Disney overestimates ride waiting times

[tadi]

More often than not, disney parks line time will be an overestimate by 20 - 30%.

 

[dalt01]

More often than not, disney parks line time will be an overestimate by 20 - 30%.

and you got this information where? you should be able to back it up. if not, well........................

 

[DisneyWisher]

sometimes it underestimates them. Standby at Test Track said 30 mins we waited over 100. Granted we are thrilled when the time states 30 mins and we only wait 20 but its rare. Never do we go with the thought they are overestimating.

 

[TillyMarigold]

I was an attractions CM for a couple of summers. We were trained to always add 15 minutes to the projected wait. This is because if things go as expected, guests get in 15 minutes earlier than they thought they would, and they are happy. If something goes wrong, they will probably get in at the time you told them, so they will at least not be angry (usually).

I don't know if posted FastPass estimated stand-by waits go by that criteria or not, but when a CM tells you how long the wait is, you can usually (*usually*) expect it to be less. Certainly you can count on it being the absolute most you will wait unless something goes wrong (ride breaks down).

 

[tadi]

and you got this information where? you should be able to back it up. if not, well........................

By first hand experience of 8 days of visit (June 15 - 23, 2009), HS 2 days, MK 2 days, AK 1 day, EP 2 days.

 

[yulilin3]

Usually that is the case, we went to DHS this past saturday the wait time for TSM was 60min, we decided to make the line and ended up waiting only 40min.

 

[mollygirl13]

I have *almost* always found this to be true on my past trips to the World!

 

[tadi]

I was an attractions CM for a couple of summers. We were trained to always add 15 minutes to the projected wait. This is because if things go as expected, guests get in 15 minutes earlier than they thought they would, and they are happy. If something goes wrong, they will probably get in at the time you told them, so they will at least not be angry (usually).

I don't know if posted FastPass estimated stand-by waits go by that criteria or not, but when a CM tells you how long the wait is, you can usually (*usually*) expect it to be less. Certainly you can count on it being the absolute most you will wait unless something goes wrong (ride breaks down).

Exactly my experience. I just wanted to post this as its own thread, because, I haven't seen this tip anywhere on this forum. This tip is useful to plan your rides specially near parade time, so that you can squeze in the ride just before the parade.

 

[Disney_Dawg]

Isn't that a good thing? You end up spending less time in line than you thought you would and then you're in a good mood

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I was an attractions CM for a couple of summers. We were trained to always add 15 minutes to the projected wait. This is because if things go as expected, guests get in 15 minutes earlier than they thought they would, and they are happy. If something goes wrong, they will probably get in at the time you told them, so they will at least not be angry (usually).

I don't know if posted FastPass estimated stand-by waits go by that criteria or not, but when a CM tells you how long the wait is, you can usually (*usually*) expect it to be less. Certainly you can count on it being the absolute most you will wait unless something goes wrong (ride breaks down).

And with that said... NEVER bank on it being less time than they told you.

 

[Experiment_626]

I was an attractions CM for a couple of summers. We were trained to always add 15 minutes to the projected wait. This is because if things go as expected, guests get in 15 minutes earlier than they thought they would, and they are happy.

Absolutely. Under-promise and over-deliver -- a basic principle of customer service. Amazing how many companies forget it.

SSB

 

[Racknack]

It has been my experience, over many years of visiting WDW, that estimated wait times almost always posted as longer than they actually turn out to be.

But last time I was at the Magic Kingdom I ran into a major exception. The wait time for the Jungle Cruise was posted at 30 minutes; I asked the CM at the enterance if that 30 minutes was right, and she assured me that it was, so I got in line. (Fast passes were not being issued.)

The actual wait was just under two hours, about 1 3/4 hours.

After riding, as I left the area I looked back at the wait time, and it was still posted at 30 minutes even though the line was now all the way up the stairs leading down to the enterance area.

I did report this experience to guest relations on my way out of the park that evening (a first for me), and the CMs there seemed to think it wasn't important, nor rare. They were polite, but not concerned.

Karnak

(Jungle Cruise: afternoon, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008)

 

[ses1230]

It has been my experience, over many years of visiting WDW, that estimated wait times almost always posted as longer than they actually turn out to be.

But last time I was at the Magic Kingdom I ran into a major exception. The wait time for the Jungle Cruise was posted at 30 minutes; I asked the CM at the enterance if that 30 minutes was right, and she assured me that it was, so I got in line. (Fast passes were not being issued.)

The actual wait was just under two hours, about 1 3/4 hours.

After riding, as I left the area I looked back at the wait time, and it was still posted at 30 minutes even though the line was now all the way up the stairs leading down to the enterance area.

I did report this experience to guest relations on my way out of the park that evening (a first for me), and the CMs there seemed to think it wasn't important, nor rare. They were polite, but not concerned.

Karnak

(Jungle Cruise: afternoon, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008)

I have noticed that this happens a lot with Peter Pan also, actual wait much longer that posted. Seems like only a couple attractions have that problem, luckily.

I love it when the line moves faster that I expect!

 

[SFD998]

The way I look at it is if I wait the amount of time that is posted then I knew what to expect. If I wait less then I am happy. Certain rides I never assume that the wait is accurate (Soarin for example) and I usually grab a fast pass for them instead of waiting.

 

[grimley1968]

In my experience the last few years, the posted wait times have been very accurate, for the most part. The places where it was most accurate were rides where CMs were continually updating the wait time postings by having guests carry those lanyards through the line and timing how long it takes for those lanyards to reach the CM at the end of the line. I've seen rides have shorter and longer wait times than the posted times.

I never get in a line assuming the wait will be shorter than the posted time. Respectfully, that is not a good planning tip. The better tip is to assume at least the posted wait time, and maybe add 10-15 minutes in case something goes haywire on the ride.

I have noticed that (usually) the wait times for some of the longer lines are updated during parade times.

 

[dalt01]

By first hand experience of 8 days of visit (June 15 - 23, 2009), HS 2 days, MK 2 days, AK 1 day, EP 2 days.

thats just the point. i was there june 13th to 20th, mostly likely saw each other, i was the guy in the shorts and t shirt with white sneakers, i fournd the wait times to be pretty close. now, we work the fastpass system pretty hard so we were in minimal standby lines. it is so subjective. you get in a line thats moving well, i get in that same line a half hour later and it is not moving well. the only thing i know for sure is if you stay in the line long enough you will eventually get on the ride.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

At the end of the day, posted wait times seem to be a lot longer than actual.

Example - recently the posted wait time on Midway Mania was 70 minutes at 9:30 pm. Actual wait time was 20.

I've often wondered if this is to intentionally deter folks from slipping into the line at the last minute, causing the ride operators to work past the scheduled closing time.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

thats just the point. i was there june 13th to 20th, mostly likely saw each other, i was the guy in the shorts and t shirt with white sneakers, i fournd the wait times to be pretty close. now, we work the fastpass system pretty hard so we were in minimal standby lines. it is so subjective. you get in a line thats moving well, i get in that same line a half hour later and it is not moving well. the only thing i know for sure is if you stay in the line long enough you will eventually get on the ride.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

While for most attractions the statement is true. Disney does err on the side of caution when it comes to wait times. Still it is not a guarantee. I have seen it go the opposite way too many times. I'm familar with the queues enough to know when the posted wait times are unrealistic.

However......

Peter Pan is the worst! Do not ride Peter Pan standby unless it is first thing in the morning. Get a Fastpass. Even if the line looks reasonable, don't get in it. It is a low capacity ride, and when the FP line backs up, it is possible for the Standbyline not to budge for 15 min or more.

 

[dalt01]

At the end of the day, posted wait times seem to be a lot longer than actual.

Example - recently the posted wait time on Midway Mania was 70 minutes at 9:30 pm. Actual wait time was 20.

I've often wondered if this is to intentionally deter folks from slipping into the line at the last minute, causing the ride operators to work past the scheduled closing time.

sometimes they use a system called "stacking" on rides with indoor and outdoor queues where the whole line is outside making it look longer than it is. they use it for space mtn in the early morning to defray some of the crowd that rushes there.