Soarin' SB+ test...Fail

[Mad Hattered]

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...

That is too funny!!!

 

[Sparkly]

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.

Even so, 30 minutes is a bit stupid. Maybe 1 hour, 2 hours.

 

[mom2rtk]

Even so, 30 minutes is a bit stupid. Maybe 1 hour, 2 hours.

The point was to maintain a "moderate" wait level when people returned with their standby "pass". They distributed just enough to maintain right around a 30 minute standby return time all day. Great in theory. But only until the slips were all gone and people were turned away.

I also think it's really rotten that they didn't tell people they would reopen the line later that night. But then they would have been rushed with people right before closing. So I'm sure they didn't want that.

People should always have the choice to wait.

This is just ill-advised and needs to be abandoned. I hope guest services got an earful those days.

 

[rn448698]

Having read most of this thread, I really hope that someone who works for Disney realizes how absolutely stupid this whole thing is. It's bad press.

I get that the parks are crowded and that disney is a business, but the pre-planning is getting ridiculous. I actually priced a trip to universal for the first time in my life.

I really, truly hope that heads roll among the higher ups, but I seriously doubt they will since they all have each others' backs.

Just tired of this nonsense. Where are the new, amazing rides that Hong Kong, Paris, and Tokyo get? Florida gets a slow mine train ride that took years to build because of, most likely, accounting / balance sheet reasons. Just sad, stupid, and exhausting to think about.

Rant done.

 

[Sparkly]

The point was to maintain a "moderate" wait level when people returned with their standby "pass". They distributed just enough to maintain right around a 30 minute standby return time all day. Great in theory. But only until the slips were all gone and people were turned away.

I also think it's really rotten that they didn't tell people they would reopen the line later that night. But then they would have been rushed with people right before closing. So I'm sure they didn't want that.

People should always have the choice to wait.

This is just ill-advised and needs to be abandoned. I hope guest services got an earful those days.

Absolutely.

They have big electronic signs not far from the park entrance showing wait times, it wouldn't have been hard to display if the line was open or not. Not everyone would think to go back and check if it was open. Most would just forget about it completely.

 

[sethschroeder]

The point was to maintain a "moderate" wait level when people returned with their standby "pass". They distributed just enough to maintain right around a 30 minute standby return time all day. Great in theory. But only until the slips were all gone and people were turned away.

I also think it's really rotten that they didn't tell people they would reopen the line later that night. But then they would have been rushed with people right before closing. So I'm sure they didn't want that.

People should always have the choice to wait.

This is just ill-advised and needs to be abandoned. I hope guest services got an earful those days.

I dont understand why people don't like it? Its a virtual line wait system followed by a much more manageable for people 30 min wait.

If you want to "get in line" you get the ticket and your put in a timeframe behind the person who just pulled a ticket in front of you. By having no traditional standby they allow guests to not have to wait for an extended amount of time to ride.

I understand there is not enough top rides in the parks and that is an issue. But the solution to trying to lower wait times is something I support.

Are that many more people pulling tickets for the ride than would have stood in SB- to ride to begin with? Or is Disney giving more FP+ than FP- thus not allowing as many SB+ tickets to be given out in a day as there would be SB- people would have had a chance to get in line....

 

[jcemom]

I dont understand why people don't like it? Its a virtual line wait system followed by a much more manageable for people 30 min wait.

If you want to "get in line" you get the ticket and your put in a timeframe behind the person who just pulled a ticket in front of you. By having no traditional standby they allow guests to not have to wait for an extended amount of time to ride.

I understand there is not enough top rides in the parks and that is an issue. But the solution to trying to lower wait times is something I support.

Are that many more people pulling tickets for the ride than would ride to begin with? Or is Disney giving more FP+ than FP- not allowing as many SB+ tickets to be given out in a day as SB- people would have had a chance to get in line....

I think part of the problem is that the line reopened later in the evening, after they had turned away many people who would have been willing to wait but were not allowed to wait.

Plus, people were taking tickets left and right whether or not they returned, those spots were taken. Since there was no regular standby line to fill in for those who never returned, they were able to reopen the line, but that was after people had already been turned away.

Personally, while I like the idea of no wait, I think this particular idea was not well thought out. It's essentially a return to the old FP system but worse. At least before FP didn't run out until afternoon on most days, and there was still a standby line, so you still had the option to ride if you didn't mind waiting. With this test system, it was either be there very early or you don't get to ride, period.

 

[cassiejo2711]

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...

Since we are well past the 60/30 day mark I'm sure all of the FP+ for the funeral and wake are taken. Will you be offering SB+ so I can pay my respects to your straw?

 

[clsteve]

I dont understand why people don't like it? Its a virtual line wait system followed by a much more manageable for people 30 min wait.

If you want to "get in line" you get the ticket and your put in a timeframe behind the person who just pulled a ticket in front of you. By having no traditional standby they allow guests to not have to wait for an extended amount of time to ride.

I understand there is not enough top rides in the parks and that is an issue. But the solution to trying to lower wait times is something I support.

Are that many more people pulling tickets for the ride than would have stood in SB- to ride to begin with? Or is Disney giving more FP+ than FP- thus not allowing as many SB+ tickets to be given out in a day as there would be SB- people would have had a chance to get in line....

To the bolded: we would all like exactly that. I mean, who wouldn't? But, the bolded is the tree - capacity is the forest.

I highly recommend going back to all of the capacity work by bcrook and the group - or re-read the post in this thread by hopemax (incl. the link) - or, if you're so inclined, do a little research on the subject mistysue brought up a few pages back - it's spot on.

That's the numbers part. And really, to most folks - they're not that important. But what is important to most (including me) - is a little spontaneity in a vacation - the ability to just do what is in front of you, at that moment. That's not so much to ask, don't you think?

 

[surferdave]

I dont understand why people don't like it?

We're 72 pages in Seth, it's been explained in simple terms more than a few times. People who walk up to get in line and get turned away after the tickets have all been given out early in the day just aren't going to walk away thinking "this is a swell idea", especially when they face a sign that says there's no more capacity for the day and they find out the queue opened again later.

 

[flicx]

We're 72 pages in Seth, it's been explained in simple terms more than a few times. People who walk up to get in line and get turned away after the tickets have all been given out early in the day just aren't going to walk away thinking "this is a swell idea", especially when they face a sign that says there's no more capacity for the day and they find out the queue opened again later.

I think your bat signal over the magic kingdom is very appropriate right now! Things are quite a mess right now, maybe batman could actually help!

 

[disneyygirrl]

People should always have the choice to wait. This is just ill-advised and needs to be abandoned. I hope guest services got an earful those days.

I couldn't agree with you more!

 

[Love Tink]

I understand there is not enough top rides in the parks and that is an issue. But the solution to trying to lower wait times is something I support.

But they aren't lowering wait times. You still have to wait to ride the ride - and maybe even longer than you would have had to wait before. They are just changing where you do your waiting.

Just like with that handy-dandy little Fastpass system (that they wrestled away from our clutches, telling us they had something much better).

Fastpass had all the plusses of SB+ without any of the minuses. If this new system appeared and we had never all known FP, maybe this would be better received.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

It failed and is gone.

Goodbye SB+

 

[Mad Hattered]

It failed and is gone.

Goodbye SB+

Do you know something that we don't? Tomorrow is Wednesday, you know.

 

[DebbieB]

It failed and is gone. Goodbye SB+

It was only scheduled to be a 3 day test. Whether it's gone for good remains to be seen. I hope so, especially for Soarin. A & E makes more sense.

 

[robpa]

I dont understand why people don't like it? Its a virtual line wait system followed by a much more manageable for people 30 min wait.

If you want to "get in line" you get the ticket and your put in a timeframe behind the person who just pulled a ticket in front of you. By having no traditional standby they allow guests to not have to wait for an extended amount of time to ride.

I understand there is not enough top rides in the parks and that is an issue. But the solution to trying to lower wait times is something I support.

Are that many more people pulling tickets for the ride than would have stood in SB- to ride to begin with? Or is Disney giving more FP+ than FP- thus not allowing as many SB+ tickets to be given out in a day as there would be SB- people would have had a chance to get in line....

Here is the cliff notes version. A certain # of guests pull FP+ for soarin then they give SB+ tickets to guests in line. Seth has neither of these and wants to ride Soarin. Sorry Seth you can't ride today but please take solace in the fact that you are able to walk around in a Disney park. I mean after all your park entry entitles you to nothing but park entry so just deal with it.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

It failed and is gone.

Goodbye SB+

How do u know?

I am almost scared to find out what the next great idea might be. Wish they would pick something and stick to it so I know what to expect for my trip.

 

[notnothin]

Interesting analysis by OTPN:

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2014/08/walt-disney-world-news-soarin-standby.html

 

[robpa]

How do u know?

I am almost scared to find out what the next great idea might be. Wish they would pick something and stick to it so I know what to expect for my trip.

Don't worry they are throwing darts at the dart board as we speak to come up with the next great idea. I'm sure it will be fine.