Next-Gen queue testing at the Haunted Mansion

[Dayma]

No one else things this thing looks cheesy and like it was put together with just some plywood and glue???

yuck IMO!!! :hurl:

I was there during the testing and walked right past it into the ride. I didn't see one person stop.

The thing did look like a 5yr old put it together. We were very confused what it was when we saw it. Would be nice if they had some cast members there to talk about it. We were there from about 9-1 and didn't see any cast members around it.

 

[Exprcoofto]

I feel a bit unbalanced about interactive queues. I think it could work very well for new attractions as they could be designed for an interactive queue, but fitting it into existing attractions like Jungle Cruise and POTC might make it seem extremely out of place.

I also don't think an interactive queue works well when it's not being used. For an example, when space has a relatively shorter line the screens just say to continue on, which is a bit tacky IMO. I'm thinking that interactive elements in currently existing attractions will seem extremely out of place when they're just sitting there and not being used.

I like the concept, but would much rather see it be put into only NEW attractions. The idea of trying to fit it into existing attractions is a bit wearisome. I my real opinion will have to wait until I actually see some more NextGen queues implemented.

 

[devoy1701]

It was a test of concept, not intended to be a final product.

I was there during the testing and walked right past it into the ride. I didn't see one person stop.

The thing did look like a 5yr old put it together. We were very confused what it was when we saw it. Would be nice if they had some cast members there to talk about it. We were there from about 9-1 and didn't see any cast members around it.

I get that it's just a test concept. But even for a test I think that this thing looks tacky, out of place, and doesnt fit the decor/facade of the Mansion. Just because its a test idea doesn't mean they could have made it blend alittle better!

 

[Sketch105]

I don't like the next gen queue thing. What happened to awesome immersive themeing? Looking at cool details and gags can entertain a guest more than video games.

It can entertain a DISNEY fan guest. Let's face it, not everyone who steps in the door has as much love and appreciation for all the work beyond "That looks cool. Let's do that". I go on a lot of attractions these days where people barely pay attention to the queue or videos.

As much as I'm more of a passive ride experience person- prefer rides like Pirates and Mansion to Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story Mania!, interactivity seems to the be the next big step at theme parks, making things more personal and interactive.

As for the test, they used it on a weird attraction-Haunted Mansion, which rarely has a wait thanks to the Doombuggy system. I think they should've placed it in the queue for Winnie the Pooh, or Dumbo or Space Mountain, rides that usually have long lines out the wazoo.

 

[FreedomWrangler]

I enjoy hearing about WDI trying new things to improve the experience...I think this is a little off though...

For HM, better interactivity in the queue might be rattling chains that separate the queue's. Or when you rest your hand on top of one of the chain posts you hear, "Hey! Stop touching me" or perhaps it feels like your hand was licked or touched by a cold spirit.

Adding bricks throughout the wall that move or have faces appear, much like the tombstone with eyes near the entrance...the line is covered so some kind of 3D floating ghost appearing above everyone is another good idea.

These are effective interactive methods, subtle and completely inline with theming considerations. The technology already exists to create this type of immersion.

WDI is free to use any of these ideas. Please include a nod to WDWMagic.com and FreedomWrangler subtly in the attraction. :animwink:

 

[devoy1701]

I enjoy hearing about WDI trying new things to improve the experience...I think this is a little off though...

For HM, better interactivity in the queue might be rattling chains that separate the queue's. Or when you rest your hand on top of one of the chain posts you hear, "Hey! Stop touching me" or perhaps it feels like your hand was licked or touched by a cold spirit.

Adding bricks throughout the wall that move or have faces appear, much like the tombstone with eyes near the entrance...the line is covered so some kind of 3D floating ghost appearing above everyone is another good idea.

These are effective interactive methods, subtle and completely inline with theming considerations. The technology already exists to create this type of immersion.

WDI is free to use any of these ideas. Please include a nod to WDWMagic.com and FreedomWrangler subtly in the attraction. :animwink:

I agree with some of your suggestions over what they are attempting here. Wouldn't it be cool if they could make the ghostly image of the horse appear in the harnesses at night or make a figure appear in the carriage??? Those are the kind of effects that have placed on Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island over at Disneyland as you explore the caves...motion sensors that activate a voice or AA when you reach your hand in a hole, or hologram looking images when you try to take the treasure.

You know even the little arcade games at SM fit that theming and technology of Tomorrowland and of the ride, but this plywood Dread Family thingy just doesn't fit for me.

 

[raven]

I enjoy hearing about WDI trying new things to improve the experience...I think this is a little off though...

For HM, better interactivity in the queue might be rattling chains that separate the queue's. Or when you rest your hand on top of one of the chain posts you hear, "Hey! Stop touching me" or perhaps it feels like your hand was licked or touched by a cold spirit.

Adding bricks throughout the wall that move or have faces appear, much like the tombstone with eyes near the entrance...the line is covered so some kind of 3D floating ghost appearing above everyone is another good idea.

These are effective interactive methods, subtle and completely inline with theming considerations. The technology already exists to create this type of immersion.

WDI is free to use any of these ideas. Please include a nod to WDWMagic.com and FreedomWrangler subtly in the attraction. :animwink:

You think they already haven't thought of that stuff? Wait for NextGen.

 

[devoy1701]

You think they already haven't thought of that stuff? Wait for NextGen.

Sounds good Raven! If Next Gen is more like what FreedomWrangler suggests and less like the plywood thing they're testing then this sounds like something to look forward to!

 

[devoy1701]

So looks like they're already done with the test? Maybe HM Queue was a failure or something, but prop was not out today...


On another note, on PotC, the Pirate with the balancing hats has lost his balancing hats once again.... :brick:

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

Cool

 

[Exprcoofto]

So looks like they're already done with the test? Maybe HM Queue was a failure or something, but prop was not out today...


On another note, on PotC, the Pirate with the balancing hats has lost his balancing hats once again.... :brick:

It was only out for a quick 2 day test run, it's been done for a while now.

 

[blackthidot]

I hope this is up when I am there. Looks pretty cool.

 

[CheshireCatStef]

We just got back Monday. I'll tell you what, we went on HM twice on our trip, and both times, they packed SO MANY freaking people into the stretching room. And then they were opening up the doors so frequently, that the second time we were on, we couldn't exit the stretching room to get into the line. The CMs kept yelling, please move all the way into the room, and there was NOWHERE to go. We stood in a crowd, literally shoulder to shoulder, for more than 15 minutes before we could even get into the bat line (what my son calls before you get on the moving platform) and all I could think of was "what if there's a fire or something"... it was actually a wee bit disconcerting.

 

[raven]

We just got back Monday. I'll tell you what, we went on HM twice on our trip, and both times, they packed SO MANY freaking people into the stretching room. And then they were opening up the doors so frequently, that the second time we were on, we couldn't exit the stretching room to get into the line. The CMs kept yelling, please move all the way into the room, and there was NOWHERE to go. We stood in a crowd, literally shoulder to shoulder, for more than 15 minutes before we could even get into the bat line (what my son calls before you get on the moving platform) and all I could think of was "what if there's a fire or something"... it was actually a wee bit disconcerting.

That happens more often than you think actually and it could be one of many reasons. Perhaps someone needed assistance loading/unloading into a doombuggy and they needed to pause the ride, the ride stopped for an intrusion alert or perhaps simply that the main entrance CMs don't realize that they need to slow down the time frame for entry due to large number of guests. The latter happens quite often just to get people out of the heat though.

But rest easy because their are a couple of emergency exits in that corridor. :animwink:

 

[devoy1701]

That happens more often than you think actually and it could be one of many reasons. Perhaps someone needed assistance loading/unloading into a doombuggy and they needed to pause the ride, the ride stopped for an intrusion alert or perhaps simply that the main entrance CMs don't realize that they need to slow down the time frame for entry due to large number of guests. The latter happens quite often just to get people out of the heat though.

But rest easy because their are a couple of emergency exits in that corridor. :animwink:

I was thinking that they should install some switchbacks immediately outside of the stretch rooms...it's such a hassle when everyone is in that large area after the stretch room before the queue starts and everyone is giving dirty looks because not everyone can get into that line in an calm and organized fashion.

also, maybe they need to slow the Omnimover just a tad??? I noticed many times that the people in the front of the queue wait for instruction from the CM when it seems like he's mainly there to just point and people can easily just split into groups of 2 or 3 and use the next Doom Buggie. But because of how disshuffled people are, it isn't uncommon for people to miss 2 or even 3 Doom Buggies at a time at the speed it travels versus the speed they travel!

 

[unkadug]

I was thinking that they should install some switchbacks immediately outside of the stretch rooms...it's such a hassle when everyone is in that large area after the stretch room before the queue starts and everyone is giving dirty looks because not everyone can get into that line in an calm and organized fashion.

also, maybe they need to slow the Omnimover just a tad??? I noticed many times that the people in the front of the queue wait for instruction from the CM when it seems like he's mainly there to just point and people can easily just split into groups of 2 or 3 and use the next Doom Buggie. But because of how disshuffled people are, it isn't uncommon for people to miss 2 or even 3 Doom Buggies at a time at the speed it travels versus the speed they travel!

While on one hand I would love for them to slow down the Doombuggies so that the ride would last longer for me to soak it all in, on the other hand this would slow the per hour capacity of the ride and make for a much longer wait for everyone.

 

[FreedomWrangler]

You think they already haven't thought of that stuff? Wait for NextGen.

I am not presumptuous, or vain, enough to believe I'm the only one to think of good ideas. I'm sure Disney Co. has a room full of mouses just thinking [expletive] up. (self censored )

However, their Next-Gen queue test here seems to indicate that they're going in a different direction. That's fine; it doesn't add much to the attraction. This idea is a minus, not a "plus", in my opinion.