Does Imaginatrium use waitlists as a gimmick?

[Patmcpsu]

Over the weekend, we went to Imaginatrium around 5pm. I was told to give my phone number to be on the waitlist, per usual. About 10 minutes later, I got the text to go in (which the people at the desk never seem to check for). When I got in, it was obvious that the lounge was at about 50% capacity.

In this case, why was the waitlist even being implemented? Is it a gimmick to make people buy MMB (which I presume lets you waltz right in, when possible)? To make people spend money in the gift shop while they wait? To create a false sense of being in demand?

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think it is a gimmick.

There is a limited number of staff, they need to refresh snacks, and service the soda machines, and so forth. Remember that our dues do not pay for the lounges, so it is really up to them, not members, how they ae made available. Prior to MMB, there were a couple of time my party was taken right up, but most of the time, even back then, there was about a 10 minute wait, so a short wait is nothing new, even with available seating. Especially now that they have basically been escorting people to tables instead of open seating.

There is nothing in our contracts that guarantees lounges, they could, if they wanted to, make MMB required for any lounge access.

 

[lowlight]

Yes, 100% trying to artificially hype it up. Like basically any other product or place that is trying to sell you something, scarcity sells. Imagine someone walking by an exclusive lounge and hearing there is a wait- they will want to know what this exclusive place is all about and will be told it’s for “members only”. Like Chucky said, it’s not guaranteed, aka not meant for current members, but for sales to new members. A fake 10 minute wait makes it useless for most people so that should tell you what you need to know.

 

[tjkraz]

Some seats were likely just vacated. Others were probably reserved for parties who were also on the waiting list and had been texted but not yet returned.

 

[toesmom]

Over the weekend, we went to Imaginatrium around 5pm. I was told to give my phone number to be on the waitlist, per usual. About 10 minutes later, I got the text to go in (which the people at the desk never seem to check for). When I got in, it was obvious that the lounge was at about 50% capacity.

In this case, why was the waitlist even being implemented? Is it a gimmick to make people buy MMB (which I presume lets you waltz right in, when possible)? To make people spend money in the gift shop while they wait? To create a false sense of being in demand?

We always had to go on waitlist and did not look full. This was even before the promotion. So no I don’t think so

 

[Chuck S]

Yes, 100% trying to artificially hype it up. Like basically any other product or place that is trying to sell you something, scarcity sells. Imagine someone walking by an exclusive lounge and hearing there is a wait- they will want to know what this exclusive place is all about and will be told it’s for “members only”. Like Chucky said, it’s not guaranteed, aka not meant for current members, but for sales to new members. A fake 10 minute wait makes it useless for most people so that should tell you what you need to know.

I think it is nice to have the DVC lounges, even with a wait, especially since there are fewer and fewer attraction sponsorship lounges. I remember back in the days of World of Motion, several times we were invited up to the sponsor lounge as we were multiple Cadillac owners in our traveling group. I'm sure other sponsors may have had occasional lounge access for their better customers. If lounges, APs, and so forth aren't important to you or are only an occasional thing, don't by MMB, and don't by direct., seems pretty simple. And certainly better than complaining about a longer wait for a free soda and snack in a relatively comfortable Air Conditioned area.

 

[byurick]

It probably depends on who's manning the booth at the entrance. We've gone several times and they let us right up without having to wait at all or give them a cell number to waitlist.

 

[lowlight]

I think it is nice to have the DVC lounges, even with a wait, especially since there are fewer and fewer attraction sponsorship lounges. I remember back in the days of World of Motion, several times we were invited up to the sponsor lounge as we were multiple Cadillac owners in our traveling group. I'm sure other sponsors may have had occasional lounge access for their better customers. If lounges, APs, and so forth aren't important to you or are only an occasional thing, don't by MMB, and don't by direct., seems pretty simple. And certainly better than complaining about a longer wait for a free soda and snack in a relatively comfortable Air Conditioned area.

The question wasn’t are lounges worth it, the question was is the wait a gimmick to make people buy MMB. I don’t think it’s a gimmick, I think it’s a feature built into the lounges to make them seem scarce and therefore attractive to the FOMO population, which overlaps heavily with Disney goers in general. Everything Disney does is FOMO based. My opinion part of the response is that I have never, as in literally not once ever, not had a wait at any of the 3 lounges. Doesn’t matter the day, time, or crowd size. The lounges are a nice break, and could be a nice perk, but the false wait times ruin it and predate MMB. I had a lengthy wait for McKim’s and only did it to show my kids, and there were…two other tables of 2 people when I entered. They were telling people the waitlist was full when I entered. I was there for 20 minutes and when I left, they let another party in. So 3 parties, 8 people total, and six staff members. 2 at podium outside, 2 behind desk inside, and 2 cleaning and filling snacks, etc. The person at the podium led us to our table, so the four staff inside didn’t even do that. The same for the Epcot lounge, more staff than members and still a waitlist.