Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway - Disneyland

[Professortango1]

But you didn't buy a "single day ticket," did you? Because the only people who do this (visit for a specific ride) are passholders for whom the marginal cost of admission is zero.

Hate to break it to ya, but I don't have a pass and haven't for over 10 years. I visit for specific attractions. I love Disney, but with the combination of having done everything there a few hundred times and my life being filled with other responsibilities and activities, I only buy day tickets a few times a year at most. Its way cheaper and easier than buying a pass that allows weekend visits.

And why do I purchase day tickets these days? To see the newest thing. The thing that is different. Or to say farewell to an attraction that is leaving us (Snow White, Splash Mountain). Those are the things which prompt me to give Disney $120 for a ticket. Plus parking.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

People buy single day tickets to see the newest attraction. Even if it’s not the sole objective it can be a top priory.

The top priority on a long list of items is still not a significant percentage of the whole.

As I said, I don't fault anyone for being disappointed for not being able to ride (which is a red herring anyways as evidenced by the 1pm BGs being available consistently in the last few days). But being angry or outraged or "my trip is ruined" or whatever is serial killer behavior.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

having done everything there a few hundred times

You have to understand that this puts you in a statistically irrelevant cohort of people, right? Like that has to be obvious to you.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Tell me you don't understand economics without telling me you don't understand economics.

I would genuinely love to hear your educational and professional background, professor.

 

[el_super]

Do you think there aren't people who go to Disneyland specifically with the intention of riding the newest ride?

Yes I do. Do I think they are a majority? No. Do I think they can be measured in the low single digit percentage of DL Guests? Yes.

The reason I went to Disneyland last year was because I wanted to ride Rise of the Resistance. If I had spent all of that money on a single day ticket and wasn't able to get on the ride, I would have been pretty angry.

Yeah, sure I get that, but I am looking at this through the context of reasonable expectation to ride. No one is guaranteed ride availability, and it is certainly possible that any singular ride could malfunction and be unavailable during an entire day or week. Would it make me angry yes? Is there really anything to be done about it other than potentially running an unsafe ride? No.

Again: somsone has to be excluded from riding. That is the reasonable expectation of running the attraction. As long as the same number of people are riding with the Virtual Queue as without, the chance that I get to experience the ride or not, doesn't really change.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It’s a really fun ride. It’s hard to enjoy it in Florida without being sad about the great movie ride - here I can really enjoy it for what it is!

I enjoy how repeat rides always get a different experience since all the vehicles do things differently.

 

[el_super]

I don't mind waiting hours and hours for a new attraction. I do mind not being given the chance to do so. Especially when folks who wouldn't wait 40 minutes for it are grabbing their 5th reservation.

This seems like a bigger issue. They have the technology to prevent APs from re-riding within the first few months of opening. Perhaps they should be using it to give more opportunity to the guests that haven't experienced it yet.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

This seems like a bigger issue. They have the technology to prevent APs from re-riding within the first few months of opening. Perhaps they should be using it to give more opportunity to the guests that haven't experienced it yet.

That probably gets into legal issues… if a pass = admission you can’t take away the rights of those with admission. That’s a VERY slippery slope we don’t want to see Disney go near.

 

[Consumer]

I would genuinely love to hear your educational and professional background, professor.

I’m an economics teacher.

Yeah, sure I get that, but I am looking at this through the context of reasonable expectation to ride. No one is guaranteed ride availability, and it is certainly possible that any singular ride could malfunction and be unavailable during an entire day or week. Would it make me angry yes? Is there really anything to be done about it other than potentially running an unsafe ride? No.

Again: somsone has to be excluded from riding. That is the reasonable expectation of running the attraction. As long as the same number of people are riding with the Virtual Queue as without, the chance that I get to experience the ride or not, doesn't really change.

While a fair point about rides not always being available, the difference is those factors are outside of Disney’s control. VQs are Disney’s decision. They are purposefully advertising a new ride and making it inaccessible.

As for your second paragraph, of course some won’t be able to ride MMRR, and those people should be the ones unwilling to wait in line. I believe in meritocracy.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The top priority on a long list of items is still not a significant percentage of the whole.

As I said, I don't fault anyone for being disappointed for not being able to ride (which is a red herring anyways as evidenced by the 1pm BGs being available consistently in the last few days). But being angry or outraged or "my trip is ruined" or whatever is serial killer behavior.

Large marquee attractions are supposed to induce demand. If there aren’t a significant amount of people coming to see it then there’s a problem.

 

[el_super]

That probably gets into legal issues… if a pass = admission you can’t take away the rights of those with admission. That’s a VERY slippery slope we don’t want to see Disney go near.

Of course they can, and they routinely do this already. No attraction is guaranteed to be available.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

The top priority on a long list of items is still not a significant percentage of the whole.

As I said, I don't fault anyone for being disappointed for not being able to ride (which is a red herring anyways as evidenced by the 1pm BGs being available consistently in the last few days). But being angry or outraged or "my trip is ruined" or whatever is serial killer behavior.

Perhaps not in all instances but it can certainly be a deciding factor in the highly saturated Southern CA theme park market families likely would prioritize if/when they would make an annual or semi-annual trip around if and when a new attraction is opening.

I.e. an average middle income family that lives a couple hours away may prioritize a one or two night trip to Disneyland to see MMRR at the 100th over the Spring Break vs going to Knott’s, San Diego or Universal, since the kids saw the commercial on TV.

 

[Skip]

I really think it's time to just utilize that block button and stop engaging. They are being deliberately obtuse and are not going to be convinced.

 

[Disney Analyst]

The good news to you all, it is temporary. The virtual queue will eventually not be used for the attraction, and one can join a normal standby line.

If you want to ride in the first few months, this is the option. If you are willing to wait, it’ll go away.

The end.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Perhaps not in all instances but it can certainly be a deciding factor in the highly saturated Southern CA theme park market families likely would prioritize if/when they would make an annual or semi-annual trip around if and when a new attraction is opening.

I.e. an average middle income family that lives a couple hours away may prioritize a one or two night trip to Disneyland to see MMRR at the 100th over the Spring Break vs going to Knott’s, San Diego or Universal, since the kids saw the commercial on TV.

I prioritized a WDW trip to ride Splash Mountain before it closed. It broke down, so I said "dang that sucks" and I had a great day at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The good news to you all, it is temporary. The virtual queue will eventually not be used for the attraction, and one can join a normal standby line.

If you want to ride in the first few months, this is the option. If you are willing to wait, it’ll go away.

The end.

It’s temporary with this one attraction. Despite spending billions of dollars and not seeing the promised outcomes, Disney remains committed to virtual queue systems that negatively impact the guest experience.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It’s temporary with this one attraction. Despite spending billions of dollars and not seeing the promised outcomes, Disney remains committed to virtual queue systems that negatively impact the guest experience.

I think we've quite clearly established that whether virtual queues are a positive or negative impact on the guest experience is a matter of opinion.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

I prioritized a WDW trip to ride Splash Mountain before it closed. It broke down, so I said "dang that sucks" and I had a great day at the Magic Kingdom.

1) you just made my point that people prioritize trips around single attractions; 2) as adults we move forward when a ride malfunctions but if you’re traveling kids that look forward to it or don’t have the concept of time/expectations it is different; 3) it’s also a bit different if it’s an attraction you had been on before.

 

[Disney Analyst]

It’s temporary with this one attraction. Despite spending billions of dollars and not seeing the promised outcomes, Disney remains committed to virtual queue systems that negatively impact the guest experience.

It’s always temporary, and their current new thing for new rides. It will go away eventually for this ride. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll stop doing VQ’s completely?

Many would avoid a new ride for months to avoid crowds, now many will avoid new rides for months to avoid VQ.

The circle of life continues.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

1) you just made my point that people prioritize trips around single attractions; 2) as adults we move forward when a ride malfunctions but if you’re traveling kids that look forward to it or don’t have the concept of time/expectations it is different; 3) it’s also a bit different if it’s an attraction you had been on before.

My kids are 8, 5, and 2.