Some thrill rides have a minimum height, so your little one can’t go on them. Rather than giving up, Rider Switch (the name Disneyland Paris uses, formerly Baby Switch, and you’ll sometimes hear baby swap) lets both adults ride one after the other: one looks after the child while the other rides. The big plus: the second adult doesn’t have to queue all over again. And it’s free.
How does it work, step by step?
Speak to the Cast Member at the ride entrance
With the whole family, child included, say that you’d like to use Rider Switch. The Cast Member explains how it works on that particular ride.
The first adult queues and rides
Meanwhile, the second adult waits to one side with the child who can’t ride.
You swap when the first adult comes back
When the first adult returns, they take over looking after the child.
The second adult rides through a quicker entrance
Then it’s their turn to ride, without going through the whole regular queue again, using the entrance the Cast Member shows them.
Who can use it?
Rider Switch requires at least two responsible adults: a parent on their own with a child who’s too small can’t use it, since someone has to look after the child while the other rides.
On the second go (through the quicker entrance), Rider Switch is valid for 2 people at most. Other details (whether or not you’re given a ticket) can vary from ride to ride. The easiest thing is to ask the Cast Member at the entrance, who will tell you how it works that day.
Which rides it’s useful for
Rider Switch applies to rides with a minimum height, where your little one can’t ride but the parents want to. That’s typically the case on thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, Hyperspace Mountain, Crush’s Coaster or The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. To find out whether your child can ride, check ride height restrictions.
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Rider Switch, Single Rider, Premier Access: don’t mix them up
| Service | Paid? | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Rider Switch | Free | Both adults ride in turn when a child is too small, without queuing again |
| Single Rider | Free | Ride on your own, filling empty single seats, for a shorter wait |
| Premier Access | Paid | A fast track, useful on busy days for the big rides |
Three different services
Further reading
To plan a visit with a little one, see my guide to visiting Disneyland Paris with a baby, and to save time in the queues, Single Rider and my tips for shorter queues.
Frequently asked questions
01 How does Rider Switch (formerly Baby Switch) work and is it free?
It’s a free service that lets you take turns on a ride with a minimum height without queuing again. You need at least two adults: one stays with the child who is too small while the other rides, then you swap through a quick access entrance. Ask the Cast Member at the ride entrance. Don’t confuse it with Single Rider, which lets you ride alone by filling single empty seats.
02 From what age or height can you use the Rider Switch?
The Rider Switch (formerly Baby Switch) doesn’t depend on age but on your child’s height compared with the ride. As soon as they’re too short for a ride’s minimum height, you can use it: one parent stays with them while the other rides, then you swap without queuing again. The height requirements are listed in my guide to the minimum height for each ride.
