TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[ArwenMarie]

I still haven't seen much comment on where those people who ordinarily wait in long lines will go. Will they stand around the sidewalks? Jam up the stores? The pools?

If you get people out of line they have to go somewhere else. I think that other lines is likely.

In the park, other than shopping and eating, I think the idea is that people will go see the secondary attractions and shows (things like CoP, Hall of the Presidents, Captain EO, Circle of Life movie, Ellen, Tiki room, Country Bears, ride the riverboat, look at the animals in AK, the shows at DHS, etc)

I think part of the goal is to push people into these types of attractions, using up that excess capacity instead of building new rides.

 

[JanaDee]

I don't think standby will be any longer than it is now given that they have to increase fp+ and especially if they are going to add another track. But if someone just loves standing in line and touring on the fly- then go for it, but a lot of people would love to just pick a time to ride and eliminate spending half their day standing and waiting.

At any rate, I give them credit for committing to address the problem of long lines- one that has existed for a long time and can't be fixed by just adding another ride.

It stands to reason that the more attractions there are to do, the shorter the lines will be.

But maybe it's only obvious to me.

 

[Planogirl]

In the park, other than shopping and eating, I think the idea is that people will go see the secondary attractions and shows (things like CoP, Hall of the Presidents, Captain EO, Circle of Life movie, Ellen, Tiki room, Country Bears, ride the riverboat, look at the animals in AK, the shows at DHS, etc)

I think part of the goal is to push people into these types of attractions, using up that excess capacity instead of building new rides.

If true then theoretically the lines for the less popular rides should increase dramatically. That's a weird thought.

 

[AmyB2006]

In the park, other than shopping and eating, I think the idea is that people will go see the secondary attractions and shows (things like CoP, Hall of the Presidents, Captain EO, Circle of Life movie, Ellen, Tiki room, Country Bears, ride the riverboat, look at the animals in AK, the shows at DHS, etc)

I think part of the goal is to push people into these types of attractions, using up that excess capacity instead of building new rides.

LOL, I don't care how much standing around and people watching I have to do, nothing will ever drag me into Captain EO & Tiki Room.

 

[AmyB2006]

If true then theoretically the lines for the less popular rides should increase dramatically. That's a weird thought.

This is already happening now, though. The standby lines for some rides that are usually walk ons, are already increasing to 15 and 20 minute waits. But I think it's mostly due to them adding FP+ to those attractions.

 

[ArwenMarie]

If true then theoretically the lines for the less popular rides should increase dramatically. That's a weird thought.

I think they think they have enough attractions...people just aren't using them all to 100% capacity. So why build more?

LOL, I don't care how much standing around and people watching I have to do, nothing will ever drag me into Captain EO & Tiki Room.

Aw, I like the Tiki Room, but yeah, no to Captain EO.

 

[Planogirl]

I think they think they have enough attractions...people just aren't using them all to 100% capacity. So why build more?

Aw, I like the Tiki Room, but yeah, no to Captain EO.

I'm with you when it comes to the Tiki Room.

As for the other point, wouldn't getting people to ride worse attractions more often just decrease their enjoyment of the parks? Or does Disney really believe that people will suddenly learn to love Captain EO or Stitch?

 

[Seeker615]

This whole system is just crazy to me.

It really creates a mess for people who want to make a spontaneous trip to one of the parks. If they go ahead with an all ride reservation system then it will lock out anyone who wants to do a spur of the moment trip. You can bet that people will protest loudly if they are not allowed to ride a certain ride because they did not have reservations!

A few years ago my daughter and I went to Universal and we decided to head over to MK for the day. It was late August and the crowds were pretty manageable. We had an awesome day and used the old Fastpass system for two rides. We never encountered any issues at all and we had a great day.

If we had to do this under the new system or whatever future system they are looking at we would have missed many attractions and endured extra long wait times!

It wasn't broke....why are they trying to do this? People go to theme parks and they know they have to wait in lines. A lot of places have done a few things to make it better but in the end you know you have to wait. Why make things so complicated?

 

[mom2rtk]

I think they think they have enough attractions...people just aren't using them all to 100% capacity. So why build more?

I think that's exactly what they think. And it goes hand in hand with their statement that they weren't going to enter into an arms race of rides with US.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that's exactly what they think. And it goes hand in hand with their statement that they weren't going to enter into an arms race of rides with US.

Or the carnival down the street at this rate.

OK slight exaggeration but when did Disney decided that rides were secondary at least at WDW? This is so not like them IMO.

 

[mom2rtk]

Or the carnival down the street at this rate.

OK slight exaggeration but when did Disney decided that rides were secondary at least at WDW? This is so not like them IMO.

And my guess is that one of the bean counters made that decision.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm with you when it comes to the Tiki Room.

As for the other point, wouldn't getting people to ride worse attractions more often just decrease their enjoyment of the parks? Or does Disney really believe that people will suddenly learn to love Captain EO or Stitch?

I think this is where the focus on first-timers versus many-timers comes into play. A first timer won't know, so they'll try them all, and I think many of them offer some level of enjoyment the first time around. It's all new to them, so that helps. And even getting to sit and rest for 20 min can be enjoyable sometimes.

 

[Planogirl]

I think this is where the first-timers strategy versus many-timers comes into play. A first timer won't know, so they'll try them all, and I think many of them offer some level of enjoyment the first time around. And hey, even just sitting for 20 minutes can be enjoyable sometimes.

Same for the live shows, a frequent visitor would be like, "Why can't they switch up this darn show out already? How much could that cost? You're a major entertainment company." A first-timer doesn't think that, it's new to them.

Maybe I'm naïve but I'd bet that even first-timers won't enjoy certain things. I vaguely remember being a first-timer and thinking 'meh' about certain attractions but I suppose that that would happen under any circumstances.

I guess that we're back to first-timers being the ones that matter.

 

[AmyB2006]

I think this is where the focus on first-timers versus many-timers comes into play. A first timer won't know, so they'll try them all, and I think many of them offer some level of enjoyment the first time around. It's all new to them, so that helps. And even getting to sit and rest for 20 min can be enjoyable sometimes.

I think this plays a big part. Newcomers to Disney don't know, so they are doing their best to shuffle them through every attraction.

 

[flicx]

It stands to reason that the more attractions there are to do, the shorter the lines will be.

But maybe it's only obvious to me.

It's obvious to most everyone. If they build 3 new attractions that keep a constant 300 or so people in line at each all day that's 900 hundred less people in line for other attractions, thus creating space. To argue that point is just unreasonable!

 

[Planogirl]

It's obvious to most everyone. If they build 3 new attractions that keep a constant 300 or so people in line at each all day that's 900 hundred less people in line for other attractions, thus creating space. To argue that point is just unreasonable!

I agree. That is part of my point when I say that limiting some popular attractions to FP+ only will cause the other rides to be flooded with people. People have to go somewhere and if you don't increase capacity you just end up moving the mobs to new lines.

 

[flicx]

I agree. That is part of my point when I say that limiting some popular attractions to FP+ only will cause the other rides to be flooded with people. People have to go somewhere and if you don't increase capacity you just end up moving the mobs to new lines.

Absolutely. Unfortunately Disney is in such a money grab mode at the moment that they don't seem to care. They would rather try to shuffle the guests around on existing rides than add capacity with new ones.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Maybe I'm naïve but I'd bet that even first-timers won't enjoy certain things. I vaguely remember being a first-timer and thinking 'meh' about certain attractions but I suppose that that would happen under any circumstances.

I guess that we're back to first-timers being the ones that matter.

I agree, it doesn't mean they'll enjoy them. But if Disney doesn't care if they come back or not, then they don't need to care what they thought of it.

Even on a positive note, take the big shows. FoTLK and Nemo are great shows. BaTB at DHS would be another example. But there is only so many times or so often you need to see them. But to a first-timer, they are good. So Disney doesn't have to switch anything out.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think this plays a big part. Newcomers to Disney don't know, so they are doing their best to shuffle them through every attraction.

Exactly. Remember when we were all laughing at some of the attractions that got FP+ put on them?

 

[faneuil]

Maybe I'm naïve but I'd bet that even first-timers won't enjoy certain things. I vaguely remember being a first-timer and thinking 'meh' about certain attractions but I suppose that that would happen under any circumstances.

I guess that we're back to first-timers being the ones that matter.

I'm "hosting" a first-timer in November. I've sent her guide maps, and there's a few things she's said, "That sounds stupid" or "No thanks". I'm letting her make all the decisions and I'm not injecting personal thoughts. She's not a thrill ride person, so it doesn't matter what Disney does, she's not riding EE or RnRC. To things like Stitch, she was left wondering what the point was, at least, based on the description.

So I don't think it's naive at all.