Pirates of the Caribbean - LLMP

[brightlined]

Unpopular opinion: LL itself isn't really the problem.

The problem here is they got the queue (and bridge) entirely wrong when they built it in the 80s.

Even then, there was no reason to have an attraction with two concurrent lines of standby entry. And the bridge itself is just a pinchpoint mess on both sides. They really need to just do what they did for HM and completely rebuild the queue to use the space in a more appropriate way.

The bridge itself blocks the view of what is actually a really attractive building. And it's not nearly wide enough for what it needs to be. (I believe it was built for Fantasmic.) Plus, it doesn't really go over that much - it's not generating much usable space.

If it were me - I'd move the standby entry to one side of the building. (Maybe have the ride entrance be where the Pirates/former HM store is, as Ollie was mentioning.) Have standby enter and weave through the existing queue space. Optionally, they could rip out the dream suite (or whatever's currently in the upstairs space) and the overflow go up through there and out the other side. (The accessible entry is already at the exit, so stairs wouldn't be an issue - it would just be like Jungle Cruise.) You could put a cool pre-show queue thing up there to make it worth the trip (like Peter Pan at WDW).

And I'd probably vote to rip out the bridge and widen the outside path into the area where the current entrance is. (I would probably lose that vote because it would affect Fantasmic viewing.)

They've got a lot of space for a queue, it's just a spectacularly (functionally) bad design in the current day.

Like I said, unpopular opinion.

 

[OlliePop27]

Unpopular opinion: LL itself isn't really the problem.

The problem here is they got the queue (and bridge) entirely wrong when they built it in the 80s.

Even then, there was no reason to have an attraction with two concurrent lines of standby entry. And the bridge itself is just a pinchpoint mess on both sides. They really need to just do what they did for HM and completely rebuild the queue to use the space in a more appropriate way.

The bridge itself blocks the view of what is actually a really attractive building. And it's not nearly wide enough for what it needs to be. (I believe it was built for Fantasmic.) Plus, it doesn't really go over that much - it's not generating much usable space.

If it were me - I'd move the standby entry to one side of the building. (Maybe have the ride entrance be where the Pirates/former HM store is, as Ollie was mentioning.) Have standby enter and weave through the existing queue space. Optionally, they could rip out the dream suite (or whatever's currently in the upstairs space) and the overflow go up through there and out the other side. (The accessible entry is already at the exit, so stairs wouldn't be an issue - it would just be like Jungle Cruise.) You could put a cool pre-show queue thing up there to make it worth the trip (like Peter Pan at WDW).

And I'd probably vote to rip out the bridge and widen the outside path into the area where the current entrance is. (I would probably lose that vote because it would affect Fantasmic viewing.)

They've got a lot of space for a queue, it's just a spectacularly (functionally) bad design in the current day.

Like I said, unpopular opinion.

100%. I doubt they remove the bridge, but a total reworking would be positive for the queue and crowd flow.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I agree they need to Redo the Q...and also finally give us some theming

But LL for sure has an effect on the line

 

[LKing]

I was at the parks today. The turn point for the POTC standby queue was near Tiana's Palace. This photo was taken from the turn point. The line started at the teal arrow, stretched down to Tiana's, then back towards the attraction, over the bridge (red arrow) where it looped back over the bridge again to the teal arrow where the normal queue is supposed to start. POTC is the yellow circle. The second photo is the first photo zoomed in to show the queue on the bridge.





ETA: The line keeps you moving which is nice. What I don't like is how it limits access from the NOS to other sections of the park. If you are exiting POTC, Blue Bayou, shopping, restrooms, etc. and you want to get from NOS to Frontierland, you have two (maybe 3) options.
1. You can turn right at Royal Street Veranda, cross over the bridge, then make left U turn before River Belle. The turn before RB is tight and often against the flow of traffic. I think a lot of people miss that turn and end up in Adventureland. It would be interesting to track what the parties stopped in the middle of Adventureland are searching for on their phones. If they are looking for Frontierland or SWGE, they probably missed the U turn.
2. You can walk between Cafe Orleans and Tiana's which is tight because that is where CO has guests waiting for tables. You need to know that is your only opportunity to cross to the other side of the POTC queue to walk towards Frontierland. Otherwise you are locked into path #1 above.
3. You can try to navigate past the restroom queue (and guests waiting outside for people in the restroom), past the beignet line, to get to the train station then exit by Haunted Mansion. That direction might be easier if you want the long route to SWGE but puts you pretty far from Frontierland.

I wouldn't be surprised if the extended queue was a fire/evacuation hazard.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Yeah

Pirates needs to redo the bridge and Q

Makes no sense to have it like this, we can add more themeing like HM got and maybe a gate area as well so they can move where the entry of the Q.

I know it wont be soon but maybe next year they can get Pirates down for 8 months to a year to get the Q redone and enhance the ride while they are at it

 

[LKing]

Yeah

Pirates needs to redo the bridge and Q

Makes no sense to have it like this, we can add more themeing like HM got and maybe a gate area as well so they can move where the entry of the Q.

I know it wont be soon but maybe next year they can get Pirates down for 8 months to a year to get the Q redone and enhance the ride while they are at it

I thought they would move it during the treehouse remodel.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I thought they would move it during the treehouse remodel.

Would have been smart but Disney seems to have been on a low budget compared to now

With all that's going on in DTD, DCA and all the small touches in Disneyland they seem to finally be back to nromal spending again since Covid