A Comprehensive Guide to Using Rider Switch at Disney World

When visiting Walt Disney World with smaller children, it is essential to know as many planning details as possible. One of those details is how to take advantage of Disney’s Rider Switch Service. Formally Rider Switch, this service is also often referred to as Rider Swap and Child Swap.

Rider Switch allows everyone who wants to ride an attraction to do so while accommodating guests who might not want to ride or can’t. For example, you might have a party of three guests, but one doesn’t meet the height requirement and cannot ride a specific attraction.

If this attraction offers Rider Switch, one member of your party can join the standby line and experience the attraction. Meanwhile, the other person waits with the party member who cannot ride. After the initial guests experience the ride, they can switch with the person who’s waiting. That person can then scan their band to bypass the standby queue and join the Lightning Lane.

The idea is that the first person does all the waiting for both since they aren’t riding together. Below, we’ll look at the details of using Rider Switch at Disney World and the eligible attractions. We’ll also discuss other scenarios where Rider Switch might work for your group.

What exactly is Disney Rider Switch?

Rider Switch is Walt Disney World’s program that allows guests with children to experience select attractions when the child isn’t eligible to ride. Sometimes, a child might not be eligible to ride because they don’t meet height requirements. In other cases, a child might not want to ride the attraction due to fear or various reasons.

When these instances happen, this leaves one person in your party with a minor who can’t be left behind while your party joins the line to experience an attraction. Situations like these could be frustrating, especially if you aren’t aware of Disney’s solution to the problem.

Step by Step Instructions for Using Rider Switch

Step 1: First, visit the attraction with your group and ask the cast member at the entrance for a rider switch entitlement. They’ll typically scan the returning guest’s magic band or ticket. (Let the cast member know if guests will return with you.)

Step 2: When the cast member scans the band or ticket of the person waiting outside (not riding first), it will issue them a return time and the number of guests returning to ride with you. (I’ve added an example below.)

Step 3: Next, the member of your group riding first (with other eligible guests) will enter the standby queue to ride the attraction. (This is referred to as Party 1)

Step 4: At this point, the returning guest (now Party 2) might elect to do something else nearby with the uneligible party until you finish the ride.

Step 5: When Party 1 exits the attraction, they will locate Party 2.

Step 6: Party 2 (the waiting party) can then visit the attraction’s entrance and validate their entitlement. Per Disney, “If the person in Party 2 waited alone with the child or non-riding guest, one guest (from Party 1) may join the person that waited alone.”

Example of Using Rider Switch at Disney

Here is an example to give you an idea of how it works.

You have a family of five with children ages 3, 6, and 11 years old. Everyone except the three-year-old is eligible to experience Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. So, the entire family approaches the entrance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Dad receives the Rider Switch entitlement and waits with the three-year-old. They might do a little shopping or pick up a snack.

Meanwhile, Mom rides Big Thunder Mountain Railroad via the standby queue with the six and eleven-year-old. When finished, they exit the attraction and meet Dad with the three-year-old. Dad takes one of the children back to the attraction entrance and redeems the Rider Switch entitlement. Dad and child experience the attraction without having to wait in the standby line this time.

One of the nice things about Rider Switch is that if you have multiple members of your party, you don’t have to experience the attraction by yourself. This also works well when a family is visiting with a single child for the first time. You might have to experience some attractions by yourself, but it alleviates both parents from having to wait in more than one long line per ride.

Rider Switch with Lightning Lanes

You do not have to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass to be eligible for Rider Switch. However, if you do, Rider Switch still works the same way. You’ll need to purchase a Lightning Lane for each person in your party who plans to experience the attraction. The key element is letting the cast member at the entrance know you’ll be using Rider Switch and Lightning Lane. That way, they can add an option for the person who plans to re-ride with the party waiting behind.

Example of Using Rider Switch with Multi Pass Lightning Lane

Using the same scenario above, Mom purchases a Lightning Lane for everyone except the three-year-old to experience Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The family visits the attraction entrance and tells the cast member they have a Lightning Lane but need to use Rider Switch. The cast member then asks who will ride first with Mom and later with Dad. She adds an extra entitlement to one of the children’s bands. Mom rides with the two older children via the Lightning Lane. After they finish, Dad returns with one of the children and rides again.

List of Rider Switch Eligible Attractions at Disney World

Here is a list of the current attractions that offer the Rider Switch program at Walt Disney World.

Magic Kingdom

• The Barnstormer
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tron Lightcycle Run
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Epcot

• Frozen Ever After
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Mission: SPACE
• Soarin’
• Test Track

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Star Tours: The Adventures Continues
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Animal Kingdom

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• DINOSAUR
• Expedition Everest
• Kali River Rapids
• Na’vi River Journey

Walt Disney offers several different programs for guests with disabilities. If needed, you can familiarize yourself with how DAS works on Disney’s website.

Can you use Rider Switch on Rise of the Resistance?

Yes. You can use Rider Switch on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. See the cast member at the entrance.

What should I do while my family is in line and I’m attending to a smaller child?

You won’t need to stand outside an attraction and wait for your party to finish. Each park has different attractions that are, in most instances, easy for anyone to experience. Find something to do nearby, and meet up with the rest of your group when they are finished. You might browse our list of Disney World attractions that don’t have a height requirement.

Final Thoughts on Rider Switch

Rider Switch is an excellent program you don’t want to miss if your group is eligible. It would not be ideal to wait separately for an hour or more to experience an attraction while another group member sat on the sidelines. Thankfully, Disney has taken these potential issues into account.

Are you planning a Walt Disney World vacation? If so, you might enjoy browsing our list of Walt Disney World Hotels. Some of our favorite resort reviews include Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review, which is within a short walking distance of Magic Kingdom. We also love Disney’s Polynesian Resort Review. It’s an excellent option for anyone who enjoys a tropical landscape. Other favorites include Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Review and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Review.

In the Comments

What do you think of Rider Switch? Do you have any questions? Will you be able to use this service on your vacation?