EPCOT Cosmic Rewind testing new preshow procedures to help with guest flow

[Andrew.Parkscapes]

Just got off of Cosmic Rewind and cast members were testing a new load procedure for the preshow. When you were entering the preshow load room, guests were divided with Standby guests on the left and and ILL on the right. when the doors open to enter into the Big Bang room, the ILL group was let in first and stayed on the right side and then the standby group was lead in standing on the left cast members were in the center dividing the groups the whole entire time when you enter the teleportation room guess we’re divided again and if a group was separated when they were entering the room, they were instructed to go back to the standby side. When the final door is open to let you into the queue for the ride load, they let ILL enter first, then Standby guests.

 

[vikescaper]

We were wondering what happened as we usually go to the left hand side in the preshows but had to stay on the right hand side. It seemed to work, though.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’m guessing it was determined the LL wait was too long? Seems like a lot of extra work but if there were enough complaints I guess they needed to address it.

 

[osian]

Well I assumed it was to stop the crowding over to the right by the doors in the last pre-show room and to control the flow into the next room to prevent the usual crush. The CMs are now physically stopping that. And it looks like the middle door is out of order?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This definitely seems interesting and do kinda hate how everyone rushing to the side where the doors will open takes away from the immersion

Maybe this is a test and if it works well they would put in a bit of a barrier that they will then open to let standby through vs using CMs has like a human wall

 

[networkpro]

They've been testing various things. While we were there last week of August and first week of September they had the center door taped off forcing guests to either side and had further stanchions past that reducing the cattle chute to more of a funnel. The guest flow was better, but the design is still pretty poor.

 

[James Alucobond]

Maybe this is a test and if it works well they would put in a bit of a barrier that they will then open to let standby through vs using CMs has like a human wall

I think putting in a physical barrier would take away some of the effect of the transport since it would then be present in both the EPCOT transport chamber and the room on the Xandarian ship.

I’m guessing it was determined the LL wait was too long? Seems like a lot of extra work but if there were enough complaints I guess they needed to address it.

Eh, I'm not sure. It feels more like an ops-generated excuse to stop the overcrowding and pushing on the right side of the room than a response to an overlong wait. Honestly, the difference in loading between waiting on the far side of the room and shoving against the door is so minimal that I wonder why in the world people do it in the first place.

 

[Jayspency]

Glad to see Disney making improvements to the preshow experience so that it doesn't feel like I'm in a stampede

 

[donsullivan]

This feels like an interesting way to essentially push the merge point between standby and LL further along to the end of the preshows instead of the first holding room. That should inevitably result in a slight reduction in wait time for LL guests. The stampede and pushing and shoving to the loading queue doors immediately after the transport is ridiculous.
.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This feels like an interesting way to essentially push the merge point between standby and LL further along to the end of the preshows instead of the first holding room. That should inevitably result in a slight reduction in wait time for LL guests. The stampede and pushing and shoving to the loading queue doors immediately after the transport is ridiculous.
.

It really is, always feel like I am going to get separated from my kids during that

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

The preshow holding pen is nuts if there's a wheelchair in your party. My mom was being crowded on all sides. They need to do something about this system.

 

[James Alucobond]

The preshow holding pen is nuts if there's a wheelchair in your party. My mom was being crowded on all sides. They need to do something about this system.

Honestly, the best way to fix it might be to add the originally planned Rocket and Groot animatronics and rework their dialogue slightly (since they’re the pair not played by the actual actors). Right now, the focal point is a bit unclear right after the teleport, so even first timers get caught up in the rush of following because they think everyone else knows what they’re supposed to be doing. I’ve seen a lot of confused people looking around and asking if they’re supposed to move too.

They could also potentially rework the floor to have “transport pads” or something that would feasibly have an explanation for existing in both spaces and ask people to remain near their pad for return once on board.

 

[Touchdown]

It was horribly designed, should have had duel preshows that would only have to pulse half the volume and run them one after the other.

 

[easyrowrdw]

The first preshow is fairly pointless. But that’s a problem with the ride not how LLs are handled. They could just get rid of it or play on a loop and let people into the big room. You get all mixed up on Rise but no one seems to mind bc of what’s happening along the way.

On Guardians I’m inclined to “rush” toward the doors because the line followed by multiple preshows and then more lines just feel like a waste of time. Looking at those pictures, this setup looks pretty obnoxious.

 

[mysto]

Each preshow should have it's own s shaped corral everyone passes through, fifo, no chance to cut. It'll slow down guest movement but is so much better than a free-for-all.

Or, I suppose, tattoos on our foreheads indicating our caste. Depends on what they're trying to achieve....

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Each preshow should have it's own s shaped corral everyone passes through, fifo, no chance to cut. It'll slow down guest movement but is so much better than a free-for-all.

Or, I suppose, tattoos on our foreheads indicating our caste. Depends on what they're trying to achieve....

They kind of do that for Battle at the Ministry at Epic where the Express line goes through all the preshow elements and key queue rooms, but has its own path that is more straight while standby has a bunch of switchbacks, could do something here

Or guests could just chill out and not rush, but obviously that won't happen

 

[KatiebugFan]

I wish there was a single rider line that let you skip the pre-shows and you go directly to the ride. Just like Expedition Everest.

 

[celluloid]

Its a giant preshow of people after first ride knowing what wall to go to, and many figuring or realizing where they are. It may not be a crush situation, but certainly an annoyance and people can't possibly wait two trains.

Something with rows more like RnR could have been in the design.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Any chance to the preshow room is welcome.

I just had ankle surgery, and right before that, I was in WDW. Obviously, I was using an ECV as walking was out of the question. I'm really, really good at driving those things (as in I can maneuver one onto a bus without driver assistance).

I only hit people three times. First was my mother, who stepped in front of me, laughed, and was like, yeah, I know better. Other two times? Both in that stupid preshow room. And it was both because guests literally climbed over the unit to get ahead of me. Yup, climbed. First time girl got hit from the side, second time the woman who did it decided to walk diagonally in front of me. I'm like, you had to climb over me to get there...you clearly saw me. And the thing is that the unit I had was very good about stopping, but if I had it on the lowest speed, it might roll a bit more and nothing I can do about it.

No issues in any other preshow area besides that one. Beyond frustrating.

 

[WondersOfLife]

It was horribly designed, should have had duel preshows that would only have to pulse half the volume and run them one after the other.

Dinosaur/Countdown to Extinction style...


This was bound to happen one day. They should put up a railing/themed low wall, that would work as well. Think ET Adventure's 3 small sections in the pre-show room, sort of.