid problem.

It's more of a Mom thing, kids didn't have the meltdown until after dad left with big brother to ride. It's hot, high noon, crowded and cold a/c seemed miles away. When dad got back I just didn't feel right leaving behind two screaming 2 year olds.

To me the rider switch then seems pointless, I could have just scheduled my own fastpass in that same hour window and used it instead of a rider switch.

 

[Dave B]

Sounds like the new policy really SUCKS, that's a shame so many people abused it in the past, you should have the same day to use for sure

 

[maria_wdw2012]

Update...I talked to our concierge desk at POP and they were able to schedule a fastpass for me later today. I tried scheduling my own fastpass to make up for it but MDE wouldn't let me because I had the rider switch tied to the experience earlier.

I'm sure the rider switch policy change will still work for most people, but we needed a little bit more flexibility. We weren't looking to game the system at all.

 

[Lets Respect]

I know it’s something new to get used to, but it makes sense. It’s supposed to be a swap, not a bonus anytime FP. It is hard though when the rules change and you haven’t planned for that

 

[drizgirl]

She said something about Dad running away... and if the kids are melting down, I can see why.

Well, let's hope Mom doesn't decide to run away too. That might be awkward.

 

[PorterRedkey]

It's more of a Mom thing, kids didn't have the meltdown until after dad left with big brother to ride. It's hot, high noon, crowded and cold a/c seemed miles away. When dad got back I just didn't feel right leaving behind two screaming 2 year olds.

To me the rider switch then seems pointless, I could have just scheduled my own fastpass in that same hour window and used it instead of a rider switch.

But then you would have had to get a FP. Not easy to get a Splash FP, day of, when it is nice, for the exact time you want.

Rider switch is just that. One parent exit the ride, the other parent enters the ride. The parent who is not riding is responsible for the kids. Simple.

It sounds like you didn't feel right about leaving them, so that's on you, not Disney and it doesn't make the rider switch policy "terrible".

 

[slappy magoo]

Glad it got sorted out. Just out of curiosity, did you try to talk to a CM working Splash Mountain at the time? That really sounds like the sort of thing they'd make an exception for if they heard your tale of woe at the time it happened

 

[HwdStudio]

Yes I agree one hour is enough but it would have been nice to schedule that one hour window for later in the day. But that was not an option.

As others have said it isn’t a FP. You would otherwise all be riding at exactly the same time. Why would you think it is necessary to allow you to schedule later or just come back whenever you want? Read the rules, if it works for you fine and if not it doesn’t mean its a terrible system.

 

[HwdStudio]

Update...I talked to our concierge desk at POP and they were able to schedule a fastpass for me later today. I tried scheduling my own fastpass to make up for it but MDE wouldn't let me because I had the rider switch tied to the experience earlier.

I'm sure the rider switch policy change will still work for most people, but we needed a little bit more flexibility. We weren't looking to game the system at all.

So you asked for and received special treatment because what works for thousands of other people just didn’t work for you. Hmm

 

[MaryJaneP]

Would it be possible to leave the kids at home? Problem solved.

 

[maria_wdw2012]

As others have said it isn’t a FP. You would otherwise all be riding at exactly the same time. Why would you think it is necessary to allow you to schedule later or just come back whenever you want? Read the rules, if it works for you fine and if not it doesn’t mean its a terrible system.

So you asked for and received special treatment because what works for thousands of other people just didn’t work for you. Hmm

I'm not sure it's worked for thousands of other people. It just rolled out this week. In fact at the beginning of the week we received a paper rider switch good for anytime that same day. It wasn't until today that they scanned my band for the switch and said it had to be used within one hour of the first parent riding. Again, not trying to game the system but just asking for a little flexibility. I wonder in the past how many parents were using the paper rider switch immediately versus returning at a later time.