// I may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post. //

My family has been going to Disneyland and Walt Disney World a lot in the last couple of years. One thing we’ve learned is how to make the most out of your Disneyland vacation with Rider Switch!

We’ve gotten really good at a few things: eating Mickey ear bars, packing exactly what we need for the parks, and doing Rider Switch.

// Information current as of August 1, 2024. //

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Make The Most Out Of Your Disneyland Vacation With Rider Switch

Full confession, we did not take advantage of Disneyland’s Rider Switch the first time we visited a Disney park and I’m still kicking myself.

Doing Rider Switch allows one child to ride most rides TWICE while another parent cares for a sibling who is either too short or not interested in them.

Disneyland’s Rider Switch is a fantastic way to get the most bang for your Disney buck so DO IT.

And, for those wondering, here’s how Rider Switch at Disneyland works:

What Is Disneyland’s Rider Switch?

Disneyland’s Rider Switch (also called Kid Swap, Rider Swap, and Child Swap) is a great tool that Disneyland and Walt Disney World offers to those visiting the park with children of different heights, personalities, and abilities.

Have a kid tall enough for a ride but your baby isn’t? Disneyland’s Rider Switch.

Is one kid into riding thrill rides but the other is not? Disneyland’s Rider Switch.

Rider Switch is when one person stays behind with the child who is unable to ride and the other members of your party ride with the child who is.

Then, after they get off the ride, the adult who stayed behind gets to ride with the child who just rode the ride (and another guest, if desired).

It’s cool because everyone gets a chance to ride and one child gets to ride twice!

Just a note, each leg of the Rider Switch must have an ADULT (18+) in it.

Anyone 17 and under is not eligible to do a Disneyland’s Rider Switch as an adult in the party.

For example, my husband does the first Rider Switch with our oldest while I wait with our youngest – then, he waits with youngest while I ride with oldest.

How Does Disneyland’s Rider Switch Work?

The Rider Switch process is simple. You don’t need any special passes or bands and it works with both the Standby line and Lightning Lane line.

I’ve broken it down by Standby Line and Lightning Lane line for you:

Disneyland’s Rider Switch in the Standby Line

Before getting in the Standby Line, look for a Cast Member with a tablet near the start of the line (sometimes, right next to the Standby and/or Lightning Lane entrances and sometimes a few feet away and off to the side).

OR

Have your entire party (including the child not riding) wait in the Standby Line together.

Once you’re all at the front of the line*:

*at the beginning of the line by Cast Members or have found the special Cast Member with a tablet

Tell a them that you’ll be doing a Rider Switch and show them the child not riding and the adult not riding during the first round.

The second “waiting behind” party will have their tickets or app scanned and the first group will go ahead in the line for the ride.

The party waiting behind will then wait outside of the line for the first party to finish the ride.

Then, the adult in the first party will take a turn and wait with the non-riding child while the adult who waited the first time uses their tickets to take the riding child to the Lightning Lane line for their turn to ride*.

*if the ride does not have a Lightning Lane line, you’ll generally be allowed to board the ride at the exit or another pre-arranged spot – just ask a Cast Member

Disneyland’s Rider Switch in the Lightning Lane Line

Before getting in the Standby Line, look for a Cast Member with a tablet near the start of the line (sometimes, right next to the Standby and/or Lightning Lane entrances and sometimes a few feet away and off to the side).

OR

Have your entire party (including the child not riding) wait in the Lightning Lane Line together.

Once you’re all at the front of the line*:

*at the beginning of the line by Cast Members or have found the special Cast Member with a tablet

Tell a them that you’ll be doing a Rider Switch and show them the child not riding and the adult not riding during the first round.

Everyone in the party will have their tickets scanned (either paper or via the app) and then the first group will go ahead in the Lightning Lane line for the ride.

The party waiting behind will then wait outside of the line for the first party to finish the ride.

At that time, the adult in the first party will then wait with the non-riding child while the adult who waited the first time uses their tickets to take the riding child to the Lightning Lane line for their turn to ride.

*if the ride does not have a Lightning Lane line, you’ll generally be allowed to board the ride at the exit or another pre-arranged spot – just ask a Cast Member

Why Do Disneyland’s Rider Switch At All?

You don’t have to do Disneyland’s Rider Switch.

There have been plenty of times that we’ve just had one person ride with our older child and then moved on from that ride.

However, Rider Switch is AWESOME if all the adults want a chance to ride and/or you have a kid who likes to ride attractions twice.

My oldest LOVES getting to ride everything twice in a row and my husband and I really enjoy getting a chance to experience them with her.

How Many People Can Do Disneyland’s Rider Switch?

One of the best things about Disneyland’s Rider Switch is that each party can have three people – the adult in the party, the riding child, and another person.

While my husband and I don’t use this when we travel as a family (he goes with our oldest first and then I go with her while we take turns waiting with our youngest), on a recent trip to Disneyland, I used this feature to it’s max!

I visited Disneyland with the kids, my niece, and friends and being able to send two adults on the ride with my oldest, then switch out for two other adults, was really fun.

This is also a nice feature for those of you with more than one kid who can ride – two kids get to ride twice!

Which Attractions Use Disneyland’s Rider Switch?

Here’s a complete list of Disneyland rides that allow Rider Switch and here’s a complete list of Walt Disney World rides that allow Rider Switch.

Hope that helps y’all plan your next Disney adventure!

Let me know if you have any additional Rider Switch tips in the comments.

Here’s how Rider Switch at Walt Disney World works!