RotR Planning & Daily Boarding Group Discussion - *CLOSED*

[Opie100]

Regardless of opening the VQ with the tapstiles or 20-30 mins afterwards, the only real change would be that you can't "guarantee" an early BG by arriving early. Same number of guests in the VQ either way, with it filling around an hour after tapstile opening (with backup providing perhaps another hour of hope). But we don't really know anything yet due to the event this morning.

Through the FP+ system, Disney has trained us all to become planners (IMO a good thing), so some will find this potential change counterintuitive. And I'm sure Disney doesn't want people to be cancelling ADRs due to a regression on ability to plan. Over the coming month(s), I'd expect VQ to end and FP+ to kick in.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

It's not like that.
They opened the turnstiles so people could be in the park prior to their opening the sign up for the boarding groups. That way, when it opened at 7:00, those in the park could use it. If they'd waited to even open the turnstiles till 7:00 it would have been way worse.
Letting people in to wait to join a Boarding Group, which started when the park opened for operation was as fair as they can possibly be.

I disagree. I think the comparison to FOP was correct, it’s like taking the mob that rope drops FOP daily and handing out random numbers to those who are there at opening.

I understand why it has to be done if it is indeed the procedure from here on out, but I think the most fair thing is usually going to be first come first serve, in this case that was letting people join as soon as they passed through the tapstiles. But I do see why it was unsustainable and also am glad on a selfish level because it makes ROTR a much easier morning for my family.

 

[AngiTN]

I disagree. I think the comparison to FOP was correct, it’s like taking the mob that rope drops FOP daily and handing out random numbers to those who are there at opening.

I understand why it has to be done if it is indeed the procedure from here on out, but I think the most fair thing is usually going to be first come first serve, in this case that was letting people join as soon as they passed through the tapstiles. But I do see why it was unsustainable and also am glad on a selfish level because it makes ROTR a much easier morning for my family.

I didn't say anything about FoP

 

[JETSDAD]

It's not like that.
They opened the turnstiles so people could be in the park prior to their opening the sign up for the boarding groups. That way, when it opened at 7:00, those in the park could use it. If they'd waited to even open the turnstiles till 7:00 it would have been way worse.
Letting people in to wait to join a Boarding Group, which started when the park opened for operation was as fair as they can possibly be.

I don't really see this as fair though. Everywhere else on Disney property the people at the front of the line go first. In this case that's not what happens. If you were standing in line for a ride and then suddenly they decided to randomize the line instead of taking people in order I'm sure you wouldn't be impressed either.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I didn't say anything about FoP

I thought I was quoting the post where you were responding to the person who brought it up. My bad.

 

[AngiTN]

I feel for all those this morning with the curveball! Its like the first EMH day only Disney actually held to the VQ time announced. Those poor frontline CMs are really in between a rock and a hard place with WDW management and guests!

I know I benefited from getting up early and walking over, but to me that really is the only fair way. A virtual queue replaces standby which would reward those that woke up, waited to enter, and got in a standby line. Its unprecedented for Disney to give spots out like this. I am genuinely curious if guest satisfaction is higher knowing the virtual queue opens at the posted time and is a free for all vs opening as guests enter throughout the morning. This also makes me wonder why EMHs were pushed to the PM for the next few weeks if this will be the practice going forward?

I also think for every guest that complained the VQ opened late you have at least one who complained it opened early. What percentage of guests even knew of the varying times? Don't the majority look at posted opening times and think "that's when the park opens"? Who looks at 7:00 AM and thinks automatically, they must me 5:00 AM instead?

 

[AngiTN]

I don't really see this as fair though. Everywhere else on Disney property the people at the front of the line go first. In this case that's not what happens. If you were standing in line for a ride and then suddenly they decided to randomize the line instead of taking people in order I'm sure you wouldn't be impressed either.

That's not the same thing.
No other ride (other than SR) goes without FP
So you can't compare it to anything else at all.
It is more like Max Pass at DL. And that is WONDERFUL!

 

[AngiTN]

I thought I was quoting the post where you were responding to the person who brought it up. My bad.

No, someone mentioned it would have been better to wait to even open the turnstiles at 7:00 AM, which would put it even later to get a Boarding Group, since you had to get through the turnstiles to get one. This way, they had everyone in, and waiting to get their group. Seems like the best way to please the most. Since face it, nothing will please everyone

 

[JETSDAD]

That's not the same thing.
No other ride (other than SR) goes without FP
So you can't compare it to anything else at all.
It is more like Max Pass at DL. And that is WONDERFUL!

But it is the same. People were there, in line, waiting to get their boarding groups. First through the gates gets first boarding groups (that's exactly how Disney had been doing it). In this case you could be first in line and someone who got in line 2 hours after you gets to ride before you because it becomes random for all those people who have been allowed into the park.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I also think for every guest that complained the VQ opened late you have at least one who complained it opened early. What percentage of guests even knew of the varying times? Don't the majority look at posted opening times and think "that's when the park opens"? Who looks at 7:00 AM and thinks automatically, they must me 5:00 AM instead?

Who intuitively looks at this attraction and thinks, if I don’t show up right as the park opens I’m going to be effectively shut out all day long?

For the time being this attraction requires a level of research and prep that most at Disney don’t.

 

[AngiTN]

But it is the same. People were there, in line, waiting to get their boarding groups. First through the gates gets first boarding groups (that's exactly how Disney had been doing it). In this case you could be first in line and someone who got in line 2 hours after you gets to ride before you because it becomes random for all those people who have been allowed into the park.

Exactly how did you know for sure you would get an early group, even being in front? I mean 100% for sure?

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Exactly how did you know for sure you would get an early group, even being in front? I mean 100% for sure?

Nothing is 100% but they were given out in order as far as we knew.

 

[AngiTN]

Who intuitively looks at this attraction and thinks, if I don’t show up right as the park opens I’m going to be effectively shut out all day long?

For the time being this attraction requires a level of research and prep that most at Disney don’t.

No one. And that's the thing if this is the new change, now you have a chance even if you show up at 10 min before park opening (whatever time that was). Before, you had about zero chance

 

[KEW]

Exactly how did you know for sure you would get an early group, even being in front? I mean 100% for sure?

You don't get to pick your boarding group. They start at some low number and fill people in automatically as they join. So, yeah....being first few hundred in would guarantee you a morning ride versus a randomized afternoon/evening BG number.

 

[SG131]

No, someone mentioned it would have been better to wait to even open the turnstiles at 7:00 AM, which would put it even later to get a Boarding Group, since you had to get through the turnstiles to get one. This way, they had everyone in, and waiting to get their group. Seems like the best way to please the most. Since face it, nothing will please everyone

I said it would be more fair than a free for all. It's not like the maxpass system because if you are at the front of DL rope drop crowd you can go immediately to matterhorn and get a better spot in line than those at the back of the pack to get into the park. You don't NEED maxpass to ride. Rides at universal like Hagrids are first come first serve too as are any other theme parks I've been to so to give everyone in the park in the first 30 min an equal chance is a bit of a foreign concept for an amusement park.

 

[AngiTN]

Nothing is 100% but they were given out in order as far as we knew.

Yeah, know that. In order as you signed in and clicked. Being in front doesn't mean you could click fastest/get in early. You had a good chance but still wasn't 100%
Now the odds are slightly different but again, better for more. What is bad about being better for more?

 

[OKWFan88]

The guy standing in front of us this morning got BG 25 and we got 15. He arrived about 10 min before we did this morning he said... we were at tap styles probably 15-20 deep. When we were all being held and 7am hit, I was using Disney wifi and when it showed open status on app but wouldn’t let us choose boarding group, I shut down app and then pulled back up again and was able to join group. That was just my experience this morning.

 

[Disneylover99]

Maybe, though you still had no control over when your group came up/what number you got. Odds may have been in your favor but you still wouldn't know your group till you got one. Same as today.

I think if you’ve been following this thread since opening day, you would see the incoming reports each morning from people in line and realize the faster you are through the tapstyle, the lower the boarding number you got. You could also go to a CM and they could give you an idea what boarding group was being given out at the moment if you wanted to aim for a later BG. So there was some measure of control for the guest.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

No one. And that's the thing if this is the new change, now you have a chance even if you show up at 10 min before park opening (whatever time that was). Before, you had about zero chance

If people who arrive 10 mins before park opening get a BG and they would have been shut out yesterday, to me that says someone else who arrived that early had to miss out and they effectively jumped in front of them.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the BG have been lasting past opening for a good chunk of this, unlike the beginning.

 

[AngiTN]

You don't get to pick your boarding group. They start at some low number and fill people in automatically as they join. So, yeah....being first few hundred in would guarantee you a morning ride versus a randomized afternoon/evening BG number.

No, it was never a guarantee. What if your app crapped out? Nothing was guaranteed.