How Does Rider Switch Work For Disney Genie+ and Pay-Per-Ride Attractions?

If you’re headed to Disney World with small children but you’d still like to hop on attractions that they may not be able to ride just yet, you’ll likely want to take advantage of Disney’s Rider Switch.

Slinky Dog Dash

This service allows adults to enjoy the rides that their kids aren’t tall enough for yet by having one adult wait with the child(ren) while the other rides. So, once the first adult gets off the ride, the other one can hop on without having to wait in the standby line. And, with the introduction of Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections in Disney World, we’re bringing you everything you need to know about how Rider Switch works with Lightning Lanes (aka the old FastPass lanes).

In order to take advantage of Rider Switch with Disney’s new paid services to “skip the lines” at popular attractions, all of the guests in your party planning to ride must purchase access to the Lightning Lane at the attraction (whether it’s through Disney Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selection).

Rider Switch and DAS Services at Space Mountain

If only one person in your party has purchased access to the Lightning Lane, Disney will have the first group ride the attraction through the standby line and then have the second group (of up to two people) go through the Lightning Lane. So, you’re really not getting much of an advantage if only one person in your Rider Switch party is purchasing the new service(s).

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

It’s also important to remember that Disney recently updated its Rider Switch policy to allow only one additional person to ride with the second adult who waited (it used to be three). And, this remains the same for using Rider Switch at Lightning Lanes.

Expedition Everest

Additionally, you’ll want to be sure that you’ve got your whole party with you before heading to the Lightning Lane return entrance to set up Rider Switch, as Cast Members must see the child in your party. This has always been the rule, but we noticed that it is being more heavily enforced in the parks now.

Rider Switch for Flight of Passage

So, the good news is that you’re still able to take advantage of Rider Switch if you’re hoping to “skip the lines” at any of the popular attractions included in Disney’s new paid services. Just be sure that you’ve purchased the Lightning Lane access for everyone in your party!

And, we’ll continue to bring you all the latest Disney Genie news and updates, so be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for the latest!

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Have you ever used Rider Switch in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

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2 Replies to “How Does Rider Switch Work For Disney Genie+ and Pay-Per-Ride Attractions?”

  1. Kala we are down there now with a 12,9,7 and 4 year old and I completely agree with your sentiments

    Disney has sucked the fun out of this vacation for a large family

    I now have to choose between kids on rides that my 40″ 4 year old can’t get on, we spent most of our day in line bc Genie pass would be an extra $90 everyday, which we can’t afford

    This is our first year staying on property, we used to rent a house nearby. We decided to stay on property last year when we figured we would have better chance to get early FastPass 30 days in advance and better dining. But we found now that most of the character dining is awful now anyway with Covid and the 30 day fast pass is done. It’s barely worth the thousands extra to stay in property

    That being said if you try to save $ staying off property I don’t see how you can ever get on some rides being that property guests have early entry times. The major attractions are already a 90 min wait by the time general public is allowed in.
    And even if you do buy Genie pass, your delayed hour access to book lightning lane leaves you with only late afternoon or early evening times for your first ride of the day. Meaning maybe you get 1-2 rides for $90.

    It’s awful and we were loyal to Disney for a decade. But I think this will have us searching for a new game in town!!

  2. The more and more I read about Disneys new updates the more and more I dont want to come back. Ive been trying to figure out if a 4th Disney vacation will be as fun as the last three. I’ve finally gotten over the fact that I will be paying way more money now for a family of 6. But I just dont know how it can be a family vacation when i can only pick one of my kids to do a rider switch with. I have a 1 year old that will hold my 8, 7 and 4 year old back from doing some of there favorite rides. I can guarantee that there will be a fight among my kids. I’ve always enjoyed the system in the past and how well it worked out for the entire family. Disney is about spending time together as a family not choose between 3 kids on who gets to ride with you.