How does Universal track / predict wait times?

[Disxuni]

While reading one of those secret "things you do not know about" Disney (which often is either things you do know if you're a massive fan, or are myths), it spoke of the red cards that Disney uses in order to track wait times. This inspired me to ask, does anyone know how Universal does it?

I would imagine it wouldn't be a similar system to Disney, as I've received the red card twice while in the Disney parks and while I've been to Universal far beyond more times than Disney, I never received such an item. So, it made me ponder how they keep track, or predict wait times for attractions.

 

[damo]

I think they just have points in the queue which signify a certain wait and if the line goes to that point, that is the estimated time.

 

[nighttowll]

I'm not sure about the regular standby line, but I have had them scan my EP before to clock the EP wait time. What they do with that info I have no idea because it is not posted or anything. This is going to drive me crazy because I remember them scanning me twice. Once for the regular EP entrance, then again at boarding. I remember they gave me some kind of special instructions, tell the TM at boarding to scan you, or give the TM at boarding something. I can't remember exactly what they had me do, but I do remember them scanning me at boarding to get the time because the TM talked to me for a second about what they were doing and commented on how short the wait was.

 

[macraven]

Ive had that done before


They are checking the ep line waits

The waits are supposed to be 20 minutes or less

If they run longer, they can start to increase the number in the ep line to have less of a wait when the stand by line are entering the ride/ show
area