Those who are complaining about this don't realize that the basic concept of what they're doing has been around since The Haunted Mansion opened.
They're creating a pre-show without the zig-zagging queue lines.
When you enter the HM's foyer, you're still waiting in line. You just don't realize it. There's a group ahead of you in a stretch room, and another group waiting to board the doom bugggies. In theory, Disney could have built switchbacks through the foyer and stretch room and made it a traditional line. So when you entered the Mansion's doors, you still had another 5-10 minutes of waiting before actually boarding the "ride".
This new queue concept is similar.
Instead of standing in a corral of switchbacks, Disney is trying out a new, larger "pre-show" where guests can roam freely.
Of course, the big difference from the Haunted Mansion is that this new type of pre-show area can hold many more guests. So instead of a butler or maid telling the next 50 people it's their turn to enter the building, there is a video screen performing the same function.
For those who say "There's nothing wrong with standing in a line", imagine if Disney did the REVERSE. Imagine that, instead of going to an Epcot restaurant and getting a vibrating pager or waiting to hear your name called as you sit near the hostess stand, they simply set up a ton of switchbacks. You're still waiting 15-45 minutes to be seated. Are you saying you'd prefer standing in a line outside a restaurant, rather than sitting in a waiting area or wandering a nearby shop?
I think what's being lost on many of you is that this was a TEST. They may have no intent of adding this to RnRC. Or, if they do, they will likely invest a lot more money in "entertainment" (Imagine a big screen, multi-player Guitar Hero! Sure beats standing in a hot queue next to someone who forgot to bathe!)
RnRC, with its secluded courtyard, is the perfect test site, and the perfect layout for this concept.
As others have pointed out, this concept CANNOT be added to most other attractions, and will likely show up in future attractions that can be custom-built for that purpose. (With the new Dumbo attraction, Disney could have easily built a large tent and filled it with switchbacks. Instead, they've eliminated the switchbacks. People will still be waiting in that room, just not in a "line".)
I was trying to think of current attractions that could be retrofitted for this new queue concept. For it to work, it would have to have consistently long lines, it could not be a fast-loading ride like an Omnimover, it would need to have a large existing queue area that could be opened up, and it would need to match the attraction's theme. I can only think of a few:
TEST TRACK: They could demolish the wall between the current queue and the GM postshow area, and make that one large room to wander among interactive auto exhibits as you're waiting to be called.
SOARIN: Rework the queue into larger "rooms" with more hands-on activities.
TOY STORY MIDWAY MANIA: Take out the switchbacks, and fill the room with toys and games.
Any other ideas?
