Inflated wait times

[Angel141925]

Had Disneyland been experiencing inflated standby lines the way Disney world is? I just saw haunted mansion is a 75 min wait at 9 am today (longest wait time in the park currently). Haunted mansion is a must with our family on our upcoming trip but there’s no way my little one with last that long in that line.

 

[mdmost]

I think that's simply because it's Halloween and everyone wants to do the Haunted Mansion today. The Touring Plans app says the real time is more like 35 minutes. I just checked and it's now down to 55 minutes on the Disneyland app.

 

[DonnerB]

The wait times are kind of all over the place. I got in similar looking lines two separate days for Haunted Mansion Holiday, one posted at 60 and one at 40 and waited about 20 minutes each time. We got in a posted 75 minute wait line at Monsters After Dark yesterday and were walking off the ride in 45.

We also waited 40 for Storybook Land Canal Boats when it was posted at 20 (the app never changed during those 40 minutes).

And some waits were totally spot-on!

 

[lalasmama]

They inflate times, yes. They always have. Their general reasoning is that you will feel like you got a good "deal" when the wait wasn't as long as expected, so the rate times they wait may be a little longer than the posted time, you feel like you've already "saved" the time on earlier rides.

At any rate, Haunted Mansion Holiday always has long lines during the holiday season. An hour-long wait isn't uncommon during the day. Shorter waits can be found at the *very* beginning of the day, or near the end of the night. When I was there last month, I got in the line about an hour before closing. It was supposed to be a 45-minute wait, and I was walking out of the ride right about that 45-minute mark.

 

[Angel141925]

We’re not going until the week after thanksgiving so hoping it might not be as bad. I was just surprised how long the wait time was so early in the day. I’ve debated on getting genie plus if it out by then but with a 2 year old and only being able to do an attraction once I don’t think it’s going to be worth it.

 

[disneylover102]

Well I just got here a couple hours ago for Oogie Boogie Bash and I’ll be here all week. So far I’ve done Guardians which was posted at 40 but was less than 25, Cars which was posted at 75 but I did single rider in less than 30, and I’m currently in line for Soarin’ which was posted at 35 and I’ve been in line almost 20 minutes and I’m already in that hallway when you’re almost to the front. So so far, wait times have been inflated. I can let you know how it goes as the week goes on if you want.

 

[lalasmama]

We’re not going until the week after thanksgiving so hoping it might not be as bad. I was just surprised how long the wait time was so early in the day. I’ve debated on getting genie plus if it out by then but with a 2 year old and only being able to do an attraction once I don’t think it’s going to be worth it.

Personally with a 2yo, I wouldn't do it unless there was an adult who wanted all the big rides. The rides included in G+ almost all have height limits that a 2yo probably won't meet, so you're spending (whatever the price is, I can't remember, times however many bigger peeps) and getting use for just a few rides that little one can go on.

 

[Dory92130]

Guardians generally has been overstated since reopening. If not spilling out to the sides on the queue by the giftshop it's typically <30minutes. 20minutes if you can walk past the gates without a wait.

Was there today at DL and typical Sunday wait times of most rides 20-30minutes. with the exception Haunted which ranged 40-75 minutes all day.

Not once did we see timed lanyards used today or yesterday at DCA.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I was there 10/28-10/31 and never waited the posted times. Lines were way shorter in the first two hours of the morning, HM got longer at night but I think that’s more because people want to see the queue and ride at night with the overlay. On 10/31 I rode around 9am with posted 55 and waited 14 minutes to get into the stretching room. My longest wait was around 8pm on 10/30 posted 75 and waited 45 to get into the stretching room, this was around fireworks time though. At 9am 10/30 posted 40 waited 18 to get into stretching room. The wait after the stretching room is negligible. The line was outside of the actual queue for all of my waits. If it’s posted under 60 I would definitely get in line. The 45min actual wait felt pretty brutal at the end of the night.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I was there 10/28-10/31 and never waited the posted times. Lines were way shorter in the first two hours of the morning, HM got longer at night but I think that’s more because people want to see the queue and ride at night with the overlay. On 10/31 I rode around 9am with posted 55 and waited 14 minutes to get into the stretching room. My longest wait was around 8pm on 10/30 posted 75 and waited 45 to get into the stretching room, this was around fireworks time though. At 9am 10/30 posted 40 waited 18 to get into stretching room. The wait after the stretching room is negligible. The line was outside of the actual queue for all of my waits. If it’s posted under 60 I would definitely get in line. The 45min actual wait felt pretty brutal at the end of the night.

My impression is that the posted/actual difference seems to be a lot more than pre-pandemic. This suggests to me that Disney is lying to guests about wait times so that later on, people think they are saving more time with Genie+ than they actually are.

 

[ktlm]

We had it go both ways in our early October trip. Haunted Mansion was posted at 60 minutes, and it only took 30 minutes. Space Mountain was posted at 30 minutes and it took 60 minutes.

 

[soccerra]

We were there 5 days scattered over 10/22-10/30. I agree with KTLM, Space was way longer on a couple occasions then was posted. Pirates was posted at 45 and took 20.. Indy was posted 20 and was 10 (5 of which it takes to walk back to the attraction). We rope dropped Haunted 2 days in a row, judging by the amount of people spilled out in line all over New Orleans Square Im guessing it might be somewhat accurate?
California Adventure had terrible operating days while we were there so its tough to say, at least One of Soarin, Incredicoaster, GOG, RSR was down at pretty much all times. Luigis was down most of the time, when it was up the wait time was accurate (30/40 mins +), Goofys was also down quite a bit and the wait time fluctuated wildly. Webslingers was having its own troubles too, only got over boarding group 100 on one day.

 

[disneylover102]

I saw a CM when I was getting off Buzz that was holding a handful of red tags. But I haven’t seen them anywhere else and most wait times have been way over inflated the last couple days. I think people are happier when the wait is way shorter than they anticipated instead of way longer.

 

[disneylover102]

Interestingly a red tag was just given to the person in front of me at Soarin’.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I saw a CM when I was getting off Buzz that was holding a handful of red tags. But I haven’t seen them anywhere else and most wait times have been way over inflated the last couple days. I think people are happier when the wait is way shorter than they anticipated instead of way longer.

I didn’t see a single red tag this trip, and my last trip in 2019 I got handed multiple per day! Wondering if it’s because of Covid, or just a coincidence. When I got in line for Indy with 50 minutes posted the CM was encouraging people to get in line saying “it’s basically walk on.” I think I waited about 15 minutes, but I thought it was weird that they didn’t just change the time?

My impression is that the posted/actual difference seems to be a lot more than pre-pandemic. This suggests to me that Disney is lying to guests about wait times so that later on, people think they are saving more time with Genie+ than they actually are.

Totally agree, what better way to sell genie+, and keep people happier with waiting less than expected.

 

[ktlm]

I saw a CM when I was getting off Buzz that was holding a handful of red tags. But I haven’t seen them anywhere else

Interestingly a red tag was just given to the person in front of me at Soarin’.

I didn’t see a single red tag this trip, and my last trip in 2019 I got handed multiple per day

DD got a red tag handed to her at Indy on our early October trip. I feel like I saw someone else with one on a different ride, but I can't remember which one.

 

[lcp9]

I didn't even bother with DL app wait times today because they were so off - except HMH. Those wait times were spot on and also unbearable. Ha. Honestly I was ready to pay the $3500 for a VIP tour because I was so afraid of what I had heard and we have 4 kids including 3 rowdy boys who are 7, 5 and 3. I was not looking forward to 60 min+ waits. Every ride today was fine EXCEPT HMH. And in fact Indy came back on after a few mins in line so we cut out and will try at rope drop tomorrow.