Welcome to planDisney, Lacy! I'm so glad to be able to answer a question for a fellow Texan today. I'm so glad you're planning ahead, because
Rider Switch and
Lightning Lane together can be an awesome combo for
families with younger kids or varying thrill levels. Let's walk through it together so you know exactly which decisions to make when it's time to book your Lightning Lane return times!
When you're using Lightning Lane with Rider Switch, everyone who plans to ride that attraction, whether they're going in the first group or waiting to switch, needs to have a Lightning Lane return time for that experience. So if Parent A and Parent B both want to ride, and you're using Rider Switch so one can stay behind with a non-rider, both of them will need that Lightning Lane booked.
That also means that any kids who want to ride need a Lightning Lane, too, even if they're going in the second group. The system won't allow someone to hop on through the Lightning Lane entrance unless they've got a valid return time or are registered as part of the Rider Switch party.
But here's the fun part: when Parent B returns to ride with Rider Switch, they can bring one guest along with them. So if you've got a little thrill-seeker who's ready to ride again, they can go twice! Once with Parent A and once with Parent B. It's a win-win and a great way to let your
brave adventurer get in on another round of fun.
Now, if you're not using Lightning Lane and are planning to wait in the standby line, you can still absolutely take advantage of Rider Switch. A Lightning Lane return time is not required for Rider Switch; it's just a handy pairing if you're using Multi Pass to save time. So if Parent A waits in the standby line while Parent B stays back with a younger child, Parent B can still be issued a Rider Switch return pass to ride without having to wait in line again. The same rules apply: they can bring a guest to ride with them, too!
So, whether you're going with standby or Lightning Lane, Rider Switch is there to help make things a little smoother for families.
Have a magical day, Lacy!
Jessica