RotR Planning & Daily Boarding Group Discussion - *CLOSED*

[SouthFayetteFan]

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.

The people that would say this is “fair” are uhhh not self aware lol.

Does this benefit ME tremendously, well yes...yes it does! I’m looking forward to showing up at our planned 6:45 time and possibly “vulturing” an early BG.

BUT I am not about to suggest that this is the most fair way to do it. I can also selfishly like it

 

[DGsAtBLT]

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?

There is no way to make it better for more until they can increase capacity.

It’s better for different, not more.

 

[AngiTN]

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.

From my checking every couple of days they maybe last an hour. That doesn't seem any different today.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

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

You went to a CM.

 

[JETSDAD]

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

Have you been following the information posted each day? How people would show what BG's they were getting based on when they arrived, where they were in line, etc? It wasn't random. The first people to join BG's got the lowest numbers. The first people through the gates were the first people to be able to join BG's.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

From my checking every couple of days they maybe last an hour. That doesn't seem any different today.

So that person arriving 10 minutes early still would get a BG, it just would be handed out in the order they arrived.

 

[wdw&sonny]

But what attraction at any park anywhere doesn't give some sort advantage to those that are at the front of the line.

Answer: Most of WDW attractions. Fast Pass changed all of that. Those advantaged by FP are not those at the front of the line, but rather those that are willing to stay (pay) at a Disney resort. Those people get to choose FPs at 60 days. It doesn't matter if I wake up at 4am, 5am or 7:00 am. The FP is not accessible until 7:00 AM. If I am "in line" to choose my FPs at 4am, I still can not access the system until 7:00 AM.
Today's opening and access to the BG system is similar, no?
I do feel for those who planned today based on the (short) history of this attraction.
BUT, the BG system is still far, far, better than standing in a line all day.
AND, of course, there is still an advantage to getting there early. With BG being gone in about 1 hour, those that arrive early are still the only ones getting a BG.
NO ONE who arrives at 10am is getting one. It is possible that if this new system continues, and demand is great enough, we may still need to arrive at 5am to be among the first 15,000 into the park by 8:00 to have a shot at a BG.

 

[kboo]

Just seems odd to go back on Thursday of a holiday week, but hey, schools do weird things!

I agree, but a full 2week vacation would have blown DOE's collective mind! (and maybe some parents too)

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.

I think that's a little overstated - If they open the tapstiles early, how many people will be tapped in and ready to go at 7am? If potentially they manage the timing that all of the people who actually are able to get a BG right at 7 can be accommodated in the first 4 (or 8, or whatever) BGs that are going to be called immediately, then they may be able to manage spreading out BG assignment a *teensy* bit better. Meaning, there's still a benefit to being up front to tap in and get an early BG, but if you care less about riding immediately, you can maybe not have to make a mad dash for DHS.

 

[PolyRob]

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?

Very true about the opening time, but WDW does this with all other parks and attractions. If people show up for ropedrop at the posted park opening time, they are late. EMH included. I understand a casual guest may not realize that or research the actual opening vs posted times, but there really is no fairness to this system and I am sure they will still be frustrated showing up at 7am park opening time and maybe riding RotR at 9pm if they don't get a standby spot and the ride actually works that day. It should be called a virtual lottery rather than a queue.

 

[AngiTN]

You went to a CM.

And that did what? Slowed you down, got you a later number.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

The people that would say this is “fair” are uhhh not self aware lol.

Does this benefit ME tremendously, well yes...yes it does! I’m looking forward to showing up at our planned 6:45 time and possibly “vulturing” an early BG.

BUT I am not about to suggest that this is the most fair way to do it. I can also selfishly like it

Don’t be jerks people...just be self aware. It’s ok to like something that’s unfair but don’t try to sell snake oil and convince everybody else that it actually IS fair.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

And that did what? Slowed you down, got you a later number.

No, people have reported the opposite actually. That going to CMs was much quicker than doing it alone.

 

[AngiTN]

So that person arriving 10 minutes early still would get a BG, it just would be handed out in the order they arrived.

No, not if they'd posted an opening of 9:00 am but randomly opened at 7:00 am that day, opening the sign up for the boarding groups then. The boarding groups would be gone by about 8:00 AM, well before someone showed up just before 9:00 AM.

 

[Disneylover99]

And that did what? Slowed you down, got you a later number.

They immediately tapped you in and got you a boarding number if you were having difficulty doing it yourself.

 

[KEW]

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

Most days BG groups are still available after posted opening time for the day.

If you BGs were consistently filled before posted park opening, it would be even more tragic the those that arrived an hour before I do and I get a BG and they don't.

And you mentioned that getting early doesn't guarantee an early BG because your app can crash. Then I would appreciate more time to get that fixed....not wait 30 minutes, find out my app is not working...waste time then to while even more people "get in front of me."

 

[DGsAtBLT]

No, not if they'd posted an opening of 9:00 am but randomly opened at 7:00 am that day, opening the sign up for the boarding groups then. The boarding groups would be gone by about 8:00 AM, well before someone showed up just before 9:00 AM.

This hasn’t been the case since the first few days.

 

[AngiTN]

No, people have reported the opposite actually. That going to CMs was much quicker than doing it alone.

How? You have to stand in line with 10 other guests waiting on your turn to speak to them while thousands of others are signing up on their phones? Can't possibly give you as low a number as it would if you eliminated the CM

 

[JETSDAD]

I think that's a little overstated - If they open the tapstiles early, how many people will be tapped in and ready to go at 7am? If potentially they manage the timing that all of the people who actually are able to get a BG right at 7 can be accommodated in the first 4 (or 8, or whatever) BGs that are going to be called immediately, then they may be able to manage spreading out BG assignment a *teensy* bit better. Meaning, there's still a benefit to being up front to tap in and get an early BG, but if you care less about riding immediately, you can maybe not have to make a mad dash for DHS.

They started letting people into the park half an hour before they opened BG's. That's a lot of people getting into the park over that period of time. Being at the front of that group made no difference.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

How? You have to stand in line with 10 other guests waiting on your turn to speak to them while thousands of others are signing up on their phones? Can't possibly give you as low a number as it would if you eliminated the CM

I don't know what to tell you. People have reported quick and painless experiences when they approached a CM immediately instead of trying to mess with their app themselves if something was going wrong.

 

[AngiTN]

This hasn’t been the case since the first few days.

hm, I've checked every 2 days or so and yet to find boarding groups offered any significant time past park opening. DH, who doesn't research anything, keeps asking me how they are gone so close to opening time. No matter how many times I tell him they open early he doesn't understand.