It's great to see you here today at the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Emma!
Rider Switch is going to be such a useful tool that's going to help you save some time if you have a little one traveling with you who doesn't quite meet the height requirements for some of the more thrilling attractions. You'll still be able to ride your favorite attractions but not everyone in your party will need to wait in the standby line, so let's chat about how Rider Switch works and how you can use
FastPass+ with it to save even more time.
When you're using Rider Switch, your party will split up into two riding groups and the first group that wants to ride the attraction will wait in the standby line while the other riding group taps their
MagicBands to receive a Rider Switch return time. This allows the second riding group to stay behind to look after the kids, grab a snack with them, or do something that's more fun for the little ones. When the first group is done riding, the second riding group can return to the attraction and enter through the FastPass+ queue using the Rider Switch entitlement on their MagicBand, saving you the time of waiting in the standby line again. Some families like to use FastPass+ and Rider Switch together, meaning that the first riding group uses a FastPass+ to enter the attraction with the second group receiving a return time. If you want to use it this way, everyone who intends to ride the attraction must have a valid FastPass+. This includes the first riding group as well as the second group who will be using Rider Switch. Think of it kind of like everyone using their FastPass+ selection to ride together at the same time. Here's a bonus if you have any older kids traveling with you: the Rider Switch return time is good for up to three guests, so they can come back and ride a second time if they want!
I hope this answers your question, Emma, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica