Dumbo Standby Line

[mocame]

We just arrived back from our Disney World trip and we had a great time.

Towards the end of our trip, we were in the Magic Kingdom and had some time until our next FP. Our daughter saw that the wait time for Dumbo was posted as 15 minutes. Now I have two teenagers, ages 13 and 16, and this ride was not in our plans but the kids were feeling a little nostalgic and at 15 minutes, they were willing to wait, so we got in the standby line. Our last trip to Disney was 7 years ago.

We first noticed that the line didn't move very fast and then we noticed a few families going back through the people to get back out of the standby line. We thought it was odd but whatever. Then we noticed that the que lines went into a tent where kids were playing. What?! After entering the standby line, we waited about 15 minutes to get to a cast member inside the tent who gave us a pager and told us we needed to wait until buzzed to get back in the line to ride the ride and this second wait was another 15 minutes! We only liked the ride enough to wait the 15 minutes posted and which we already had waited. It was at that moment we noticed other families leaving through the exit in the play area because they didn't want to stay either, so we handed the pager back to the cast member and left. The 15 minute posted wait time is deceiving. It actually should have said a minimum of 30 minutes, if the 15 minute play area wait time was correct, and then you have to get back in line again to ride the ride.

It was a lesson learned for us but we probably won't ride it again. It's not worth the long wait and the line is completely geared to families with small children, not adults or families with older children. But we still do like to ride some of those rides like the Barnstormer and Aladdin because they are nostalgic for us. I guess if you were an adult or family with older children, you could fastpass it and then avoid the standby line and que?

 

[Quellman]

I could have sworn there was an option to skip the play area. We do that instead and have done standby a number of times. We skip the play area because I know my 2 year old will never leave otherwise.

 

[HopperFan]

We are all adults and will ride now and then when the line is short. Every single time they tell us to go right on to the ride and do not send us in the tent play area. DS says he thinks it's probably because it would be creepy to send us adults in where many young children are running around a darkened play area. I imagine it may vary by CM - and possibly the one working was training and just following the basic procedure.

 

[ktlm]

I have never seen them make you go into the play area if the line was posted at under 30 minutes. Even with DD with us, they usually ask if we want to go into the play area and if we say no, we bypass it. You must have hit it at a bad time, or possibly had some CM issues. For your next trip, you might try riding it after dark. It is beautiful at night, and very often walk on. We have been there, when they just let us stay on a ride again if we wanted instead of having to get off and go through the line.

 

[jawa7400]

My biggest pet peeve with Dumbo queue is that they advertise the play area as "play while you wait", but in reality you are just extending your wait time.

 

[CAS239]

You don't have to go wait in the play area. If you have kids that want to go in there, you can get a pager and wait. If not you walk on by and continue to the ride.

Seems like there was some confusion when you went through.

 

[BrianL]

I have never ridden Dumbo in any of its forms. *hangs head in shame*

 

[tlmadden73]

When I went there with my son (2) .. not knowing there was a play area in there, I was pleasantly surprised. My wife (waiting outside) was wondering what was taking us so long . If the wait is longer if you go into the play area with a child, I have no problems with that. That experience was just as fun to him as the ride was 15 minutes later. But I definitely think you should have the option to skip it ..and it sounds like you do.

I like the "pager" idea of waiting in a queue while doing something else besides just STANDING there. It was one of the few lines we waited in that day (all rest were Fast Passes) and he had NO problems waiting in that line. Pretty incredible idea. Wish they could do something like that with more rides.

 

[mocame]

I specifically asked the cm if we have to wait and she said yes. Maybe it does depend on the cast member because everyone I saw was either getting back in line because their pager went off (I actually saw the pagers lit), staying, or leaving through the exit.

 

[mocame]

When I went there with my son (2) .. not knowing there was a play area in there, I was pleasantly surprised. My wife (waiting outside) was wondering what was taking us so long . If the wait is longer if you go into the play area with a child, I have no problems with that. That experience was just as fun to him as the ride was 15 minutes later. But I definitely think you should have the option to skip it ..and it sounds like you do.

I like the "pager" idea of waiting in a queue while doing something else besides just STANDING there. It was one of the few lines we waited in that day (all rest were Fast Passes) and he had NO problems waiting in that line. Pretty incredible idea. Wish they could do something like that with more rides.

I think it IS a good idea if the kids are younger and want to play. They get to play, you get to sit a while (if there is room), and then ride. Unfortunately, my family is older and we were under the impression (as others) that we didn't have a choice. If they had given us a choice, we would've been fine with skipping the play area and getting into the line to ride. Even if they give you the choice of staying in the play area or skipping, the wait time was deceiving. Again, lesson learned and now I know I have an option.

 

[jawa7400]

I like the "pager" idea of waiting in a queue while doing something else besides just STANDING there.

If it was truly killing some of my wait time, I'd love it. I just wish they would advertise it as "take a break from the line for a while to play before getting back in line (in the exact same spot you got out)".

 

[mocame]

If it was truly killing some of my wait time, I'd love it. I just wish they would advertise it as "take a break from the line for a while to play before getting back in line (in the exact same spot you got out)".

Yes, I think they could explain this better.

Is this a temporary, trial run of something or is it permanent? My husband later thought he saw something about it being something they were trying but the tent looked more permanent to me.

 

[SuzaBanana]

When we were there in April, we had the option to play in the tent or not. All 3 times, the CM said the wait was minimal and we wouldn't get much out of the playspace before it would be our turn. We never played in the playspace despite our kids wanting to, because it would have only increased our wait time.

 

[BebopBaloo]

That's weird. I think you were there while they were having an off day or something... we have always been given the option to wait in the play area, or to move on through to the line and we've never waited more than 15 minutes (in the new location) and that includes being there at the busiest times of the year. I wouldn't permanently give up on Dumbo based on this one experience. If you get the chance, try it at night. Super pretty at night.

 

[tlmadden73]

If it was truly killing some of my wait time, I'd love it. I just wish they would advertise it as "take a break from the line for a while to play before getting back in line (in the exact same spot you got out)".

I guess I didn't get the impression (when we waited in the play area) that it was increasing our wait time at all. I got the impression that instead of standing in the rest of the queue for the next 10-15 minutes we could just play in that area. I just don't remember since I thought it was so neat and my son was super excited (and almost didn't want to leave).

 

[jawa7400]

I guess I didn't get the impression (when we waited in the play area) that it was increasing our wait time at all. I got the impression that instead of standing in the rest of the queue for the next 10-15 minutes we could just play in that area. I just don't remember since I thought it was so neat and my son was super excited (and almost didn't want to leave).

Oh my kids loved it! We just chalked it up as a second "attraction" in line. I was just disappointed that from what I had read online I assumed it was like at a restaurant where the buzzer told you it was time to go to your table (your turn to load the ride).

 

[Sevey13]

My biggest pet peeve with Dumbo queue is that they advertise the play area as "play while you wait", but in reality you are just extending your wait time.

If your kids are having fun, what does it matter if they stick around for a few more minutes?

 

[mm522]

We just arrived back from our Disney World trip and we had a great time.

Towards the end of our trip, we were in the Magic Kingdom and had some time until our next FP. Our daughter saw that the wait time for Dumbo was posted as 15 minutes. Now I have two teenagers, ages 13 and 16, and this ride was not in our plans but the kids were feeling a little nostalgic and at 15 minutes, they were willing to wait, so we got in the standby line. Our last trip to Disney was 7 years ago.

We first noticed that the line didn't move very fast and then we noticed a few families going back through the people to get back out of the standby line. We thought it was odd but whatever. Then we noticed that the que lines went into a tent where kids were playing. What?! After entering the standby line, we waited about 15 minutes to get to a cast member inside the tent who gave us a pager and told us we needed to wait until buzzed to get back in the line to ride the ride and this second wait was another 15 minutes! We only liked the ride enough to wait the 15 minutes posted and which we already had waited. It was at that moment we noticed other families leaving through the exit in the play area because they didn't want to stay either, so we handed the pager back to the cast member and left. The 15 minute posted wait time is deceiving. It actually should have said a minimum of 30 minutes, if the 15 minute play area wait time was correct, and then you have to get back in line again to ride the ride.

It was a lesson learned for us but we probably won't ride it again. It's not worth the long wait and the line is completely geared to families with small children, not adults or families with older children. But we still do like to ride some of those rides like the Barnstormer and Aladdin because they are nostalgic for us. I guess if you were an adult or family with older children, you could fastpass it and then avoid the standby line and que?

I think the problem here was that the standby wait time should have said 30 minute wait instead of 15 minute wait. They aren't forcing you to wait extra, the way the standby queue is designed is that you wait in line for a short time to receive a pager so you can go into the play area and wait. If you didn't notice, there are a number of benches and seating areas also for those without children to sit and wait, much better than standing in line. HOWEVER, if the line is short enough then the play area is entirely optional and they just send you on your way through the rest of the queue.

The cast member was probably quoting you that it would be another 15 minutes to wait, not that you were required to stay in the tent and play for 15 minutes. Could have been longer, could have been shorter. Would you have rather waited in a bunch of unthemed switch backs outside like the old Dumbo queue? This new line allows you to sit and wait in the AC and those families with smaller children can also let them play and be entertained while waiting.

 

[Cloudy]

I was there on May 8 and did not have an option to skip the play area as 2 adults. Even people in scooters where in there waiting. I just figure it is a way to make the wait go by faster and at least I got to sit down for a few minutes although I would have skipped it if I could.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Ugh, even with a 2 year old, we usually choose to skip the play area. 2 reports of not being able to skip has me concerned they may have changed their procedures. I like having the option and we have used it, but usually it isn't worth it b/c the line is short.