Do people wait in lines anymore?

[JoshuaShaw]

People are willing to kill themselves working overtime to afford the trip, spend hours researching on the internet, stay up until midnight to book their FastPasses, but not willing to spend an hour in line chatting with friends and family to actually reap the reward. This does not compute.

 

[angierae]

It really depends on what you're used to. I'm used to Cedar Point, where 2.5-3 hour waits (for two minute roller coasters) are not uncommon, so there are times I see people balking at 40 minute waits and I am very confused. If you are used to short waits, then 40 minutes will seem ridiculous.

 

[BobC]

Why, after spending all that time and effort, would you want to stand in line ? That is what doesn't compute.

If I want to just stand around and chat with my friends and family, I can do that at home without having to work overtime, or kill myself, or spend hours researching.

I mean, reap the reward ? Never while putting in extra hours at work, or forgoing something else that I want have I said "This will all be with it to wait in line at WDW"

I have no qualms talking to friends and family. I don't want to do it in oppressing heat standing in one spot for 60-120 minutes waiting after being on my feet 14 hours a day. It's apples to oranges....

I come to Disney to have fun, play, and relax. If I can minimize standing in one spot waiting for a ride, I will. Friends and family or not.

 

[AJ1983]

If Im going to Disney I am prepared to wait in line. That being said we do use fastpass, rope drop, and late nights to maximize the # of rides we can do. Also find it convenient when we stop for a drink/bathroom break to check the app for current wait times. We typically do attractions like mickeys philharmagic when the other rides are getting busier, to avoid waits.

 

[NavyDad]

Our trips to WDW have spoiled us for waiting in lines. By using FP, Rope drop, touring plans and cheat sheets we rarely ever wait in line for anything over 30 minutes. We pretty much go during the very crowded summer season.

Now when we go to Cedar Point, Hershey Park, Bush Gardens or just about any other parks we just can't manage the line situation. In the pre disney days it was "normal" for us to wait 1-2 hours in line for a major attraction at a theme park.

The fact that we are able to do that at WDW (and not have to pay the crazy prices for front of line that you pay at some parks) has made other parks a lot less fun for us....

 

[Disneylover99]

Have lines gotten so horrible or are people just not wanting to wait more than 15 minutes?

Both.

 

[epcotty]

I think FP+ is not as good as regular FP was, FP+ has been implemented badly and has increased wait times at rides that weren't FP before (they wait too long for FP+ people to come before letting the regular line move, that causes wait times to be worse than they should) and the attractions that used to be FP don't seem to be alleviated in wait times from FP+ like Disney thought they would. We usually get FP+ before we go and then get more after the first 3 are done, and skip lines if they're too long otherwise, definitely if over 40 minutes.

 

[Delirium]

I shouldn't have to. I'm entitled.

 

[Delirium]

Lines are part of the game but where they get ridiculous is when there are 30 to 45 minute waits to ride Journey Into Immagination. If you're unwilling to wait in lines your day is going to consist of maybe 4 rides and then lots of visits to the Country Bears, Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents and the Tree House. Of course if Disney adds FP+ to those you can chalk up a 30 min or more wait for those as well.

Actually, the Treehouse is one great big line through the entire attraction.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Obviously people do still wait in lines or the Standby wait times wouldn't be 90+ minutes for certain rides. I think the people who post here though are "pros" and we are used to knowing how to wring the most out of our Disney trips. We're also more apt to get a little frustrated (and post about it) when those tips don't result in an ideal schedule. Most of us are also frequent visitors, so we may forgo something with a long line and just "get it next time." I don't mind waiting in reasonably long lines, but over an hour and I'll usually pass. I'm also in the park from Rope Drop to closing usually, so I'll try to catch it when the lines die down a bit. I certainly don't think having to wait in a line will ruin my trip though. It's all part of the game.

I think this is the thing that a lot of people forget is that most people here go enough that missing something is okay. Can you imagine explaining this to someone who is making their first trip? Don't expect to be able to get FP for anything popular and then don't follow the flow or design of the park and instead spend most of your day walking back and forth in hopes of catching something at the optimal time which also happens to be at the times when there are other big experiences (parades and fireworks) you probably won't want to miss.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

I think FP+ is not as good as regular FP was, FP+ has been implemented badly and has increased wait times at rides that weren't FP before (they wait too long for FP+ people to come before letting the regular line move, that causes wait times to be worse than they should) and the attractions that used to be FP don't seem to be alleviated in wait times from FP+ like Disney thought they would. We usually get FP+ before we go and then get more after the first 3 are done, and skip lines if they're too long otherwise, definitely if over 40 minutes.

As with everything else that is new, I consider FP+ a "work in progress." Disney isn't ignoring the glitches of FP+. They are taking a lot of data to improve the system. During our week in the parks almost 3 weeks ago, our DD was given a lanyard with a card on it by a CM to take with her on many different rides. They are trying to determine just how long it takes to get through a ride. We were asked to complete multiple surveys in addition to the normal ones you complete after you return home. I think that they will use this research data to make things run more smoothly over time.

 

[CT Disney]

Nobody waits in Disney lines anymore. They're too crowded.

A little Yogi Berra shout-out for you

 

[JoshuaShaw]

As with everything else that is new, I consider FP+ a "work in progress." Disney isn't ignoring the glitches of FP+. They are taking a lot of data to improve the system. During our week in the parks almost 3 weeks ago, our DD was given a lanyard with a card on it by a CM to take with her on many different rides. They are trying to determine just how long it takes to get through a ride. We were asked to complete multiple surveys in addition to the normal ones you complete after you return home. I think that they will use this research data to make things run more smoothly over time.

They do that for the wait-time sign outside the attraction. It has nothing to do with FP+.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

I think this is the thing that a lot of people forget is that most people here go enough that missing something is okay. Can you imagine explaining this to someone who is making their first trip? Don't expect to be able to get FP for anything popular and then don't follow the flow or design of the park and instead spend most of your day walking back and forth in hopes of catching something at the optimal time which also happens to be at the times when there are other big experiences (parades and fireworks) you probably won't want to miss.

In 11 years, we've been to WDW 5 times. We sacrificed other things in order to save up for WDW. I wish we lived nearby, but we don't. I wish we could afford to do DVC. When we finally book a trip to WDW, it is a BIG DEAL for us. We go out of our way to not miss anything.

With advanced planning along with our other WDW habits (including our first trip 11 years ago), we haven't missed any rides or attractions. One time I couldn't get an 'Ohana character breakfast, so we made sure that we got to do it on this trip. The only ride we almost missed was 7 dwarf's mine train...so DD & DH sucked it up and waited 60 minutes.

All of the work I do leading up to the trip...saving money till it hurts...researching, planning...all of it is so crucial. This time I got really good. We were in MK for four days. We spent a day in each section, i.e., frontierland & liberty square the first day, fantasyland the second, etc... We rode rides and ate in those areas, so we didn't wander. We had a clear mission for the day; rode the rides multiple times; ate nearby trying out some cool restaurants; and made the most of each section of MK. We left no stone unturned.

A newbie doesn't have to wander aimlessly with advanced planning and some guidance. Have I gotten better at planning than I did on our first trip? Yes. We've learned what we don't want to repeat. We've learned what we must do on every trip. We are more efficient than ever.

When we want to have a relaxed vacation and "fly by the seat of my pants," we go to Cape Cod.

 

[Lisaloo]

We will go to extremes to skip waiting in line. Because of activities our 4 kids are involved in we can only visit the parks in July. We strategize like crazy and even chose VIP touring for our last trip. I don't think waiting in lines is character building or necessary.

 

[GaryDis]

They do that for the wait-time sign outside the attraction. It has nothing to do with FP+.

Don't underestimate the value of raw data. In this case it was for multiple rides and with followup surveys. But even if it was just for a single ride, tracking the line lengths at individual rides helps them know how many FP+s to issue for a given time.

 

[epcotty]

BrianL said: ↑
Obviously people do still wait in lines or the Standby wait times wouldn't be 90+ minutes for certain rides.

This, I was going to add this to my previous comment

 

[loves to dive]

I'm another one of those who have been going since before any kind of FP and you either waited in a line or you didn't ride. So it's not a big deal for us. I think posting the wait times might have caused some people to skip something they might have jumped in line for because of whatever that wait time is. Usually if I'm waiting in line it's either because I really want to ride something or I've ridden everything I really want to and what the heck, I'll just wait in line for this one. Let's face it, waiting in line is what you do at Disney, you wait in line for transportation, you wait in line for food, you wait in line for rides, if you are a woman you wait in line to go to the bathroom. I don't pre-plan FP, usually the night before I'll decide what park I'm going to be at and I check to see if something is available and that is that. Even when my DS was little, if he wanted to ride, we just waited in line, if he didn't get to ride something, oh well that's life. He really just enjoyed the fact he was at Disney and oh look there is Mickey Mouse, even if he didn't meet him (and he didn't always) he was still there and it was a thrill to see him in person.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

We were taught (by Disney) that we didn't have to stand in lines when they introduced FP-. However, going during non crowded times, having a good plan, going early, etc also helped our cause. We didn't need to *abuse the system* (as people often say about people who used fp-). So people expect the same of the new improved system FP+. I am not one to complain, but I do see why others do.

 

[Jfsag123]

I think a lot of people, if given the choice, would choose not to wait in lines. WDW does give you the choice of not standing in lines, depending on how you tour. However, making that choice means sacrificing some other choices (sleeping in, laid-back touring style). It is up to the individual/family to determine what they value more and choose accordingly. Our last trip was during a high crowd time (spring break) and I can honestly say we did not wait in a significant line for a single ride, and were able to do everything we wanted. We used FP+, showed up for rope drop every day, and did lower priority attractions in the times during which lines would have been long. This was the choice that worked best for our family and we had a great time.