No more Stanby line for A&E?

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Thanks Tink, very helpful!

 

[ziravan]

No, I considered this. Just as there are (as has been pointed out) people who will take a pass, change their mind, and never use it. But that doesn't matter - the total number of patrons who can access the M&G stays the same. Who can (probably) changes. This system does not lower capacity - if done right.

Those most affected - again, theoretically - are those (as mentioned above) that planned on arriving in the afternoon and waiting in standby for 3-4 hours, only to find out that is not an option, and that all the return times are gone (or, wait 'till 8PM). But I've gotta believe that if you're willing to do that, you're probably willing to get to the park early enough to get a Standby+.

This will still shut out those who are unaware of the new system. I would hope Disney would make an effort to publicize this change, should it become permanent.

Because of the nature of this M&G, WHO is just as important as HOW MANY. If Disney expanded access by 500%, then there would still only be 10% availability for the whole park.

Because only 2% of guests can access this event per day, those that do get in should be limited to those families for whom not seeing A&E is a trip buster. The only way to do that is to set the bar high enough to limit the event to those people. THAT's what a long wait does.

In addition, this will explode rope drop. Right now, there's a massive increase in people trying to hit A&E for RD. Before that was only one strategy for managing that line. When it becomes known that RD is the ONLY strategy for A&E, the result is going to be hundreds of extra A&E fans off to SM at 9:30.

They've finally done it. They've killed RD.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

They've finally done it. They've killed RD.

Huh? I don't get this. Why would additional people rush to RD when they can stroll into the park at 10:30 and get a return time for later in the day? If anything, this should alleviate the RD problems they've been having because now there's a third (get ticket) and fourth (wait in SB in the evening) option besides just FP+ and RD stampede.

 

[lovethattink]

As you can see by my pictures, there were very few people vying for a ticket around 10am. And 1:15 isn't as far off in time as I was expecting to see.

Earlier someone asked about magic bands. No, nothing was scanned.

There was no policing of the tickets. I was asked how many.

The only thing the cm said was that our times would be different because he was giving them out in order.

 

[Aurora0427]

Huh? I don't get this. Why would additional people rush to RD when they can stroll into the park at 10:30 and get a return time for later in the evening? If anything, this should alleviate the RD problems they've been having because now there's a third (get ticket) and fourth (wait in SB in the evening) option besides just FP+ and RD stampede.

Because if you have a 3 year old or dining reservations, a return time after 2pm becomes hard to do. Forget a nap for the toddler, and if your return time is between 4-6pm, ADR's around 6 at another park are harder to get to.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Because if you have a 3 year old or dining reservations, a return time after 2pm becomes hard to do. Forget a nap for the toddler, and if your return time is between 4-6pm, ADR's around 6 at another park are harder to get to.

So maybe you're the people who stick with the RD option. But there are plenty of people who aren't going to be restricted by a nap schedule or ADRs and will be willing to accommodate any return time they get. Plus, Tink got her 1:00ish return time at 10:30 in the morning. If the return time they're offering doesn't work for you, you can always come back a bit later to see if that one does.

I just don't think this is going to negatively affect RD any more than the current arrangement does, but I guess we'll see.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Huh? I don't get this. Why would additional people rush to RD when they can stroll into the park at 10:30 and get a return time for later in the evening? If anything, this should alleviate the RD problems they've been having because now there's a third (get ticket) and fourth (wait in SB in the evening) option besides just FP+ and RD stampede.

If I understood the PP correctly, I think they meant that once word gets out you have to get a ticket so you're able to go in the standby line, folks will be inclined to get their early to make sure they can get a ticket. Now it could happen that folks take your approach and show up at 10:30 to see what they get but no one knows for sure. While it is difficult for some to get to parks early, I can see an extra effort being made for families where meeting A&E is the end all be all. I also think the standby tix are going to go quickly. As PPs have already stated, I think before there were people that would no way stand in a 2 -4 hour line. But will jump at the opportunity to get a return ticket for a "minimal" wait.

 

[mom2rtk]

So maybe you're the people who stick with the RD option. But there are plenty of people who aren't going to be restricted by a nap schedule or ADRs and will be willing to accommodate any return time they get. Plus, Tink got her 1:00ish return time at 10:30 in the morning. If the return time they're offering doesn't work for you, you can always come back a bit later to see if that one does.

I just don't think this is going to negatively affect RD any more than the current arrangement does, but I guess we'll see.

But how many people even know about this now? I'd be careful assuming the experience today is typical.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

But how many people even know about this now? I'd be careful assuming the experience today is typical.

No doubt! I mean a 3 day test.....really how good is that going to be.

 

[lovethattink]

But wouldn't it be advantageous NOT to get there at rope drop if they are just filling the standby queue? Seems to me the advantage would come at the point of the queue being filled and the tickets beginning to get handed out.

 

[mjr0483]

This won't change RD. This is a return to legacy FP dash. It will still be like TSM where all the FP for the day will be gone by 10AM but with standby spots.

It makes sense. Only so many slots in a day. It just fixes people standing in line for 4 hours and jamming up huge portion of your day standing in line.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

If I understood the PP correctly, I think they meant that once word gets out you have to get a ticket so you're able to go in the standby line, folks will be inclined to get their early to make sure they can get a ticket. Now it could happen that folks take your approach and show up at 10:30 to see what they get but no one knows for sure. While it is difficult for some to get to parks early, I can see an extra effort being made for families where meeting A&E is the end all be all. I also think the standby tix are going to go quickly. As PPs have already stated, I think before there were people that would no way stand in a 2 -4 hour line. But will jump at the opportunity to get a return ticket for a "minimal" wait.

First...I must say I just noticed your location. We were just in Peoria for a wedding and went to Peoria Heights for dinner! LOL.

Second...I bolded what I don't think is going to change because of the ticket issue. Those people who think A&E are the end all and be all were going to be at RD before (vying for a short wait) and they're going to be at RD now. I just don't think that people who weren't able to make it to RD when RD was really the only viable option are suddenly going to make it to RD just because tickets are now available. But like I said, I guess we'll see.

 

[jco_direwolf]

But wouldn't it be advantageous NOT to get there at rope drop if they are just filling the standby queue? Seems to me the advantage would come at the point of the queue being filled and the tickets beginning to get handed out.

The rumor is that the passes come out when the queue length exceeds 30 minutes. That point is apparently reached at like 9:04a (first 50 people from RD.)

So if you want a 10a or 10:30a pass you have to be at RD, and be in second 100 or so people to get there. Numbers that are being dropped is A&E can handle about 100 people per hour.

I really can't see a huge advantage in getting to the standby queue in the first 100 people and getting them in before 10a (call it an hour) and running over there to be in the second or 3rd 100 people to get a standby pass for 10 or 11 which gets me into a 30 minute queue (30minutes plus what ever time it takes me to get a pass.)

You are correct if wait times reached the threshold at like noon or 1p But no such luck.. by noonish it sounds like the standby passes are gone, but 10 or so the passes are for late afternoon.

 

[ziravan]

This won't change RD. This is a return to legacy FP dash. It will still be like TSM where all the FP for the day will be gone by 10AM but with standby.

TSMM has tons more capacity. Plus, TSMM RD guests get tied up in line. And. HS ain't MK.

In short order, A&E moved from needing to be an onsite guest to get a FP+ to being like BOG, where it's a crap shoot even at 0001 at 60 days out.

When word gets out that the only way to get a Standby+ is to be there early, the availability of those passes are going to back closer and closer to RD. If it's a must do, it's a RD do.

Now. It's 9:20, I have my pass for A&E at 3:30, and look, 7DMT is already a 75 min wait (with about an extra 300 frozen fans in line), so let's go see if all those RD tour plans are accurate. How quickly can we get to SM?

 

[lovethattink]

The rumor is that the passes come out when the queue length exceeds 30 minutes. That point is apparently reached at like 9:04a (first 50 people from RD.)

So if you want a 10a or 10:30a pass you have to be at RD, and be in second 100 or so people to get there. Numbers that are being dropped is A&E can handle about 100 people per hour.

I really can't see a huge advantage in getting to the standby queue in the first 100 people and getting them in before 10a (call it an hour) and running over there to be in the second or 3rd 100 people to get a standby pass for 10 or 11 which gets me into a 30 minute queue (30minutes plus what ever time it takes me to get a pass.)

You are correct if wait times reached the threshold at like noon or 1p But no such luck.. by noonish it sounds like the standby passes are gone, but 10 or so the passes are for late afternoon.

Maybe since today wasn't an EMH it wasn't as busy? But it was after 10am when we arrived and they were handing out tickets for 1:15-1:45 and 1:30-2. I posted pictures a couple pages back.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

First...I must say I just noticed your location. We were just in Peoria for a wedding and went to Peoria Heights for dinner! LOL.

Second...I bolded what I don't think is going to change because of the ticket issue. Those people who think A&E are the end all and be all were going to be at RD before (vying for a short wait) and they're going to be at RD now. I just don't think that people who weren't able to make it to RD when RD was really the only viable option are suddenly going to make it to RD just because tickets are now available. But like I said, I guess we'll see.

Ahhh...small world! And I do hope you're right....I can just see the potential for the other side being right too. Time will tell. Hope they figure it out in the next month as that's when I'll get to pick my FPs.

 

[jco_direwolf]

TSMM has tons more capacity.

Roughly 8-10x more. TSM is reported to handle something like 850 Guests per hour (peak). As I said before Anne and Elsa reports are something like 75-100 per hour. I'm sure their standard deviation is higher depending how how quickly they can move the guests along, as opposed to TSM which is timed, with just un/loading causing slow downs.

yep A&E make TSM look like a Guest eating MONSTER. For reference RnRC can handle 1800 Guests per hour (18x the cap of A&E.)

All these numbers come from various sources. So I'm not 100% confident in them. But... they seem reasonable compared to other attractions.

 

[spewey]

Again - and I don't want to seem too positive here - I don't see how this changes things all that much. Perhaps as it evolves, but for now ...

People are concerned that this excludes the families with toddlers, for whom a later return is tricky. But under the unlimited standby system, didn't it still mean a rush to RD, or face an unbearable wait, WITH a toddler? How is that better?

With the Epcot M&G there was the mad dash and six hour waits in line. You got there too late and you were out of luck. This has got to be an improvement. Dedicated A&E fans are more likely in any scenario to get through - either by showing up early for a Standby pass, or waiting in line half the day, or coming back late when the crowds have thinned, etc.

When you have a tremendously popular attraction, especially one with extremely limited throughput, there will always be those unable to get in. I guess I just give Disney credit for trying to address being trapped in a brutal line half the day. There are other solutions, of course - like expanding capacity - but that's another discussion ...

 

[jco_direwolf]

Maybe since today wasn't an EMH it wasn't as busy? But it was after 10am when we arrived and they were handing out tickets for 1:15-1:45 and 1:30-2. I posted pictures a couple pages back.

Missed that. yea... we only have a couple of data points so far about how fast they run out.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Again - and I don't want to seem too positive here - I don't see how this changes things all that much. Perhaps as it evvolves, but for now ...

People are concerned that this excludes the families with toddlers, for whom a later return is tricky. But under the unlimited standby system, didn't it still mean a rush to RD, or face an unbearable wait, WITH a toddler? How is that better?

With the Epcot M&G there was the mad dash and six hour waits in line. You got there too late and you were out of luck. This has got to be an improvement. Dedicated A&E fans are more likely in any scenario to get through - either by showing up early for a Standby pass, or waiting in line half the day, or coming back late when the crowds have thinned, etc.

When you have a tremendously popular attraction, especially one with extremely limited throughput, there will always be those unable to get in. I guess I just give Disney credit for trying to address being trapped in a brutal line half the day. There are other solutions, of course - like expanding capacity - but that's another discussion ...

Don't get me wrong....I also think it's great they are trying to address being trapped in a line. I am quite jaded and believe they are doing that b/c if a person is in line he/she can't be out spending money. And I find it quite hilarious (not really the right word...comical maybe) that their answer to the problem is VERY similar to the legacy FP system.