What hours does this run? We are considering going to either disneyword or disneyland and have a 4 year old that's 36 inchs tall and a 9 year old. The 4 year old obviously can't ride the coasters and such. We would like to ride the coasters but were not sure how to go about doing it.

Thanks
Mike

Can't answer your direct question - but they do have a "Kid Swap" at both parks that can be used.

You go up to the first CM at an attraction and ask for a kid swap - 1 adult and 9 year old ride height-restricted attraction, other adult stays with 4 year old. Then (or later in the day) adults 'switch places' and get to use the FP entrance (or alternative if there is no FP) to ride the attraction. Bonus for the 9 year old that they get to ride twice!

I recommend that you stick with the kid swap, and keep the family together in the parks. I suppose you could devote an evening to doing the coasters and other rides with a height requirement, but, very likely, your younger child will be unhappy if he is parked in the kid club, while your older child gets to go out with you. I understand that the kid's clubs are great, in fact, we plan two brief "dates" by ourselves on our next vacation, and our two kids will go together to a kid's club. One time will be in the same hotel where we are having dinner, the other at the hotel where we are staying, and we will be in the general area. The kids are totally on-board with the idea (I think they could use some time away from us as well as the other way 'round). That said, my younger daughter (age 5) would go ballistic if we dropped her off at the club, and took her older sister (age 8) along with us. If you decide on some adult time, plan for both kids to go to the club. Otherwise, use the kid swap, or split up with the kids, and one parent goes with the older kid, while the other does something with the younger child.

What hours does this run? We are considering going to either disneyword or disneyland and have a 4 year old that's 36 inchs tall and a 9 year old. The 4 year old obviously can't ride the coasters and such. We would like to ride the coasters but were not sure how to go about doing it.

I echo the previous posts about Rider Switch passes.

To answer your question: At Disneyland there's one service - Pinocchio's Workshop. It's only open in the evenings. You must be a guest on-property to use it. If you stay at the GCH you can make reservations ahead of time. If you stay at DLH or PPH, you can make same day reservations if they're available. (ETA: The minimum age for Pincchio's Workshop is 5, so your 4-y/o would be too young.)

But I think the Rider Switch Pass is a far superior option. There are actually far fewer restricted attractions than not.

Adrienne

Kids programs at WDW run at night only-- I think from 6 pm to midnight (but I may be slightly off on the hours).

If you need sitting during the day, there are agencies you can use. We've used Fairy Godmothers (but not in a few years) and always had positive experiences with them.

HTH.

Definitely consider splitting up for awhile. My kids love one on one time with either parent doing only what they want to do and not having to compromise with the older or younger sibling. My 5 year old could ride Small World 3 times in a day if not more, my 8 year old can only stand one, etc.

We used the Kids Club at WDW WL, the Cub's Den, and our 4 yo son loved it. The hours were 4 pm to midnight. They had movies, treats, computers with really cool video games, and lots of food. (In fact, dinner is included in the price). It is set up much like a mini-preschool. I am not sure how your four year old would handle being left while your nine year old got to go.. our son is an only child. Another option to consider is a babysitter that goes with you. They are available, the cost is the same per hour as the Kids Clubs, plus you have to pay a transportation fee and buy any meals. The babysitter could take your 4 year old to a nearby kids attraction while you, hubby and the 9 yo ride a coaster or such. For example, in MGM at WDW the sitter and 4 yo go to the "Honey I shrunk the kids" set while the others go on Tower of Terror. Ask the concierge at your hotel as soon as you check in. We are considering this option ourseles for our trip in September.

:geek:We may have the opportunity to dine at Club 33 while at DLR in Nov. We don't want to take our 3 yr old DS or 7 yr DS (i am not even sure if you can take kids there) What would you recommend for child care. Does Disney offer any thing off site? I am not sure I would feel comfortable with a service other than Disney. I am a very paranoid parent.

:geek:We may have the opportunity to dine at Club 33 while at DLR in Nov. We don't want to take our 3 yr old DS or 7 yr DS (i am not even sure if you can take kids there) What would you recommend for child care. Does Disney offer any thing off site? I am not sure I would feel comfortable with a service other than Disney. I am a very paranoid parent.You can take them, but you might enjoy it more without them. A couple options. When mine were little, there was a list Disneyland Hotel gave me of sitters. They came to the room and watched my youngest, while we took the older 2 out. The other one recommended a few times was Fullerton Child Care. Someone posted a month or so back about how they hired someone who actually went to the park with them and the kids. You could arrange it so while you are at Club 33, the sitter takes the boys to Fantasyland or something. And an option we used frequently while my kids were young, we took my sisters. I am the oldest, and there is about a 12 year gap. So, they were old enough to watch them in a hotel room while we did dinner.

Does Disney offer any thing off site? I am not sure I would feel comfortable with a service other than Disney. I am a very paranoid parent.

As I posted earlier, there's only one Disney operated service in the DLR area.

I think Fullerton Child Care is supposed to very carefully screen their sitters. I've never used them but you could always call them and ask them what their screening process is.

Adrienne

Thanks for the info. We might book a room at an on site hotel just for the occasion, and then use the child care in GCH. But I will look into the Fullerton child care.:)

Thanks for the info. We might book a room at an on site hotel just for the occasion, and then use the child care in GCH. But I will look into the Fullerton child care.:)

Your 3-y/o will be too young for Pinocchio's Workshop so if you're booking on site for PW, keep that in mind.

Adrienne

Thanks for your input. Do I need a special pass for the switch ride. If so where do I locate this pass.

Thanks
Mike

Thanks for your input. Do I need a special pass for the switch ride. If so where do I locate this pass.

Thanks
Mike

Just go up to the first cast member at an attraction with a height requirement with your whole party, and ask for the pass. It looks a lot like a fastpass, but doesn't have a time on it, just a date (or at least the ones at WDW had the date on them).

It looks a lot like a fastpass, but doesn't have a time on it, just a date (or at least the ones at WDW had the date on them).

At Disneyland it's much bigger than a fastpass (about a quarter sheet). There's no date on them but they have other "code" systems so they can tell if you got the pass that day or not.

Adrienne

On a fastpass attraction what line do you use?

Thanks
Mike

On a fastpass attraction what line do you use?

Thanks
Mike

For the 'first ride' you use whichever line is appropriate (i.e., if you have fast passes, use that, if not, wait in standby). The second ride (using the kid swap pass) you generally use the fastpass line if there is one.

When you get the rider switch pass, the CM will explain how to return for that particular location - if they don't then feel free to ask.

Like Drince said, you can use either line, fast pass or the standby line for the first ride, but you will need to have fast passes for the first ride to use the Fast Pass line. The second ride you only need the rider switch pass.

Adrienne

Can't answer your direct question - but they do have a "Kid Swap" at both parks that can be used.

You go up to the first CM at an attraction and ask for a kid swap - 1 adult and 9 year old ride height-restricted attraction, other adult stays with 4 year old. Then (or later in the day) adults 'switch places' and get to use the FP entrance (or alternative if there is no FP) to ride the attraction. Bonus for the 9 year old that they get to ride twice!

Boy, I wish I'd known that when we went in Nov. last year with our 10 year old and 4 year old. :) Every time I have read about the child swap as of late, I've thought it to mean only the Mom or Dad could swap, and they'd have to ride on their own, which I would hate. If our 10 year old could come along with us, that would be great, as, like you say, he'd get to go on the ride twice. Do they hand you a child swap pass when you speak with them at the ride, or do they just remember you? Thanks! Also - the rider switch pass -that one allows the second parent [after the first one has gone on the ride] to go into the fastpass line?

Do they hand you a child swap pass when you speak with them at the ride, or do they just remember you? Thanks! Also - the rider switch pass -that one allows the second parent [after the first one has gone on the ride] to go into the fastpass line?

Yes, the hand you a physical piece of paper pass. It's coded so that when you return later, they know you got it that same day.

The first parent and the 10-y/o would wait in the regular line together. If they have fast passes, they can use the Fast Pass line.

The second parent and the 4-y/o may not stand in line with them (at Disneyland) but can go do other things while they ride - get a snack, ride a nearby ride, go to the bathroom, etc.

When the first set get off the ride, the second parent and 10-y/o can return with the rider switch pass. If the ride has fast pass, then they may be directed to use the Rider Switch as a Fast Pass and use that line. Not every ride has it, however (such as Matterhorn,) so when you get the Rider Switch Pass, the CM will tell you where to go to use it.

Adrienne

Yes, the hand you a physical piece of paper pass. It's coded so that when you return later, they know you got it that same day.

The first parent and the 10-y/o would wait in the regular line together. If they have fast passes, they can use the Fast Pass line.

The second parent and the 4-y/o may not stand in line with them (at Disneyland) but can go do other things while they ride - get a snack, ride a nearby ride, go to the bathroom, etc.

When the first set get off the ride, the second parent and 10-y/o can return with the rider switch pass. If the ride has fast pass, then they may be directed to use the Rider Switch as a Fast Pass and use that line. Not every ride has it, however (such as Matterhorn,) so when you get the Rider Switch Pass, the CM will tell you where to go to use it.

Adrienne

YOU ROCK!!! Thanks so much for the detailed and informative reply! :) Your reply was very fast, thanks so much! This trip we'll be taking in November will be so much fun! :)