I watched most of the Defunctland’s video titled Disney's Fastpass: A Complicated History. If you have, too, I’d be interested in what you thought about it (How about this: “Let’s go ride the Triangle ride in Shapeland” 
). The video was very detailed in the history of the types of lines (or queues) that Disney has utilized over its history (in my opinion, a little too detailed in all the various interactions of Fastpass/Fastpass+, etc.), especially under the guidance of an Industrial Engineer named Bruce Laval. Although queues are typically more important for Operations, there’s a significant amount of designing or Imagineering that goes into them.
Although I am not trained specifically as an Industrial Engineer, my background in Transportation uses queue theory (as referenced in the video). Often the objective in transportation engineering is to minimize delay, which is similar to the objective in theme parks. In my coursework, we talked mostly about operations of stop lights, roundabouts, and airports (e.g. check-in counters and security lines). Some of the same calculations could be made for theme park turnstiles, Fastpass machines (when those were needed), and check-outs in shops and restaurants.
So if you have questions on queues, feel free to put them here. And I can do my best to try to aid in understanding!
(Originally posted in Tiki’s Queue Podcast thread)
). The video was very detailed in the history of the types of lines (or queues) that Disney has utilized over its history (in my opinion, a little too detailed in all the various interactions of Fastpass/Fastpass+, etc.), especially under the guidance of an Industrial Engineer named Bruce Laval. Although queues are typically more important for Operations, there’s a significant amount of designing or Imagineering that goes into them.Although I am not trained specifically as an Industrial Engineer, my background in Transportation uses queue theory (as referenced in the video). Often the objective in transportation engineering is to minimize delay, which is similar to the objective in theme parks. In my coursework, we talked mostly about operations of stop lights, roundabouts, and airports (e.g. check-in counters and security lines). Some of the same calculations could be made for theme park turnstiles, Fastpass machines (when those were needed), and check-outs in shops and restaurants.
So if you have questions on queues, feel free to put them here. And I can do my best to try to aid in understanding!
(Originally posted in Tiki’s Queue Podcast thread)