Note to cast members: packing us in like sardines does NOT decrease wait time

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Yes, packing lines DOES reduce wait times. I worked GMR, and I know it works.

How?

By packing the line, you can cut the length of the line almost in 1/2. Most people kinda straggle in and form a sort of straight line in lots of rides where there is simply no straight line but rather a "funnel" or "chute". Think about pirates/mansion/GMR/or many other rides. They start out with a wide line or "funnel" and gradually get smaller and smaller on purpose allowing for the guest to eventually become a single person line.

There are many turns and twists where there are large areas of the line that don't get "filled in" by people - where it should be filled in and designed to be filled in - making the line look longer than it is. Packing the line makes the line look like it's shorter, and become shorter as well.

Um, no.

Just by making the like "look" shorter, doesn't reduce the wait time. It may make more people get into the line, but it doesn't reduce wait times.

Heck, in the long run, it INCREASES wait times. Why? Because more people get into line, thinking that the line is short.

Now, of course that doesn't change the fact that people shouldn't leave huge spaces between them and the next person. But when in a holding room, you don't have to be so close that you step on their toes.

 

[Bluegrrl]

It does work, trust me! When people are packed properly, and move faster, and are more organized, you can get more people on the ride. Haunted Mansion is a great example. When the line is straggled out the line moves slower. People are, and I don't think this is the right word, but it's the only one I can think of, lazier about moving. They step slower, they saunter. And it's hard for the CM to get a good count on how many to let in and get them to move through the line. But when people are packed, people move quicker and we can get them through the ride quickly. It's weird, I know, but it works.

Now, this is a horrible analogy, but it's the only one I can think of: Have you ever seen cowboys/ranchers moving cattle? I have, and they try to keep the herd together in order to get them moving quickly, right? And when they put them through the chutes, they start in a big funnel and then pack them in to move quickly into the single file line, right? Sadly, it's the same with people. We move quicker when we are packed. It's so weird, and unless you do it, it's really hard to get. But packing works. I hate being packed as a tourist myself, but I get the need - packing does work.

 

[teller80]

Now, this is a horrible analogy, but it's the only one I can think of: Have you ever seen cowboys/ranchers moving cattle? I have, and they try to keep the herd together in order to get them moving quickly, right? And when they put them through the chutes, they start in a big funnel and then pack them in to move quickly into the single file line, right? Sadly, it's the same with people. We move quicker when we are packed. It's so weird, and unless you do it, it's really hard to get. But packing works. I hate being packed as a tourist myself, but I get the need - packing does work.

I had to laugh, this is EXACTLY how we feel - like a heard of cattle. I think its a great analogy!

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I find Disney to be such a fine oiled machine, well run, that I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. Especially for the rides like Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion, etc. being close together is huge.

 

[wilkeliza]

echoing what Bluegrrl said unless you have been a CM you won't really "get" why it makes the whole thing faster. It all boils down to efficiency. Every CM can look at their attraction line and figure out roughly how many people are in line. This will effect things like fastpass/standby split and simply how cars get loaded. If people don't fill all available space estimates are off and then efficiency is off. The more efficient we are able to work the fast loading goes and thus a shorter wait time.

 

[Tonyz]

Holy god, the complaining here is insane! The cast members know what they're doing, OP. Relax...

 

[jo-jo]

We go to Mickey's philhermagic a lot. Most times in the holding room, we all just stand around any which way. As it fills, the CM will say "move over to the right and forward". Ok that's fine. Once we had a CM that was having everyone line up with not enough space between each person for a sheet of paper. People would line up and he would be saying closer closer. The room was more than half empty. I was ready to just bail but the show was just a few mins away.

That was the only time I saw that happen.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

It does work, trust me! When people are packed properly, and move faster, and are more organized, you can get more people on the ride. Haunted Mansion is a great example. When the line is straggled out the line moves slower. People are, and I don't think this is the right word, but it's the only one I can think of, lazier about moving. They step slower, they saunter. And it's hard for the CM to get a good count on how many to let in and get them to move through the line. But when people are packed, people move quicker and we can get them through the ride quickly. It's weird, I know, but it works.

So, you don't really need people packed in like cattle, you just need them to move faster and to be more organized.

You need people to stop trying to sit on the rails. People to stop taking selfies and posting them, while in line. You need people to listen to the CM, when they say, please keep moving.

And to achieve that, you pack them in like cattle, so they move faster.

I had to laugh, this is EXACTLY how we feel - like a heard of cattle. I think its a great analogy!

Yep. And that is exactly how I feel. Like cattle packed in for slaughter.

I guess what really bothers me about this type of system, is that I generally get shoved to the side, so the able bodied people can rush past me. Even if I am in the front of the crowd at the start, I am at the back, by the time everyone has pushed past. Sometimes I am gripping my husband so I am not actually pushed to the ground.

 

[disnut8]

Have to wonder about how everyone does in a line of cars going towards a traffic light. You don't keep up with the vehicle in front of you because you want to stay the safe distance behind. So you lag. And the person behind you lags and the person behind them lags. You and the second vehicle go through the light safely but vehicle #3 and #4 have to wait because of the lag times.

With Disney World preshow areas, if people don't move in and fill in the spaces, the people behind that crowd will not enter the area. Because it's full. But, there is plenty of space. So, they stay out when many more people can get into the area.

How many times has someone seen two groups of people in a clump right in front of the doors to go in but there's a ton of space to right or left that is NOT in front of the doors? But those clumps of people have filled things up to the turnstiles so no one else can even enter that area?

 

[maxiesmom]

On at least two attractions we were repeatedly told to "fill in all available spaces" so that our wait time would be reduced. Sorry, I'm not buying it. You still have x amount of riders, and x amount of seats. It's not like there will be empty seats because we're all lolly gagging about in line. Just sayin'.

And you are wrong. Just sayin'.

The car in traffic analogy is a great one.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Have to wonder about how everyone does in a line of cars going towards a traffic light. You don't keep up with the vehicle in front of you because you want to stay the safe distance behind. So you lag. And the person behind you lags and the person behind them lags. You and the second vehicle go through the light safely but vehicle #3 and #4 have to wait because of the lag times.

That is correct. And by doing that, you don't rear end the car in front of you. Sorry, if the third and forth car didn't make it through the light. But I would rather someone have to wait, then for someone to have an accident.

 

[disnut8]

That is correct. And by doing that, you don't rear end the car in front of you. Sorry, if the third and forth car didn't make it through the light. But I would rather someone have to wait, then for someone to have an accident.

I was doing an analogy, not saying someone should shove a person in front of them.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I was doing an analogy, not saying someone should shove a person in front of them.

But that is exactly what happens when the CM tells everyone to push in. Who are they kidding? The only way to push in, is to PUSH.

 

[wilkeliza]

But that is exactly what happens when the CM tells everyone to push in. Who are they kidding? The only way to push in, is to PUSH.

I've never heard a cm say push in. I've heard (and said myself) to fill all available space but never to push.

 

[maxiesmom]

I've never heard a cm say push in. I've heard (and said myself) to fill all available space but never to push.

Me neither. They only say to fill all available space, never ever have I heard them say Push.

 

[DebbieB]

I remember riding PoC last month. The line was almost out to the entrance to the caves (not in the courtyard). A cm kept announcing to fill in all the available space. It was hot and uncomfortable. There was a long way to go to get to the platform, I don't see where that was necessary. As long as everyone keeps up when it is time to get your row number, I don't see the issue.

 

[LBIJim]

Packed in like sardines vs. longer wait time. I'll choose the latter every time. Don't care if it messes up CMs counts or ride efficiency.

The loading area of Haunted Mansion in Orlando is one of the most ridiculous things I've seen. By the time even half the crowd leaves the funnel and enters the single file queue, another groups exits from the stretching room behind them. Anaheim's loading area is much better.

 

[cattywampus]

Lion Kink CMs were ridiculous. It was raining lightly so that the parts of the line that was covered stayed dry but there is a small portion around the side of the building that is completely uncovered.

Crowds were very light that day and I went back to to the CM and asked if we could break the line at the open spot to stay dry. It honestly would have fit about 20 people and the cue behind is was very short with doors about to open

She proceeded to argue with me that we would not stay dry and we MUST fill in the space. When several families decided not to move forward, she marched up, rudely told everyone to step aside, and told other people to go ahead of us. There was no reason to do this, whatsoever.

She gives CM and Disney a bad name and needs to find another job where neither guest service or common sense thinking is required.

 

[Suvadoo]

Packed in like sardines vs. longer wait time. I'll choose the latter every time. Don't care if it messes up CMs counts or ride efficiency.

The loading area of Haunted Mansion in Orlando is one of the most ridiculous things I've seen. By the time even half the crowd leaves the funnel and enters the single file queue, another groups exits from the stretching room behind them. Anaheim's loading area is much better.

Last time I was in WDW HM the Doom buggies were having some problems so no one was loading. This didn't stop cast members from continuing to dump more guests into the queue and yelling at us to move forward. It was ridiculous since there was no where to go.

 

[ken2]

Maybe in not all the way in.Maybe the person in front of me reakes of body odor.Maybe i dont want to have someone elses sweat touching me.Maybe I dont want that kid that just picked his nose and sneezed all over his hand to touch my stuff.Or maybe i just dont want to because youre rude.