Trader Sam's Virtual Queue

[dreynolds1982]

I know when I attempted TS a couple of years ago, they were giving out physical buzzers (like old school restaurant buzzers) so you couldn't wander very far from TS, even if the wait was 2 hrs! Have they switched to text messages for virtual now? I know that's how they were doing it at TS in DL when we were there in August.

If so, how much of a return window do you have? We're thinking we could put our name in and monorail hop to kill the time, but of course would have to scurry back when we were buzzed.

 

[Marthasor]

When we went to Trader Sam's in December, I seem to recall we were told we had to check-in within 15 minutes of getting the notice. We never got a text, however, because we were in the first wave of people and simply stood in the hallway to hear our name called for our table. I would not leave Poly if you put your name on the waitlist. If you are at GF or CR, you have very little chance of getting back to Poly before they call the next name on the list. If it fits into your schedule, I highly recommend trying to get in as soon as they open so you have a better idea of when you will be seated. In December, I got in line at about 2:15 pm and we were about 30 - 34 on the list (they allow 50 people in at a time) - that's how quickly it fills up. If you aren't in the first wave, you have to wait for people to leave and you will never be guaranteed that your entire party will be able to sit or stand together.

 

[dreynolds1982]

When we went to Trader Sam's in December, I seem to recall we were told we had to check-in within 15 minutes of getting the notice. We never got a text, however, because we were in the first wave of people and simply stood in the hallway to hear our name called for our table. I would not leave Poly if you put your name on the waitlist. If you are at GF or CR, you have very little chance of getting back to Poly before they call the next name on the list. If it fits into your schedule, I highly recommend trying to get in as soon as they open so you have a better idea of when you will be seated. In December, I got in line at about 2:15 pm and we were about 30 - 34 on the list (they allow 50 people in at a time) - that's how quickly it fills up. If you aren't in the first wave, you have to wait for people to leave and you will never be guaranteed that your entire party will be able to sit or stand together.

Since it's just two of us (me and my wife) we shouldn't have a problem getting seated/standing together. That being said the tricky part is, we're staying at the YC and hope to spend much of the first part of the day lounging by the pool, etc (weather permitting). We plan to hit up the monorail loop for happy hour drinks then dinner somewhere. So I won't be able to check-in early. I know waits tend to be around 2 hrs, so I was thinking if we could check-in virtually, we could just time our resort hopping based on the wait they gave us. 15 mins certainly doesn't give a ton of time, but I also don't want to be held hostage at the Poly for 2 hours! Guess we can just wing it and if we don't make it back in time, so be it.

Based on others experiences, how accurate is their assessment of wait time?

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

When I went in August they took our cell phone number and texted us.
They said it would be about 2 hours.
We got a text 90 minutes later.
I think it was like a 10 minute window as they expect you will be right there waiting.
Our room was very close to TS so we were waiting in our room.