How to Use Rider Switch at Disneyland Like a Pro

Most of the attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure don't have height requirements. Indeed, Disney parks are among the most kid and baby-friendly parks on the planet. It's possible that you could skip every ride with a height requirement at Disneyland and still have a full day — and a great time! Still, we know that the rides with height requirements are also some of the most amazing and popular at the parks. There's no way Tad would let us head to the Disneyland parks and not ride Radiator Springs Racers or Indiana Jones Adventure. Thankfully, Disneyland offers Rider Switch for this very reason! But what is it? Here's all you need to know about Rider Switch at Disneyland.

Hop To

• Rider Switch Overview
• How Does Rider Switch Work?
• When Can I Use Rider Switch?
• Rider Switch Tips

FAQs

• What is Rider Switch at Disneyland? An adult can wait with non-riders while the rest of the party rides. After that, the waiting adult can take their turn.
• Can the waiting adult bring a companion? Yes. Just scan the first waiting adult and another person in the party when you set up the Rider Switch.
• Do I need to have a child to use Rider Switch? Nope! Any party with a member unable to ride an attraction and wait alone qualifies for Rider Switch.
• How old does the supervising companion have to be? 14 years or older.
• Is Rider Switch included in a Disneyland ticket? It is! And you can save even more money by purchasing discount Disneyland tickets through Undercover Tourist!

Rider Switch Overview

With Disneyland Rider Switch, families with kids too young to ride can take turns so older riders don't miss out. An adult (or supervising companion 14 years or older) can wait with non-riders while the rest of the party rides. And then, after that, the waiting adult can take their turn. BONUS: They don't have to ride alone. The waiting adult can bring someone with them for a maximum party size of two.

We love Rider Switch at Disneyland because it means that everyone who wants to ride gets to ride. However, it still takes a little prep work on the part of the parent. Back in her younger days, Lily didn't even want to enter the queue for a ride she thought was going to be scary — no thank you, Space Mountain! We'd have to reassure her over and over that she wasn't going to ride. Yes, there were froggy tears. Now, she knows the drill and is often more upset that she still doesn't meet the height requirement! If you're heading to an unfamiliar park with a little one, prepare them in advance for what is going to happen when they're too little or don't want to ride.

How Does Rider Switch Work at Disneyland?

Here is the general process of using Rider Switch at Disneyland. Please note that exact experiences may vary per attraction.

• When the rest of the family wants to ride an attraction that Lily can't or doesn't want to ride, we approach the cast member in the queue. Then, we let them know we want to do Rider Switch.
• Our group is divided into two parties. "Party One" includes those riding the attraction first, while "Party Two" consists of non-riders and their supervising guest (and perhaps one of the riders from Party One who might want to go again). Party One would be Leap and Tad. Party Two is Lily and me, but also Tad, since he is going to ride with me again once he and Leap return.

• The guests in Party Two who will ride later can include a maximum of two people. They will each have their admission tickets scanned. We'll have Tad and my tickets scanned as part of Party Two. The cast member will put an extra return time on our park tickets based on the current wait time. If there is a 30-minute wait, our return time will begin in 30 minutes. Lily and I will wait outside the attraction or enjoy a nearby attraction while Leap and Tad wait in line to experience the attraction.
• After Leap and Tad experience the attraction, we switch. Leap watches Lily.
• Once it's the return time for Party Two, Tad and I will go back to the attraction entrance (e.g., Lightning Lane entrance) or the attraction exit and have our admission pass/ticket re-scanned by a cast member for the Rider Switch entitlement. At this point, we'll enter the appropriate attraction return line and board without waiting in the regular queue.
• When you link your tickets to the Disneyland app, you can view the Rider Switch return time in the app under "My Day." (Having it in the app is great for those who froget return times easily).

When Can I Use Rider Switch at Disneyland?

Rider Switch is offered if a member of your party:

• Does not meet the height requirement or does not want to ride, but can't wait outside the queue alone.
• Has a service animal that cannot board the attraction and does not want to use a provided kennel.
• Is unable to experience the queue due to the nature of the queue at a particular attraction, considering the circumstances and the person's specific needs.

Note that just because your little one can ride doesn't mean they're necessarily ready to ride. Even some of the rides without height requirements can be intimidating to young riders (here's looking at you, Haunted Mansion). Rides, such as Toy Story Midway Mania, are much easier to navigate when you are not holding a child on your lap. Thankfully, you can ask to do Rider Switch for these attractions too. This is another reason we like to watch YouTube videos of rides. We also do this to check out the ride configuration. That way, we'll know whether all four of us can ride together, or whether we may have to split into two pairs.

Rider Switch Tips

Here are a few hopful tips for using Rider Switch at Disneyland:

• No need to wait outside the queue. Relax in a comfortable spot or grab a snack while you wait. Just make sure your party informs you when they've finished riding.
• You can have more than one Rider Switch return time at a time.
• Party Two can bring one person with them (even for a re-ride) while Party One waits with those who are not riding.
• The supervising companion must be 14 years or older.
• Rider Switch is available at most attractions throughout Disneyland Resort — just ask a cast member!
• Here is the official process on the Disneyland website.

We hope this guide to Rider Switch at Disneyland has been helpful to you in planning your visit to Disneyland! Have you tried this tool at the parks? Let us know in the comments. To save some green on Disneyland tickets, purchase through Undercover Tourist, an authorized ticket seller for over 25 years! 

Related: Complete Guide to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Height Requirements

Related: Top Kids Foods at Disneyland Even Your Pickiest Eater Will Love

Hoppy planning!