Angry, restless guests in Soarin' queue

[PocahontasLookALike]

The que area is rather institutional! I felt like I was in line for the cafeteria in elementary school!

The ride does load rather quickly and you are correct that when one portion is broken down, it will cause a backup.

We were at Disney Studios when ToT posted a 35 minute wait, so we got in line, within 35 minutes we moved maybe 20 feet in line. Apparently they were only operating ONE elevator and our 35 minute wait turned into a 90 minute wait! Luckily we were able to sit on the planters and had lots of funny people to chat with!

 

[bicker]

The que area is rather institutional!

Is the entire queue area similarly institutional? Or is there a part of the queue that is more well-themed? If so, that makes a lot of sense: New attractions are a lot more popular, so they need a lot more queue area than older attractions. So there is a need for more queuing area for newer attractions, but there is a clear recognition that much of the queuing area is effectively temporary.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Is the entire queue area similarly institutional? Or is there a part of the queue that is more well-themed? If so, that makes a lot of sense: New attractions are a lot more popular, so they need a lot more queue area than older attractions. So there is a need for more queuing area for newer attractions, but there is a clear recognition that much of the queuing area is effectively temporary.

I was in the FP--but they had a lot of HUGE pictures with trivia on them I think...but it wasn't very stimulating--and waiting a long time in the line could be a bore, I imagine. I had plenty of time looking at them walking in the FP line. It is a long walk to from the entrance until you get to the queing area. Reminded me a lot of the walk up in Spaceship Earth and Space Mountain--only Brown.

The whole building remodel looks very institutionalized and earthy and bland. I don't understand the CM costumes in the food court area....but it reminded me of the Dancing mushrooms from Fantasia--I have no idea why.

 

[palmtreegirl]

We were there shortly the day after the official opening and they were having a problem with the wait times. the time posted said 35 minutes and somebody was loudly upset that they had been waiting 90 minutes already and still had a ways to go. We had a FP and still waited 25 minutes.

On our second ride, 2 days later we were going to wait in the stand by but we decided againt it and got FP instead. While waiting to ride with them we heard the same type of complaints as the first time. I guess there still working out all the kinks.

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

I visited Soarin' at DisneyLand when it first opened and the que area is nice, so I don't know if it being new has anything to do with it not being very stimulating. I guess there's not a lot to complain about since it is indoors and air conditioned!

 

[Pig Pen]

I used it on May 11th, I walked through the que and was 3rd in line. I asked the cm about the wait time, he said he didn't know since it was the first day they were using it.

We used the single rider line in April when we went. We had visited Soarin during the AP/DVC preview on April 15-17, then the ride was open to the general public for the rest of the week, including fastpasses and single rider line.

We walked on as single riders when the general line wait time was 90 minutes.

 

[disneyphanatic1911]

DD and I rode Soarin today. As we made our way through the fastpass lane, I heard several people say "How come they get to go ahead of everyone else?". It is amazing, but many people don't understand fastpass.

Shhhhh don't tell them. Makes it easier for people like us who aren't too lazy to read

 

[Rhoda]

We were there last Wednesday, and even with Fastpasses had to wait about 30 minutes. I figured there would be waits since it was a new attraction, but 30-40 minutes with Fastpasses is a long time. It was well worth the wait though!

 

[dani0622]

Just wanted to mention two things:
Someone mentioned about the alcohol issue at Epcot. Went on Keys to the Kingdom tour and our guide said the least fav park for characters to work at is, you guessed it, Epcot, because of the alcohol factor.

And about fast passes and wait times...noticed in April that many wait times for us were not accurate. For example, ToT said 20 minutes, waited more like 45 minutes. I wouldn't normally mind but when you have fast passes for something else this could be a problem with timing. We also noticed maybe with some rides too many fast passes being given out. For example, Dinosaur at AK had a stand -by time of 15 minutes, we ended up waiting 45 minutes. They kept letting fast pass people on and then no more than one family at a time every several minutes from stand by line. It was getting really bad. I think another CM sensed it at one point and kept checking on lines and finally came out and let a ton of stand-bys on.

 

[Disbug]

Does Soarin have a single riders line? If so, does anyone know the wait time for it?

While SOARIN' does have a single rider line, I have noticed that it has never been open when we went to ride. It especially seems to be closed when there are long waits (posted wait time was 100 mins). What I've seen the CM's do instead, is to ask people in the line (after FP and STDBY riders have been blended) if there are any single riders (or parties of 2) if they are looking to fill the spaces.

 

[safetymom]

I like the theming in queue for Soarin. I think the large screen with trivia and photos makes it fit in well with the Land. I do prefer the theming at DL better but at least the line is inside with air conditioning.

 

[Flower4Pwr]

The problem with wait times is in the way they determine them. They get the time by handing a guest a little card which starts a timer. Then when the guest gets to the loading area they hand the card to the loading cast member which will stop the time clock. So that means that if the person got on the line when the wait says 30 minutes, but it took him 90 minutes to get to the loading area, then everyone behind him for 90 minutes is going to think it's only 30 minutes and the line will quickly build up to PAST the 90 minutes he had to wait.
Wait times are kinda unreliable and I usually ask the cast member who is standing at the fast pass line whether it is accurate and when was the last time it was updated. They will usually tell you flat out if there is a problem with the ride or if it's an old time and the wait is actually longer/shorter. Also if it hasn't been updated recently I'll offer to carry the card through the line for them. Since I have to wait anyway, minus well help out!!

 

[seashoreCM]

If a portion of a ride breaks down or if a large crowd suddenly descends on a ride (such as after a parade) the wait time can change dramatically and quickly and the measuring system (the cards with lanyards) can't keep up to date.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Luv2Roam]

I have only seen the single rider's line open once.

 

[TDC Nala]

Fast Pass is only way to go with Soarin.

It is now. I was told this morning by a CM at the queue that Soarin will no longer have a single riders line - it wasn't working out as planned. I don't have any confirmation on that, just what the CM working the queue said. They have a sign, but it was dark, and the line was chained off.