There are lots of things changing all over Disney World in terms of its restaurants, hotels, and more.
Space Mountain Rider Swap
If you’re planning to visit Disney World with little ones or a guest that doesn’t want to or can’t board an attraction, Rider Switch is a service you either know about or should know about! And now Disney has made a change to the language surrounding this service.
If you’re not familiar with Rider Switch, it’s when one part of your party waits in line to ride a specific ride, while one adult from your party stays outside with the member of your group who isn’t able to or doesn’t want to ride the attraction.
Guests participating in Rider Switch will visit a Cast Member at the attraction, and the Cast Member there will scan your MagicBands. At least one adult member from your party and the guests who are not riding will be issued a Rider Switch entitlement.
Alternative Access Entrance
“Party 1” will wait in line and go on the attraction. Once they’re done, Party 1 comes out and will stay with the person/people from your group who cannot/did not want to ride the attraction.
Then “Party 2” (a.k.a. the adult from your group who stayed outside with the guest who didn’t want to/couldn’t ride the ride) will switch with Party 1. Party 2 will then get to ride the attraction without having to wait in the regular line for a second time.
Queue for Space Mountain
Previously, Disney’s language indicated that if the person in Party 2 waited alone with the member of your group who couldn’t/didn’t want to ride, then they’d be able to bring up to 2 other guests back to ride with them. There would be a maximum of 3 guests allowed per Rider Switch Pass.
Essentially, if Adult 1 takes children 1 and 2 to ride, while child 3 stays with Adult 2 outside, then Adult 2 can use rider switch to go back and ride the ride and children 1 and 2 could go and ride with Adult 2 again (bypassing the regular line). Basically, up to 2 riders could potentially ride twice.
The Barnstormer
Now, Disney has changed some of their language regarding Party 2 and the Rider Switch scenario. The updated language on Disney’ World’s website now states: “Please note that if the person in party 2 waited alone with the child or non-riding Guest, the number of Guests who may join him or her and ride again is limited.”
©Disney
The language no longer states that if the person in Party 2 waited alone they may bring up to 2 guests, but instead just states that the number who can join them is limited.
If you use Rider Switch a lot and you typically have just 1 adult wait alone with the non-riding guest, this is a change you’ll want to keep in mind. Be sure to ask the Cast Member issuing the Rider Switch entitlement at the attraction you’re trying to ride to see what rules are in place when you visit.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
We’ll keep an eye out for more updates and let you know what we find.
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Have you ever used the rider switch service in Disney World? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
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Yes we were only able to let 1 of our kids ride again last week when we did rider switch!
Why all these crazy changes? I do not understand. Things used to work great. Rider switch, Fast pass? What is up?
Does anyone know what specific rides they would not let you rider switch?
In the past it is a example mom dad child these three can switch adult to a child . They are going to let a family of 5 switch back and fourth no way . It is so the family can take turns with the child . Limited of 3 people it has been going on for a least 5 years or more . Just like single rider it is a great idea my daughter rides my wife and I do not anymore .
I think this is a fair rule change. I know that when I go on my vacation, it is an option that would be cool to use, but looking at the grand scheme of things… it is fair. If a family of 4 has one child who isn’t riding, then their participating child MAY get to ride twice, but a family of 5 may have to have one child ride with each parent… which, again, seems totally fair in my opinion. Just decide who gets to ride with who. I’m sure some will be upset with this, but at least the option is still there.
Yet another Disney surprise change that is disappointing for loyal guests.
It sounds like it might be up to the cast member??????
Ouch. This hurts.
Eliza, I don’t know of an exclusion list. This page has the official list from Disney World about attractions included in Rider Switch, but I know from our reporters that Rise of the Resistance accepts Rider Switch, and that’s not on the list. So there could be other attractions not listed that actually do allow for it.
My family has used rider switch when my granddaughters were too little to ride certain rides and it was nice that the second rider didn’t have to ride alone, but with members of their party. Might as well just get in the single rider line.
I did an opposite situation. My husband can’t ride roller coasters. Both my children wanted to ride Everest. It took a bit of convincing but the cast member did a “fast pass” situation so I could ride with both kids. I took my daughter on the ride first. Then I could take my son by way of the Fast Pass line so I didn’t have to wait twice. Neither child would ride alone. In the end, my son got scared. Lol So we didn’t take advantage of the FP situation.
It sounds like a fair change to me. I agree with Amanda R.
I think people milk the rider switch, which has been imposing an unfair situation on subsequent riders. It isn’t about “getting to ride A SECOND TIME without having to wait in line again” it is about adjusting the DISadvanatge parents with small children have and accommodating them so the second parent doesn’t have to wait in line again. If they are already being accommodated, why the fuss about losing a perk that was unfair and probably unintended to begin with? I’m a parent of a 6 yr old, 13 yr old, and 2 young adult college students. We use rider switch ALL the time and not once have we even thought about somebody riding twice unless it was a kid’s ride and the second parent wanted to ride with the small kid. It was unfair and rude to cut in line and not fill a seat with a person who hadn’t had a chance to ride yet. To me it seems a simple common courtesy and that Disney finally caught on and has removed this clog to the system of fairly moving people through the standby lines at a time when the only lines available are standby lines.