Hiya Katherine,
Welcome to planDisney! How exciting that you and your bestie are planning a trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth! I know you will have the little Mouseketeers with you, but it will still be the most incredible vacation ever.
Great question about the
Rider Switch program! As a mom of two Mouseketeers (one who is just getting tall enough for the bigger rides and one who has a way to go), we use Rider Switch quite often. Here is what you need to know, Katherine! On attractions that offer Rider Switch, such as
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, you and your friend would need to split your party. Group A would be your friend and one child, and Group B would consist of you, the infant, and the additional child. All of you would need to walk up to the Cast Member at the front of the attraction and indicate that you would like to do Rider Switch. Once you do that, Cast Members will direct Group A to enter the queue for the attraction, and Group B will be asked to wait outside the queue until they get off the attraction. As the Group B parent, I use this time to get a snack, walk around the merchandise shop, and rest. Once your friend and the first child get off the attraction, your friend would grab the next child and head back to the attraction to re-scan into the ride and access the Rider Switch entrance. Since Group B in this scenario would only consist of one child, your friend would be able to ride the attraction twice!
I hope this was helpful, Katherine. Before I let you go, as someone who has visited Walt Disney World Resort while pregnant, I wanted to remind you to bring a water bottle. Standing in queues can take a lot out of you when you are pregnant, so keeping your hydration up is especially important (especially during the summer). Stay hydrated and use those moments when you are waiting for Rider Switch to grab a snack and have a seat to rest. Since you will have an infant (and at least one other kid), head to the
Baby Care Center to cool off and rest when you can as well. If you need anything else, please come back and see us.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.