How Long is Too Long? - Standby Lines

[LuvENDisney]

20 minutes is our max. If they dont increase the # of FP+ allowed, i dont see us going as frequently. NO sense in us going if we cant go on all the attractions we want. Im not paying thousands of $$$ to spend hours standing in line.

Exactly!

 

[2Tiggies]

We have always used the "20 minute rule" as we have dubbed it, before joining a line. More than 20 and it's not likely.

 

[ParkHoppers]

But before, everyone was able to get some fast passes. It's all about choices. Some guests chose to wake up early and get to rope drop to take advantage of shorter lines because they didn't want to stand in the long lines. They planned out their afternoons to take advantage of fast passes then or to take a long afternoon break. Other guests chose to sleep in and leisurely get to the park in the afternoon, which could result in fast passes for certain rides being gone and longer lines, but that was a decision that they made. They had the same opportunity as the former guest, they just chose to tour the park in a different way. Changing to FP+ didn't make things any more equal. Fast Pass was just as fair and equal.

Yes everyone had the same opportunity but why should people who chose to show up at midday be at such a big disadvantage. People act like everyone who doesn't show at RD isn,t enough of a go getter to deserve the benefits of FP. The opportunity was fair and equal but the results were not and I,m sure Disney knew this. The new system doesn't reward people who got to the parks a few hours earlier than some. The new system doesn't reward people who run from place to place commando style. The new system gives everyone an equal amount of FP no matter what their touring style. That sounds like progress to me.

 

[Disneylover99]

Like many other people, 20 minutes is our max. We go early and leave when lines build.

 

[ParkHoppers]

Yep, guess I should apologize for all those ruined vacations.

I never said you ruined anyone's vacation. You didn't do anything wrong by utilizing the old system to it,s max. But I believe that the flaws of the old system along with the less than 50% FP participation of visitors is the main reason a small percentage of visitors got so many passes and didn't have to wait in SB lines.

 

[tcherjen]

Anything over 35 minutes is too long.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Yes everyone had the same opportunity but why should people who chose to show up at midday be at such a big disadvantage. People act like everyone who doesn't show at RD isn,t enough of a go getter to deserve the benefits of FP. The opportunity was fair and equal but the results were not and I,m sure Disney knew this. The new system doesn't reward people who got to the parks a few hours earlier than some. The new system doesn't reward people who run from place to place commando style. The new system gives everyone an equal amount of FP no matter what their touring style. That sounds like progress to me.

People choose how to tour and they deal with the repercussions of those decisions. Obviously it didn't bother people that they didn't get to use as many fast passes enough to make them change their touring strategy. Personally, I don't see equal opportunity as the same thing as equal results. If a person wants to wake up early and get to the park at rope drop, thereby allowing them the chance to get a few more fast passes, I say more power to them. On the other hand, if a person chooses to sleep in and feel well rested for their vacation, I say more power to them. But I don't think people getting there for rope drop should complain that they are exhausted and that Disney should do something about that anymore than I think those who slept in should expect Disney to provide them with something else.

 

[Dreams0308]

I slight hijack here...which are the best Apps to have for the parks? I will be getting my first Iphone next week and would like to get ready for our visit in March. Thanks!

Hey, I would think that the Disney created App, My Disney Experience would be the best the use. It has all the wait times directly from the park and it allows you to login to your Disney account and link reservations, tickets, etc.
I know people have been annoyed with it, but it was created by Disney so I'm thinking this would be the most accurate App to use.

OP...I figured out when I used Google Chrome, your posts were quoted as squiggles...in Internet Explorer, they are words. However, I do agree that pink is a difficult font to read since there is not enough contrast. It isn't easy on the eyes so to speak. Glad (for my personal self) I figured this out. The thread was difficult to follow.

Hey, that's weird... but it's ok i changed to a grey color and different font. No worried. I tried to go back and edit all my posts so that they are now in grey and easier to read.

Yes everyone had the same opportunity but why should people who chose to show up at midday be at such a big disadvantage. People act like everyone who doesn't show at RD isn,t enough of a go getter to deserve the benefits of FP. The opportunity was fair and equal but the results were not and I,m sure Disney knew this. The new system doesn't reward people who got to the parks a few hours earlier than some. The new system doesn't reward people who run from place to place commando style. The new system gives everyone an equal amount of FP no matter what their touring style. That sounds like progress to me.

I would have to agree with you, and I'm not trying to start a "fight" or heated discussion about this. It frustrates me that on these boards if you aren't a RD-er....your seen as someone who doesn't deserve to be riding rides like those smart people that got up early. Maybe I just want to relax on my vacation, and still be able to ride some rides (not every single one). It's exhausting to me to get up super early for RD and to go all the way until past closing. Maybe I'm a family that because of different situations, cannot at all make it at RD or early...

I think that everyone is paying the "same" (in terms of ticket prices), so why shouldn't people be given equal oportunitues. That doesn't mean everything can be equal, but I think Disney is trying to "level the playing field" just a little, by allowing all of their paying guests the ability to have a shortened wait (using FP+) on a few rides of their choice. Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

I wonder (and I might be wrong) how many complaints Disney has received over the years from people who go as first time visitors, and don't plan ahead like a commando. Maybe their schedule or family situation is different and they get to the park in the mid-morning, start getting in lines for rides and they do still get to ride and experience things, but they were too late to pull some of the FP-'s. So they have to wait in Standby lines all day....which is ok. Next, they go to guest relations and point out that they were unable to pull a FP- for a ride and they don't know what they did wrong. What do you think Disney is going to say to them? "Sorry, you should have uber planned and looked online at the fan-communities and done a lot more research! You have to get here at RD if you want to have a good experience. It's your own fault." .... probably not going to say that. Unless they put it right on the tickets "MUST ARRIVE EARLY IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE A LOT...RD PREFERRED", some people don't know that, and they are paying the same money (for tickets) as the RD people are. I think Disney, to try and make it a little "fairer" to families....is trying to give everyone the option to book a few rides they like.

Going to Disney is portrayed, by some, as like a battle that you have to win, and your family has to come out on top with the most rides ridden and the most of everything. Then you feel good about yourself and like you "beat out" everyone else that was there to ruin your experience. Idk, to me, I like to help people out in the parks, or give them advice (I used to give away my unused FP-'s as I'm sure many people did). If I heard people who were confused I wasn't thinking "YES because I KNOW, I'm going to do so much better than them." I would try to talk to them or give them advice. I think everyone should have an enjoyable experience in the parks, and I like to spread Disney magic as a guest myself.

 

[Alice Royal]

Lol, I thought I was going to look like a total snob for saying no more than 20 minutes because I'm half an hour away (although we have gone for 30 on Space Mountain because it's my favorite and I have been known to bring homework to the parks...)

Since we come back at least once every other weekend (this Saturday will be the fourth time this week because I was lucky/not-so-lucky to have my after-school job cancel shifts in the middle of the week and we only had class 'till noon-ish), we're sometimes more tolerant of busy periods and will simply hang around in lines, or we'll move on to another section or another park.

FP debate aside, we like the advantage of being able to book FPs since most of the time we're just going for an evening or an afternoon after class. But I'd say a good 99% of our trips don't even involve getting FPs because we don't need them.

 

[johde]

For me, it depends on the park, the ride, the time of year. On a September trip, I would say no more then 20-30 minutes for a headliner. But, on Dec.31 2013 when I arrived at EPCOT at 5:00 p.m. I waited 40 minutes for Journey into Imagination. But like most people on the DIS FP spoiled me about wait times at Disney. When I went to Cedar Point this past fall, it was nothing to wait over an hour for their new coaster.

To generalize, on a typical trip, I would say most waits should be under 30 minutes but waiting over an hour a few times each trip for my favorite headliners or for a new attraction.

When I was a kid I can remember waiting an hour or 2 for the Lion Country Safari at Kings Island. It was one of my mom favorite rides and she didn't ride that many rides at the typical amusement park.

 

[Planogirl]

Yes everyone had the same opportunity but why should people who chose to show up at midday be at such a big disadvantage. People act like everyone who doesn't show at RD isn,t enough of a go getter to deserve the benefits of FP. The opportunity was fair and equal but the results were not and I,m sure Disney knew this. The new system doesn't reward people who got to the parks a few hours earlier than some. The new system doesn't reward people who run from place to place commando style. The new system gives everyone an equal amount of FP no matter what their touring style. That sounds like progress to me.

This borders on socialism. It almost sounds like everyone should be given exactly the same thing regardless of effort. Usually people who work harder and longer end up with more - that is just the way it is.

Keep in mind that those who arrive at rope drop likely still get to ride more.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

This borders on socialism. It almost sounds like everyone should be given exactly the same thing regardless of effort. Usually people who work harder and longer end up with more - that is just the way it is.

Keep in mind that those who arrive at rope drop likely still get to ride more.

I very much concur! Sad that some feel the way the PP you quoted feels.

 

[Masonmj84]

I'm a rope-dropper who hates waiting in long lines and, for me, it depends on the attraction:

MK:
Splash and Big Thunder: 20 min
Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates: 15 min
Anything else, no more than 10 minutes (except, I'll wait as long as it takes to ride Mine Train if there's no FP+ for it on our next trip)

EP:
Soarin and Test Track: 20 min
Anything else, no more than 10 min

HS:
TSM, R&RC and TOT: 20 min
Star Tours: 15 min
Anything else, no more than 10 min

AK:
Safari and EE: 20 min
Anything else, no more than 10 min

 

[Dreams0308]

I'm a rope-dropper who hates waiting in long lines and, for me, it depends on the attraction:

MK:
Splash and Big Thunder: 20 min
Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates: 15 min
Anything else, no more than 10 minutes (except, I'll wait as long as it takes to ride Mine Train if there's no FP+ for it on our next trip)

EP:
Soarin and Test Track: 20 min
Anything else, no more than 10 min

HS:
TSM, R&RC and TOT: 20 min
Star Tours: 15 min
Anything else, no more than 10 min

AK:
Safari and EE: 20 min
Anything else, no more than 10 min

What time of year do you normally go? Or, do you go at a more crowded time and just utilize RD and FP a lot to get waits that short. I'm assuming you get to ride the rides you have listed... I'm just curious because I would love to have to not wait more than 20 min for rides.

Of the headliners you listed, I have never seen (in person) wait times less than:
MK:
Splash, Big Thunder, (I added) Space: 45 min
Peter Pan: 45 min

EP:
Soarin and Test Track: 50 min for Soarin 45 for TT

HS:
TSM: 45 min

AK:
Safari and EE: 30 min

That doesn't mean I want to wait in those, I just mean I don't think I've ever seen waits of 20 min for TSM, or Peter Pan, etc...

 

[Soupermom]

I just wanted to say that we have gone 3 times during spring break (Ex-H and I both work for schools so it is our only option) when it was busy and we have never waited/would wait more than 20-25 minutes for any ride. We were able to arrive at RD, use FP- and ride everything we wanted multiple times. We never went to EMH either. It could easily be done with FP-.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I go in the low-medium crowd seasons, so I will only wait...

MK
The Mountains (and other headliners) - 25-30 minutes, tops
All other rides/shows - 10 minutes

Epcot
Soarin/Test Track/Sum of All Thrills - 30 min
Mission Space/Nemo - 15 minutes
All other rides/shows - 10 minutes

DHS
Toy Story - 30 min
Tower of Terror/Rockin' Rollercoaster - 20 min
Star Tours/Movie Ride - 15 min
All other rides/shows - 10 min

Animal Kingdom
EE/safari - 20 min
All other rides/shows - 10 min

I used to go in very high season as a kid and remember 2 hour waits for Pirates of the Caribbean - and I said never, ever again. As an adult, I have been to Disney yearly until last year - then, since I was not gonna be part of a test phase of a major new system, I took the wonderful opportunity to visit "other" Orlando (Universal and IOA, Sea World, Legoland, Ripleys) - it was an amazing trip that rivaled my Disney trips. With the testing phase continuing this year, I am taking a week long cruise. By 2015, hopefully, this whole Magic Band/ FP+ will be sorted out - if not, I may do "other" Orlando again. It's amazing how nice the other parks have gotten (and I still haven't done Busch Gardens Tampa, Aquatica, or Discovery Cove)...and how little you need to wait at them (I was a FP- lover who picked a park by the weather and the day, so this whole pre-plan thing is nuts)...

 

[ks-man]

I just don't see how people are getting to do all the rides they claim even with FP- and never waiting more than 10 mins for minor rides and 20 mins for headliners. Are you simply doing a 9-11am shift and then 3pm-4pm (parade) and finally 8pm-11pm?

Between 11am-5pm I can't imagine how such short wait times are possible. Even with FP- once you pull one after 11am it probably won't be ready to come back until a couple of hours later. You can't get any other FP- during that time so your only choice is SB (at least until 1pm when the window is back open).

I was there three years ago in early March and two years ago in early May. Both times the crowds were between 2-5 according to Touring Plans. Regardless by midday even minor rides (Small World, Tea cups, Aladdin, etc.) had waits between 15-20 mins. Mountains, Dumbo, Pooh and Peter Pan were over 45 mins and fast passes for those were at least 2-3 hours later.

Short of riding People Mover about 20 times I just can't understand what people are doing during the day to avoid any waiting and still claim they are going on all the rides and tons of headliners.

Now we're hearing that people are going during the busiest times of the year like Spring Break and Christmas and don't experience waits. I just don't see how that is possible even under the old system.

Just to illustrate my point, at 12:21pm on a day considered to be a 6. I'd bet heavily that if you grab a fast pass on the old system the earliest return time would be outside of two hours. If you did that and at 2:20pm you could grab another for 4:20pm and go ride the one you just pulled you are still looking at only two rides over the next four hours. I've never done Casey Jr. Splash so maybe it is awesome but still....

 

[waynesgirl]

Yes everyone had the same opportunity but why should people who chose to show up at midday be at such a big disadvantage. People act like everyone who doesn't show at RD isn,t enough of a go getter to deserve the benefits of FP. The opportunity was fair and equal but the results were not and I,m sure Disney knew this. The new system doesn't reward people who got to the parks a few hours earlier than some. The new system doesn't reward people who run from place to place commando style. The new system gives everyone an equal amount of FP no matter what their touring style. That sounds like progress to me.

This borders on socialism. It almost sounds like everyone should be given exactly the same thing regardless of effort. Usually people who work harder and longer end up with more - that is just the way it is.

Keep in mind that those who arrive at rope drop likely still get to ride more.

I think what is really being meant here is that DISNEY has recognized that it is a vacation for people. There are people that like the rides- that is the FP aspect of it. There are people that want to sleep- that is the resort aspect of it.

Now, I see both sides. I, too, don't want to rush out the door to ride something. But, that is not what my vacation is about- I like the rides but that is not why I pay the amount of money that I do.
The FP+ system is allowing those of us who don't want to rush out- I would rather get up late and stroll- the opportunity to get to ride something at least once. It does not negate the RDers from getting there early, riding things a lot, and still riding with a FP+. But for people that choose to sleep later, don't point fingers at the former way the RD peeps did it, because you could have, too.
But, RDers, don't call those who choose to vacation differently, and are fine with the new FP+ because it gives the opportunity to do it their way, socialists because it does even the playing field- EVERYONE is paying to be there.

But, with that being said- I'll wait for an undetermined amount of time, depending on my mood.

 

[brymolmom]

I just don't see how people are getting to do all the rides they claim even with FP- and never waiting more than 10 mins for minor rides and 20 mins for headliners. Are you simply doing a 9-11am shift and then 3pm-4pm (parade) and finally 8pm-11pm?

Between 11am-5pm I can't imagine how such short wait times are possible. Even with FP- once you pull one after 11am it probably won't be ready to come back until a couple of hours later. You can't get any other FP- during that time so your only choice is SB (at least until 1pm when the window is back open).

I was there three years ago in early March and two years ago in early May. Both times the crowds were between 2-5 according to Touring Plans. Regardless by midday even minor rides (Small World, Tea cups, Aladdin, etc.) had waits between 15-20 mins. Mountains, Dumbo, Pooh and Peter Pan were over 45 mins and fast passes for those were at least 2-3 hours later.

Short of riding People Mover about 20 times I just can't understand what people are doing during the day to avoid any waiting and still claim they are going on all the rides and tons of headliners.

Now we're hearing that people are going during the busiest times of the year like Spring Break and Christmas and don't experience waits. I just don't see how that is possible even under the old system.

Just to illustrate my point, at 12:21pm on a day considered to be a 6. I'd bet heavily that if you grab a fast pass on the old system the earliest return time would be outside of two hours. If you did that and at 2:20pm you could grab another for 4:20pm and go ride the one you just pulled you are still looking at only two rides over the next four hours. I've never done Casey Jr. Splash so maybe it is awesome but still....

Keep in mind that some of us are still rating our 'typical' trip based on MANY trips where FP- end times were not enforced. Our 'old' type of trip to MK would look like this:

Rope drop until 10am ride:
Dumbo, PP, Pooh, Space, Buzz, TTA, Barnstormer, Speedway
Gather 3 FP's for Splash BTMRR and maybe Space

From 10am - 11:30/noon:
Laugh Floor Comedy Club
Teacups
IASW
Get 1 - 2 more FP's

Eat lunch (noonish)

Then from 12:30 - 5:00 or so:
Use 3 - 4 of FP's aquired earlier
Philharmagic
Maybe Haunted Mansion during parade (unless line is too long)
maybe Pirates (if it's too hot and we WANT to wait in the cool cave line)
Carpets of Aladdin

Then go to dinner
From 7:00 - close
Use other 3 FP's aquired earlier
Get a good spot for the nighttime parade

So - you can see, in the past it was easily accomplished to do 'everything' with little to no wait times. Of course, enforcing FP- end times would throw a wrench in the above but I still would be able to get at least 6 for the day - it just would leave that afternoon gap more wide open (would have have to see more shows).

 

[TwoMisfits]

Going in the seasons I do, I have never (in the last 10 years), ridden a headliner without a fastpass...ever. So, I've never waited more than 20-25 minutes (since TSM and Soarin, even with a FP, were about 20-25 minutes to get on the ride). And I never fastpassed the non-headliners...if a ride was too long a wait, I just moved on and checked it out later. Fantasyland empties out after 7pm or so (while it's insane early in the day). Country Bears, Hall of Pres, Tiki Birds, Stitch, Philharmagic NEVER have a line...ever (at least in the non-high season).

And I have never done rope drop - too crazy and too early. It was never necessary with FP- (out of high season). Now, I'm gonna wait to see if they continue with the insanity that is the new program before I go back. I know yearly will no longer be my Disney plan - maybe every 3 years to check out new stuff...it's almost nicer to have the variety in vacations anyway (so I almost need to thank Disney for pushing me to check out other cool vacations...