Left line faster? Fact or Fiction

[lentesta]

You know, if anyone needs a science fair project for their child, this would be a neat question.

The left/right question is largely irrelevant for most two-line attractions that have FASTPASS, since one line is typically allocated for FASTPASS.

If there are two lines available, and you can see the lines from the entrance, it's a safe assumption that people will choose whatever line looks shorter, thus balancing them out over time. (The alternative to consider is that rational people would not choose the line that looks shorter, but it'd be tough to come up with a good reason why that might happen.) Obviously, if you see both lines and one looks shorter, get in the shorter line.

Here's where it gets interesting: On Pirates of the Caribbean, you have to make the left/right choice without seeing how long each line is. And Pirates doesn't have FASTPASS. Thus, it's the perfect attraction to test the left/right theory. So we did. And we found that both lines get you in the boat within a minute of each other.

No matter which line you choose, the thing that determines who gets on first seems to be how many spaces are left in the boat. If you're a party of four, and the group size of the people who got in line just before you leaves three spaces open, you'll have to wait for the next boat. If there are four or more spaces, you'll get in. That's the determining factor.

But since there's no way of knowing the size of the groups ahead of you, or how they'll organize themselves in the boat, I don't think you can predict which line will be shorter.

Hope this helps! Always happy to test out these kinds of questions.

Len

 

[DVCajun]

My personal experience is that whatever line I am NOT in is faster. Right or left doesn't matter. If I'm not in it, it's the fast line.

So my new strategy is to follow you through the parks and take the line you're NOT in.