Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway confirmed

[MisterPenguin]

Test shifts have been scheduled for MMRR! Expect to hear a lot of details from loose-lipped cast members in about 2 weeks.

 

[techgeek]

But that's the thing: for MMRR and Rat (aside from the first day or so) you wouldn't have to be in the park by opening, because the supply vs. demand and operational challenges plaguing RotR don't apply.

Well, that makes things even more confusing and annoying. Now, instead of knowing that I have to show up at park open, you’re telling me I’ll ‘probably’ be ok as long as I get there before some unpublished time (10am? Noon? Can I wait till 2pm if it’s the second Tuesday of the month?), and I still won’t know when I can actually get to ride? How are you supposed to plan for that?

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Well, that makes things even more confusing and annoying. Now, instead of knowing that I have to show up at park open, you’re telling me I’ll ‘probably’ be ok as long as I get there before some unpublished time (10am? Noon? Can I wait till 2pm if it’s the second Tuesday of the month?), and I still won’t know when I can actually get to ride? How are you supposed to plan for that?

This really doesn't have to be so complicated, and the real telling point will be whether Disney utilizes virtual queues for any of the 2020-21 openings. My money's on yes, and wherever they're utilized, they'll provide a smoother experience than what guests currently go through to ride FoP or RotR.

Want to ride in the morning? Show up by park opening and join the virtual queue. Want to take your chances on a later ride? Show up later and join the queue. Enjoy the rest of the park as you would. It's a pretty great system, and with this implementation, a bonus experience on top of FP+ distribution.

I don't necessarily think MMRR or Rat needs virtual queuing, but if we get it, I expect it to be a net positive. That's all.

 

[doctornick]

How standards have fallen. We will have to agree to disagree.

@marni1971 I great respect your opinion, so I wanted to see if you could expand on this. Specifically, given the general ideas for the SW rides (flying the Millenium Falcon and being involved in an escape from a Star Destroyer), what ride systems would you have suggested and what would your "acceptable" hourly capacity be? Would you have just bailed on those ride ideas and tailored a ride around a system with high capacity just due to the popularity of the brand?

I'm just curious how you would suggest approaching this since you obviously feel that Disney is not aiming for high enough capacities in modern times.

 

[doctornick]

But that's the thing: for MMRR and Rat (aside from the first day or so) you wouldn't have to be in the park by opening, because the supply vs. demand and operational challenges plaguing RotR don't apply. Guardians is more of a wildcard due to its innovative ride system, but 2020's openings and even Tron should be way smoother than Rise.

Assuming these attractions aren't immediately available with FP+, boarding groups give guests a chance to experience them as a bonus, instead of having to show up well before park opening & survive the rope drop dash (which has gotten increasingly aggressive over the years, even for attractions like Slinky) or settle for a 2-4 hour standby wait. It also means people aren't stuck in a queue for every instance of downtime, which is more common during the first few weeks of operation.

Yeah, to me, the main advantage of Boarding Groups is that its a virtual line. So, I can wait without having to physically be in line. That to me is huge. I don't care if you tell me my ride won't be for another 6 or 8 hours if I can do other things in the meantime. But if I have to physically be waiting in line for 1.5 or 2 or more hours - yuck! That's a real deterrent for a lot of folks.

I wish Hagrid's had a system in place like this (and, ironically, it did have a virtual queue set up just never used).

 

[doctornick]

god how many times are we going to talk around ourselves

if a six hour queue doesn’t fit your plans, you Don’t Join It. that is how literally every E-ticket attraction in history has worked.

Yeah and that system sucks. So Disney thankfully has come up with something that can be more functional for more people.

 

[ToTBellHop]

@marni1971 I great respect your opinion, so I wanted to see if you could expand on this. Specifically, given the general ideas for the SW rides (flying the Millenium Falcon and being involved in an escape from a Star Destroyer), what ride systems would you have suggested and what would your "acceptable" hourly capacity be? Would you have just bailed on those ride ideas and tailored a ride around a system with high capacity just due to the popularity of the brand?

I'm just curious how you would suggest approaching this since you obviously feel that Disney is not aiming for high enough capacities in modern times.

Can an LPS vehicle be larger? Say three rows of four?

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Yeah, to me, the main advantage of Boarding Groups is that its a virtual line. So, I can wait without having to physically be in line. That to me is huge. I don't care if you tell me my ride won't be for another 6 or 8 hours if I can do other things in the meantime. But if I have to physically be waiting in line for 1.5 or 2 or more hours - yuck! That's a real deterrent for a lot of folks.

I wish Hagrid's had a system in place like this (and, ironically, it did have a virtual queue set up just never used).

Agreed - I'm surprised this is even controversial. Virtual queuing offers all the benefits of first come, first served with a fraction of the drawbacks, especially after removing RotR's sky-high demand and capacity challenges from the equation.

 

[techgeek]

Agreed - I'm surprised this is even controversial. Virtual queuing offers all the benefits of first come, first served with a fraction of the drawbacks, especially after removing RotR's sky-high demand and capacity challenges from the equation.

And I’m astounded this is controversial myself, but from the completely opposite position as you. Perhaps I’ve just finally met the point where I must admit a disconnect and just can’t deal with the technology layer, but I believe it’s a fundamental mistake in hospitality to require your guests to do the heavy lifting of crowd management. Yes, I know it’s not a ‘big deal’... but I think it’s a much bigger obstacle to many people then it is to you.

A physical line isn’t an obstacle to riding. It may represent an undesirable time opportunity cost, but it’s accessible and the choice can be made. A VQ represents a large block to a significant percentage of the population. You have a steep technological learning curve. You need a device. There’s an emotional uncertainty to what’s going on in the virtual space. It doesn’t matter how many CM’s you have running around with iPads, some people bump up against that and simply can’t deal and disconnect. You’ve lost them.

I suppose at the end of the day if more people are happier with the results then are left behind, then it’s a net win... but tell that to the people that couldn’t figure it out.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

And I’m astounded this is controversial myself, but from the completely opposite position as you. Perhaps I’ve just finally met the point where I must admit a disconnect and just can’t deal with the technology layer, but I believe it’s a fundamental mistake in hospitality to require your guests to do the heavy lifting of crowd management. Yes, I know it’s not a ‘big deal’... but I think it’s a much bigger obstacle to many people then it is to you.

A physical line isn’t an obstacle to riding. It may represent an undesirable time opportunity cost, but it’s accessible and the choice can be made. A VQ represents a large block to a significant percentage of the population. You have a steep technological learning curve. You need a device. There’s an emotional uncertainty to what’s going on in the virtual space. It doesn’t matter how many CM’s you have running around with iPads, some people bump up against that and simply can’t deal and disconnect. You’ve lost them.

I suppose at the end of the day if more people are happier with the results then are left behind, then it’s a net win... but tell that to the people that couldn’t figure it out.

I hear what you're saying, but from my perspective, that technological shift has already taken place.

To truly maximize your time, you need a My Disney Experience account, and you need to link your tickets + hotel stay. You need to make FP+ reservations before or during your visit, and you need to link family & friends (plus their ticket media) if you intend to experience FP+ attractions together. To make spontaneous changes, you can visit an in-park kiosk but will have an easier time with a connected device. Those factors are the new normal. Anyone visiting the parks who isn't connected is going to have a pretty bad time, unless they're only interested in ambiance and people watching.

That said, FastPass utilization seems to be higher under the new system than the old. Guests are making FP+ bookings who previously had no idea what FastPass was (or that it was available to them), while those of us who used to be savviest are playing by the new rules as well. Using the MDE app to secure your place in line (or reaching out to the guest experience team) is a mere extension of the rules already in place, and it's an effective way to maintain a queue without the part most guests loathe.

 

[thequeuelinelectures]

Can an LPS vehicle be larger? Say three rows of four?

Beauty and the Beast for Tokyo is larger. Two curved rows, back row of 6, front row of 4, for a total of 10

 

[nickys]

I hear what you're saying, but from my perspective, that technological shift has already taken place.

This. ^^^^^^

People will continue to debate FP+ vs the old legacy FP vs no FPs for years to come, no doubt.

But the system is here, and a virtual queue is simply another part of it.

 

[Hawg G]

The difference between a Rise boarding group and a Rat/MMRR boarding group is that the latter shouldn't completely dissipate within 15 minutes of park opening (except possibly on Day 1). They'd last longer throughout the day, while giving guests a chance to guarantee their ride and enjoy the rest of the park. A great option compared to the nightmare FoP was (and still is) for anyone without a FastPass.

I like the idea and think it would really benefit the upcoming wave of attraction openings, at least during the first few weeks of operation when demand is higher and downtime is likelier.

Yes, because Epcot has plenty of other new rides to pull people to.

This is 100% a result of Disney being very cheap, and not building new capacity rides for decades.

 

[Hawg G]

Around 400 less that theoretical.

It really becomes an issue of simply getting people ON the ride. And IN the queue. If Shanghai is getting 3000 for Pirates, with FP checkpoints, people stopping flow in to the queue with strollers, etc, they must have a ton of loaders, and be loading like 4 boats at a time. And must have multiple, wide queues for folks to be walking in to.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Beauty and the Beast for Tokyo is larger. Two curved rows, back row of 6, front row of 4, for a total of 10

25% higher capacity would be nice...

 

[Markiewong]

Beauty and the Beast for Tokyo is larger. Two curved rows, back row of 6, front row of 4, for a total of 10

Can an LPS vehicle be larger? Say three rows of four?

Aren’t the trucks from Skull Island and Fast Furious LPS?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Aren’t the trucks from Skull Island and Fast Furious LPS?

Yes, and Kong's seat 72 people. I'm not sure how many F&F's RV seat, but I think it is more.

 

[Chet Dakota]

Yes, but a Star Wars boat ride doesn’t really make sense.

It could now, easily, IF they went with a Rise of Skywalker timeline. It could be Star Wars:Search for the Wayfinder and set on the Endor system planet that has the Death Star wreckage, just like the first scene of the new Star Tours.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Agreed - I'm surprised this is even controversial. Virtual queuing offers all the benefits of first come, first served with a fraction of the drawbacks, especially after removing RotR's sky-high demand and capacity challenges from the equation.

I have a question about the virtual queuing vs. Boarding Groups. Are they basically the same thing or completely different. When enrolled in the boarding group how do you know when your group will be boarding? Do you have to hang around the land until they make an announcement? Do they do it via the MDE program? If you are out casually looking and experiencing the rest of the park while you wait, how much time in advance to you get to finish whatever attraction you are either experiencing or have invested a large amount of time in that attraction queue waiting?

I'm sorry about all the questions, but I haven't been following this discussion because I wasn't thinking that I would really be involved due to how long it will be before I go back there. But, I am curious about how that works.

 

[nickys]

I have a question about the virtual queuing vs. Boarding Groups.

1. Are they basically the same thing or completely different.
2. When enrolled in the boarding group how do you know when your group will be boarding?
3. Do you have to hang around the land until they make an announcement?
4. Do they do it via the MDE program?
5. If you are out casually looking and experiencing the rest of the park while you wait, how much time in advance to you get to finish whatever attraction you are either experiencing or have invested a large amount of time in that attraction queue waiting?

I'm sorry about all the questions, but I haven't been following this discussion because I wasn't thinking that I would really be involved due to how long it will be before I go back there. But, I am curious about how that works.

1. They are the same thing. The virtual queue is made up of several (over a hundred) boarding groups.
2. You will get a notification in the MDE app, and there are boards around DHS (not sure of exact locations) with the groups currently being called.
3. No, you can even leave the park if you wish. You have 2 hours to return to join the actual ride line.
4. Yes.
5. 2 hours.