Not fun on the Jungle Cruise

[Zummi Gummi]

It just seemed that none of them really cared and they were just going through the motions. They werent funny, witty or anything that would make the ride fun. I would love to see this ride get a major, major, major refresh.

I think management needs to trust their skippers more and give them a little more freedom. The over-regulating is really stifling. By contrast, we just rode 2 separate cruises at Disneyland where the skippers were not only having a great time, but given a great deal of leeway with the material. I've never seen as "loose" a script as those two rides through the DLR Jungle Cruise.

 

[ChrisFL]

When I worked in Tomorrowland, the ratio was generally supposed to be sixteen FP for every four stand-by. The problem with that is you end up with a line in FP, which causes a *ton* of angry FP people. Then your coordinator shows up at the merge point and tells you to just let all the FP people through to stop the FP people from complaining. Which of course causes the people in the stand-by line to , but you at least have a "reason" (FP) they're waiting. I also know plenty of people who would let all the FP through so that they could just stand there and not do any work (no FP, no one to merge) - I'll bet a nickel that was what your surly Jungle Cruise was doing. I can tell you when it was busy I always *hated* working the merge point for either Space Mountain or Buzz Lightyear. It's pretty thankless either way and sometimes it can be one of the highest pressure positions.

Yet another reason to hate Fastpass, and I've seen a similar thing happen at the Soarin' queue

 

[ScoutN]

The real problem here wasn't the load ratio, but that the actual wait time was double the estimated wait time. If the time posted would have indicated anything in the vicinity of 1 hour, then that would permit the guests to make an educated decision on whether to spend 1 hour waiting in line. The OP would not have had the same (valid) complaint if the posted time was a bit more accurate.

That issues falls under the accuracy of the red card system, sadly. As I am more than sure you probably know, if it reads 35 and the card was just scanned, and several huge groups file in just after the card but before the OP. It becomes highly unreliable. Part of the reason I do not like them and prefer the older indicator in queues of "XX minutes from this point."

 

[Timekeeper]

That issues falls under the accuracy of the red card system, sadly. As I am more than sure you probably know, if it reads 35 and the card was just scanned, and several huge groups file in just after the card but before the OP. It becomes highly unreliable. Part of the reason I do not like them and prefer the older indicator in queues of "XX minutes from this point."

Agreed.

I tend to think that the CMs would be much better at estimating wait times (based on how full the queue is) than the card scanners - which are inherently flawed by the necessary delay needed to utilize their function.

Yes, there will always be some degree of flux in the length of the FP queue, but now that FP times are being "enforced," there's absolutely no excuse for a posted wait time of 30 minutes and an actual wait time of 60 minutes. That kind of inaccuracy is what leads to guests being late on their existing FPs for other attractions, showtimes, reservations, etc. Is it fair to enforce the FP time window against the OP if he was late to arrive at Splash Mountain due to the Jungle Cruise wait time being grossly incorrect? I don't think so.

Even if a larger group does show up in the FP queue at one time, it will quickly balance back out because there were only X amount of FPs allotted for that particular window of time. So if a large group shows up at once, the SB queue will move much quicker soon after. By way of illustration, if a FP was issued at 1 ticket per minute (60 tickets per hour), and a tour group of 30 people all showed up at once, the FP queue would be virtually empty for the remainder of that hour, and the SB queue would speed up.

I'm willing to bet that a CM, familiar with the attraction and FP allotment and loading ratios for the attraction, could do a much better job estimating the SB wait time than what the red cards reflect.

 

[peter11435]

I'm willing to bet that a CM, familiar with the attraction and FP allotment and loading ratios for the attraction, could do a much better job estimating the SB wait time than what the red cards reflect.

At many attractions (Jungle Cruise included) the "red cards" are no longer used to post wait times.

 

[Timekeeper]

At many attractions (Jungle Cruise included) the "red cards" are no longer used to post wait times.

:sohappy:

I never understood the benefit of knowing what an attraction's wait time was 45 minutes ago.

 

[Timekeeper]

Regarding skipper show performance, I suppose that it doesn't matter to me whether the skippers take leeway or not. So long as they hit a few "key" elements of the script, if the managers are doing their job - good skippers stay, and bad skippers go. There will be good and bad skippers who improvise, and there will be good and bad skippers who stick to the script. If a skipper wants to take a risk and deviate, and it becomes a better show, that's just fine with me.

Individuality is part of the uniqueness and charm of having a live person performing the spiel; something that we are seeing less and less of in modern attractions. I also think that adds to the re-ride-ability of the attraction.

On that note, there's a hilarious video on youtube called "How not to do the Jaws ride" that humorously illustrates this exact issue - deviating from a script as a skipper of a boat tour. Those Jaws skippers were always amazing, and had more fun than any other theme park employee that I've seen. Their consistent enthusiasm is one of the things that made Jaws such a beloved attraction.

 

[ONUpolarbears]

I think my idol, Weird Al, sums up the jungle cruise poopy skippers with his song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0cCRRFi1aA&sns=em

Jim

 

[mergatroid]

JC is definately one of those rides that is either really awesome or simply blah. Much of the ride depends on the Skipper and if you get a good one it's really a lot of fun...possibly my fav in the MK. If your Skipper is a dud then it's not even worth riding.

About 6 years ago we had a skipper whose first language didn't appear to be English. Along with her heavy accent it was difficult to understand anything she said although whatever she was saying was said with enthusiasm. Towards the end of the ride people were actually laughing at the fact that nobody could understand her and the fact that she was laughing so much herself at the parts when we assumed she was telling jokes. I actually wondered if shr was playing a new 'character' that was so bad they were actually good, but as I've not witnessed anything like it again have come to the conclusion that wasn't the case :lookaroun

 

[TubaGeek]

The issue with FastPass here is that the managers insist, despite the protestations of the JC coordinators, on keeping a high level of FPs distributed per return window. Now, instead of putting through an average of four FPs for every standby, they have to increase that number. So there are more FPs trying to get in than there should be, and that hurts the standby queue.
I'm sure none of you need to be told this, but if you get frustrated, CIVILLY tell the front-line cast members to pass the message on. Swearing at them is just gonna make you hate yourself later, and, in some cases, make the cast member break down and cry during their breaks.

 

[R W B]

I didn't realize JC ever got that busy lol. Everytime I've rode it I think th longest I've wanted was maybe 20 min.

It is ashame that the JC pilots cant ab-lib any more. That's part of the show IMO.

The only ride I've had a problem with the FP/SB merge is at Sorin. That line just sucks no matter what. Lol

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

In November my husband and I (mid 30's) rode the jungle cruise with only one other couple they were in their 50's maybe, and it was early in the morning. The skipper started out terrible, giving facts about the animals like we were on the safaris at AK, maybe he thought because we were older we didn't want the corniness. So I started saying some of the standard jokes to my husband and the other couple started laughing along with us and then the skipper abandoned the facts and switched to the jokes, and regular spiel. It was odd.

 

[wendysue]

I think my idol, Weird Al, sums up the jungle cruise poopy skippers with his song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0cCRRFi1aA&sns=em

Jim

Thanks for posting this....that could have been exactly what our skipper, Steve, was thinking, except he never smiled.:ROFLOL:

 

[TP2000]

By contrast, we just rode 2 separate cruises at Disneyland where the skippers were not only having a great time, but given a great deal of leeway with the material. I've never seen as "loose" a script as those two rides through the DLR Jungle Cruise.

Disneyland's Jungle Cruise also does NOT have Fastpass. The CM's there tend to be much more relaxed because of that, and that equals funnier skippers.

But if Disneyland's Jungle Cruise had Fastpass, who knows, the skippers might get more uptight and management would focus on them more.

 

[Timekeeper]

Also - and I'm not sure if this is a variable that would make a particularly noticeable difference - California is obviously home of the "entertainment capital of the world," and full of aspiring actors. While there is a bit of that climate here in Florida, it's not like every waiter/waitress is an "actor" as is often the case in Cali. So maybe their "talent pool" is a bit richer... :shrug:

 

[ChrisFL]

Also - and I'm not sure if this is a variable that would make a particularly noticeable difference - California is obviously home of the "entertainment capital of the world," and full of aspiring actors. While there is a bit of that climate here in Florida, it's not like every waiter/waitress is an "actor" as is often the case in Cali. So maybe their "talent pool" is a bit richer... :shrug:

I could agree with that.

 

[Powerline]

I'm so skeptical about going to the JC when I go on Thursday just for the reason of getting a crummy skipper. Most say I'm perfect for the job as a skipper because of my lousy jokes and dumb puns, which I would love to do in the park.

Anyways you should indeed of brought up the crummy skipper to town hall, he'd be a great custodian or a person who mops floors in the kitchens of the restaurants with his attitude.

Then again he could have just been having a bad day.

 

[TP2000]

Also - and I'm not sure if this is a variable that would make a particularly noticeable difference - California is obviously home of the "entertainment capital of the world," and full of aspiring actors. While there is a bit of that climate here in Florida, it's not like every waiter/waitress is an "actor" as is often the case in Cali. So maybe their "talent pool" is a bit richer... :shrug:

That concept is very noticeable with the live characters and parade performers at Disneyland compared to WDW. But I suppose it could also carry over into Disneyland's ride operators like at the Jungle Cruise. :shrug:

 

[fosse76]

You should have focused on the fact that you were in line for "longer than you were supposed to be," which I assume means that your wait time was significantly longer than the posted wait time - and that the posted wait time was therefore the time that you were "supposed to be" in line for.

There's no point in focusing on whatever FP/SB ratio the CMs are using because (1) whatever internal policies they decide to use is within their complete discretion and likely different with each attraction, (2) it's unlikely that a guest services CM will be privy to those types of specifics, and (3) priority entrance into an attraction is sort of the point for FPs.

However, significantly underestimated posted wait times is a valid reason to complain, and the least that guest services could do is issue a single attraction FP to compensate for both the time lost due to the incorrectly posted wait time, and the time it took to seek a resolution of the issue with guest services.

This. During one visit, I had a FP for Splash Mountain. Saw that BTMMRR had a 20 minute wait so I got in line. Well, there apparantly was something wrong and they were loading very slowly. Well, suffice it to say, I waited an hour. But FastPass didn't slow down once. They kept that going at regular pace. Well you bet I headed over to City Hall to complain. I'd already been in line for 30 minutes before they made an announcement (by then it was very clear to everyone that something was holding us up...the line was moving too slowly), and when you notice that it is not having an affect on FP, then you know they are disregarding the distribution ratio. The point is I highlighted that my actual wait time was much longer than the posted wait time. They gave me three FPs to use for my trouble.

Disneyland was worse. Every time I went to go on a ride, it literally broke down before I reached the queue. This happened to me four times. I went to City Hall and complained about the wasted time going from attraction to attraction only for them to break down...and the wasted time having to keep going back to see if they were running again. She was very sympathetic and gave me four FPs. So I decided to go to Splash Mountain for the single-rider line (to give the other rides a chance to get running again). Sure enough, just as approached the queue it broke down! I left for DCA, because if I had stayed I would have been hauled out in handcuffs.

The point is, you must emphasise the amount of time was actually spent vs. the perceived promise of time for Guest Relations to really care. As someone else said, they regulate the distribution of FPs all they want, so arguing an internal policy isn't going to give you any advantange.

 

[Timekeeper]

Disneyland was worse. ...

I don't know if Disneyland still does this, but years ago they used to allow on-site hotel guests to obtain FPs for multiple attractions instead of having to wait until the "you may obtain your next FP" window to open. I don't recall the limit, maybe 2 or 3 attractions at once. It was like something between normal guest FP access and Universal's ExpressPass for hotel guests. It was definitely an added benefit, but not necessarily a limitless pass. Some of the standby queues definitely moved along pretty slowly.