Somewhere (either here, or in a book) I read that they might not like to completely stop walkways because when rides are stopped, people in vehicles may get out. For those of us with common sense, this makes no sense. But just within the last few days, Splash Mountain was shut down due to this very reason and posters on here actually the witnessed the mother and children jumping from the log.
No opinion on whether this is right or wrong, I just remember reading it and it does make sense regarding safety.
Yes.
That is one big reason. Not long ago, right on the a Theme Parks Board, there was a thread about some people who had gotten out of the Peoplemover when it was stopped for a technical problem. Whether people are doing it because their common sense is not working, misunderstanding or panic, stopping an attraction is a safety concern.
But understand that slowing or stopping the walkway for a belt-driven attraction like HM disrupts the ride experience for ALL of the other visitors already on the ride at that time, it's not just a matter of how it impacts the wait time for those still in line. The story-telling aspect for however-many riders that ride has capacity for is interrupted. The guy in the graveyard scene, the family at the dining room sequence, the kids with the bride in the attic- the story hiccups for all of them if the walkway is stopped, and that erodes the magic a bit.
I would expect that this is a pretty big operational concern to the company, as it directly affects guest experience and satisfaction.
That is true to and WDW has tried different ways to address that issue.
At one point, they made people with disabilities wait until there was a 'batch' to load all at one time. They are still doing that at Spaceship Earth. I guess the idea is that one, possibly longer stop, is better than a bunch of smaller stops.
For those and other reasons, they usually just slow, not stop the moving walkway. Most guests don't actually need a full stop; most just need slowing of the moving walkway.
Then, there is an issue of where the boarding is taking place. My understanding is that CMs at the regular boarding area do not have as much control of the moving walkways as those at the unload area have - wheelchairs and other mobility devices are parked at the unload areas for those attractions, so the people during them need to get on and off at the same place.
So, it's important that people who think they might need to walkway stopped ask at the entrance to the line so they can be at the correct place for boarding. (And find out if it's not possible one, would it be if you come back later).
We also noticed something the last few years that might impact whether/how the walkway is stopped - a CM at the unload area has had a handheld remote control at some attractions. We specifically noticed it at Spaceship Earth and Buzz Lightyear. The CM at both attractions showed it to us and said they would slow the walkway, but could use the remote to stop if they needed to.
The one time that the belt was not even slowed at Buzz, we noticed the CM didn't have it (we noticed after the fact, when it wasn't stopped or even slowed stopped and that made a conversation we heard before we boarded make sense).
