Toy Story Line Cut-Off for Star Wars Fireworks

[wareagle57]

I'm sure this has been asked before, so I apologize in advance, but I could not find the answer with the search function.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how this is handled. I would assume it works the same way as park closing. As long as you enter the queue before the posted closing time, you'll get to ride. Is that correct?

The only reason I'm concerned is because it looks like the ride always closes one hour before the fireworks show, but Midway Mania often has a wait of over an hour even at park closing.

Also, any word on when the 3rd track will be open?

 

[Robo]

I would assume it works the same way as park closing. As long as you enter the queue before the posted closing time, you'll get to ride. Is that correct?

Yup.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

The posted closing time is only a guideline, not a rule. They have to clear the area 30 minutes before the fireworks show starts, which means that they can leave the gate open past the posted time if the line is short.

The hour + posted wait near closing time is almost always an illusion created by line stacking and other techniques. The actual wait is generally about 1/4th the posted wait.

Last summer, we strolled over to TSMM about 10 minutes before the advertised closing time for Star Wars fireworks and were able to ride 3 times before they finally closed the gate.

 

[wareagle57]

The posted closing time is only a guideline, not a rule. They have to clear the area 30 minutes before the fireworks show starts, which means that they can leave the gate open past the posted time if the line is short.

The hour + posted wait near closing time is almost always an illusion created by line stacking and other techniques. The actual wait is generally about 1/4th the posted wait.

Last summer, we strolled over to TSMM about 10 minutes before the advertised closing time for Star Wars fireworks and were able to ride 3 times before they finally closed the gate.

Thanks! While I've read this many times (About the posted wait being much higher at closing to scare people away), I've never taken the chance to get in line. There is always a mob of people outside and from the entrance it looks like the queue is full. Are you saying they rope off large sections so that the line backs up and it appears full? How soon after getting in line can you tell that the wait will actually be much shorter? I can't decide if we were just unlucky, or if I too was fooled.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

What they do at TSMM is close off all of the inside line area including the area by the Potato Head. The short line then spills out into the courtyard and they put up a 70 minute wait time. Most guests see this, shake their heads and leave.

If you're brave enough to get in line (or know this secret) you'll find that the line goes straight to the area where you pick up the glasses then up the stairs. 15 minute wait on average.

 

[Robo]

What they do at TSMM is close off all of the inside line area including the area by the Potato Head. The short line then spills out into the courtyard and they put up a 70 minute wait time. Most guests see this, shake their heads and leave.

If you're brave enough to get in line (or know this secret) you'll find that the line goes straight to the area where you pick up the glasses then up the stairs. 15 minute wait on average.

There is no more Mr. Potato Head in the TSM queue.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

There is no more Mr. Potato Head in the TSM queue.

That's too bad. I hear he was pretty popular. When I ride, the line doesn't go back that far into the building so I don't guess I'll miss him.

 

[wareagle57]

There is no more Mr. Potato Head in the TSM queue.

I thought he was just behind a curtain and that he would return when the 3rd track opens.

 

[Robo]

I thought he was just behind a curtain and that he would return when the 3rd track opens.

No curtain, just a blank wall.
But, it is quite possible that he'll be back in the new queue.

 

[Spork24]

Thanks! While I've read this many times (About the posted wait being much higher at closing to scare people away), I've never taken the chance to get in line. There is always a mob of people outside and from the entrance it looks like the queue is full. Are you saying they rope off large sections so that the line backs up and it appears full? How soon after getting in line can you tell that the wait will actually be much shorter? I can't decide if we were just unlucky, or if I too was fooled.

Imo the longer than actual wait times aren't necessarily there to "scare you away" but are just a product of the Disney wait time calculator. Any ride that you get in line right before close is going to go much faster than posted due to the fact that Fp's are no longer being accepted (at close). Now Disney could alter their wait time formula to take close into account I guess, but they don't.

 

[Robo]

Imo the longer than actual wait times aren't necessarily there to "scare you away" but are just a product of the Disney wait time calculator. Any ride that you get in line right before close is going to go much faster than posted due to the fact that Fp's are no longer being accepted (at close). Now Disney could alter their wait time formula to take close into account I guess, but they don't.

They have been showing inflated wait times near closing since long before FP+ or FP were in use.

 

[Happyjen27]

Follow up question; can I see the fireworks from the outside of TSMM area if I exit the ride in time?

 

[kamik86]

Imo the longer than actual wait times aren't necessarily there to "scare you away" but are just a product of the Disney wait time calculator. Any ride that you get in line right before close is going to go much faster than posted due to the fact that Fp's are no longer being accepted (at close). Now Disney could alter their wait time formula to take close into account I guess, but they don't.

Honestly I would guess that at first it was a bit of a glitch caused by the way things are calculated, but before they could fix it someone realized that this was making them not have to stay open as long to let all those that got in line before close ride and decided they shouldn't fix it.

Sometimes decisions are made to leave things broke on purpose (there is a road near my house I think is that way... its the most pot hole filled road ever, in the middle of a golf course. I think they are natural speedbumps so cars don't fly though and hit the golf carts. Every other road in the area is nice.

 

[Robo]

Follow up question; can I see the fireworks from the outside of TSMM area if I exit the ride in time?

Guests are required to exit the area, completely.
(It's a safety issue.)
But, it's not far to walk back to the Hollywood Blvd. area.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

One more thought on end of the night lines. Once the clock hits the proverbial midnight and the park closes (or TSMM closes in this case), there are no more FP+ riders and the standby line, however long it is, goes from getting 20-30% of the ride seats to 100% of the ride seats. It's amazing how much faster that will make a line move.

 

[yulilin3]

Follow up question; can I see the fireworks from the outside of TSMM area if I exit the ride in time?

they close the entire street, from the Little Mermaid Attraction (it remains open during fireworks) all the way to Studio Catering Co.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Imo the longer than actual wait times aren't necessarily there to "scare you away" but are just a product of the Disney wait time calculator. Any ride that you get in line right before close is going to go much faster than posted due to the fact that Fp's are no longer being accepted (at close). Now Disney could alter their wait time formula to take close into account I guess, but they don't.

Line Stacking is definitely intentional. I first read about it in the 2001 Unofficial Guide so it's nothing new. In addition to helping control labor costs, it's also a method to funnel guests toward the gifts shops before they leave the park. Even though these stores stay open well after the park closes, Disney knows that guests are more likely to stop and shop before "closing" time than after.

On a recent visit, I asked the gate attendant at TSMM if 70 minutes was an accurate estimate when we went to ride about 9 pm. He said that, based on the end of the line, 70 would be accurate if they were using the entire queue area. But they weren't and the wait would be closer to 15. His guess was right on the money and we were able to ride 4 times before the park closed at 10.

 

[Spork24]

Line Stacking is definitely intentional. I first read about it in the 2001 Unofficial Guide so it's nothing new. In addition to helping control labor costs, it's also a method to funnel guests toward the gifts shops before they leave the park. Even though these stores stay open well after the park closes, Disney knows that guests are more likely to stop and shop before "closing" time than after.

On a recent visit, I asked the gate attendant at TSMM if 70 minutes was an accurate estimate when we went to ride about 9 pm. He said that, based on the end of the line, 70 would be accurate if they were using the entire queue area. But they weren't and the wait would be closer to 15. His guess was right on the money and we were able to ride 4 times before the park closed at 10.

I had a cast member tell me not to ever rely on the signs alone to let a high wait time scare you off. You should always ask the cast member if they think its accurate. I've seen rides often have posted wait times of 50 min plus and when I ask the cast member they say, no it should be X. (usually 10-20 min) If its not right at close they almost always hand me a lanyard with a red tag on it so the system will have a new data point to lower the wait time.

 

[wareagle57]

I had a cast member tell me not to ever rely on the signs alone to let a high wait time scare you off. You should always ask the cast member if they think its accurate. I've seen rides often have posted wait times of 50 min plus and when I ask the cast member they say, no it should be X. (usually 10-20 min) If its not right at close they almost always hand me a lanyard with a red tag on it so the system will have a new data point to lower the wait time.

I noticed on my last trip, that the fastpass screen CMs look at when you scan you ban shows them the posted and actual wait time. A year or so ago someone was able to pull that information out of the system and posted it to their website for about a month before Disney stopped it. So if the CM is feeling generous, I'm guessing they could give you a pretty accurate answer most of the time. I hadn't thought about asking though. I did try to see the screen at the Big Thunder entrance, but I couldn't get a good angle.