SDMT Soft Opening Lookout Post

[skatalite]

Another picture from someone lucky enough to ride. You might recognize Joe from the SeeYaReelSoon couple on YouTube:

 

[backfire103]

Up and running again for CMs only

 

[ImagineerTHAT]

I was just told no more testing today. Off to Splash!

 

[rteetz]

I was just told no more testing today. Off to Splash!

They have collected the data they want for today CM testing rest of the day maybe more guests tomorrow.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

They are letting regular guests ride right now. So whoever said testing for regular guests was done was wrong! I am inside right now!

 

[mandylawton24]

I am waiting outside the ride.. only letting cast members again.

 

[BenKling]

This is so frustrating! We were told this morning that it was cast members only, and that no other guests were needed... Only to see guests on 10 minutes later. Got in line, then turned away. Then specifically told by a guy who appeared to be a manager to come back tomorrow for another chance...

Ugh!

 

[mom2rtk]

It stinks, but that's SOP for a soft opening. They don't want people just hanging around clogging up the area.

 

[mesaboy2]

This is so frustrating! We were told this morning that it was cast members only, and that no other guests were needed... Only to see guests on 10 minutes later. Got in line, then turned away. Then specifically told by a guy who appeared to be a manager to come back tomorrow for another chance...

Ugh!

Welcome to a soft open. Minute-by-minute changes and general confusion.

 

[2goofykiddos]

I saw the post about people currently riding as I was at guest relations at MK. The CM said no way, they were done for the day. A lot of inconsistent info. Good luck to those who are here.

 

[MightyGitis]

They will keep saying no because is they say yes it creates entitlement. They don't want to tell you yes and then it break down or have to be evacuated again.

This is always how soft openings are. I'm glad they felt comfortable letting more people ride means whatever caused the earlier evac must be back in line.

 

[Trix]

What does that stand for??

 

[MightyGitis]

What does that stand for??

SDMT? Seven Dwarves Mine Train

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

The ride was so awesome and great. The line cue was so well done and thought out.

 

[vicb]

This is so frustrating! We were told this morning that it was cast members only, and that no other guests were needed... Only to see guests on 10 minutes later. Got in line, then turned away. Then specifically told by a guy who appeared to be a manager to come back tomorrow for another chance...

Ugh!

Welcome to a soft open. Minute-by-minute changes and general confusion.

I am happy for those that got on, for those that were turned away I sympathize with you! This scenario is the exact reason I ended up feeling more relieved than disappointed when there were no soft openings during my trip May 5-10. My DH was pretty clear he didn't want to spend our MK day running back and forth and having me be upset.

What does that stand for??

Assuming you are meaning "SOP" = Standard Operating Proceedure

The ride was so awesome and great. The line cue was so well done and thought out.

Glad to hear a good report and congrats for getting on

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

We went to SDMT just to take a look around yesterday morning and saw the queue building up outside the entry gate, ran over, and had the line cut off right in front of us. So disappointing!

I'd like to say we didn't let it bother us, but in truth, it ruined our day. It was our first day in MK this trip, and we went back several more times throughout the day and were told testing was done for the day - they were ADAMANT, but I suspected they weren't being honest, and just trying to clear the area.

We are starting to tire of having our chained yanked by Disney. The FP lines we've seen this week have been longer than most standby lines we have ever waited in (admittedly, we go at previously slow times of the year) - for the safari at AK and Splash at MK, we couldn't even figure out where the lines ended, they were so long and twisty! We spent over an hour at guest relations over two visits on our first day correcting things about our MBs and were told they weren't set up properly at the resort - really? After almost a year and a half of 'testing'? And we have experienced much shorter ride wait times posted on the headliners (30 minutes for Splash with the line spilling out of the entry gate) and longer than actual times posted on those which never previously never had a line (the same 30 minutes posted on Haunted Mansion twice when it was walk on). Both should have been very obviously wrong to the person posting wait times.

And, most recently, the SDMT... Testing? Seriously? Weeks after the media event? I mean, if they really wanted to test, they could do it at night without impacting guests. I get the distinct impression this SDMT business is all about building excitement for a mediocre ride which has been sitting relatively empty for weeks in the middle of their busiest park. Creating demand, and more than a few disgruntled guests.

There is no where else in the world people would willingly put up with this level of service or in some cases outright incompetence. Repeatedly. And those who say they gladly would for Disney are IMHO feeding the beast.

Really badly done, Disney. Yank, yank, yank.

 

[MightyGitis]

And, most recently, the SDMT... Testing? Seriously? Weeks after the media event? I mean, if they really wanted to test, they could do it at night without impacting guests. I get the distinct impression this SDMT business is all about building excitement for a mediocre ride which has been sitting relatively empty for weeks in the middle of their busiest park. Creating demand, and more than a few disgruntled guests. There is no where else in the world people would willingly put up with this level of service or in some cases outright incompetence. Repeatedly. And those who say they gladly would for Disney are IMHO feeding the beast. Really badly done, Disney. Yank, yank, yank.

There's a reason they gave you an opening date. And it hasn't passed yet. I know it sucks to see people get in and not be one but they need to test with FULL TRAINS because weight factors greatly in roller coasters even mild ones. And the easiest way to fill up trains is to run it with employees and occasionally guests. This is what a soft opening is. From what I understand the ride had to be evacuated at least once yesterday so yes testing is still needed. But if it's so mediocre surely you don't mind. ;-)

On the other hand you have good points about everything but the mine train. You are like the fifth person saying the listed stand by waits are inflated and I'm wondering if they are doing it on purpose so people will get FP+ for attractions that aren't normally needed for.

Needless to say I will be taking wait times with a grain of salt in June.

 

[wisblue]

In our experience wait times have always been inflated to a certain extent. Disney obviously wants to minimize situations in which actual wait times are longer than posted times.

Estimating standby wait times for rides with FPs has to be more difficult than for rides without FP because the standby wait is a function of how (and whether) guests with FPs show up.

With no FP you can look at how long the standby line is and have a pretty good idea of how long it will take for the last person in the line to reach the ride. And even that can change quickly if a large number of people join the line in a short time. With FP, there is a second variable. They may know how many FPs have been issued, but they don't know if a disproportionate number of them will be used in the next 15 minutes.

If there is something we really want to do, we won't hesitate to get into a line with a posted wait of 30 minutes or less. We often find that the actual wait is 20 minutes or less if the posted time is 30 minutes.

 

[Ellwood970]

We went to SDMT just to take a look around yesterday morning and saw the queue building up outside the entry gate, ran over, and had the line cut off right in front of us. So disappointing! I'd like to say we didn't let it bother us, but in truth, it ruined our day. It was our first day in MK this trip, and we went back several more times throughout the day and were told testing was done for the day - they were ADAMANT, but I suspected they weren't being honest, and just trying to clear the area. We are starting to tire of having our chained yanked by Disney. The FP lines we've seen this week have been longer than most standby lines we have ever waited in (admittedly, we go at previously slow times of the year) - for the safari at AK and Splash at MK, we couldn't even figure out where the lines ended, they were so long and twisty! We spent over an hour at guest relations over two visits on our first day correcting things about our MBs and were told they weren't set up properly at the resort - really? After almost a year and a half of 'testing'? And we have experienced much shorter ride wait times posted on the headliners (30 minutes for Splash with the line spilling out of the entry gate) and longer than actual times posted on those which never previously never had a line (the same 30 minutes posted on Haunted Mansion twice when it was walk on). Both should have been very obviously wrong to the person posting wait times. And, most recently, the SDMT... Testing? Seriously? Weeks after the media event? I mean, if they really wanted to test, they could do it at night without impacting guests. I get the distinct impression this SDMT business is all about building excitement for a mediocre ride which has been sitting relatively empty for weeks in the middle of their busiest park. Creating demand, and more than a few disgruntled guests. There is no where else in the world people would willingly put up with this level of service or in some cases outright incompetence. Repeatedly. And those who say they gladly would for Disney are IMHO feeding the beast. Really badly done, Disney. Yank, yank, yank.

I am tired of it too. I couldnt get into the park with my annual pass because the manager with the ipad said my thumb print didnt match and I had to show my ID to prove identity. I happened to have my ID with me. I asked her what if I did not have ID and she said you have to prove ID it is Florida state law. Well I D matched I noticed the official people at the gate do not interact with guests as the CM at the gate do. The officials just question and check no thank you have a magical day etc. i think the training needs to be reversed and start with management. I like fastpass+ a lot. It is nice to be able to change fastpass times. Wait times seemed no longer than other trips. I noticed if a family has trouble at the Mickey heads the line behind them extends rapidly. I saw this happen often. My magic band fell off in MK. Buy a slider 12.95 to keep it on more money for them. The bands and fast pass are ok. The managers are not good at interacting with guests when there is a problem. They blame the guest. Will be at 24 hour party maybe mine train will be open. Here is hoping

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Hopeful people in line but I heard the CM for 7DMT say no chance today but they will be staffed for testing tomorrow - Friday May 23. Which still means maybe or maybe not. That's my interpretation. I'm not standing around. Many more rides here.