DHS Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway confirmed

[MickeyMinnieMom]

If I had to guess, it would either be for the function of A) Attempting to relieve Rise of a little bit of pressure, if they were to make you choose which Virtual Queue to enter, or B) For the function of getting guests out of whatever length queue they anticipate would form for Runaway Railway and back into the shops, restaurants, etc. where there's actually the potential to spend money.

I do get this IF they have two VQs going at once... some say they’re not equipped right now to do this, so let’s all hold our breath for Disney IT if they add it.

I wonder how that setup would compare experience wise to a setup where they just opened MMRR with FP, switched over to FP for Rise, and added FP for MFSR simultaneously?? Maybe if ROTR gets a tad more reliable by March??

Or a scenario where they keep the VQ for ROTR, and simultaneously add FP for MMRR and MFSR in the same tier??

 

[peter11435]

If you arrive at the park at 6:59, by bus or Skystopper, you will NOT be in the park at 7:00, when the BG switch goes on. 10 minutes later, you're out of luck for that day.

Correct. Which is why I repeatedly stated “in the park” before 7.

 

[peter11435]

If I had to guess, it would either be for the function of A) Attempting to relieve Rise of a little bit of pressure, if they were to make you choose which Virtual Queue to enter, or B) For the function of getting guests out of whatever length queue they anticipate would form for Runaway Railway and back into the shops, restaurants, etc. where there's actually the potential to spend money.

Guests in line for rides aren't spending money - which was the original impetus for Fastpass. Never mind the fact that most guests use Fastpass as a means to get on more rides rather than spend more time parting with their dollars. Think of all the money I wouldn't have spent on food, drink, and gifts this Wednesday if I'd been stuck in a 5 hour line for Rise instead of floating around while we inch towards my Boarding Group.

This almost makes me wonder if that's what's driven the trend of shorter rides with lower capacity? You can design a ride that handles 3,000 people an hour, but then that's 3,000 more people that hour who aren't buying souvenirs. So if you design for lower capacity, you're pushing more people into the queue, which either self-regulates because guests think the line is too long, or it gets navigated with Fastpass and gives you that time back in the hopes that you find a store to browse with your extra time. Or a bar to hit up in the case of Epcot over the last 20 years.

But maybe my foil hat is too tight.

Your foil hat wouldn’t fit a mouse.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Your foil hat wouldn’t fit a mouse.

We talking this size mouse, or this size mouse?

I don't tend to dabble in conspiracy theories, and I know that correlation does not equal causation, but this was the first time the thought occurred to me and I just wondered about it out loud. Hence the concern over the foil hat!

 

[matt9112]

We have gotten more new attractions this decade, than any previous decade. This is a very good time to be an Orlando theme park fan.

Still havent kept up with park attendance. If you were to chart attendance rise in a ten year period and than overlay additionally added capacity (on a percentage basis) it wiould be worse than ten years ago. Period end of argument do sir have a nice day. Hats off shops closed.

 

[flynnibus]

The current system makes it easier for locals to ride than anyone who's there on vacation, which is not how it should work

You believe it's harder for people who are NOT working, staying on or near property, and dedicating their days to Disney... than it is for people who happen to live near Disney?

Ok... *rolleyes*

 

[UNCgolf]

You believe it's harder for people who are NOT working, staying on or near property, and dedicating their days to Disney... than it is for people who happen to live near Disney?

Ok... *rolleyes*

You know what I meant when I said locals. Don't be obtuse.

Just look at the people in these threads who have been on it 5+ times already.

 

[flynnibus]

You know what I meant when I said locals. Don't be obtuse.

No I'm still not getting at what you mean. 'Locals' should mean people not on vacation... while tourists are those on/near property for a vacation.

 

[peter11435]

You know what I meant when I said locals. Don't be obtuse.

Just look at the people in these threads who have been on it 5+ times already.

What exactly did you mean if you didn’t mean people who live near disney?

 

[UNCgolf]

What exactly did you mean if you didn’t mean people who live near disney?

Obviously I meant the annual passholders who go regularly, not just any random person that lives in Orlando. There are numerous people in these threads who have been on RotR multiple times because they can do it essentially on a whim, especially on the weekends. But there are also plenty of people who don't work standard M-F 9-5 jobs.

Regardless, the boarding group waves system I proposed fixes that problem as well as most of the others. It's also far more equitable.

 

[peter11435]

Obviously I meant the annual passholders who go regularly, not just any random person that lives in Orlando. There are numerous people in these threads who have been on RotR multiple times because they can do it essentially on a whim, especially on the weekends. But there are also plenty of people who don't work standard M-F 9-5 jobs.

Regardless, the boarding group waves system I proposed fixes that problem as well as most of the others. It's also far more equitable.

I think boarding groups is better for those on vacation than it is for locals. Locals could easily devote a day or many hours to standing in line. For those on vacation however time is at a premium.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Agree with a lot of what is being said about DHS. The park is still in a bad way, imo. I was only able to ride Rise of the Resistance last week after getting a boarding pass. Everything else was wildly crowded and the lines were way too long. 2+ hour waits for Falcon, Slinky, Tower and RnRC. Mickey will certainly help, but the park still needs all it can get. Replace those dated shows ASAP.

 

[UNCgolf]

I think boarding groups is better for those on vacation than it is for locals. Locals could easily devote a day or many hours to standing in line. For those on vacation however time is at a premium.

I think the concept of boarding groups in general is better, yes -- I just don't think the timing for acquiring a boarding group is ideal. I think it's easier for locals to be there at opening, especially since they moved the opening time of the park back to 7 AM. It would have be easier for resort guests if the opening time remained at 8. Using Disney transportation to get to a park is a crapshoot. Making the opening time so early means guests need to be out waiting for a bus by 6 or perhaps even earlier. I know I've had to wait 30+ minutes for a Disney bus before, and then there's usually 15-20 minutes of transit time, and then actually disembarking and walking to the entrance. It's definitely possible you could be at a bus stop at 6 AM and still not make it into the park until after 7.

Just splitting the boarding groups in half would be a big improvement. Half are available at park opening, the other half become available at noon or something like that.

 

[nickys]

I think the concept of boarding groups in general is better, yes -- I just don't think the timing for acquiring a boarding group is ideal. I think it's easier for locals to be there at opening, especially since they moved the opening time of the park back to 7 AM. It would have be easier for resort guests if the opening time remained at 8. Using Disney transportation to get to a park is a crapshoot. Making the opening time so early means guests need to be out waiting for a bus by 6 or perhaps even earlier. I know I've had to wait 30+ minutes for a Disney bus before, and then there's usually 15-20 minutes of transit time, and then actually disembarking and walking to the entrance. It's definitely possible you could be at a bus stop at 6 AM and still not make it into the park until after 7.

Just splitting the boarding groups in half would be a big improvement. Half are available at park opening, the other half become available at noon or something like that.

With that idea, there could be hours of downtime if everything runs well. Or very limited availability at noon if there’s been a lot of downtime. The whole point of boarding groups for RotR is the reliability issue. How do they decide how many to release first thing and how many to hold back?

And if they roll it out and use it for other rides where it’s not really required, and opening with just stand-by would work, then the problem could be exacerbated even more with your system.

 

[Steph15251]

You believe it's harder for people who are NOT working, staying on or near property, and dedicating their days to Disney... than it is for people who happen to live near Disney?

Ok... *rolleyes*

I live about 18 mins from Disney ,no way am I going to Disney early in the morning just to get a boarding group and then go to work ,I am also blackout til April.

 

[UNCgolf]

With that idea, there could be hours of downtime if everything runs well. Or very limited availability at noon if there’s been a lot of downtime. The whole point of boarding groups for RotR is the reliability issue. How do they decide how many to release first thing and how many to hold back?

And if they roll it out and use it for other rides where it’s not really required, and opening with just stand-by would work, then the problem could be exacerbated even more with your system.

I am only talking about using it for RotR, not other rides. I also don't see how there could be hours of downtime -- all they have to do is distribute enough groups at opening that if the ride runs at full capacity they will be nearing the end at the noon distribution time. The limited availability at noon is fine if there's been a lot of downtime; that's actually a plus in my mind. That way they haven't distributed a bunch of groups that won't be called. When I said half, I didn't really mean half -- wasn't the right word. I really just meant splitting them up a bit rather than distributing ALL of them at park opening. A secondary distribution later in the day would be great.

I think it's a way to give more people the chance to ride than the current system. It's not that easy for resort guest to get to Hollywood Studios that early even if everything is going perfectly for them that morning, and things often aren't going perfectly for both personal reasons and Disney reasons.

 

[flynnibus]

I think the concept of boarding groups in general is better, yes -- I just don't think the timing for acquiring a boarding group is ideal. I think it's easier for locals to be there at opening, especially since they moved the opening time of the park back to 7 AM. It would have be easier for resort guests if the opening time remained at 8. Using Disney transportation to get to a park is a crapshoot. Making the opening time so early means guests need to be out waiting for a bus by 6 or perhaps even earlier. I know I've had to wait 30+ minutes for a Disney bus before, and then there's usually 15-20 minutes of transit time, and then actually disembarking and walking to the entrance. It's definitely possible you could be at a bus stop at 6 AM and still not make it into the park until after 7.

It's no easier for a local to be there... you've got a beef with Disney Transportation and somehow are extrapolating this into a locals vs resort guests thing. If you don't like Disney's transportation constraints for a situation - DON'T USE IT. Nothing is preventing you from hopping into a car, or calling a taxi, or an uber, and getting there on your own accord.

"Disney transportation sucks" is not "its easier for locals" garbage. It's simply people needing to acknowledge Disney's transportation is not as time efficient as someone providing their own transportation. This has nothing to do with RoTR, BGs, opening times, whatever.. it's just simple common sense. In isolation and in low scale, having your own vehicle is going to usually be more efficient than a interval based bus.

It's amazing people are huffing and puffing about this WEEKS later, stressing over how to plan, etc.. when a simple one-time $15 uber ride eliminates 100% of the grief.

You're dreaming up new complaints and comparisons.. trying to label things.. and just getting it all wrong because you can't figure out how to focus in on what your actual conflict is.

7am or 8am or any am - it doesn't make a difference when your actual complaint is the amount of extra time you have to account for because you are relying on the free Disney buses.

Instead of buying one over-priced t-shirt... spare yourself all this grief and get a car/taxi/uber this ONE TIME to deal with RoTR access.

 

[flynnibus]

With that idea, there could be hours of downtime if everything runs well. Or very limited availability at noon if there’s been a lot of downtime. The whole point of boarding groups for RotR is the reliability issue. How do they decide how many to release first thing and how many to hold back?

The entire point is you are agile... you don't need to plan so far ahead. Release a block, see how things go, release the next block, etc. Or do it on a cadence, and simply stop releasing or adjust the amount released based on operating conditions.

The idea of rolling availability is an optimization that is entirely possible and serves many different guest scenarios better than what they are doing now. It was discussed ages ago. It's just nothing to do with the kind of 'problems' this guy is trying to paint as the issue.

 

[UNCgolf]

It's no easier for a local to be there... you've got a beef with Disney Transportation and somehow are extrapolating this into a locals vs resort guests thing. If you don't like Disney's transportation constraints for a situation - DON'T USE IT. Nothing is preventing you from hopping into a car, or calling a taxi, or an uber, and getting there on your own accord.

"Disney transportation sucks" is not "its easier for locals" garbage. It's simply people needing to acknowledge Disney's transportation is not as time efficient as someone providing their own transportation. This has nothing to do with RoTR, BGs, opening times, whatever.. it's just simple common sense. In isolation and in low scale, having your own vehicle is going to usually be more efficient than a interval based bus.

It's amazing people are huffing and puffing about this WEEKS later, stressing over how to plan, etc.. when a simple one-time $15 uber ride eliminates 100% of the grief.

You're dreaming up new complaints and comparisons.. trying to label things.. and just getting it all wrong because you can't figure out how to focus in on what your actual conflict is.

7am or 8am or any am - it doesn't make a difference when your actual complaint is the amount of extra time you have to account for because you are relying on the free Disney buses.

Instead of buying one over-priced t-shirt... spare yourself all this grief and get a car/taxi/uber this ONE TIME to deal with RoTR access.

Wow did you totally misread my post. I don't care about any of that. I have no issue with Disney transportation, and I have taken Lyft to the parks numerous times. I was only pointing out how that could be a problem for other people (although I will say it's also not always that easy to get a Lyft/Uber/whatever at 6:30 in the morning). I only care about the early morning time because I like to sleep; I don't want to get up at 6:30 AM while I'm on vacation.

You can say that's my personal problem, and sure, it is. That doesn't mean it's not still bad policy to distribute all the boarding groups at once first thing in the morning. There's no downside that I can see to my suggestion, and it's more equitable for everyone overall. It also gives Disney more operational flexibility.

Considering you just agreed with me in your last post, I don't know why you're so aggressively attacking me over a random side thing that wasn't relevant to my overall point.

 

[flynnibus]

I only care about the early morning time because I like to sleep; I don't want to get up at 6:30 AM while I'm on vacation.

You can say that's my personal problem, and sure, it is.

It is.. and learn to acknowledge that and accept it instead of making up claims like "its easier for locals" which has nothing to do with your personal preference on the time you like to wake up.

Literally your argument boils down to "7am openings are too early for me... I want to sleep in more and still ride. So I don't like distribution at 7am park openings"

Nothing more. Not that it's easier for group 1 vs 2... or whatever. Literally it's you don't want to be there for a 7am opening. End of story.