I Work At IOA, And I'd Like To Say Hey!

[Tigger22]

Which rides at Disney offer single rider lines other than Test Track and Everest

I was asking Tim as an employee about US/IoA parks about single rider lines. Maybe I wasn't clear now that I re-read. I guess that the single rider lines are US/IoA's solution to avoid empty seats...but it seems that we do notice more rides at US/IoA going off with empty seats, and was wondering why. Just seems to me that being right there competing with WDW, they would be more apt to do something similar. For us (my husband & I), I guess we are spoiled by WDW, and seem to notice ride loading issues at every amusement park we go to. Because we are huge thrill ride fans, when you wait and wait to go on a ride and see rides go off with empty seats, it gets frustrating. To me, I just want to get on the ride.

Single rider lines are not really a part of WDW (except now at TT & EE). I think that Disney's strength is putting a huge effort into the staging area of a ride so that a ride does fill every available seat. It just seems to make getting on the ride go more quickly. There are no bottle necks for the bazillion people who only want to ride in the front car/seats as you seem to always find at other parks.

No big deal - just an observation and question about their approach to filling the rides.

 

[phamton]

MIB and Mummy have single rider lines almost always. Hulk, Spiderman, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Dudley Do-Right, and some others have single rider lines in busy times.

 

[damo]

I was asking Tim as an employee about US/IoA parks about single rider lines. Maybe I wasn't clear now that I re-read. I guess that the single rider lines are US/IoA's solution to avoid empty seats...but it seems that we do notice more rides at US/IoA going off with empty seats, and was wondering why. Just seems to me that being right there competing with WDW, they would be more apt to do something similar. For us (my husband & I), I guess we are spoiled by WDW, and seem to notice ride loading issues at every amusement park we go to. Because we are huge thrill ride fans, when you wait and wait to go on a ride and see rides go off with empty seats, it gets frustrating. To me, I just want to get on the ride.

Single rider lines are not really a part of WDW (except now at TT & EE). I think that Disney's strength is putting a huge effort into the staging area of a ride so that a ride does fill every available seat. It just seems to make getting on the ride go more quickly. There are no bottle necks for the bazillion people who only want to ride in the front car/seats as you seem to always find at other parks.

No big deal - just an observation and question about their approach to filling the rides.

I thought you were saying that Disney does single rider lines better than everyone else.

One of the big differences between Disney and the rest of the parks is that the rest of the parks have a lot of 4 people to a row rides and Disney does not. Four in a row is often difficult to fill and there will be seats left available. However the increased capacity compensates for this. For example, Hulk has a capacity of 1920 riders/hour - 32 riders per train -where RNC has a capacity of 1800 riders/hour and 24 riders per train.
At IOA alone Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Spiderman and Dr. Doom are four to a row. B&M coasters (Hulk and Dueling Dragons), found throughout many other parks except Disney, are typically 4 to a row. So although it may appear that the empty spaces are slowing things down, that isn't necessarily the case.

At Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Apollo's Chariot (another B&M coaster) has a single rider line but many people still don't use it. I think many people are reluctant to use single rider lines even though they save a lot of time.

 

[englishteacha]

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the posts and info. I have a question I hope you can answer. What is the largest a guest can be to ride the coasters (waist wise?) I often travel with large folks and it's a huge disappointment when they can't ride a ride. Sometimes, they fit in the "test seat" but not in the actual coaster car! Any thoughts? We haven't been to Universal but as coaster freaks, we plan on going in the near future.

 

[DisneyGuy77]

Hey Tim, how do you like Rosen? I’m going to be applying there for my masters.

 

[macraven]

hi tim boy, glad you are posting and giving us insight.

i'll be at ioa oct 4 for a 5 day stay.

i'll look you up for dd.

it is my favorite ride/besides dr doom.....
ice is my side........and i have the refillable mug to match.

 

[Dismom+two]

Hey Timmy Boy!!

Great to have you here!! I have always thought it would be a grea experience to work in a Florida theme park!

I think its funny that I just read your post and my DD and I were just talking about UCF. She wants to go there....mind you she is only 12....she has a few years to worry about it. She basicly wants to go so she can spend her weekends in the parks!!

This April will be her third year in a row she has been to FLorida....Universal the first year......Disney in 2006 and this year back to Universal.

We will watch out for you to say hello while we are there!!

Good luck with your schooling!!!

 

[damo]

Tim, do you see a lot of kids left outside of the ride while their parents go on? When we were there last week, we were waiting for our kids to ride and there were three little boys aged about 4,5 and 9 whose parents left them while they went on the ride. The boys waited about 40 minutes right beside us. They were very well behaved but I was quite taken aback that parents would do that!

 

[Mainebound]

Tim, do you see a lot of kids left outside of the ride while their parents go on? When we were there last week, we were waiting for our kids to ride and there were three little boys aged about 4,5 and 9 whose parents left them while they went on the ride. The boys waited about 40 minutes right beside us. They were very well behaved but I was quite taken aback that parents would do that!

Now I have heard it all. If I were to do that (which I would not!) I would feel selfish and careless. DH and I always take turns in that situation, making sure the kids were busy with something (even if just an ice cream or new little toy), not just waiting around. You never know what can happen. What if one of the kids gets hurt somehow (run over by a stroller or ECV) and needs help? what if a sibling on sibling fight breaks out? Not to mention getting lost, nabbed, etc.


Welcome to the boards OP! Maybe we'll see you when we are there in less than 2 weeks!

 

[heathera]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the info, I'll be looking for your cast name tag as I experience dueling dragons in 2 weeks time!

Heather

 

[Figment22]

there were three little boys aged about 4,5 and 9 whose parents left them while they went on the ride. The boys waited about 40 minutes right beside us.

OMG! The police would have to be called if I left my two boys alone for more than two minutes. They'd take the opportunity to maim each other, I'm sure.


While I think the parents were completely wrong to leave kids this young alone, I'm impressed that they didn't kill each other!

 

[Timmy Boy]

Hey everyone! Wow I'm sorry I havent kept up to date on the questions being asked here.

There is another Tim that works at Dragons, and that is not me. I however, did leave Dragons and I'm at another attraction at Islands. I don't want to say which one, but I am still at Islands.

For the person aasking about fitting in the seats, there are test seats outside Hulk, Dragons and Doom. The seatbelts must be buckled and locked in order to ride.

And for parents leaving there kids outside, I see it a lot. I can't really do anything if I get to Greeter and the parents already went up. Just take the kids with you. They can exit at the last minute at basically every attraction.

 

[bubba's mom]

I however, did leave Dragons and I'm at another attraction at Islands. I don't want to say which one, but I am still at Islands.

c'mon....spill the beans!!! where are ya now?? One Fish, Two Fish????

 

[Timmy Boy]

No, haha, I will tell you, it's not that. It's just, some other people told me that maybe I shouldn't say where I work, for like... confidentiality terms and other "buisness" stuff. I don't want to get in trouble.

 

[Mainebound]

They'd take the opportunity to maim each other, I'm sure.

I am so glad you wrote that. My kids aren't the only ones!!

Ok Tim, I agree on confidentiality. Most of us on the DIS don't actually use our real names or give too many details about ourselves, I think for pretty good reasons.

Of course, my kids are going to say Hi to every Tim they see!!!

 

[cjc]

Timmy Boy

Really pleased you are enjoying working for Universal.
We will be visiting in late May and staying onsite at RPR.
Front of the line access is fantastic and one of the many reasons for coming back.
Do you know how/where I can find out if any rides will be out of action for maintenance etc? Last time we visited one of the water rides - the wettest! was closed and very keen to try it this visit.

Thanks

CJC