Runaway Railway - Why are times so short vs WDW?

[Dr. Henry Jones Jr.]

Runaway Railway has been one of our favorite rides since we first rode it in WDW. Planning our first trip to DL for next summer. I can’t help but notice wait times are consistently 10-20 minutes at DL versus 90-120 at WDW. It’s the same basic ride - right? Is this an impact of more rides at DL to spread the crowds versus at HS in WDW? Or something else?

 

[mom2rtk]

There are way more attractions in DL vs DHS.

 

[LKing]

Also, Runaway Railway is tucked in the back of the park at Disneyland. At WDW, it is one of the first things guests encounter.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

waited 45 minutes in august for runaway railway and only rode it once. Just got back last week from a trip... waited no more than 15 minutes and rode it three times! I don't know why the lines were short, but I loved it and no complaints. Same trip saw it hit 45 minutes AGAIN but luckily, not when we were wanting to go on.

 

[LKing]

waited 45 minutes in august for runaway railway and only rode it once. Just got back last week from a trip... waited no more than 15 minutes and rode it three times! I don't know why the lines were short, but I loved it and no complaints. Same trip saw it hit 45 minutes AGAIN but luckily, not when we were wanting to go on.

It could be that there weren't as many LLMP riders at the time when you were riding. Also, posted time is the time from when you get in line to when you board the ride, not the preshow. Sometimes there is a decent wait after the pre-show. Sometimes they grab single riders and parties of two from the post pre-show queue to make sure the trains are fully loaded. Sometimes they don't.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I think it might partly have to do with the lack of other rides at Hollywood Studios.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Well, it wouldn’t be the first time that a ride was a major hit at WDW but not so much at DLR. Winnie The Poo was a sleeper hit at MK but a bust at DL (never drew the intended crowds - to the point DL cancelled the media event scheduled for the ride’s opening).

That said, I agree the wait discrepancy is because DL has far more rides and experiences than DHS. It isn’t that people don’t like the ride — the ride’s been averaging a 30-45 minute wait and it has one of the largest operating capacities of any Disney ride (over 2,500 people per hour per some sources). It is also one of the few rides LL often sells out for.

The problem with DHS, is that it is starved for attractions and especially entertainment. Even on its busiest days, shows make their final performance by 5:30PM (Frozen Sing-A-Long sometimes goes an hour later). This yields crazy waits in the evenings, especially on days Fantastic isn’t performed. And probably why Frozen Sing-A-Long, MuppetVision 3D and Toy Story Mania are still popular despite the former two having been removed from DCA years ago due to lack of popularity (and Toy Story Mania’s lines have gotten shorter… not true at DHS, despite its larger capacity vs DCA).

 

[BrianL]

If anything, I would love to wait longer at DL because of the amazing queue! I could wander around in there like it was a museum.

 

[StarlitNight05]

If anything, I would love to wait longer at DL because of the amazing queue! I could wander around in there like it was a museum.

Same. I was actually almost bummed there wasn't much of a line when we went since I felt I had to keep my head on a swivel to quickly see it all!

 

[KimberMama]

I’ve been on it twice, once with my young adult children when it first opened (the day before the attached gift shop at the exit opened, lol) and then again a few weeks later so DH could go in it. And that was it for us, I don’t expect to ride it again until/unless we have young children to go with. The queue is lovely, but we didn’t think it was worth the ride, especially since none of us are fans of the newest style Mickey, etc.

 

[Disneyhanna]

In addition to it being a bit of a haul to walk to in DL, it's one of many many rides without height requirements, whereas at HS it's one of the only rides that small children or those with motion sickness can ride.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

lol

You people wanting a longer line are nuts. I never see CM's in the area and pretty sure you could just walk around a little if you want to....or literally just come back when it has a line. Most days it gets over 30 mins

 

[StarlitNight05]

lol

You people wanting a longer line are nuts. I never see CM's in the area and pretty sure you could just walk around a little if you want to....or literally just come back when it has a line. Most days it gets over 30 mins

Yeah, I am a little nuts. It's okay though, I've come to terms with it

That's a good idea though about walking around a bit to explore. I tend to hit Toontown in the AM, hence the short lines. I guess I could check for a longer wait time later in the day too

 

[KimberMama]

I’ve been on it twice, once with my young adult children when it first opened (the day before the attached gift shop at the exit opened, lol) and then again a few weeks later so DH could go in it. And that was it for us, I don’t expect to ride it again until/unless we have young children to go with. The queue is lovely, but we didn’t think it was worth the ride, especially since none of us are fans of the newest style Mickey, etc.

We were at Dl yesterday, and DH wanted to see the Viewliner that’s part of the EngineEAR Souvenirs sign. Passing Runaway Railway, he didn’t remember riding it in 2023, so we got in line. I must say I have more appreciation for it now than I did when we first went on it. It still won’t be on my every visit list, but it could be on my every few months list.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Also, Runaway Railway is tucked in the back of the park at Disneyland. At WDW, it is one of the first things guests encounter.

Yes, don't underestimate the number of visitors who have no idea what they are doing and just jump on the first major ride they encounter. (I just wish it was still the Great Movie Ride and that room had been found elsewhere for MMRR).

 

[BrianL]

Yes, don't underestimate the number of visitors who have no idea what they are doing and just jump on the first major ride they encounter. (I just wish it was still the Great Movie Ride and that room had been found elsewhere for MMRR).

Yeah, I would have preferred that they just make some updates to GMR - it needed it! If they had built an El Capitoon Theater at WDW somewhere, that would have been great. Still, I do enjoy MMRR quite a bit, so I'm not unhappy about it or anything.

 

[Evita_W]

There are likely several reasons for this:

• There are relatively few attractions at DHS, they really need more.
• While usually close, most of the time, the Disneyland Resort has more attractions in their two parks combined compared to all 4 parks combined at Disney World.
• The location at Disneyland is in the back corner and up what can be a steep hill for many and that can be a deterrent.
• Fewer people use lightning lane at Disneyland since there aren't as many attractions with it.
• The number of "people eater" attractions at each of the respective parks:
  • DHS:
    • Mickey and Minnie's
    • Rise of the Resistance
    • Smuggler's Run (not sure if capacity is indeed high enough to classify it as a people eater though)
    • Fantasmic!
  • DLR:
    • Mickey and Minnie's
    • Jungle Cruise
    • Pirates
    • Haunted Mansion
    • Winnie the Pooh (although not super popular, has a relatively high capacity)
    • Rise of the Resistance
    • Smuggler's Run (same caveat as DHS)
    • it's a small world
    • Fantasmic!
  • And that is just the high capacity attractions, add in Parades and fireworks most of the year as well.
• The building was built from the ground up at DLR, so the queue was able to be optimized for throughput.
• Generally speaking DLR CMs are more efficient with loading and unloading than at WDW. That isn't to say they are bad at WDW, just a difference and some of that may be more to do with the guests than the CMs.
• Also, just sheer numbers of guests at each park on any given day may be dramatically different.

 

[Iceman93]

• Ta he number of "people eater" attractions at each of the respective parks:
  • DHS:
    • Mickey and Minnie's
    • Rise of the Resistance
    • Smuggler's Run (not sure if capacity is indeed high enough to classify it as a people eater though)
    • Fantasmic!

Your point is valid about the relative number of high-capacity attractions in each park. But you're being unfair by leaving out Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and (possibly) Muppet Vision and Slinky Dog Dash for DHS.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Yeah, I would have preferred that they just make some updates to GMR - it needed it! If they had built an El Capitoon Theater at WDW somewhere, that would have been great. Still, I do enjoy MMRR quite a bit, so I'm not unhappy about it or anything.

It often cost more to refurbish a ride, than to replace it. Hence why many (non-Disney) are retired and replaced after years service.

No question GMR was a high cost attraction to operate. E.g. live cast members narrating the ride and participating in the ganger/ bank robber scenes, special effects, license fees to non-Disney owned content, etc.

GMR was also an aging attraction. There are plenty of credible reports that the ride vehicles, track, and show scenes needed to be replaced due to end of life and/ or lack of parts availability. Of course, the moves used in the attraction themselves were aging and not relevant to younger generations.

The ride’s declining popularity didn’t help, either (people have fond memories but they sure weren’t riding it as often).

I’m glad that they were able to reuse the show building, given that many reports indicated they had planned on tearing it down….

 

[OlliePop27]

There are likely several reasons for this:

• There are relatively few attractions at DHS, they really need more.
• While usually close, most of the time, the Disneyland Resort has more attractions in their two parks combined compared to all 4 parks combined at Disney World.
• The location at Disneyland is in the back corner and up what can be a steep hill for many and that can be a deterrent.
• Fewer people use lightning lane at Disneyland since there aren't as many attractions with it.
• The number of "people eater" attractions at each of the respective parks:
  • DHS:
    • Mickey and Minnie's
    • Rise of the Resistance
    • Smuggler's Run (not sure if capacity is indeed high enough to classify it as a people eater though)
    • Fantasmic!
  • DLR:
    • Mickey and Minnie's
    • Jungle Cruise
    • Pirates
    • Haunted Mansion
    • Winnie the Pooh (although not super popular, has a relatively high capacity)
    • Rise of the Resistance
    • Smuggler's Run (same caveat as DHS)
    • it's a small world
    • Fantasmic!
  • And that is just the high capacity attractions, add in Parades and fireworks most of the year as well.
• The building was built from the ground up at DLR, so the queue was able to be optimized for throughput.
• Generally speaking DLR CMs are more efficient with loading and unloading than at WDW. That isn't to say they are bad at WDW, just a difference and some of that may be more to do with the guests than the CMs.
• Also, just sheer numbers of guests at each park on any given day may be dramatically different.

100%. The fundamental reality is that Disneyland Park has far more attractions than DHS, which makes wait times at any individual attraction lower. More things for people to do = lower wait times. Plus some of the other variables mentioned like location in park and LL usage being lower.

I always tell people that if they want to do a RIDE focused trip, DLR is simply the better option because of the volume of rides to do in the 2 parks, overall lower waits, and pretty easy LL use.

If people want an overall experience where rides are only one part of a broader EXPERIENCE based trip, then WDW is great. There's far more things to do and experience overall at WDW with the resorts, shows, water parks, shopping, dining, etc.

Obviously, DLR has other things to do too, but not at the volume of WDW. There's also some rides at each resort that are unique, but many of the same or similar rides.