Even the best-laid plans have the potential to be stopped in their tracks and turned upside down. It’s the one thing that I’ve learned the hard way when traveling: always be prepared to stop and change direction. If you are planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World with kids, you are probably considering the important aspects of your park days: character experiences, meals, and, of course, rides. There are many things to consider when deciding if an attraction is suitable for your family, and it doesn’t just come down to whether or not they meet the height requirement. Your child’s personality is the best indicator of how they might handle dark, fast, or even slightly scary rides. Occasionally, we end up in situations where someone either might not want to ride, or can not ride an attraction, and that’s when Disney’s Rider Switch program becomes the perfect solution. The rules apply differently in Disneyland and Walt Disney World. In Disneyland, all attractions can use this program, though certain conditions apply. In Walt Disney World, only select attractions at each park are eligible for Rider Switch. Learn more about how to use Rider Switch in each resort.
Rider Switch in Disneyland
Rider switch is a program available to all guests. With Rider Switch, guests can wait with member(s) of their party who aren’t riding due to any of the reasons listed below. Once the first guest returns the waiting guest can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again!
Rider Switch is available for guests who meet one of the following:
- Does not meet the boarding requirements
- Has a service animal that cannot board the attraction or does not want to use a provided kennel
- Meets boarding requirement and does not want to ride but cannot wait outside queue on their own
Rider Switch is available at all attractions in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
Disneyland.com
Rider Switch in Walt Disney World
If guests in your party can’t or don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out!
If a child does not meet the height requirement or a guest does not wish to board a particular attraction, no problem! With Rider Switch, one adult can wait with the non-rider (or riders) while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. When the other adult returns, they can supervise the non-riding guests, and the waiting adult can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again!
Rider Switch is available at select attractions at all 4 Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.
WaltDisneyWorld.com
Magic Kingdom Park
- The Barnstormer
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- TRON Lightcycle / Run*
EPCOT
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue
- Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
- Kali River Rapids
- Na’vi River Journey
*All Rider Swap participants for this attraction are required to be in a Virtual Queue boarding group or to have an eligible Lightning Lane Single Pass prior to boarding.
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.