News Round Up 2020

[TheMaxRebo]

My experience this last week suggests it won't be a bad thing. The long lines really encroached on normal walking lanes. While they are waiting in lines they aren't eating or shopping in the gift shops. The end result was real crush at lunch time if you didn't think ahead to order. Gift shops had attraction like lines at the end of the day. If you could browse a gift shop while virtually waiting, or be in another actual queue line while virtually waiting it would be nice.
We were afforded that twice in the magic kingdom this trip. My elderly father joined us for his first visit since 84. We rented him an ECV, as he can barely walk some days. Without the disability card, he was put in the virtual cue for Haunted mansion and big thunder. That allowed us a churro break on one and go to the country bear jamboree on the other.

I do think they are doing a good job overall dealing Covid based on my trip last week. That being said the bus lines at the busy times could be organized a little better. They have to take a up a lot of space, and the opportunities at the resorts to that is tough. They really could use an attendant at each resort to organize it a bit better during the morning crush.

Also with the parks closing so early, I so many people at the resorts ordering restaurant delivery from outside disney. I feel like disney is missing an opportunity for revenue, which is unlike them. You could park a food truck at each resort somewhere and make it worth the effort. We stayed at Kidani, between the limited options at Kidani and no Jambo food and beverage, you really were quite limited. You even had to wait 20 minutes to get into the kidani gift shop.

I know I've been a positive supporter of the Skyliner. After having an ECV in our party, and covid restrictions, it really feels like a home run.
We were at the kidani bus stop an hour and

I see complaints about lines for food and to get into the shops throughout the day though - so if more people are not in a ride queue then that will just make those lines longer. I think they need to open up more capacity elsewhere (even if just more food carts, more merchandise stands, socially distance character meets, etc) ... if they can do that, then I thnk virtual queues can be a great thing to try to reduce those spots where the extended queues are impeding on the walkways

Definitely agree with you about offerings at the resorts, especially in the evenings given the early park closings. Having a food truck like you sugest or a popup bar/food options or even pop up gift store type thing seems like an easy win. This is also psushing more people to Disney Springs making that more crowded

 

[rteetz]

News

https://blogmickey.com/2020/10/tsa-records-first-million-traveler-day-since-disney-world-shut-down/

 

[New Mouse]

My experience this last week suggests it won't be a bad thing. The long lines really encroached on normal walking lanes. While they are waiting in lines they aren't eating or shopping in the gift shops. The end result was real crush at lunch time if you didn't think ahead to order. Gift shops had attraction like lines at the end of the day. If you could browse a gift shop while virtually waiting, or be in another actual queue line while virtually waiting it would be nice.
We were afforded that twice in the magic kingdom this trip. My elderly father joined us for his first visit since 84. We rented him an ECV, as he can barely walk some days. Without the disability card, he was put in the virtual cue for Haunted mansion and big thunder. That allowed us a churro break on one and go to the country bear jamboree on the other.

I do think they are doing a good job overall dealing Covid based on my trip last week. That being said the bus lines at the busy times could be organized a little better. They have to take a up a lot of space, and the opportunities at the resorts to that is tough. They really could use an attendant at each resort to organize it a bit better during the morning crush.

Also with the parks closing so early, I so many people at the resorts ordering restaurant delivery from outside disney. I feel like disney is missing an opportunity for revenue, which is unlike them. You could park a food truck at each resort somewhere and make it worth the effort. We stayed at Kidani, between the limited options at Kidani and no Jambo food and beverage, you really were quite limited. You even had to wait 20 minutes to get into the kidani gift shop.

I know I've been a positive supporter of the Skyliner. After having an ECV in our party, and covid restrictions, it really feels like a home run.
edit
We were at the kidani bus stop an hour and 15 minutes early for Epcot, we had 4 scooters ahead of us and a line back to the upper level of the bus stop. We were not going to hit park opening. Instead we immediately hopped on a DHS bus, then got on the skyliner. had a 15 minute wait at the CBR station and still got in the park before 11:30 at the international gateway.

If there is not additional stuff to do, its going to crash hard. This has been proven time and time again that queues manage crowds. Eliminating queues makes it a free for all.ultimately disney will need to bit the bullet and extend hours and/or bring back select entertainment.

 

[only hope]

I am very "pro" virtual queues (assuming technology works) but doesn't this get back to the "what is there for people to do if they are waiting for their virtual queue return to come up?" wont' this just push more people to non-virtual queues?

If they are doing this in conjunction with adding in socially distant character meets and some more shows and dining or something, then I think this could work, but that is needed

At Universal, vq’s are mostly used to prevent the line from spilling outside the queue. So the vq is a placeholder for the time you would have spent in line outside the queue- when you show up the line is usually still fairly long. VQ’s are turned off and on as needed. If that’s how Disney uses it, it’ll keep walkways clear. But it’ll just increase wait times elsewhere. They need to open what shows they can safely (for cm’s and guests) and distanced m&g’s to absorb more people.

 

[tlmadden73]

I am very "pro" virtual queues (assuming technology works) but doesn't this get back to the "what is there for people to do if they are waiting for their virtual queue return to come up?" wont' this just push more people to non-virtual queues?

If they are doing this in conjunction with adding in socially distant character meets and some more shows and dining or something, then I think this could work, but that is needed

Right .. where do those people go? Especially now?

I like the idea of a virtual queue as opposed to planning your die 60 days in advance. But even then .. if you didn't get a FP+ for something like SDMT or FOP .. you could STILL wait in line and ride the ride that day.

It depends how it works I guess .. I just worry it will work like Rise of the Resistance where you have a chance to just simply miss out on the chance to go on specific rides because you weren't on your phone in the first 30 seconds of the queue opening time. That feels worse than the old paper fast pass days ... without the option of just waiting in a long line if you didn't get a paper FP.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Right .. where do those people go? Especially now?

I like the idea of a virtual queue as opposed to planning your die 60 days in advance. But even then .. if you didn't get a FP+ for something like SDMT or FOP .. you could STILL wait in line and ride the ride that day.

It depends how it works I guess .. I just worry it will work like Rise of the Resistance where you have a chance to just simply miss out on the chance to go on specific rides because you weren't on your phone in the first 30 seconds of the queue opening time. That feels worse than the old paper fast pass days ... without the option of just waiting in a long line if you didn't get a paper FP.

I would think day of virtual queue slots would be a lot like paper FP experience where the popular rides will run out of slots for the day early on (hopefully not *as* quick as Rise of the Reistance and hopefully the other attractions run more reliably)

 

[tlmadden73]

My experience this last week suggests it won't be a bad thing. The long lines really encroached on normal walking lanes. While they are waiting in lines they aren't eating or shopping in the gift shops. The end result was real crush at lunch time if you didn't think ahead to order. Gift shops had attraction like lines at the end of the day. If you could browse a gift shop while virtually waiting, or be in another actual queue line while virtually waiting it would be nice.

The reason virtual queues sound good is because there are "long lines" encroaching on walking spaces like you mentioned (despite 25% capacity). That is simply because of social distancing. We need to get to a point and ditch social distancing in rides/queues .. (or at least shrink it down a bit) .. people naturally spread themselves out and most queues are constantly moving anyway.

I went to several tourist attractions over the past week .. and while capacity was limited, no real social distancing. No one was shoulder to shoulder for more than a few seconds or minutes, but when you want to look at animal exhibits at the zoo .. or a sign/exhibit at a museum, people need to be close to each other (and seemingly gladly do it without really caring). The kids take off and you simply have to follow them -- walking past and through people. Waiting in line for food .. no one is 6 feet apart. Just couldn't be or it would be just impossible to walk past. Still mask wearing, but no real social distancing .. and it felt fine (at least to me).

If those rides had virtual queues .. where do the people go? Restaurants have limited capacity .. as do gift shops .. do you just stand around in the middle of the park waiting to get into a restaurant, ride or shop? Doesn't sound like a fun day.

 

[YesterDark]

I am very "pro" virtual queues (assuming technology works) but doesn't this get back to the "what is there for people to do if they are waiting for their virtual queue return to come up?" wont' this just push more people to non-virtual queues?

If they are doing this in conjunction with adding in socially distant character meets and some more shows and dining or something, then I think this could work, but that is needed

Here's how I would do it. Queue normally in the stand by line. Once the line hits a certain "spot" you put a person or thing that can scan your phone/magic band to put yourself in a virtual queue. Once you're called you then enter the current fast pass line and line up. Can only be in one queue at a time.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Here's how I would do it. Queue normally in the stand by line. Once the line hits a certain "spot" you put a person or thing that can scan your phone/magic band to put yourself in a virtual queue. Once you're called you then enter the current fast pass line and line up. Can only be in one queue at a time.

I think that woudl work great and make sense WHEN they have more for people to do when they are waiting for their return to that queue. right now they would largely just be clogging pathways or standing in line for a shop or food kiosk or something

 

[sachilles]

If those rides had virtual queues .. where do the people go? Restaurants have limited capacity .. as do gift shops .. do you just stand around in the middle of the park waiting to get into a restaurant, ride or shop? Doesn't sound like a fun day.

Think of it this way. You'll still be waiting in an actual line, while you virtually wait in another.
So you get in the virtual line for Haunted mansion and get in the actual line for Its a small world. When you complete It's a small world you go almost instantly on at Haunted mansion. While you still wait in a line you got two for the price of one. In theory it would double your riding for your park wait time. Some will argue that it halves everybody's in line wait time which is true technically. However most will just use that to increase the number of rides they get on rather than truly spread everything out.
Without park hopping right now, I think you could get away with longer park hours, and it would naturally thin out the crowds over the day. With that you'd get more throughput from food and gift shop revenue.
They are either worried about cleaning time, or staffing levels. I feel like the staff retained are sort of maxed out on hours.
I saw a lot of staff learning new jobs on my visit, but no "earning my ears" badges to indicate they were truly new.
I suspect they are crosstraining folks to either keep up with demand or have the ability to expand park hours.

I have to say I felt like I missed something by not being able to show my dad what Pandora or any other land at night.

 

[tlmadden73]

Here's how I would do it. Queue normally in the stand by line. Once the line hits a certain "spot" you put a person or thing that can scan your phone/magic band to put yourself in a virtual queue. Once you're called you then enter the current fast pass line and line up. Can only be in one queue at a time.

This would work well .. basically like the Rider Swap. Having to physically go to the ride puts a barrier of entry .. which helps control the demand (which I feel will be needed). Things like mobile ordering (at all restaurants, not just WDW ones) is eliminating the "difficulty" of making an order physically .. thus overwhelming restaurants with too many orders at peak times, thus causing horrible customer service (in long wait times, no human interaction, cold/wrong food, etc.)

I think it is key to be implemented WITHOUT the need of a phone/app - just scan your band .. and go (and look on the app later to see when your return time is), but I don't see that happening since they have that technology built-in already to MDE for Rise.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Think of it this way. You'll still be waiting in an actual line, while you virtually wait in another.
So you get in the virtual line for Haunted mansion and get in the actual line for Its a small world. When you complete It's a small world you go almost instantly on at Haunted mansion. While you still wait in a line you got two for the price of one. In theory it would double your riding for your park wait time. Some will argue that it halves everybody's in line wait time which is true technically. However most will just use that to increase the number of rides they get on rather than truly spread everything out.
Without park hopping right now, I think you could get away with longer park hours, and it would naturally thin out the crowds over the day. With that you'd get more throughput from food and gift shop revenue.
They are either worried about cleaning time, or staffing levels. I feel like the staff retained are sort of maxed out on hours.
I saw a lot of staff learning new jobs on my visit, but no "earning my ears" badges to indicate they were truly new.
I suspect they are crosstraining folks to either keep up with demand or have the ability to expand park hours.

I have to say I felt like I missed something by not being able to show my dad what Pandora or any other land at night.

I think that might be it - the more hours they are open the more they need to cycles of staffing vs just one shift and they have to commit to bringing back quite a few more to make that work and then is there the revenue increase if they do that to cover the extra expense?

 

[sachilles]

The problem with mobile order is it creates sort of a mob outside the restaurant while everyone waits for the burger flipping icon to change to "order ready". Mobile order does work great, but most people really don't think well ahead to make it work as well as we hope.
Sort of need an estimated time until ready with a count down screen. Otherwise people will congregate.

 

[MissGina5]

I am bummed about having to wait longer for Wandavision but I will if I must lol

 

[jpeterson]

The problem with mobile order is it creates sort of a mob outside the restaurant while everyone waits for the burger flipping icon to change to "order ready". Mobile order does work great, but most people really don't think well ahead to make it work as well as we hope.
Sort of need an estimated time until ready with a count down screen. Otherwise people will congregate.

I'm kinda worried the same will happen with virtual queues. Instead of an orderly line you will have a mass of people waiting for theirs to come up

 

[Tom_E_D]

Here's how I would do it. Queue normally in the stand by line. Once the line hits a certain "spot" you put a person or thing that can scan your phone/magic band to put yourself in a virtual queue. Once you're called you then enter the current fast pass line and line up. Can only be in one queue at a time.

I would be annoyed, more than annoyed, if I was the last person in a long queue and they then decided that everyone arriving after me didn't have to wait in the line. Instead, they could be in a "virtual" queue and put their time to better use.

 

[skeeter31]

I am bummed about having to wait longer for Wandavision but I will if I must lol

You’re not really waiting longer for it. It never had an announced release date. The November date came from a data miner that found a date listed deep in the bowels of Disney+ but it was far from a confirmed release date.

 

[sachilles]

I'm kinda worried the same will happen with virtual queues. Instead of an orderly line you will have a mass of people waiting for theirs to come up

I get that. However, I think it's different enough to be less of an issue. People are more worried about getting cold food. Yet with an attraction if you are 10 minutes behind, you still get in the ride and it's a fresh as if you were on time.

Reality is it's the same with food, but folks don't necessarily understand it.
They say your order is ready, but all it's doing is putting you inside where a cast member picks the food off your order and puts it on a tray in front of you. So not truly made to order.
All it really does is help the kitchen to have a better idea of the quantity of items to prepare through out the day for less waste.

 

[rteetz]

News

https://thedisinsider.com/2020/10/19/exclusive-disneys-chip-n-dale-rescue-rangers/

 

[rteetz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1318245606972850176