red tag attached to the black lanyard???

[gibsontrio]

What are they ?? I saw people giving them to the people who work at the rides...for the life of me couldnt understand what they are??? Anyone have a clue?

 

[TangaroaTiki]

The CMs use those to check wait times. They give them randomly to guests at the entrance to the line and the guest hands it in to the other CM inside the attraction.

 

[wilde_oscar]

this is how they get the numbers to post on the boards for wait times. the card has a magic gizmo in it that a thingy near the entrance can read... then they hand the card to a guest that waits in line with it, and when they get to board the attraction someone swipes it at another gizmo that then sends the time to a computer that calculated the wait times, and up dates the sign at entrance to the attraction, and also updates the times boards.

but mostly it is magic.

 

[gibsontrio]

ohhhhhhhhhhhh ...neat.. thank you!

 

[winterman]

On our last trip, that ended 2 weeks ago , on three occasions the group right in front of us in line was given the card. We have been given it once on a prior trip.

 

[tinkntraining]

We didn't know what those things were, either and I have to tell you a funny story. On our very first day at MK, we rode Space Mountain. Liked it so much, we got right back in line and rode it again. The CM handed my 13-yo daughter one of those black lanyards with the red tag. He didn't mention what it was, just asked us to give to the CM at the loading zone. So, we did. As we were rounding the bend into the unloading zone, there was the Dream Squad! We were so excited to win dream fastpasses! My daughter announced that it must have been that black lanyard -- they tell the Dream Squad who to give the prizes to -- Since it had happened right after we'd handed it off to the CM, I thought she might be right. So, from that point after, we anxiously awaited being given ANOTHER black lanyard!!! Until, that is, about the 4th ride. We noticed the person in front of us being given the lanyard, and anxiously awaited winning the dream ears. Sadly, no dream squad at the the unloading zone. So goes our theory, lol. Eventually we asked the CM what it was, and he explained it to us. Well, it was exciting while it lasted!

 

[R2-JD]

So that's what they are for! When we were there in April, I saw them and wondered what the heck they were for. I thought they were for kids that just squeaked by the height requirement for that ride. It seemed as though every time I noticed someone getting one was when a child was getting measured for the ride. I thought that it was a way for the CM's loading the rides to know the child was measured and could ride. Thing was I couldn't figure out why the CM who took the tag scanned it at the other end.

Makes complete sense now. Pretty cool way of measuring wait times I must say.

JD

 

[tiggerrr]

We actually got one earlier this month at the Flame Tree Barbecue in AK. I had never seen them used to time the wait time for a counter service restaurant. Since there is no posted wait times, I guess Disney must use that information internally somehow, but I'm not sure for what. Staff shift planning maybe?

 

[rt2dz]

They are not exactly randomly handed out to guests. An alarm goes off and the CM at the attraction entrance swipes the card to turn it off and then hands it to the next guest. When the card is handed off to the CM at the end of the attraction, the wait time changes.

What I noticed on our last trip though, the ride had slowed down and the CM at the front of the attraction had to wait a few minutes before handing it to a guest. I guess that's part of the reason wait times are off.

 

[elemusing]

but mostly it is magic.

OH WO, you crack me up.

 

[fall08CP]

On my Feb trip I literally got one of those on every ride! I must look nice or something or maybe they knew how bad I wanted to be a CM Needless to say, no Dream Squad for us.

 

[madalex]

I have gotten those from time to time (and knew what they were for), but on our last trip in March 2008, I was given the card as we entered the line for the Pooh ride. However, I forgot to give it to the cast member before getting on the ride (I carried it through the ride and only returned it at the end of the ride). This probably messed up the wait time sign, so to anyone who was inconvenienced as a result, I apologize.

 

[tiggermybaby]

On my Feb trip I literally got one of those on every ride! I must look nice or something or maybe they knew how bad I wanted to be a CM Needless to say, no Dream Squad for us.

I've thought the same thing....not every ride, but at least 5 times a day. I wonder how often they have to hand them out? This past April we just laughed everytime I was handed the red card !! Didn't matter what park or what time of day...

 

[Sleeping Becca]

The system is good, but can be REALLY off. Most of the time I find it pretty close.

Our REALLY off experience:

We saw the posted wait time for Stitch it was 25 min (this is mid summer afternoon) so we decide to go for it. Evidently everyone else had the same idea. We queue up, and we are given the lanyard, over an hour later we reach the front of the line. When we left the wait time was listed at 70 min.

People this was Stitch......75 min of my life I will NEVER get back.