News Round Up 2016

[Budshark]

I'm not at all clear on how they've solved the line jumping question. Perhaps they'll keep 2 touch points for attractions where it's physically possible to change lines.

That is how I read it... "select rides". Mine train for example, the 2nd location isn't needed. However, the person will still need to be there to staff. But Space Mountain? They better keep the 2nd location. That ride is begging for line jumping.

 

[skier_pete]

News

More on the single touch point change at select Disney attractions

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...ttractions-eliminating-second-touch-point.htm

It says it right in this brief article:

The second touch point was originally installed to prevent line jumping from the standby line to the FastPass+ line after the initial touch point.

That would be my main concern. Some people have ZERO consideration, and would gladly game the system by jumping the FP+ line once they know they can get away with it. I hope Disney responds to this WHEN (not if) it starts happening. And I am with @soniam , I will 100% report it if I see people doing it. (Not that the CM will probably do anything about it. )

Also - I don't understand exactly how this reduces CMs. There is typically always a CM at the merge between FP+ and standby. How does removing the meters there reduce staffing, maybe it really IS about line efficiency.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I'm not at all clear on how they've solved the line jumping question. Perhaps they'll keep 2 touch points for attractions where it's physically possible to change lines.

Some lines still have both touchpoints - Space Mountain is one

Others that could have jumpers (Haunted Mansion) currently have 1, but this whole program is in the testing phase, and if management decides it becomes a problem at certain rides, then they can always reactivate the second point.

Rides like Peter Pan that have a completely separate FP line are the ones that will benefit most from the lack of second point

 

[jlundeen]

I'm not at all clear on how they've solved the line jumping question. Perhaps they'll keep 2 touch points for attractions where it's physically possible to change lines.

On my one and only trip to Universal a couple of years ago, we didn't get the Express Pass. We wanted to ride Minions - We saw two lines...one very long (45 minutes) and one almost non-existent. Since it didn't say anything (or we missed it), of course, we got into the shorter line. It wasn't until we got all the way up to the end, that we realized it was for EP...so we had to go back to the long line. If they put the touch points in at the end, rather than the beginning, it would take care of the line jumpers. But they have to be marked that they are for FP.

 

[mollmoll4]

Universal Hollywood is getting a permanent Walking Dead attraction. Sounds like a fancy haunted house-type "experience".

http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03...raction-coming-to-universal-studios-hollywood

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Splash Mountain is one ride that I've never seen use the second touchpoint. They always have brown covers over the whole mickey reader and post. I've often thought in the line - it would be really easy to just jump over at the top of the stairs or in the barn and nobody would even know. I've never done it...and never seen anybody do it though...so it seems like at least there the honesty policy is working fine. Of course this only from my limited experience of maybe 25 or so rides on splash since FP+ was put in place.

 

[j2thomason]

News

More on the single touch point change at select Disney attractions

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...ttractions-eliminating-second-touch-point.htm

I wish they would just move the second touch point to the end of the line where they already have cast members stationed anyway. They could require the guest to scan again before the boarding the ride. Without the second touch point there will line jumping everywhere!!

 

[rteetz]

News

Magic March t-shirts go on sale tomorrow

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...n-team-spirit-with-march-magic-2016-products/

 

[jlundeen]

I wish they would just move the second touch point to the end of the line where they already have cast members stationed anyway. They could require the guest to scan again before the boarding the ride. Without the second touch point there will line jumping everywhere!!

I often wonder if the people who have these ideas have ever really spent time in the parks......just kidding...kind of.

 

[a4matte]

I often wonder if the people who have these ideas have ever really spent time in the parks......just kidding...kind of.

I'm sure it's like every other industry. Someone has a "GREAT IDEA OMG!" and no one will sit them down and say, "Look, your idea sucks." Sooo they just let whatever it is run through until it's a complete disaster.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I wish they would just move the second touch point to the end of the line where they already have cast members stationed anyway. They could require the guest to scan again before the boarding the ride. Without the second touch point there will line jumping everywhere!!

I haven't seen any reason given for why it is the 2nd point being eliminated rather than the first. Is the feeling they would need a CM there is some capacity anyway to help direct traffic?

 

[SureAsLiz]

I haven't seen any reason given for why it is the 2nd point being eliminated rather than the first. Is the feeling they would need a CM there is some capacity anyway to help direct traffic?

Logistically it makes more sense to turn people away at the beginning than it does at the end. The number of people who try to enter the FP queue and are either too early/late, don't have a FP at all, don't understand what FP is, etc is astounding, and it would be a pain to have all those people work their way through the queue, only to be turned away and sent back against traffic

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Logistically it makes more sense to turn people away at the beginning than it does at the end. The number of people who try to enter the FP queue and are either too early/late, don't have a FP at all, don't understand what FP is, etc is astounding, and it would be a pain to have all those people work their way through the queue, only to be turned away and sent back against traffic

yeah, guess that is what a meant by "directing traffic" - just obviously doesn't get at the "line jumping" they are worried about. Not sure if those are also the same CMs that give our rider swaps (which we have some times gotten even when having FP as not always certain we can get through the line twice within the time window if we get there first towards the end.

Actually that might be part of the reason - that you need to scan your band at the beginning of the queue within your time window, right? Not actually be on the ride. If they don't have to scan at the beginning how can you tell exactly when they got in line?

 

[rteetz]

Interesting read from the fool

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/12/is-disney-world-making-a-5000-seat-mistake.aspx

 

[Budshark]

Again - it says "some". So it will be interesting to see field reports of where this is implemented.

In early Feb we found a lot of the secondary sites were disabled. In newer rides (and some of the older rides) this makes sense. You can't jump 7DMT or PP for instance. Space Mountain and Star Tours seem like rides that would be a disaster if they stopped the secondary scanning.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Actually that might be part of the reason - that you need to scan your band at the beginning of the queue within your time window, right? Not actually be on the ride. If they don't have to scan at the beginning how can you tell exactly when they got in line?

This is correct - you need to scan your FP within the time frame at the first point. If you scan, but the line is 10 minutes long so you reach the second point outside your window, you will still be let in because you are checked in.

Again - it says "some". So it will be interesting to see field reports of where this is implemented.

Just my experience from this past week:

2nd Point Active:
Space Mountain

2nd Point Inactive:
Peter Pan
IASW
BTM
Haunted Mansion
Little Mermaid
Winnie the Pooh
Pirates
Primevil Whirl
Safari
Spaceship Earth
Jungle Cruise
Buzz Lightyear

As I use more I'll try to update. The only time I saw anyone tempted to linejump was in HM (though a CM will periodically walk the line to keep the crowd moving) and IASW (50 minute SB wait, and they never merged the two lines, so SB had one half, and FP had another). No one ever actually jumped, but I could tell groups were thinking about it.

ETA: I am a pretty habitual FP user. My choices don't change much from day to day, but I'll try to spread them out some more to see what other rides are doing

 

[Spacedog1975]

Interesting read from the fool

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/12/is-disney-world-making-a-5000-seat-mistake.aspx

Is it convenient for guests? No.
Is it good for Disney's bottom line? Probably.

If seating cannot keep up with demand, people will return.
If seating cannot keep up with demand, people will book table service to assure a seat.

Eventually the newness will wear off and people won't press so hard to see it, but demand outstripping supply will never be a bad thing for WDW.

 

[rteetz]

News

Universal City Walk announces long rumored chocolate replacement for NBA City.

http://universal.wdwinfo.com/news/u...ome-chocolate-factory-coming-later-this-year/

 

[sachilles]

Is it convenient for guests? No.
Is it good for Disney's bottom line? Probably.

If seating cannot keep up with demand, people will return.
If seating cannot keep up with demand, people will book table service to assure a seat.

Eventually the newness will wear off and people won't press so hard to see it, but demand outstripping supply will never be a bad thing for WDW.

I'll be curious as to where else you might be able to see the show. I think you'll be able to find more standing room only type access to the show from around the park. No you don't get a seat, but can still see the show.
Seating is on both sides of the river, so it stands to reason the show will be good from multiple angles.

 

[skier_pete]

Interesting read from the fool

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/12/is-disney-world-making-a-5000-seat-mistake.aspx

Well - I'm going to disagree with this. I think Disney is doing pretty good to manage to find 5,000 seats in an already existing area. Fantasmic was built from scratch and is only 1,900 more seats. Disney can't build these areas based on expected crowds on opening night. If they built a 15,000 seat area then 2 years from now it would be playing to half empty seating.

What they will have to do in manage the crowds. Whether through dining packages or FP+, this is what they did in DCA with World of Color and they'll have to do the same thing here. Having 2 or 3 shows a night at first might also help significantly, but yes people will be disappointed and have to be turned away.