Soarin' SB+ test...Fail

[clsteve]

According to DH, a mathematician, the ideas of "polling" and fairness have been really hot topics with cutting edge math research recently... "polling" in this use would essentially be the same as queueing. It pretty much equals a bunch of brand new research about how to build line rides to be the most fair for the most users. It is not that direct and is being published by groups with no direct mention of this specific use, but it *just happens* to be popping up a lot right now.

It does seem to be, doesn't it...?

 

[mom2rtk]

Wait. One. Second. They closed the STANDBY line without warning?? Did I read that right?? I must have misunderstood something, right?! I know I have a headache after trying to plan 10 days of FP+... so I'm assuming I misunderstood some critical detail...

Looks like you missed out on the last couple of weeks.

They tested a new approach to standby. First A/E for 3 days 2 weeks ago, then Soarin for 3 days last week. FP+ operated as normal, no change. But once standby reached 30 minutes (in a nanosecond) the standby line was closed and guests were issued return slips good for a specific 30 minute return window. Once they were all distributed, the line was closed and guests were told "too bad, so sad". Apparently in both instances they reopened the line later that night, but guests were not told that would be happening.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

SB+ stands for??

 

[Mad Hattered]

SB+ stands for??

Standby +.....because + makes everything better.

 

[Disneychick75]

Wait. One. Second. They closed the STANDBY line without warning?? Did I read that right?? I must have misunderstood something, right?! I know I have a headache after trying to plan 10 days of FP+... so I'm assuming I misunderstood some critical detail...

You did not misunderstand. It was a test last week. Who knows when Disney will try this test again or perhaps another test? People are upset that this was sprung on guests with no warning. You spend $$$ to get into the parks and then they change the program.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Looks like you missed out on the last couple of weeks.

They tested a new approach to standby. First A/E for 3 days 2 weeks ago, then Soarin for 3 days last week. FP+ operated as normal, no change. But once standby reached 30 minutes (in a nanosecond) the standby line was closed and guests were issued return slips good for a specific 30 minute return window. Once they were all distributed, the line was closed and guests were told "too bad, so sad". Apparently in both instances they reopened the line later that night, but guests were not told that would be happening.

You did not misunderstand. It was a test last week. Who knows when Disney will try this test again or perhaps another test? People are upset that this was sprung on guests with no warning. You spend $$$ to get into the parks and then they change the program.

Oh, good grief!! Of course people would lose it! I mean, come on -- without warning, "oh, sorry, no standby"?!?

I am B-I-G on "let's be positive"... "let's wait and see"... "let's give them a chance to iron out the kinks"... "ok, so maybe a bit more planning is more necessary now"... BUT I draw the line at "sorry - without notice you don't even have the option to wait 4 hours if you're so inclined"!!

Did I say GOOD GRIEF?!?!

I don't know... to me, this is a horse of a different color ENTIRELY! Glad they reversed out of it same day, but WHAT in the world could they have expected when doing this WITHOUT WARNING?!?

Thanks to you both for filling me in -- I had searched threads on DIS to figure it out but was SURE I had misunderstood! This is what happens when you're laser-focused on trying to get the stars to align just right to book Sweet Seats and the like at F&W!!!!!!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Oh, good grief!! Of course people would lose it! I mean, come on -- without warning, "oh, sorry, no standby"?!?

I am B-I-G on "let's be positive"... "let's wait and see"... "let's give them a chance to iron out the kinks"... "ok, so maybe a bit more planning is more necessary now"... BUT I draw the line at "sorry - without notice you don't even have the option to wait 4 hours if you're so inclined"!!

Did I say GOOD GRIEF?!?!

I don't know... to me, this is a horse of a different color ENTIRELY! Glad they reversed out of it same day, but WHAT in the world could they have expected when doing this without warning?!?

Thanks to you both for filling me in -- I had searched threads on DIS to figure it out but was SURE I had misunderstood! This is what happens when you're laser-focused on trying to get the stars to align just right to book Sweet Seats and the like at F&W!!!!!!!!

You mean you didn't want to read back through all 70 pages?

There really were very few supporters of this latest experiment with people's vacation dollars.

And they didn't really reverse out. They had trouble that first day with upset customers at Soarin, but came back and rand the test the last 2 of the 3 scheduled days. There was some rumor they might try TSMM this week, but so far no reports that it has popped up again anywhere.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You mean you didn't want to read back through all 70 pages?

There really were very few supporters of this latest experiment with people's vacation dollars.

And they didn't really reverse out. They had trouble that first day with upset customers at Soarin, but came back and rand the test the last 2 of the 3 scheduled days. There was some rumor they might try TSMM this week, but so far no reports that it has popped up again anywhere.

I seriously tried to read it! I was just SO CERTAIN that I misunderstood because it sounded so nutty to me!!!

Wow. I don't know... the notion of having people show up to ride an attraction standby being told "nope - sorry - we're not doing that here today" -- just ridiculous to me. I haven't thought through what I really think about this as a general practice IF they were to implement beyond a test (though my gut tells me I think it stinks), BUT to do it WITHOUT WARNING?!? I seriously don't get it... and I know that I would NOT have been a happy guinea pig that day...

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

That can be the "haters" theme song. So perfectly fitting!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Not much about Disney has ever made me cranky -- and I was JUST saying earlier that we need more POSITIVITY on DIS, and here I am about to violate that! This bugs me.

I am being the good little Disney planner...

- I booked my resort 11 mos. ahead with DVC.
- I booked my ADRs at 180 days.
- I "early booked" the F&W events I could as a TIW/AP/DVC member.
- I "early booked" other F&W events when Chase VISA holder window opened.
- I have my little plan together to book my FP+ at 60 days.

Now... some of this was done despite misinformation about F&W events, crazy phone line or website issues, etc.

Now I could do ALL OF THIS PLANNING PERFECTLY BY DISNEY'S BOOK, and potentially be turned away from a STANDBY line willy nilly WITHOUT any notice?!?! It's a bummer when it happens because an attraction breaks down. But when it's "no -- we're just trying this thing out" -- nope -- not ok.

I'm surprised at how cranky this has made me... is there such a thing as post-F&W-booking-and-pre-FP-booking-syndrome?!?! Where you're already at your wits' end, and then Disney throws something unexpected your way?!?!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Not much about Disney has ever made me cranky -- and I was JUST saying earlier that we need more POSITIVITY on DIS, and here I am about to violate that! This bugs me.

I am being the good little Disney planner...

- I booked my resort 11 mos. ahead with DVC.
- I booked my ADRs at 180 days.
- I "early booked" the F&W events I could as a TIW/AP/DVC member.
- I "early booked" other F&W events when Chase VISA holder window opened.
- I have my little plan together to book my FP+ at 60 days.

Now... some of this was done despite misinformation about F&W events, crazy phone line or website issues, etc.

Now I could do ALL OF THIS PLANNING PERFECTLY BY DISNEY'S BOOK, and potentially be turned away from a STANDBY line willy nilly WITHOUT any notice?!?! It's a bummer when it happens because an attraction breaks down. But when it's "no -- we're just trying this thing out" -- nope -- not ok.

I'm surprised at how cranky this has made me... is there such a thing as post-F&W-booking-and-pre-FP-booking-syndrome?!?! Where you're already at your wits' end, and then Disney throws something unexpected your way?!?!

You sound like me after they put the tiers in at Epcot and DHS.
I was sort of giving FP-plus a chance before that
I wasn't a fan of RD, we weren't super users
Then the tiers went in and I knew that it was never going to be better than the old way.
They lost me at the tiers, we all have our last straw.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You sound like me after they put the tiers in at Epcot and DHS.
I was sort of giving FP-plus a chance before that
I wasn't a fan of RD, we weren't super users
Then the tiers went in and I knew that it was never going to be better than the old way.
They lost me at the tiers, we all have our last straw.

I was just thinking that... "last straw"... or maybe I just need a straw in a mixed drink right about now...

 

[cassiejo2711]

If it is what you are suggesting, mathematicians are not out doing tests on people. They just run number models. Math research isn't hands-on. It involves computers and people standing around a white board.

I wasn't trying to pin it on the researchers. I meant WDW should be held to some kind of standards to be "experimenting" with guest's schedules, etc. Wishful thinking...

 

[Squidgyness]

You sound like me after they put the tiers in at Epcot and DHS.
I was sort of giving FP-plus a chance before that
I wasn't a fan of RD, we weren't super users
Then the tiers went in and I knew that it was never going to be better than the old way.
They lost me at the tiers, we all have our last straw.

This is true. I think more and more people are losing the fight to keep positive frankly. Though for me personally, they lost me right at "hey wouldn't it be awesome if you could prebook rides TWO MONTHS in advance? Also, no new headliners for the next few years."

To which my response, aside from a gesture that cannot be described here, was "why in gods name would I ever want to do that?"

I'm holding the funeral for my last straw next week, perhaps I'll have the wake at universal and buy a wand to replace it...

 

[mom2rtk]

I seriously tried to read it! I was just SO CERTAIN that I misunderstood because it sounded so nutty to me!!!

If you develop a severe case of insomnia and decide to go back and read all 70 pages...... you'll find a discussion in there somewhere about how hard it is for someone to wrap their head around this latest experiment..... how even if someone warned you about it, you would likely just dismiss it as too unbelievable. And yet, you appear to be live evidence of that very possibility!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm holding the funeral for my last straw next week, perhaps I'll have the wake at universal and buy a wand to replace it...

 

[notnothin]

I'm holding the funeral for my last straw next week, perhaps I'll have the wake at universal and buy a wand to replace it...

Best of thread right here!

 

[clsteve]

This is true. I think more and more people are losing the fight to keep positive frankly. Though for me personally, they lost me right at "hey wouldn't it be awesome if you could prebook rides TWO MONTHS in advance? Also, no new headliners for the next few years."

To which my response, aside from a gesture that cannot be described here, was "why in gods name would I ever want to do that?"

I'm holding the funeral for my last straw next week, perhaps I'll have the wake at universal and buy a wand to replace it...

Best of thread right here!

I've never said Kungaloosh!!!! at a wake for a straw before. But, since it's your last straw and you'll be packing a wand.....

Kungaloosh!!!!

 

[Sparkly]

Looks like you missed out on the last couple of weeks.

They tested a new approach to standby. First A/E for 3 days 2 weeks ago, then Soarin for 3 days last week. FP+ operated as normal, no change. But once standby reached 30 minutes (in a nanosecond) the standby line was closed and guests were issued return slips good for a specific 30 minute return window. Once they were all distributed, the line was closed and guests were told "too bad, so sad". Apparently in both instances they reopened the line later that night, but guests were not told that would be happening.

Soarin of all rides? The one that regularly gets 1 1/2 hr + wait times super quick! And they cut the line off after 30 minutes. That was stupid.

Do they actually look at how popular a ride is before testing something like this? Wouldn't a less popular ride like maybe Mission:Space or Figment be better?

 

[Angel Ariel]

Soarin of all rides? The one that regularly gets 1 1/2 hr + wait times super quick! And they cut the line off after 30 minutes. That was stupid.

Do they actually look at how popular a ride is before testing something like this? Wouldn't a less popular ride like maybe Mission:Space or Figment be better?

The fact that the ride is popular is precisely why they are testing it there. Supposedly they want to lessen the "bad press" they get with long lines for the headliners, and this test was testing other options for the standby line.