Soarin' SB+ test...Fail

[jade1]

Maybe Seth should have gotten a 360 degree shot?

Ahh more than maybe, did you look at them? Could drive a Mack truck through there. A shot from level 2 would prob show the mayhem.

 

[microscopes]

Well...apparently it started today. I think the following comments sum up what happens when you pull this stunt on an actual ride.

It started, and ended, today. They issued cards until they ran out (which was around 5:00). When they ran out and closed the Standby line, not allowing anyone else to ride for the day...it got ugly, and the line was reopened by 5:30. Not sure if the test will continue tomorrow.

From what I heard it is a disaster now as they still have people returning with their cards plus they opened the regular standby line and it currently has a three hour wait.

And then a response...

It got ugly?! What?! You mean people were upset that they were not allowed to wait - in ANY capacity - for one of the most popular attractions in WDW and one of two headline attractions at Epcot?! My goodness, who could have ever predicted such a result? It's not as if any of those guests turned away spent upwards of $100 per person to be there...right? Still, who do these guests think they are, getting upset over being forbidden to ride a ride they paid to have access to?

Hmmmmm....

Anyone explain what the world SB+ is???

 

[Mad Hattered]

Ahh more than maybe, did you look at them? Could drive a Mac truck through there.

Yes, I looked at them. I posted it.

They have the entire area roped off where you can't even get up there. Of course it looks "empty" up there. I just posted his tweet. I suggest you reply to him on his Twitter page.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Anyone explain what the world SB+ is???

Standby Plus. It's a riff on FP+ that someone used to describe this latest test and it stuck.

 

[mesaboy2]

Anyone explain what the world SB+ is???

Standby+. Coined earlier in this thread.

 

[Angel Ariel]

No deflection at all.

I think that this whole thing is a bad idea by Disney. But I also don't believe in making wild predictions based on a couple of days of testing. If Disney makes this a permanent change then I will join in the chorus of detractors on this topic. Until then, I will just wait and see.

Tiers were "just testing" at one point too, and I recall.similar posts with similar rationale then....then they did go away,.and those.with that rationale.said "see, it's not so bad.". Then the tiers came back.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

"Standby Plus"

It is an "experiment" by WDW to reduce long standby lines by having guests who want to wait "standby" receive a card with a time to come back to the ride later. Supposedly they would then wait no longer than 30 minutes. When they run out of cards, the "line" closes to any new entrants. It's been used on the Anna and Elsa meet and greet and is relatively successful there at fixing it so nobody has to wait in a 3 hour line to meet characters. But will it work on rides? Do guests really want to have a shorter wait guaranteed at the cost of being unable to join the standby line whenever they want to?

 

[Rileygirl]

I am here now, and am actually going into epcot momentarily. I will attempt to see what is actually going on.

I have found trying to do repeat rides, even with rope dropping, more difficult then ever, because of fast pass and the way they are opening the parks - at epcot and studios. Also, The number of people making and using a 9 am fast pass is remarkable, and the problem is maginified at these two parks because of the limited number of 'e' attractions.....MK is still easy. Have not done AK yet

 

[mom2rtk]

Feeling sorry for the poor castmembers that have to man these lines and deal with the results of bad decisions made by higher ups. I wish they would put the big dogs on line duty for a while and then maybe they would come up with a better solution for all this mess.

Now THAT is a stellar idea!

I predict they will have SB wait times way down on headliners at Disney Parks around the world eventually-along with the FP+ crowd for the rest. How many new attractions/parks come on line with minimal waits, and how they get there and the final product is the only unknown, sorry just IMO.

That said-just seems the old FP- arguments were usually complaints of not getting headliners over and over either from RD was going to become swamped and/or limited to one headliner FP+ per day. The "late sleepers" were constantly laughed at and called lazy snooze you loose/rs.

But why suddenly when it appears you could FP+ TT and just get a Soarin SB return (maybe even over and over), and also avoid 2 hour SB's were suddenly worried about the late arrivers getting shut out-esp when it sounds like they reopen SB later anyway so they are not shut out.

I don't really care and will never wait an hour (prob 40 minutes) for anything (still worried about a Gringotts attempt one day)-but it seems kinda odd to me. Usually folks are looking for any crack at repeat headliners without the 2 hour SB.

Late sleepers might have been shut out of FPs before, but they were never shut out of the opportunity to join the line completely. That's a pretty substantial difference.

 

[jade1]

Standby+. Coined earlier in this thread.

Very early-the title.

 

[mom2rtk]

Very early-the title.

I think it was actually started in the A/E Standby Line thread. This is really just an extension of that discussion I think.

 

[jade1]

Late sleepers might have been shut out of FPs before, but they were never shut out of the opportunity to join the line completely. That's a pretty substantial difference.

But they reopen late evening.

I was sure you would prefer this to repeat some headliners-no?

 

[Laketravis]

This all sounds like some street ho pimp strategy.

If you want somebody to appreciate something that sucks, make them experience something that sucks even more so they'll be begging for the other.

 

[jade1]

I think it was actually started in the A/E Standby Line thread. This is really just an extension of that discussion I think.

Yes but coined earlier in this thread.

 

[Angel Ariel]

But they reopen late evening.

I was sure you would prefer this to repeat some headliners-no?

They *may* reopen late evening now, in this testing mode. The thing about testing is that there can be changes.made at any time. Disney has already proven they are willing to make major changes to basic park operations with no notice to guests, so why should guests have faith that how it is in.testing will.be how it.ends up?

 

[flicx]

I keep thinking I am gonna go back to Disneyworld when this whole mess blows over, but they keep making more messes. Somebody tackle the suits, at this rate I'll get to go back in 5 to 10 years!

 

[wdw4rfam]

Tread carefully, Disney. I swear if they take away standby options as a new form of line management I will have no problem selling the brand new DVC we just bought this past spring. FP+ has been enough of a nightmare that I would consider doing SB only if I had to. Take that away and the mouse can pound sand.

we don't have DVC, almost bought in 2006, glad I didn't. But we have still gone every year, and this year we were double booked because we couldn't decide between universal or Disney, Disney won by a thread because of FD. But I admit, if I wasn't paid in full, all of which I bought gift cards for, so no refund, I'd probably have backed out already. We have already told the kids that next year we are going elsewhere.

 

[g-dad66]

I am here now, and am actually going into epcot momentarily. I will attempt to see what is actually going on.

Super.

Looking forward to your report from within the eye of the storm.

 

[AmyB2006]

Super.

Looking forward to your report from within the eye of the storm.

Brave, that one is.

 

[mom2rtk]

But they reopen late evening.

I was sure you would prefer this to repeat some headliners-no?

Actually my game plan for headliner repeats has been switching to Disneyland.

We do rope drop every morning so rarely make it to park closing, so reopening the line later is of no personal benefit to us. We didn't even do Soarin once on our DL trip last December. It's so easy to get to, the challenge was gone.

And my question is this...... do they even tell people the line is reopening later? Because if they refrain from telling people, it's worthless to everyone but those who just stumble across it.