What you need to know about Rider Switch

ne of the worst parts about travelling somewhere like Disneyland or Disney World with young kids is that you can’t do all the rides that they’re too small for! This is especially challenging when you have an older kid and a younger one. Disney has the answer: Rider Switch. (Sometimes it’s also called Child Swap or Rider Swap.)

What is Rider Switch?

Basically, Ride Switch is something unique to Disneyland. If for whatever reason one person in your party has to be supervised, like a young child or special needs person, and someone who would be riding has to stay and supervise that person, you can switch out who is riding and who is supervising so everyone gets a turn. 

It’s different than just waiting in line a second time because Rider Switch lets you jump back into the FastPass line.  

How it works

Let’s say you’re like us and travelling with 2 adults and 3 kids, like we did on our recent Disneyland trip. The twins, though, were less than 44″ so they couldn’t ride Indiana Jones. Now, us adults and the 9 year old did want to ride Indie. What do you do? 

Rider Switch.

So one adult stays with the kids who can’t ride, the other one goes on with the kid. Before you go on you ask a Cast Member for a Rider Switch pass. Then when the adult and the kid come off the ride, give the other adult the Rider Swap card, and they can ride again with the older kid. That way everyone gets to ride! 

Facts:

• Cast members near the Rider Switch rides have them in their pockets so you’ll have to ask!
• Passes are good for up to 3 people to ride the second time.
• They’re a great way for older kids to ride multiple times if they want, just as long as you have a legitimate reason for asking for one. 
• There’s no limit to the amount of Rider Switch passes you can use in a day but each pass is only good once.

What Disneyland rides support Rider Switch?

 Disneyland, California

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40″)
• Indiana Jones Adventure (44″)
• Matterhorn Bobsleds (42″)
• Space Mountain (40″)
• Splash Mountain (40″)
• Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (40″)

Disney’s California Adventure

• California Screamin’
• Grizzly River Run
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
• Incredicoaster

Some of our best moments were spent waiting for “big kids” to ride.

Which Walt Disney World rides support Rider Switch?

Magic Kingdom Park

• The Barnstormer (35″)
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40″)
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38″)
• Space Mountain (44″)
• Splash Mountain (40″)
• Stitch’s Great Escape (40″)
• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway (32″/54″)

Epcot

• Frozen Ever After 
• Mission: SPACE (40″/44″)
• Soarin’ (40″)
• Test Track (40″)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Alien Swirling Saucers (32″)
• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring (48″)
• Aerosmith
• Slinky Dog Dash (38″)
• Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue (40″)
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (40″)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• DINOSAUR (40″)
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain® (44″)
• Kali River Rapids (38″)
• Primeval Whirl (48″)

You can also take advantage of Rider Switch on certain WDW Waterpark attractions.

If you’re visiting Disneyland or Disney World with young kids it’s definitely a good idea to take advantage of the Rider Switch (Rider Swap) program!