Parent swap at TDL/TDS?

[cseca]

Is there such a thing?
And how would we ask for it if we don't speak japanese?
Thanks!

 

[Kuraire]

Found this while researching TDL website for my first japan trip. Not sure how you would go about asking though.


Alternate Ride System

Parents with children who cannot ride an attraction due to boarding restrictions can utilize the Alternate Ride System, which allows one parent to ride while the other watches the child, then switch with a minimal wait. Please see a Cast Member for details.

 

[cseca]

Ooohh... thank you so very much!
If it's on the TDL website maybe I should print it out in japanese (if I could find it) and hopefully it is the right thing...

 

[GrtWtNorth]

The cast members recognize "switch" or "switchy". (We learned that cast members don't understand "baby swap" or "parent swap".) For Japanese speakers, they may relay verbal instructions about where to go and who to talk to. For English speakers like my family, it's a very welcome lesson in Japanese customer service:

They carefully explain that someone needs to enter the ride queue while the other person stays with the child and holds the "rider switch" ticket (good for up to 4 guests). When the first rider exits the attraction and meets up with the non-riders, the non-riders (and lucky friends) go to the attraction greeter and present the ticket. One cast member will escort the group directly to the loading platform (going through some interesting back-stage areas). Japanese speakers are instructed to "go to the exit and show this ticket to the cast member." But Disney does not trust English-speakers to understand such complicated instructions, so we always got an escort. It's at least twice as fast as using FastPass. It's a wonderful service -- it felt like a VIP tour. Note: I described how it works for Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull, and Raging Spirits. For Tower of Terror, "switchy" users still experience the entire pre-show.

For Star Tours, no tickets are issued and everyone enters the queue together. At the loading area, the waiting parent-and-child stay behind while the non-waiting parent rides the simulator. At the end of the ride, the riding parent is supposed to return and take the child through the ride vehicle to the exit. (Cast members had to chase down my wife, who forgot to return for our baby. Very funny!)

 

[cseca]

Thanks so much GrtWtNorth!
That's what I need to know
I guess I'll make sure to use the word switch or switchy. I don't want DH and I to miss on a lot of rides because of DD. I'm willing to do switches but not sure if I could explain it to the CMs there... hehe.
Thanks again for taking time to explain.

Ooh, you mentioned fastpass.
Does this work in conjunction with FP you think? Or if you have FP you wouldn't even bother asking for a swap?
I'm not sure how long FP lines are over there. Since it seems like the FPs are gone within hours of park opening.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Ooh, you mentioned fastpass.
Does this work in conjunction with FP you think? Or if you have FP you wouldn't even bother asking for a swap?
I'm not sure how long FP lines are over there. Since it seems like the FPs are gone within hours of park opening.

Yes, it works for both Fastpass or standby. Just like at WDW, if you intend to use the FastPass line, everyone in the party must have a FastPass. Everyone who is riding in the first batch uses their normal fastpasses.
For the second group of riders, one person must reliquish their FastPass in exchange for a "Rider Switch Pass" (TDR) or "Parent Swap FastPass" (WDW). At WDW, this allows the waiting person and up to three others to enter the FastPass line later. At TDR, the Rider Switch Pass allows the waiting person (and a X? guests) to be escorted directly to the loading platform, ahead of both standby and FastPass lines.

If you are not using FastPass, the first group of riders goes in the standby line, and the cast member will issue a pass to the non-rider: "Rider Switch Pass" (TDR) or "Parent Swap FastPass" (WDW). When the waiting person (and their guests) can ride, they will use their passes and either enter the FastPass queue (WDW) or be escorted directly to the loading platform (TDR).

 

[cseca]

AWESOME! Thank you!!!