ROTR lottery needs to end.

[dreamer17555]

Honestly the only way I see Disney granting guaranteed boarding passes is if you’re going to be staying at the new Starcruiser hotel.

 

[Meglen]

Life's not far and things will never be 100% for anyone. This system is better than people being lined up at 4am outside HS.

 

[whiporee]

Life's not far and things will never be 100% for anyone. This system is better than people being lined up at 4am outside HS.

Better for who? Better for the people who are savvy enough to get a BG, sure. For the rest, not so much.

The life is not fair thing is usually said by the people who aren't suffering consequences. You rarely see someone who loses out on something saying it's okay things weren't fair. It's more often the mantra of the ones who have the thing the others want who are pointing out the inherent inequity of life. Easy to do from the winners' platform.

For the record, Disney had no problem with long waits for FoP. Or Mine Train back in the day.

If they want to keep this system, that's fine. They just need to offer folks a backup plan -- not the thing anyone wants to do, per se, but the thing some might be willing to do if all else fails. You want to cap it at noon? Fine. Or just count off the number and if you reac it at opening, then you do. But at least folks have the option of coming at 4am or the night before or whatever (I don't think those type lines ever last very long, though, I'm fully convinced the ease of trying for the virtual line increases the demand for the virtual line) We can then say how stupid we think it is for people to wait in those lines, but at least they'd have the option. Right now they don't.

 

[Meglen]

Better for who? Better for the people who are savvy enough to get a BG, sure. For the rest, not so much.

The life is not fair thing is usually said by the people who aren't suffering consequences. You rarely see someone who loses out on something saying it's okay things weren't fair. It's more often the mantra of the ones who have the thing the others want who are pointing out the inherent inequity of life. Easy to do from the winners' platform.

For the record, Disney had no problem with long waits for FoP. Or Mine Train back in the day.

If they want to keep this system, that's fine. They just need to offer folks a backup plan -- not the thing anyone wants to do, per se, but the thing some might be willing to do if all else fails. You want to cap it at noon? Fine. Or just count off the number and if you reac it at opening, then you do. But at least folks have the option of coming at 4am or the night before or whatever (I don't think those type lines ever last very long, though, I'm fully convinced the ease of trying for the virtual line increases the demand for the virtual line) We can then say how stupid we think it is for people to wait in those lines, but at least they'd have the option. Right now they don't.

If you would rather be up at 3 am and be at HS at 4am.. vs looking at a phone screen for 1 min at 7am.. it's 2021 people in there 60s + have smart phones and more likely than not if they are much older they travel with someone younger. This not tech savvy thing is just a not a valid argument to me. You click 2 buttons on a app and people who are and aren't tech savvy have the same chance. It's luck. If you wake up at 7:05 and mad they are gone than thats on you. It would be the same feeling bussing to HS at 8am for a 8am opening and now missed rope drop and all rides are very long waits.

Also I have never ridden it and my family would love to and I have booked 3 days at HS and still I told them we might not be able to ride. This is ok with me a single ride will not make or break our vacation.

 

[Lewisc]

pre covid you had to be in the park to request a BP. You had to be somewhat motivated to want to board. BPs sometimes took a few minutes to run out.

I don't see Disney devoting any resources to a system which allocates BP based on number of times previously rode.

Disney didn't want to see the kinds of lines Hagrids produced

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

If Disney eliminates VQ because it's not fair to those who aren't tech savvy, then people will come on here and say it's still not fair to those who can't wake up early (that case was already made when you had to be in the park at RD to get a BG***), those who can't walk as fast to get in line quickly enough, etc.

And no matter what they do, it will never, ever be fair to those who don't realize they need to do even a slight modicum of research... not just show up and expect to walk on the ride.

Everyone reading this post has an unfair advantage because you have gained knowledge from the DIS about how to get a BG that other people don't have. Should you all be limited to one ride per year so those who haven't bothered to learn the process for obtaining a BG get to ride? That's only fair, after all, that you shouldn't have any advantage.

I'm not a local, not an AP holder, etc. I just don't begrudge that some people may get to ride ROTR more often than me because they live close by. By that logic, it's not fair that they get to go to Disney World at all more than other people who live farther away, can't afford APs, etc. They have more chances to get a BG (no guarantees) because they have paid to be in the park more days.

Speaking of affordability, isn't it unfair that Disney doesn't let people ride ROTR unless they can afford a pricey theme park ticket? Some people can't afford to go at all. It's not fair that they don't get to ride ROTR or anything else for that matter.

Regardless of the topic, when the issue of "fairness" comes up... and there have been many instances here over the years (not fair that onsite guests got all the "good" FPs at 60 days out, etc.), one thing is for certain... neither side is going to convince the other.

*** ETA: You may recall that when you had to scan into the park to get a BG, they were typically lasting anywhere from 5-30 minutes or more (long live the chart!). So even those who who were completely inept tech-wise, still had plenty of chance. They could even just go get help from a CM to get their BG. But they had to get up early to ensure that they had scanned in on time, and many considered that unfair because they couldn't get there early enough.

 

[Nabas]

Where are you finding that number? Did it come from Len?

Not doubting your info, just that it seems like a low number for WDW to design an attraction that, by definition, will leave out 50 percent of daily attendees.

Len reported some more numbers today.

He stated 1535 riders between 10:45 and 11:45.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I really don't understand the argument that VQ isn't fair to everyone. With the current process everyone with a park pass has an equal opportunity to obtain a BG -- that is 100% fair. You really don't need to be tech savvy. It literally takes 5 minutes of research to figure out how to get a BG and you can practice in advance. If you do both of those things and have a decent internet connection, you'll be able to get a BG the vast majority of the time. The people I usually hear "complaining" about not being able to ride have done zero research in advance. They are the same people that didn't know how to get FPs or thought they could show up to CRT without a reservation. Failure to plan does not mean the system is unfair or doesn't work.

 

[whiporee]

I really don't understand the argument that VQ isn't fair to everyone. With the current process everyone with a park pass has an equal opportunity to obtain a BG -- that is 100% fair. You really don't need to be tech savvy. It literally takes 5 minutes of research to figure out how to get a BG and you can practice in advance. If you do both of those things and have a decent internet connection, you'll be able to get a BG the vast majority of the time. The people I usually hear "complaining" about not being able to ride have done zero research in advance. They are the same people that didn't know how to get FPs or thought they could show up to CRT without a reservation. Failure to plan does not mean the system is unfair or doesn't work.

What do you base this "vast majority of the time" on? Are there statistics? Surveys taken?

Because if the numbers being quoted about park attendance and capacity are true, half the attendees in a day CAN'T ride. (15,000 seats available, 30+ average attendance).

The next time you're there, hang out at one of the QS places at 1. See all the people on their phones. They all know the drill; they all know the procedure. And they are are all trying to get a BG. And then look at the ones who, after trying twice and doing everything right, didn't get it again, and tell yourself they all just had a failure to plan.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

What do you base this "vast majority of the time" on? Are there statistics? Surveys taken?

Because if the numbers being quoted about park attendance and capacity are true, half the attendees in a day CAN'T ride. (15,000 seats available, 30+ average attendance).

The next time you're there, hang out at one of the QS places at 1. See all the people on their phones. They all know the drill; they all know the procedure. And they are are all trying to get a BG. And then look at the ones who, after trying twice and doing everything right, didn't get it again, and tell yourself they all just had a failure to plan.

I base it on the 20k plus posts on the ROTR boarding group thread. Almost everyone on that thread is successful after understanding the process and practicing in advance. Sure there is the occasional glitch where someone who “does everything right” isn’t successful, but that’s not the norm. I stand by my opinion that it’s absolutely the most fair system they could offer.

I would also add, there are plenty of people who don’t even attempt a BG for a variety of reasons (aren’t interested in Star Wars, kids don’t meet the height requirement, already been on, etc etc). So it’s definitely not accurate to say that 50% of the people WANT to ride but can’t.

 

[trivan]

So there are reports in another thread that in DL, VIP tours will have access to RotR w/o a boarding group. Ok now it's a little unfair

 

[cherrylimeadew]

I'm not sure that's true. The cost getting into the virtual queue is nothing, just being up at 7 or ready at 1. The cost of waiting in line is having to wait in line. I think the waits would still be long and long for a while, but you'd have fewer repeat riders fighting for the available spots once the ride had been open a while. People on multiple-day trips might decide not to do it more than once, or locals might stay away or whatever. And there would be issues with ride breakdowns because there always are, but I think the ease of trying for the virtual line vastly increases the demand for the virtual line.

It would be interesting to see what the rider capacity for RoR is to get a feel for what percentage of HS guests are able to ride the ride. WDW would never release this number, but how many people AREN'T able to get boarding passes in the current system? That might add some facts to the discussion.

What are you not sure about being true? That people would be waiting in line all day?

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

The only thing I think could and possibly should be done is that if you are staying on property and did not get it at 7 you automatically get it at one or something along those lines. It is impossible to know who has and hasn't been on the ride prior (we were last at disney before it opened which was before covid. If covid wasn't a factor hen maybe I can see that working).

 

[mom2rtk]

The only thing I think could and possibly should be done is that if you are staying on property and did not get it at 7 you automatically get it at one or something along those lines. It is impossible to know who has and hasn't been on the ride prior (we were last at disney before it opened which was before covid. If covid wasn't a factor hen maybe I can see that working).

You already can’t get it at 1 if you got it at 7. If people miss out on both then there just isn’t enough capacity for everyone to get one.

 

[Carol_]

So there are reports in another thread that in DL, VIP tours will have access to RotR w/o a boarding group. Ok now it's a little unfair

Or it’s becoming more fair… gives an opportunity for the luddites to ride.

 

[LanceQ]

If Disney eliminates VQ because it's not fair to those who aren't tech savvy, then people will come on here and say it's still not fair to those who can't wake up early (that case was already made when you had to be in the park at RD to get a BG***), those who can't walk as fast to get in line quickly enough, etc.

And no matter what they do, it will never, ever be fair to those who don't realize they need to do even a slight modicum of research... not just show up and expect to walk on the ride.

Everyone reading this post has an unfair advantage because you have gained knowledge from the DIS about how to get a BG that other people don't have. Should you all be limited to one ride per year so those who haven't bothered to learn the process for obtaining a BG get to ride? That's only fair, after all, that you shouldn't have any advantage.

I'm not a local, not an AP holder, etc. I just don't begrudge that some people may get to ride ROTR more often than me because they live close by. By that logic, it's not fair that they get to go to Disney World at all more than other people who live farther away, can't afford APs, etc. They have more chances to get a BG (no guarantees) because they have paid to be in the park more days.

Speaking of affordability, isn't it unfair that Disney doesn't let people ride ROTR unless they can afford a pricey theme park ticket? Some people can't afford to go at all. It's not fair that they don't get to ride ROTR or anything else for that matter.

Regardless of the topic, when the issue of "fairness" comes up... and there have been many instances here over the years (not fair that onsite guests got all the "good" FPs at 60 days out, etc.), one thing is for certain... neither side is going to convince the other.

*** ETA: You may recall that when you had to scan into the park to get a BG, they were typically lasting anywhere from 5-30 minutes or more (long live the chart!). So even those who who were completely inept tech-wise, still had plenty of chance. They could even just go get help from a CM to get their BG. But they had to get up early to ensure that they had scanned in on time, and many considered that unfair because they couldn't get there early enough.

Sounds like they need to go back to only getting BGs in the parks. That sounds like a better way to control numbers.

 

[whiporee]

What are you not sure about being true? That people would be waiting in line all day?

That the number of people waiting in line would be equal to the number of people trying to get in the virtual line.

 

[tigger2002]

The only tweak it needs is to allow ride virgins priority boarding. Otherwise it’s a good system compared to waiting in line. When people ride dozens of times to the exclusion of people who have never been on it, I think that just stinks.

Yeah I see people on here and other places bragging about getting in four times in one week.

 

[yorkieteacher]

It's stressful, but beats standing in line for hours getting nothing else done. True, even after reading up about it and practicing, I didn't get it at 7am from my resort last week, but did at 1pm inside HS. The first time I tried to get it back in March 2020 during the 9am inside the park lottery, I got it. A CM told my son most people thought it was somehow easier to get inside the park. After standing in line over 40 minutes this past week for two rides that then broke down, I think the lottery beats that.

 

[tigger2002]

It isn’t perfect but neither is waiting in standby for hours

People are already doing that, FOP, SDD, RnRC, Splash Mountain, SDMT, etc.