No Rider Left Behind! Why Child Swap is the BEST!
Ready to head to the parks and ride all the things?? Oh but wait…we have kids with us that can only ride the kiddie stuff! Well that’s no fun! Trust me…been there, done that. BUT some amazing news I have for you is that most theme parks now offer some sort of child swap option for families so that no one misses out on the fun. While every park looks a little different, the gist is the same. So here’s how it works…
Disney’s Rider Switch
When you are at Disney World, anytime you want to ride something that not everyone can do, check at the kiosk at the entrance of the attraction. The cast members there will give you a rider switch entitlement, which allows one member of the group to wait outside the ride, while the other member(s) ride the attraction. Once the first group has had the chance to ride, they tag the second group who returns to the entrance with their entitlement and are fast tracked to ride (the rider switch passes are like the old fast passes).
Disney has designed their system with 3 big perks- 1. They do not allow riders who cannot ride in the cue. This frees you up to do something else enjoyable while you wait for the rest of your family on the ride.
2. Disney allows one person in the group to ride twice! So if sister can’t go on the ride, and dad takes brother on the ride, when they are done, brother can ride again with Mom.
3. There is NO time limit! You can return whenever you want that day to ride the attraction.
Universal’s Child Swap
While Universal Orlando’s child swap is similar to Disney’s Rider Switch, there are some significant differences. The biggest one being that ALL riders must wait in the line for the attraction. Universal has designated areas at eligible rides for parents/groups to wait for each other while on the ride. The process can also look different at each attraction so this is something you definitely want to ask about before entering the queue. While this is great for keeping your party together, it can be a bit taxing if you are waiting alongside an impatient toddler.
Once your entire group reaches the beginning of the ride, half of you board the attraction and those that are waiting for the second shift head to the child swap waiting area. Then obviously, you trade once the first group rides the attraction.
Now while both of these systems look a little different, there are some commonalities as well. In BOTH parks you need to have your child present to set up the switch. Also be aware that rider switch/child swap does not work on all rides. Since the whole system is based on children who may be too short to ride, this perk is only available on rides with a height requirement. They are not designed just to have half the group avoid the line.
Understanding how rider switch/child swap works can definitely be to your advantage. You can just if it is worth it for your group, especially at Universal, or if it might be better to just split up. Some attractions may even have a single rider line that would offer a faster option for you in the long run.
Every case/family is different. Rider switch was a gift to our family as the girls got older, but we know it’s not for everyone.