Does anyone else never trust posted wait times?

[scotthart]

I was just wondering if I am the only person who is always skeptical of posted wait times. They always seem to be way short or way long. I know its an inexact science, but it seems like I can ususally eyeball a queue and get closer than what is posted.

 

[DebbieB]

2 or 3 times on my May trip I was given time cards to carry through the line.

 

[Horizons16]

I think they are pretty acurate now that they are sending those time cards throught the line... not like before when the times were changed manually

 

[WDW LOVR]

One thing I've noticed is the posted wait time for the single rider lines are almost always inflated. We've walked right on Test Track and Mission Space in the single rider line when the posted wait time was 25 - 30 minutes.

Not sure it that is on purpose or not, but it seems kind of fishy to me.

The other times I've noticed the wait times wrong is either early in the morning or later in the evening. At Tower of Terror one evening the posted wait time was 30 minutes and it was no more than 10. I would guess as the evening wears on and the crowds get smaller they don't worry about being so accurate on the times...IMHO.

 

[oogieboogie]

Depends on the ride, I guess. I've gone under a 30 minute wait sign only to find out it was empty! and I mean walk on!

But then again, I've walked into a 15 posted time and it turned out to be a 30min wait time.

You never know. Which is why Fastpass is such a good thing!

 

[jctwizzer]

With one exception, we've found disney's times to be equal to, or less than, actual.....one the other hand, in our limited experience at Universal, they're estimates have been about half the actual

 

[jonrex]

It did seem that the posted wait times were very erratic during this past visit--more so than when I went two years ago. They either weren't very accurate at all, or they weren't even using them. But in almost every instance where they were posted, they were way inflated.

Plus, I never know if they count pre-show as part of the wait time or not.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

When we were there last weekend the times were completely off for most of the rides we went on. Test Track said 35 minutes and it was about 15 minutes, Philharmagic said 45 and it was maybe 10, BTMRR said 25 and it was practically walk on... I think that is the nicest surprise though!

 

[jellydisney]

I've never had a wait that was LONGER than the one posted. Most of the time, it's right on target. I've had a few experiences where it was under (usually in the evening when they don't seem to monitor queue time as much).