Single Rider and Baby Swap passes allow parents to enjoy rides when they have children to little to ride the attraction. You get your single rider or baby swap pass from the Cast Member that stands at the beginning of the line, at the exit or in the FastPass area. With both of these options one parent watches the toddler while the other rides, then they switch off. On our trip we used single rider passes a lot when Alex was taking his nap in the stroller.
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We personally have never used Child Swap since we have found the combination of Single Rider and Fastpasses so easy to use. For us, it works well to use a Fastpass for an attraction such as Indiana Jones while one of us takes our son on another ride.
I do recommend child swap though if you have two adults that definitely want to ride an attraction and there is no single rider offered.
Child Swap
Child swap is available on every attraction at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. With a child swap the first person, after getting their child swap pass, will actually stand in the queue (either the FastPass or the standby line). After the first person has completed the ride, the pass is then given to the non-rider who will enter through the exit to enjoy the attraction without having to wait in line. The benefit of child swap, in addition to being available on all attractions, is that with this pass a second person can ride each time. If you have an older child he or she can ride the attraction with both parents.
Single Rider
Single Riders enter the attraction through the exit or through a special single rider queue. (The Cast Member can direct you.) When you reach the area where they load the ride you will wait until they need someone to fill an empty seat. This can be very quick, or it can take a longer time, but usually shorter than the FastPass line. At SplashMountain we rarely had to wait over 5 minutes. We feel this is the best option if there are just 2 adults and a small child. Unfortunately there are a limited number of rides that have single rider lines.
2004 Update - On this trip we used it even more… especially in California Adventure. One parent would take Alex to the Redwood Creek Trail Challenge for an hour or 2 while the other rode Grizzly and Soarin'.
2007 Update – we still use single rider frequently since Alex is afraid of some of the rides that do offer single rider. Our favorites to Single Ride are still SplashMountain and Grizzly River Run.
Attractions that offer Single Rider
Splash Mountain - to use the single rider option on this attraction, you will go through the exit. You will take the stairs over the water and next to the regular line at the loading area, will be a single rider line. Anytime they need 1 person to fill a log, they will pull from the single rider line. Both my husband and I used the single rider option on SplashMountain in November, and neither of us waited for more than 5 minutes. It is a great way to enjoy the ride quickly and get back to your child. (2004 Update - The Winnie the Pooh ride and the characters from Winnie the Pooh are right by SplashMountain. We switch off on parent riding Splash while the other took Alex on the his ride)
Disney's California Adventure has four attractions that have the single rider option.
Grizzly
River
Run - this attraction only offers the single rider option when there is a long wait for the normal queue. To use single rider here, check with the Cast Member at the beginning of the line. This person will let you know if single rider is available at that time, and if so, give you a pass. Once you get your single rider pass, you go up the stairs at the exit. Continue heading through the exit until you reach the boarding area. When you are needed, the loading Cast Member will give you a raft color or number and you are all set.
Soarin' Over California - for single rider, check with the Cast Member at the entrance of the Fastpass queue for a single rider pass. Once obtained you use the FastPass entrance. Some people recommend using FastPass instead of single rider on this very popular attraction. We did use single rider on this in November, and once again neither of us waited at all, getting on the first (next) flight to Soar. In fact, two out of 3 times, we each obtained front row seating.
Maliboomer - for this attraction, you will find a special line to the left of the main queue entrance.
California
Screamin’ – for single rider you get a pass from the Cast Member in the Fastpass distribution area. You will then go through the exit to the Elevator. A Cast Member will send you in groups of 4 or 5 people to wait for a single seat. There is no line here, it is primarily a free for all, so don’t stand there and wait to be told to sit. Instead, when you hear a call for a single rider, start moving.