Single rider lines strategies

[jedi jen]

With my DS and DD getting older, we discovered single rider lines last trip. They were so fast. We rode EE over and over. We also used single rider for RnRC. Anyone use these. I have not seen much discussion about them on the Dis, so I thought I would start a thread to see if there are others out there that like to use this and would like to share experiences/strategies.

 

[Robo]

With my DS and DD getting older, we discovered single rider lines last trip. They were so fast. We rode EE over and over. We also used single rider for RnRC. Anyone use these. I have not seen much discussion about them on the Dis, so I thought I would start a thread to see if there are others out there that like to use this and would like to share experiences/strategies.

Only 3 attractions have Single-rider lines in all of WDW.

Test Track-Epcot
Expedition Everest-DAK
Rock'nRollerCoaster-DHS

These lines might not be available at all times that the attraction is operating.
It can also depend on the overall number of guests in the park as to how much
"faster" the SRL can be.

Yes, SRL can be a good strategy and many guests (who don't mind being split from their companions) use them.

 

[jedi jen]

Thanks Robo. Didn't realize there are only three. I think we did RnRC and EE. Would you mind sharing what the third one is?

 

[Robo]

Thanks Robo. Didn't realize there are only three. I think we did RnRC and EE. Would you mind sharing what the third one is?

Sure!

I added that info to my earlier post.

 

[patty57]

We use them a lot.

 

[gometros]

I love Single Rider for TT and EE, but we've never had good luck with RnR. They love moves very slow and usually somebody getting on standby the same time we get on single rider ends up beating us anyway. Thursday we tried it, because the entry line looked so sorry, but when we got out of the preshow, the line was backed up to the door.

Sandy
Sent from my Nexus 7 using DISBoards

 

[Robo]

I love Single Rider for TT and EE, but we've never had good luck with RnR. They love moves very slow and usually somebody getting on standby the same time we get on single rider ends up beating us anyway. Thursday we tried it, because the entry line looked so sorry, but when we got out of the preshow, the line was backed up to the door.

Just to show that a guest's TIMING can have such a major affect on situations...

I have used Single Rider at RnR many times.
It worked wonderfully faster than the Standby or FP lines when the attraction was fully busy with guests in the evening.
It has worked so fast that I have ridden RnR once, gotten off, have come back around thru single rider line again and ridden the coaster again before the guests that entered the FP line when I entered Single rider the FIRST time had gotten to board.

It can also be very dependent on the CM(s) staffing the SRL entrance as to how proficient they are at
folding the SRL guests into the standby and FP guests.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

Do you realise if you go into the SLR as a group, even with the intent of being split up then you are rendering the SRL obsolete, TT SRL used to be 5 or 10 minutes or even walk straight on, but, this trip it was just 10 minutes less than Standby and EE was much the same as was the HP ride at IoA. Worse were the groups asking to go on together when they got to the front and a CM on EE was allowing it. If there are only two of you willing to be split up (or three at a push) then fine, but, I saw lots of groups of 6+. It's a big bugbear with me as it seems so pointless.

 

[ftballfan7]

Single rider line strategy:

1. Get in Single Rider line.
2. Move when those in front of you move
3. get on ride
4. after ride is complete, exit in an orderly fashion
5. repeat as desired

this is what has worked for us in the past.

 

[ftballfan7]

Do you realise if you go into the SLR as a group, even with the intent of being split up then you are rendering the SRL obsolete, TT SRL used to be 5 or 10 minutes or even walk straight on, but, this trip it was just 10 minutes less than Standby and EE was much the same as was the HP ride at IoA. Worse were the groups asking to go on together when they got to the front and a CM on EE was allowing it. If there are only two of you willing to be split up (or three at a push) then fine, but, I saw lots of groups of 6+. It's a big bugbear with me as it seems so pointless.

The point of the single rider line is to fill the seats. People shouldn't ask or be allowed to sit together, as that is the trade off for a (theoretically) shorter wait. Anyone willing to ride as a single (ie with strangers) is meeting the intent of the single rider line even if they are with a larger group.

 

[disnut8]

The point of the single rider line is to fill the seats. People shouldn't ask or be allowed to sit together, as that is the trade off for a (theoretically) shorter wait. Anyone willing to ride as a single (ie with strangers) is meeting the intent of the single rider line even if they are with a larger group.

At Expedition Everest and Rock N Roller Coaster, we have seen people ask to be seated together. And each time, they were denied. Single Rider means ONE rider to fill ONE empty seat. So, at the two coasters, if a party of three is led to two rows of seats with two riders in one row and one rider in the second row, a Cast Member will yell for a single rider. The next person in the single rider line will go. At Test Track, if there is one seat left in the car, same thing will happen.

My husband and I use the single riders line on occasion. We have been to Disney World so much that it's not that important for us to ride together. We enter the single riders line together but we have never ridden the same vehicle, not even at Test Track. On Expedition Everest, we weren't even on the same train.

If you do single riders line, realize that whoever is first in the line of your group (be it two, three or four or how many), will be the first person off the ride. That person should be an adult who can then wait at the exit point for the others to join him/her. All three of these attractions have a large area well after the exit off the attraction and that's the place to meet up. Also, all three of these attractions large area are called gift shops and anyone can enter without going on the attraction. I would highly suggest doing that, seeing where the riders are exiting and then setting up a meeting place before you go on the ride.

Also, I would highly encourage the single rider to strike up a conversation with their seatmate. I have ridden with first timers on Expedition Everest and I love their reactions. I once had an adult male sit with me while his two teen sons were in front of us. That was one of the best rides as they had never ridden before and when that track "ends" before the backwards part, my seatmates was loving it. He started yelling "no freaking way!"

 

[LBIJim]

Do you realise if you go into the SLR as a group, even with the intent of being split up then you are rendering the SRL obsolete, TT SRL used to be 5 or 10 minutes or even walk straight on, but, this trip it was just 10 minutes less than Standby and EE was much the same as was the HP ride at IoA. Worse were the groups asking to go on together when they got to the front and a CM on EE was allowing it. If there are only two of you willing to be split up (or three at a push) then fine, but, I saw lots of groups of 6+. It's a big bugbear with me as it seems so pointless.

I've never noticed a loading CM allowing two or more people in the SR line to ride together. Not saying it doesn't happen, just that I never saw it. But I HAVE seen CMs denying the request. Especially on Test Track. The CM made a production of it several times. They'd call out to another CM something like "can you show these people to the exit since they cannot ride alone?" Twice that was enough to get the cheating singles to change their tune, but once the couple exited rather than split up.

I don't mind if groups of a dozen or more get into the SR line, as long as they're willing to be separated.

Everest SR line almost always moves quickly. On the other hand, RnR coaster often is glacially slow. I think they're about the same capacity, so I don't understand the difference. Test Track is either quick early in the day or moderate at other times.

 

[helenb]

I have never used single rider at WDW (although I intend to on our upcoming trip later this month) but we have used it many times at DL. We find that it is very fast/useful at Radiator Springs Racers (cars and a track layout similar to Test Track) and Matterhorn, but not so useful on TSMM or Goofy's Sky School. Soarin', Splash and Indiana Jones are in the middle. The reason for this is all based on ride car configuration.

Matterhorn has cars similar to WDW's Space Mountain: two joined cars with 3 'single file' riders each. Radiator Springs Racers (like Test Track) has cars with 2 rows of 3 people. The majority of groups that 'go together' are 2 or 4 people. Imagine 4 people getting into a Test Track car: they will have 2 people in 1 row and 2 in another, leaving 2 single rider spaces. For Space Mountain, they will have 2 in the front car and 2 in the back car (particularly if 2 of these are children), again, leaving 2 single rider spaces. On Soarin', it is not uncommon to have a 'leftover' seat at the end of a row. Splash at DL has 'single file' seats, so again, single rider spaces often open up. Indiana Jones is 4 seats across (cars similar to Dinosaur) so while it is not as frequent, you will get groups of 2 or 3 that leave empty seats. But at something like Goofy's Sky School or TSMM, these are cars that hold 2 people sitting next to each other. You will need a group with an odd number of people before a single rider seat opens up there. Of course, it does happen, but not nearly as often.

So that's my 'single rider line' wisdom: if the car/seating arrangements are not conducive to groups of 2 or 4, many more single rider spaces will be available. For this reason, we definitely plan on doing single rider for Test Track!

The suggestion to have an adult go first is a good one. If you have 2 adults (or an adult and older child) have one adult/older child go first, with the younger kids in the middle, and an adult last. Then arrange to meet up afterward - we find that the ride photo area is a good location. This gives kids a bit of guidance and makes them feel more secure. It also allows the last adult to 'sweep' the exit area for any wandering children.

 

[LaurenT]

Do you realise if you go into the SLR as a group, even with the intent of being split up then you are rendering the SRL obsolete, TT SRL used to be 5 or 10 minutes or even walk straight on, but, this trip it was just 10 minutes less than Standby and EE was much the same as was the HP ride at IoA. Worse were the groups asking to go on together when they got to the front and a CM on EE was allowing it. If there are only two of you willing to be split up (or three at a push) then fine, but, I saw lots of groups of 6+. It's a big bugbear with me as it seems so pointless.

So, you think couples should have access to the single rider line and be able to fill empty seats, but people that have to travel in a big group shouldn't be allowed? I agree about being annoyed if a CM allows people in the single rider line to ride together. I've only seen it happen once - and the CM was pretty pissed off about it and told them to stay off the single rider line in the future ... But I think the CM was calculating how much longer the line would be held up if she continued to argue with this woman and perhaps have to call management ... Tough judgement call. Usually the CM says "sorry, you can't ride together" and that's the end of it. I find that the earlier in the day it is, and the shorter the regular SB line is, the faster the single rider line goes. I rode RnRC 8 times in a row once at 9 am.... I also find that test track is the most advantageous one for single rider - since they will often put two single riders in one car / when they have a family of four riding without a family of two right behind them.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We love the SRL. I have never seen a request to sit together allowed but I'm sure it is dependent on the CM.

One of my favorite WDW stories is the SRL at TT. I was seated with an elderly non-English speaking Asian couple. The second the ride started they laughed and screamed and so enjoyed themselves it was so magical to watch their delight and surprise at everything. Easily my favorite trip on TT and one of my best memories.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Only 3 attractions have Single-rider lines in all of WDW.

Test Track-Epcot
Expedition Everest-DAK
Rock'nRollerCoaster-DHS

These lines might not be available at all times that the attraction is operating.
It can also depend on the overall number of guests in the park as to how much
"faster" the SRL can be.

Yes, SRL can be a good strategy and many guests (who don't mind being split from their companions) use them.

TSMM used to have one. Any idea why they discontinued it?

 

[DebbieB]

TSMM used to have one. Any idea why they discontinued it?

Probably because the line got too long. Soarin had one at first too, they still have it at DCA.

 

[prudence64]

Any size group should be allowed in single passenger line, but they shouldn't be allowed to sit together at all.

 

[andyman8]

We definitely utilize the single rider lines a bit, particularly at Disneyland (where there are more available). They are certainly helpful and can save you a significant amount of time. Just one word of warning. It is impossible to estimate the wait times for these lines, as it all depends on the amount of people in each party in the standby line. Sometimes there are more even numbers than odd and other times it's the opposite. It's all chance and can significantly impact waits in the SR line, so just keep that in mind when getting into the line.

 

[andyman8]

TSMM used to have one. Any idea why they discontinued it?

Capacity. That attraction garners the wait times it does not only because of its popularity but its dismal capacity. It's hard enough to operate it with FP+ let alone a single rider line.