The Rider Switch System
Some rides at Disney have height requirements, and babies won’t be permitted to ride on them. If both you and your spouse want to ride a non-baby friendly attraction, like Space Mountain, or one of the water rides like Kali River Rapids, you can use the baby swap system. This is also referred to as the child swap system, parent swap system and the Rider Switch Pass.
The Rider Switch Pass is important for anyone travelling with children who will not be big enough – or brave enough (!) – to ride certain attractions. The Rider Switch pass allows adults travelling with small children or babies to efficiently trade places on any attraction with a height or age restriction. That way, both parents of a child can have a go on the ride without having to worry about the baby or queuing twice. You can always get a Rider Switch Pass when your child is too small for a height restricted attraction but some parents don’t realize that you can also use this service for timid riders – the child who is physically tall enough for a particular attraction but doesn’t want to ride. Here’s how it works:
Standby Lines: Both parents take the toddler or younger child to the standby entrance and ask the Cast Member how Rider Switch works for this particular attraction. In most cases, you will all have to go through the line together and, somewhere shortly before boarding the attraction, you will receive a pass that will let one parent exit with the non-rider while the rest of the party rides now. In most cases, the waiting adult will be issued a Rider Switch Pass that allows him or her to ride the attraction at any point in the day using the FASTPASS entrance. The Rider Switch Pass may have the number of eligible riders printed right on it. If not, ask the Cast Member how many riders can ride using the Rider Switch Pass. Disney knows that most people don’t like to ride alone so at least two people can ride using one Rider Switch Pass. Other attractions will let up to three or four people ride using one Rider Swap Pass.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando also offer a “Baby Swap” procedure at all major rides, where adults can take turns riding the thrilling roller coasters and water rides.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure® and Universal Studios® provide child swap on all rides with height restrictions. Ask a ride attendant for details.
