News Round Up

[Yellowstonetim]

I think you're missing the point based on the last time this was attempted. And no, it's not the same number of people.

Once the maximum number of passes were issued the remaining folks were told they couldn't ride the attraction. That didn't go over so well.

Right now a fastpass isn't needed - you can show up at a park and ride without any advanced planning, and there's no set limit on the number of guests (except when Disney considers a park 'full'). If everyone is required to follow the fastpass concept for all attractions then Disney is faced with either turning folks back who didn't plan, or perhaps even turning people away completely at the park entrance once ride capacity for the day has been reached. Again what would happen of all of the attractions follow this concept and the maximum number of potential riders is reached several days out, or even two months out during a peak time of year?

The exact same number of people can ride the ride with or without FP. People being upset is due to EXPECTATIONS. They are not going to reduce the ride capacity and force people to not ride. That is counterproductive. What they have to do is train people to use the new system. No FP available with no line was just that the line was full to the end of the evening and people could not SEE the LINE because those people did not have to STAND THERE.

The only real issue was people's expectations and misunderstanding of how this works. Once they learn about it everyone will be happy not to stand in line!

 

[mom2rtk]

The exact same number of people can ride the ride with or without FP.

Tell that to the people who reported seeing lots of half-empty cars go out yesterday.

And yes, I get that it's a test. But for a lot of people there yesterday it was perhaps their only day to spend in DHS for a year..... or ever.

 

[ahoyle]

Just read about this and what a terrible idea. Disney is losing its freaking mind. People shouldn't be required to make a reservation to ride a theme park ride.

 

[beer dave]

Not the same.

Make the return window the appropriate size and they can manage the same flow of people without those same people standing in line. When lines are long this will be a blessing. I would much rather have a FP+ for a certain time than standing in a 1 hour or longer line. It basically ends up being a reservation system.

I love this idea and hope it spreads. No more long lines. I hate standing in long lines. Won't do it any more for anything over 30 minutes. Won't usually do it for anything over 15.

FP+ baby!

Not sure I can wrap my head around the math in this one... In theory this could work, but in reality, I don't think so. As it is now, we often have to fight through the people waiting for their time slot to open up outside of the FPP que... Disney can't change this unless they don't allow people into the area with out a current pass. So when it is FPP only, the area outside the que will fill up with soon to be pass holders, creating a pre que. The only difference from a pre que to a que is one is in the attraction, and the other is in the walkway. It still comes down to capacity-- if the ride moves 1000 people an hour, (?) then the 1000 th person is going to wait an hour if they all line up at the same time. Even though the passes are broken down into smaller time increments, there is still an hour window.

 

[mom2rtk]

Not sure I can wrap my head around the math in this one... In theory this could work, but in reality, I don't think so. As it is now, we often have to fight through the people waiting for their time slot to open up outside of the FPP que... Disney can't change this unless they don't allow people into the area with out a current pass. So when it is FPP only, the area outside the que will fill up with soon to be pass holders, creating a pre que. The only difference from a pre que to a que is one is in the attraction, and the other is in the walkway. It still comes down to capacity-- if the ride moves 1000 people an hour, (?) then the 1000 th person is going to wait an hour if they all line up at the same time. Even though the passes are broken down into smaller time increments, there is still an hour window.

That's OK. When people clump up outside in the FP return line, they can just take a few more from standby......

Oh wait.......

 

[wallrock]

The exact same number of people can ride the ride with or without FP. People being upset is due to EXPECTATIONS.

My expectation would be to ride the ride. People were told they couldn't.

They are not going to reduce the ride capacity and force people to not ride. That is counterproductive.

That's exactly what they've done in the past.

What they have to do is train people to use the new system.

And how will that work? Lead people around on a leash? Have them take a class before coming to the park? Visiting a park shouldn't be a chore to understand. Good luck in 'training' someone to understand why they can't ride an attraction because the dead space in front of them is reserved for someone else, even though they've spent the money to gain admittance.

No FP available with no line was just that the line was full to the end of the evening and people could not SEE the LINE because those people did not have to STAND THERE.

Not sure what point you're making here, other than reinforcing the logic of why people weren't happy at being turned away when there was no line present.

The only real issue was people's expectations and misunderstanding of how this works. Once they learn about it everyone will be happy not to stand in line!

Oh I'm sure there will be grins from ear to ear after everyone's 'training'.

 

[skier_pete]

The only real issue was people's expectations and misunderstanding of how this works. Once they learn about it everyone will be happy not to stand in line!

Look - I'm an uber-planner, so it's unlikely to affect my trip. As it is, I've never waited more than about 20 minutes for TSMM, and I've ridden it 3 times in the same day before.

But here's the problem. You are assuming that eventually, everyone that goes to Disney will know enough to reserve a spot on the ride.

But there's too problem with that.
(A) there are some people that will NEVER plan ahead.
(B) there are not enough ride slots available in a day for every patron to ride once.

What's the future? Oh, I've decided to go to Disney World. But I didn't make my ride reservations 60 days out. So I can't ride TSMM, RnRC, Soarin', EE, Space Mountain, or Splash Mountain because they are all booked up. Brilliant.

In addition, FP lines have ebbs and flows. If you ONLY have FP+ return, you will have periods of time where no-one has showed up for a while, and then you get a big surge (say when LMA let's out) which leads to a big back-up. So you still have windows with longer waits. (Admittedly more like 20 minutes than two hours.) You also have a certain percent of people that skip their FP reservations. Now you run with open cars while people are *****ing to guest services they can't go on the rides.

Here's the first thing they should do to fix the problems at TSMM. Add a single rider line. Lines would move at least 10% faster. Next time you are there, watch how many cars go out with 3 people.

 

[faneuil]

Here's the first thing they should do to fix the problems at TSMM. Add a single rider line. Lines would move at least 10% faster. Next time you are there, watch how many cars go out with 3 people.

Lots of attractions could benefit from a single rider line. I'm the only one in the family who rides any of the mountains, RnR, TofT.

Yes, Everest and RnR have single rider lines. I use them. I love them.

On Space Mtn in particular, I always hear CMs asking for single riders. Not sure how they'd build a single rider line, but it would benefit to have one. I get asked on TofT almost every time I ride. I've been asked on Kali River. Sometimes, I even say something when I get toward the front. "Hey, I'm a single rider if you need a spot filled". Lots of times, they take me.

I'd love more single rider lines. I know they're not always used by single riders, but if a family doesn't mind being split up - fine by me. It still makes the lines move faster by filling in the holes.

 

[mom2rtk]

Look - I'm an uber-planner, so it's unlikely to affect my trip. As it is, I've never waited more than about 20 minutes for TSMM, and I've ridden it 3 times in the same day before.

But here's the problem. You are assuming that eventually, everyone that goes to Disney will know enough to reserve a spot on the ride.

But there's too problem with that.
(A) there are some people that will NEVER plan ahead.
(B) there are not enough ride slots available in a day for every patron to ride once.

What's the future? Oh, I've decided to go to Disney World. But I didn't make my ride reservations 60 days out. So I can't ride TSMM, RnRC, Soarin', EE, Space Mountain, or Splash Mountain because they are all booked up. Brilliant.

In addition, FP lines have ebbs and flows. If you ONLY have FP+ return, you will have periods of time where no-one has showed up for a while, and then you get a big surge (say when LMA let's out) which leads to a big back-up. So you still have windows with longer waits. (Admittedly more like 20 minutes than two hours.) You also have a certain percent of people that skip their FP reservations. Now you run with open cars while people are *****ing to guest services they can't go on the rides.

Here's the first thing they should do to fix the problems at TSMM. Add a single rider line. Lines would move at least 10% faster. Next time you are there, watch how many cars go out with 3 people.

Agreed. If they couldn't educate the public on legacy FP, how on earth are they going to educate them on not having a standby line. It's counterintuitive to start with. Many would just assume they heard wrong.

And as for the clumping of people in the return line...... that's easy. Just go to a 5 minute window. Problem solved! I'm sure Disney will be calling me any minute wanting me on the FP+ troubleshooting team!

 

[rteetz]

The new Momento Mori haunted mansion shop is open and most of the merchandise is available online.

The October 9th and 30th Halloween Parties are sold out.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The new Momento Mori haunted mansion shop is open and most of the merchandise is available online.

The October 9th and 30th Halloween Parties are sold out.

Disney.com sent out an email add for haunted mansion product this morning

 

[rteetz]

The overhead nets around the tree of life have been removed

 

[Spacedog1975]

The logical end to the MWM test would be a two tiered pass system, one of which would have most if not all of it's slots available on the day.

Fast Pass Plus of course.

Then a seperate electronic queue for the line. They know how many riders per hour. You could easily get a "one hour" queue return time instead of standing for 2.

 

[faneuil]

The overhead nets around the tree of life have been removed

Not like they were the worst thing in the world, but this is awesome news.

 

[clsteve]

The logical end to the MWM test would be a two tiered pass system, one of which would have most if not all of it's slots available on the day.

Fast Pass Plus of course.

Then a seperate electronic queue for the line. They know how many riders per hour. You could easily get a "one hour" queue return time instead of standing for 2.

Ah, yes.

You've hit on one of the main issues of this whole mess.

That looks absolutely wonderful on a white board or in a PowerPoint slide -good enough to spend 10 figures to implement.

Unfortunately, it completely ignores human behavior

We tend to screw up every plan that assumes we all act in the same way and want the same things.....

 

[faneuil]

Ah, yes.

You've hit on one of the main issues of this whole mess.

That looks absolutely wonderful on a white board or in a PowerPoint slide -good enough to spend 10 figures to implement.

Unfortunately, it completely ignores human behavior

We tend to screw up every plan that assumes we all act in the same way and want the same things.....

We don't even need to be forced off the cliff like the lemmings, either.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

We don't even need to be forced off the cliff like the lemmings, either.

There was an episode of Ducktales that features lemmings...

I often think of it as I read through the threads...as it is often a metaphor of naïveté towards lethargy in guest areas and profiteering in the swamp at the expense of quality.

 

[clsteve]

We don't even need to be forced off the cliff like the lemmings, either.

You're right.

No need to force us off of any cliff.

If there's enough variety, quality, individual attachment, and wonder at the edge ---- we'll gladly run off all by ourselves.

Unfortunately, you won't see that slide up in a boardroom anytime soon

 

[rteetz]

Disney has announced the medals for the upcoming wdw marathon. I myself will be there for the weekend festivities.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...isney-world-marathon-weekend-medals-revealed/

 

[skier_pete]

Lots of attractions could benefit from a single rider line. I'm the only one in the family who rides any of the mountains, RnR, TofT.

Yes, Everest and RnR have single rider lines. I use them. I love them.

On Space Mtn in particular, I always hear CMs asking for single riders. Not sure how they'd build a single rider line, but it would benefit to have one. I get asked on TofT almost every time I ride. I've been asked on Kali River. Sometimes, I even say something when I get toward the front. "Hey, I'm a single rider if you need a spot filled". Lots of times, they take me.

I'd love more single rider lines. I know they're not always used by single riders, but if a family doesn't mind being split up - fine by me. It still makes the lines move faster by filling in the holes.

Don't forget Test Track. That and RnRC have the BEST single rider lines. You actually short-cut the FP people!