While waiting for my husband and older kids to ride rides with height restrictions, I have explored which rides are best to ride while waiting for them! It is a great way to keep the kids occupied and happy while waiting for their siblings. If they aren’t napping, or eating a snack, we go ride another ride while waiting for the rest of our family. Luckily, there is usually a ride nearby that doesn’t have long lines and makes this easy to do. Since we usually use fastpasses, it luckily doesn’t take them to long to get through the attractions.
See my tips for Rider Swap here
Here is my list of alternate rides while waiting for rider swap:
Disneyland:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – I usually ride Pirates of the Caribbean. However, the line (for fastpass at least) is usually short enough that it doesn’t take long for them to get through ride, so we often just sit at Rancho del Zocalo and eat a snack. You could also go around the corner and ride some rides in Fantasyland (any without a line)
- Gadget Coaster – this is an easy one! There are lots of things to play with or in at Toon Town. Donald’s Boat, Goofy’s Playhouse, or ride Roger Rabbit’s toon car spin
- Indiana Jones – Jungle Cruise or Tarzan’s Treehouse
- Matterhorn Bobsleds – Any ride in Fantasyland
- Space Mountain – Toy Story Mania
- Star Tours – Toy Story Mania
- Splash Mountain – Winnie the Pooh (since there is never a line, we usually ride 2-3 times in a row!)
California Adventures:
- California Screaming – King Triton’s Carousel or the Little Mermaid. I would love to ride Toy Story Mania, but the line is usually too long…
- Goofy Sky School – Golden Zephyr or Little Mermaid
- Grizzly River Run – Redwood Creek Challenge, Little Mermaid, Red Car Trolley
- Jumpin Jellyfish – Golden Zephyr or Little Mermaid
- Radiator Springs – Mater’s Junkyard, Little Mermaid, or King Triton’s Carousel
- Silly Symphony Swings – Golden Zephyr or Little Mermaid
- Soarin’ Over California – Redwood Creek Challenge, Little Mermaid, Red Car Trolley. This tends to be a long wait (even with fastpasses, it is just a longer ride in general), so you could go all the way over to Bug’s Land or Monster’s Inc as well!
- Tower of Terror – Any of the rides in Bug’s Land or Monster’s Inc
Can you tell the Little Mermaid ride is in the center of the park and easily accessible by most “lands” in California Adventures?!? 🙂
Magic Kingdom:
- Big Thunder Mountain – This ride and Splash Mountain are the hardest because they are off by themselves, are basically a dead-end at the park, and with 2 big rides together with no other exit, it is often packed with people. There are no other rides around. Sometimes, they will have cast members there with coloring pages and tables. There is also a small play area for kids to play in. These are great rides for nap time, or snack time. Otherwise, take a walk over and ride Pirates of the Caribbean or the Magic Carpets.
- Splash Mountain – see above
- Barnstormer – Dumbo or walk over to Fantasyland and ride Little Mermaid, Teacups or Winne the Pooh
- Space Mountain – Tomorrow Land Transit Authority – this is the PERFECT ride for rider swap! Never a line and one ride around is almost exactly perfect for one ride through the fastpass lane at Space Mountain (seriously perfectly timed almost everytime we’ve done it! Everyone gets off their rides at about the same time!). You could also ride Buzz Lightyear if there isn’t much of a line.
Animal Kingdom:
- Dinosaur – TriceraTop Spin
- Expedition Everest – this one is HARD to find another ride or attraction close enough to experience during rider swap. Luckily, when using the fastpass line, it goes VERY fast. Usually, we just have enough time to eat a snack and they are done. Otherwise walk over to TriceraTop Spin or the Boneyard
- Kali River Rapids – Walk through the Maharajah Jungle Trek
- Primeval Whirl – TriceraTop Spin or Boneyard
Epcot:
- Mission: Space – We usually get to sit in the special employee lounge, the “Red Room,” thanks to my husband’s job. However, there is also a play area at the exit of the ride for kids. It is indoor and a great place for them to play. There are other things (like games) to see and do in the whole “exit” area of the ride as well! Disney did this well for families of all ages!
- Soarin’ – This is my favorite Rider Swap – especially since Soarin’ takes forever, even with fastpass! You can ride Living on the Land right next to Soarin’. There had never been a line for it when we are there. Plus, there is Sunshine Seasons where you can get a snack, or there is just lots of indoor seating for you to sit back, relax, and eat your own snacks. Or if they are napping, you can sit, enjoy your own snack inside, and read – plus it is fairly quiet!
- Test Track – There is no other ride nearby that is easily accessible. However, there are lots of different things to look at and play with (real cars!) at the exit of the ride. You could also head over to Innoventions and play as well.
Epcot is my FAVORITE place for rider swap. Thanks to the pavilions, there is always a cool, shaded place to wait out of the elements and luckily, they give you lots of options at the exits of each ride.
Hollywood Studios:
- Rock N Roller Coaster – This and Tower of Terror are difficult because there is nothing around. Your best bet is to do this during nap time, or plan to go during a showing of Disney Junior Live or see the Little Mermaid show.
- Tower of Terror – See above
- Star Tours – See Muppet Vision 3D or play at the Honey I Shrunk the kids play area
Hollywood Studios is my least favorite place for rider swap. Due to lack of rides, there are not many options! Hopefully with the addition of Star Wars and Toy Story Lands, we will get more options! Last time we were there, they had the Frozen Summer open, so we would just go play in the”snow!”
