Pirates Queue

[jrlang1]

It's a bit of a shame it's come to that, then.
But it's not as if Disney's endgame wasn't always to sell more plush and popcorn. The same desire to entertain enough to make that sale is what lead them to design the great classic queues in the first place.

So what has changed?
The tastes and attention spans of "families" or the designers' abilities to exploit every waking moment for maximum brand loyalty?

A child's attention span. Children do not seem to use there imaginations like other generations. To me this seems to be caused by parents using technology as a passifier instead of encouraging children to find there own entertainment. It is easier for the to pass over the iPhone then to engage them. The games provide a constant reward that a static display do not provide.

 

[miles1]

What's WITH this interactive queue fad among TDO? It's like a freaking plague!!! Are they taking their cue (see what I did there?) from WWOHP? !

My guess is that they've analyzed the situation and found it to be the most cost effective solution to a problem. Park attendance continues to grow every year, consequently wait times for the existing attractions will continue to grow unless they add capacity (meaning more new attractions). Adding the interactive elements to the queues makes a longer wait time more tolerable, and its much cheaper than building a new attraction with a high capacity and having the ongoing costs of staffing it and maintaining it. And we know how much they like to pinch pennies.

As one of those guys thats over 40 (GASP), I don't really mind the new elements and don't see how they're ruining anything. If you don't like 'em, don't look at 'em. Seems pretty easy to me :shrug:

 

[DznyRktekt]

My guess is that they've analyzed the situation and found it to be the most cost effective solution to a problem. Park attendance continues to grow every year, consequently wait times for the existing attractions will continue to grow unless they add capacity (meaning more new attractions). Adding the interactive elements to the queues makes a longer wait time more tolerable, and its much cheaper than building a new attraction with a high capacity and having the ongoing costs of staffing it and maintaining it. And we know how much they like to pinch pennies.

As one of those guys thats over 40 (GASP), I don't really mind the new elements and don't see how they're ruining anything. If you don't like 'em, don't look at 'em. Seems pretty easy to me :shrug:

But next gen cost over a billion dollars.

 

[Bairstow]

But next gen cost over a billion dollars.

It's supposed to pay for itself in added fees and by giving guests more time to spend more money in more places.

Besides that, the initiative is shared across departments whereas something like maintenance would have to come out of the attractions budget.

 

[jrlang1]

But next gen cost over a billion dollars.

Next gen also includes much more then just interactive queues. It also includes RFID tech. The RFID tech most likly cost the most becuase everything from hotel room locks to turnstiles, fast pass and point of sales computers will have to replaced or upgraded

 

[bhg469]

A child's attention span. Children do not seem to use there imaginations like other generations. To me this seems to be caused by parents using technology as a passifier instead of encouraging children to find there own entertainment. It is easier for the to pass over the iPhone then to engage them. The games provide a constant reward that a static display do not provide.

On a related note I was at a dog park the other day and I noticed a lady show up with her dog, a bunch of tote bags and 2 lawn chairs. I understood the chairs but the bags were filled with toys. Not for just the dog but her son as well. He was watching a DVD player at the dog park!

 

[the-reason14]

I understand why everyone is jumping to conclusions based off of past line changes(We're looking at you HM) But I think that this one could be different. I'm not a fan of all this interactivity either, as I think it's mainly to promote this fastpass+ crap at a ride that does not need it, but if done right it could be nice. I prefer if things stayed the same including the old fastpass policy, but that doesn't look possible. Oh well, more a reason to go to Disneyland. Don't worry WDW, I think my AP expired a few days ago, but don't worry about me renewing it.

 

[Clever Name]

I think the new interactive queue will focus on education. It will tell the guests about the history of pirates and answer such questions as:

1. Why do pirates wear earrings?
2. Why do pirates wear fluffy shirts?
3. Why do pirate captains wear fancy hats with feathers?
4. Do pirates enjoy living in close quarters with other pirates on long sea voyages? :wave:

 

[ladydi]

POTC is my favorite ride so I'd rather keep the queue as is. I do have a question though. I seem to remember the rooms shown (like the chess playing pirates) being dimly lit. The last few times we were in line, there was so little light that you could barely make out the characters. Has it always been like this? I don't know if it's my mind playing tricks on me.

 

[AswaySuller]

Is there any point?

It's virtually a walk on ride!

 

[JIMINYCR]

POTC is my favorite ride so I'd rather keep the queue as is. I do have a question though. I seem to remember the rooms shown (like the chess playing pirates) being dimly lit. The last few times we were in line, there was so little light that you could barely make out the characters. Has it always been like this? I don't know if it's my mind playing tricks on me.

My favorite part of the Queue too. Interesting story how the imagineers developed the scene and found the stalemate which ended up in the queue.
I noticed last trip that the lighting was much dimmer also, when I tried pointing out the scene to someone else who was with us, it was hard for them to see the chess board. When we got home I had a picture that I had taken on a previous trip which showed the scene better and the chess pieces clearly.

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

Does anyone know for sure whether the changes are going to be interactive or is that just speculation based on the trend thus far with "upgrading" of queues?

Personally I can get behind two options - upgrading to add another scene or to better light the scenes that are there. I also found them to be dimly lit on my last visit.

I can also accept the interactive trend continuing into the POTC queue. I don't use any of the interactive parts of the queue but I have walked past several other people that do. I probably passed 25 people in Winnie-the-Pooh as parents tried to drag their kids away because the line kept moving and maybe 10-12 in HM because people are too busy playing to keep up with the person in front of them.

What I would not want to see is taking the chess scene and putting Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush in there instead.

 

[nepalostparks]

Does anyone know for sure whether the changes are going to be interactive or is that just speculation based on the trend thus far with "upgrading" of queues?

Personally I can get behind two options - upgrading to add another scene or to better light the scenes that are there. I also found them to be dimly lit on my last visit.

I can also accept the interactive trend continuing into the POTC queue. I don't use any of the interactive parts of the queue but I have walked past several other people that do. I probably passed 25 people in Winnie-the-Pooh as parents tried to drag their kids away because the line kept moving and maybe 10-12 in HM because people are too busy playing to keep up with the person in front of them.

What I would not want to see is taking the chess scene and putting Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush in there instead.

I think a lot of it is speculation at this point.

For the record, the chess scene (right side queue) was visible and not part of the queue work.

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

For the record, the chess scene (right side queue) was visible and not part of the queue work.

Good to know...I was worried for a while they would put Bruce Banner and Tony Stark playing chess in there.

And THAT, is how you turn this into an Avengers thread...BOOYA!


(*sorry, had to be done)

 

[KevinYee]

Does anyone know for sure whether the changes are going to be interactive or is that just speculation based on the trend thus far with "upgrading" of queues?

No proof from me.

BUT, note that the parts under construction are really far away from each other: http://ultimateorlando.blogspot.com/2012/05/pirates-of-caribbean-lots-of-new-boxes.html

It's not just an upgrade of "one" show scene; it's something around every turn in the right-hand queue, basically.

 

[nepalostparks]

No proof from me.

BUT, note that the parts under construction are really far away from each other: http://ultimateorlando.blogspot.com/2012/05/pirates-of-caribbean-lots-of-new-boxes.html

It's not just an upgrade of "one" show scene; it's something around every turn in the right-hand queue, basically.

BUT, the scrims are also up at several points on the left side of the queue as well. This is not solely being done on the right side queue. It seems to be the entire middle of the queue - everywhere between the two queues.

 

[wolf359]

It seems to be the entire middle of the queue - everywhere between the two queues.

Honestly, I've always thought those areas "outside" of the fort seemed ripe to do something with. The windows and false passageways create a very unique environment and I always marvel at the amount of detail in the Pirates queue. It seems a shame the left-hand side spends so much time unused so if updates help keep both sides open full time I think that is good.

Without knowing the extent of the plans I'm optimistic for this update. I think the Indiana Jones queue at Disneyland is a great example of "interactive" done well and if the same spirit ends up in Pirates I think we could see a great queue made even better.

 

[jt04]

No proof from me.

BUT, note that the parts under construction are really far away from each other: http://ultimateorlando.blogspot.com/2012/05/pirates-of-caribbean-lots-of-new-boxes.html

It's not just an upgrade of "one" show scene; it's something around every turn in the right-hand queue, basically.

Looks compelling and I look forward to what they are doing. With Lasseter likely approving such a project I am quite comfortable with this.

On a side note, I read your latest miceage blog. Just wondering if you could explain the role of the people who actually turn the screwdrivers? It seems you only mention management's role in any of your "declining by degrees" musings but never a peep about the people who have the responsibility of keeping things running. Do you see them as innocent bystanders? Do they have a role at all in making sure things get fixed so that they last? You never mention them or their place in the big picture and I just find that odd. Have you ever researched this aspect of the story? Do you even acknowledge they play a role? I am asking because the fact that you omit this part of the story has always puzzled me. :shrug:

And I have spent many years as a maintenance person just not at a theme park. I know a bit about the culture so I think you may find digging deeper worth your time. There are always two sides to every story. Not just one. At least that is what I was taught in college. :lol:

 

[Eldon_Brasche]

The ques are very popular. Why should they stop doing something the guests enjoy and only two dozen 40 year old men on the internet disapprove of?

I resemble that remark.

 

[KevinYee]

With regard to maintenance people, it's a little bit of everything.

SOME of them do a fantastic job, and really care.
SOME of them are entrenched, a little bored, and not held to much accountability (there are things in the system that encourage wastefulness, actually)

On the whole, it's not their fault. I think they do see what needs fixing. There just isn't manpower or budget to fix everything.