TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[Laketravis]

I think the geniuses at WDW are simply trying to figure out what happens when you've reduced the number of rides in a park to 5, those 5 rides only have a daily capacity of X, and N number of people in the park want to ride them.

"Gee, Phil, do ya think this math is right? 40,000 ride opportunities is less than 80,000 requests?"

"Dunno, Bob. Let's use FP+ to control the flow and see if it works out that way".

 

[ghtx]

Keep in mind as you are evaluating how quickly the spots go that nobody knew about this when they got up this morning. I imagine that if they installed it to use permanently that the spots will go exponentially faster.

Most definitely. That's another reason why I don't understand why these tests have to be unannounced.

 

[HelenParr]

They are betting that guests would be happier if they did not ride at all if the only other option is 90-120 minute wait, or can only ride once with 40 minute wait. Seems untenable since we know many people knowingly subject themselves to the long waits.

But, what we do not know (I don't know) is how many complaints are, or how aggressive the complaints are, due to lines or perceived lines. This is the problem they are trying to solve.

How many times has a friend or family member said to you "I hated WDW because it was too hot and all we did was wait in lines all day."

Disney can't control the heat -- but they can control lines. Yet it seems they still have no idea what it is like to be a regular guest, and the degree to which changing one piece can drastically affect the other pieces.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I also wanna know if they allow you to have TSM and RnRC. I mean, I could see a.group of teens/adults having their tier.1 be RnRC and try.to RD TSM. So they get there today at RD and can't ride TSM standby. Are they allowed to get one? Does this go against their 3? Do they have to use their 3 first.to get another one?

 

[mom2rtk]

I disagree. In the long run (i.e. if this becomes a permanent feature at TSMM), then of course people will know about it beforehand (e.g. by reading guidebooks). It seems to me that telling people about the test in advance will make the test results less tainted, not more tainted, since the test will mimic more closely the final outcome.

I agree. And most of all, I am strongly disappointed in Disney using people paying full price for a vacation as guinea pigs.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think they will anger quite a few customers with this. But I really don't think they care at this point. They know that if they just plow ahead, people will still keep coming anyway and all of the sudden, it becomes known and the norm.

 

[lugnut33]

I think the geniuses at WDW are simply trying to figure out what happens when you've reduced the number of rides in a park to 5, those 5 rides only have a daily capacity of X, and N number of people in the park want to ride them.

"Gee, Phil, do ya think this math is right? 40,000 ride opportunities is less than 80,000 requests?"

"Dunno, Bob. Let's use FP+ to control the flow and see if it works out that way".

With so few attractions now perhaps it would be better if DHS simply became a reservations only park?

 

[mom2rtk]

They are betting that guests would be happier if they did not ride at all if the only other option is 90-120 minute wait, or can only ride once with 40 minute wait. Seems untenable since we know many people knowingly subject themselves to the long waits.

But, what we do not know (I don't know) is how many complaints are, or how aggressive the complaints are, due to lines or perceived lines. This is the problem they are trying to solve.

How many times has a friend or family member said to you "I hated WDW because it was too hot and all we did was wait in lines all day."

Disney can't control the heat -- but they can control lines. Yet it seems they still have no idea what it is like to be a regular guest, and the degree to which changing one piece can drastically affect the other pieces.

Maybe some of those decision makers used common core math in school?

 

[ghtx]

I also wanna know if they allow you to have TSM and RnRC. I mean, I could see a.group of teens/adults having their tier.1 be RnRC and try.to RD TSM. So they get there today at RD and can't ride TSM standby. Are they allowed to get one? Does this go against their 3? Do they have to use their 3 first.to get another one?

These are all good questions.

I would guess that these TSM day-of FPs don't count against your pre-booked FPs re: tiering and having to wait to use the first three before booking (but I could be wrong).

 

[mom2rtk]

I also wanna know if they allow you to have TSM and RnRC. I mean, I could see a.group of teens/adults having their tier.1 be RnRC and try.to RD TSM. So they get there today at RD and can't ride TSM standby. Are they allowed to get one? Does this go against their 3? Do they have to use their 3 first.to get another one?

The way I understood they did it in the last round at A/E, anyone could go on their phone and switch one of their existing FPs to one of these, within the constraints of the system. Those getting one at a kiosk got it as a 4th FP.

They are betting that guests would be happier if they did not ride at all if the only other option is 90-120 minute wait, or can only ride once with 40 minute wait. Seems untenable since we know many people knowingly subject themselves to the long waits.

But, what we do not know (I don't know) is how many complaints are, or how aggressive the complaints are, due to lines or perceived lines. This is the problem they are trying to solve.

How many times has a friend or family member said to you "I hated WDW because it was too hot and all we did was wait in lines all day."

Disney can't control the heat -- but they can control lines. Yet it seems they still have no idea what it is like to be a regular guest, and the degree to which changing one piece can drastically affect the other pieces.

Yeah they're absolutely trying to solve the problem with long lines. All options are apparently on the table except adding net new attractions.

 

[ArwenMarie]

With so few attractions now perhaps it would be better if DHS simply became a reservations only park?

A boutique park!

Or maybe just have a spectators fee for people who just want to walk around and see old shows.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Maybe some of those decision makers used common core math in school?

Having a 3rd grader I had to laugh at this!

 

[pigletto]

I agree. And most of all, I am strongly disappointed in Disney using people paying full price for a vacation as guinea pigs.

Yep.
This is ridiculous.

 

[MillauFr]

Honestly. Here's a novel idea. How about building more attractions to spread the masses out over instead of finding new ways to control the mice in the maze.

This is the real problem I noticed at Disneyworld. The rides are spread too thin among the parks. The ride density is higher at the Disneyland parks.

 

[ghtx]

A boutique park!

Or maybe just have a spectators fee for people who just want to walk around and see old shows.

That's how theme parks (including WDW) used to operate: you had to pay admission just to get in and then you had to pay per-ride to ride.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It seems to me that they're only doing this test on attractions that generally see some of the highest waits across the park. This, Soarin', A&E. So maybe this won't be something (at least I hope) they implement on all of the rides, just the ones that get the longest lines? (IDK, I'm just thinking out loud mostly)

I agree, I hope this doesn't spread.

Although I will not be surprised if it does. If they just throw all of the spots into FPP, they can still just let people book then ride on the spot.

 

[magicbob]

Someone forgot to explain to TPTB that denying guests the ability to ride is not the solution to complaints about long lines.

Scene from Disney Exec's dreams:

"We just returned from our best Disney vacation ever!"

"What did you ride?"

"Nothing. They wouldn't let us on any of the rides. But this is the first time we haven't had to wait in any lines. It was great!"

On a serious note, though... If the ride is being operated as FP+ only and they limit the number of passes given out to ensure that the wait does not exceed, say, 20 minutes... then they have simply shifted the people not riding from those who "self selected" by not getting in a long line, to those who were unable to get a FP+ because others who arrived earlier have taken all of the FPs already.

IIRC, this kind of first-come first-served mentality was pure evil when legacy FP ran out early for this attraction. But when that happened, guests at least still had the option to wait in the long line if they chose to.

They way I see it, putting up that sign saying capacity for the day has been reached is the worse than the line being long. It's equivalent to an infinitely long virtual line because it prevents you from being able to get on the ride at all.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

These are all good questions.

I would guess that these TSM day-of FPs don't count against your pre-booked FPs re: tiering and having to wait to use the first three before booking (but I could be wrong).

Hoping that someone there today can come back and post. I have a trip coming up in 20 wake ups and want to know how they are doing things so if they spring one of these fun "tests" while I'm there at least I might be a little more prepared if I know how it's been handled in the past.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

But, what we do not know (I don't know) is how many complaints are, or how aggressive the complaints are, due to lines or perceived lines. This is the problem they are trying to solve.

How many times has a friend or family member said to you "I hated WDW because it was too hot and all we did was wait in lines all day."

Disney can't control the heat -- but they can control lines.

That doesn't solve the complaints, that just shifts them to complain about something else. Not being able to experience an attraction is not a solution to long lines. The only true solutions to long lines are 1.) cap park attendance much lower than what it is at or 2.) build more attractions. Option 1 is bad for both Disney and guests, option 2 is a win/win situation. I think Disney is recognizing the need for more rides, at least in Hollywood Studios, if the recent closures are, in fact, due to major expansions. Epcot though...ugh.

 

[FlipHipster]

They are betting that guests would be happier if they did not ride at all if the only other option is 90-120 minute wait, or can only ride once with 40 minute wait. Seems untenable since we know many people knowingly subject themselves to the long waits.

But, what we do not know (I don't know) is how many complaints are, or how aggressive the complaints are, due to lines or perceived lines. This is the problem they are trying to solve.

How many times has a friend or family member said to you "I hated WDW because it was too hot and all we did was wait in lines all day."

Disney can't control the heat -- but they can control lines. Yet it seems they still have no idea what it is like to be a regular guest, and the degree to which changing one piece can drastically affect the other pieces.

Soon to be replaced by "I hated WDW because it was too hot and all the rides were booked up in advance. Now there is just a bunch of people hanging around blocking everything waiting for their next appointment."