Single Rider Experimentation at Toy Story Mania

[Tom]

How often are you asked to sit with another family even in the same dark ride vehicle. When there are individual seats (Test Track, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur), it's a little different than a bench seat set up. I certainly agree that a single rider line is more efficient, but I don't view this as an attraction where you should be sitting with strangers. There's an element of competition on this attraction which is a little strange to have with someone that you don't know.

I completely agree. There's a tiny level of intimacy on this one, much like on other dark rides (HM, Buzz, etc) - TSMM is similar in nature.

Coasters are different, because you're not really "alone" with your row-mate. You're on a train full of people and you're individually harnessed. You're sort of isolated.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I completely agree. There's a tiny level of intimacy on this one, much like on other dark rides (HM, Buzz, etc) - TSMM is similar in nature.

Coasters are different, because you're not really "alone" with your row-mate. You're on a train full of people and you're individually harnessed. You're sort of isolated.

In the same way though, I don't think a single rider lane would be appropriate on BTMRR - it's pretty easy to get to second base on that attraction without even trying.

 

[Tom]

In the same way though, I don't think a single rider lane would be appropriate on BTMRR - it's pretty easy to get to second base on that attraction without even trying.

Heh. Yeah. Like the Scrambler at a local carnival.

But you're right. BTMR is fast loading, relatively speaking. And due to the tight quarters, adding a single rider line would be nearly impossible at this point anyway. Its capacity is just fine.

 

[flynnibus]

How often are you asked to sit with another family even in the same dark ride vehicle. When there are individual seats (Test Track, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur), it's a little different than a bench seat set up. I certainly agree that a single rider line is more efficient, but I don't view this as an attraction where you should be sitting with strangers. There's an element of competition on this attraction which is a little strange to have with someone that you don't know.

But you don't interact or compete with the people that sit on the otherside of the vehicle from you. That's why a line of doubles is pointless. You wouldn't leave a full bench empty simply because the OTHER side of the vehicle is another party.

The holes to be filled are singles.. not doubles. And the point about being comfortable or not was mentioned in the first post.

 

[WDW1974]

WDW seems to have difficulty from an ops perspective with the entire concept of single rider lanes. ... I have no idea why.

But DLR did indeed eliminate the TSMM singles line, which did not make me happy ... although the lines there are still not close to the insane level they are in WDW.

 

[wilkeliza]

I agree that dark rides are a little to intimate to use a single rider line. I know it was used in TSM for some time and my group actually discussed this when we were in the parks in January but we all agreed it would be a little awkward in a situation like TSM. With the roller coasters it is individual seats and so it is much harder for something to happen. Rock-N-Roller if you are locked in all the way you barely can move and the others while you are on the same bench you don't share a lap bar with another person and the whole train can see you. I have seen many times where 1 parent has 2 children with him/her and you can tell one of the children is much more mature than the other so that child is who rides alone and the parent rides with the less mature one. Now I'm not saying that there are that many pedophiles running around Disney but I wouldn't feel comfortable letting my child under 13 ride with a complete stranger on a dark ride that is as long as TSM. I would be on edge the entire time wondering if they are ok. People will point out that there are cameras on the ride and your child can scream but for me that still wouldn't make me feel comfortable with the stranger. I think Test Track, Everest and Rock-N-Roller I would let even a younger mature child ride with a single rider but never TSM but that is just my opinion.

 

[_Scar]

I know DHS used to have a single-rider line, and it was extremely uncomfortable to have to sit next to a single-rider for TSMM for some reason. There seems to be a lot of awkward moments of silence (especially towards the end). Plus your party is usually out of your field of vision, making the situation even more awkward.

Glad they got rid of this.

 

[Mickey_777]

Going "solo" on TSMM would take all the fun out of it. To me, the whole point is beating the person you ride with and bragging about it later (family/friends). Who cares if you beat a total stranger...

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Going "solo" on TSMM would take all the fun out of it. To me, the whole point is beating the person you ride with and bragging about it later (family/friends). Who cares if you beat a total stranger...

I'm usually a solo rider, and I agree. TSM just isn't that fun to me, especially when I'm competing with a stranger or nobody. So this change won't cause me to waste any time going on TSM.

 

[the-reason14]

I know DHS used to have a single-rider line, and it was extremely uncomfortable to have to sit next to a single-rider for TSMM for some reason. There seems to be a lot of awkward moments of silence (especially towards the end). Plus your party is usually out of your field of vision, making the situation even more awkward.

Glad they got rid of this.

Ya it could be awkward. I can't even remember what it felt like riding TSM as a single rider. I still ride as a single with fastpass, but they usually don't stick me with others. It works for me though as I've found that riding with someone else now can decrease my ultimate high score.

 

[kylewr86]

I agree that the single rider line is a bad idea for many reasons.The ride needs to have a shorter line but i dont think theres much that can be done here.I think until they add more rides at HS we are going to wait in long lines.

 

[Hercules11]

But you don't interact or compete with the people that sit on the otherside of the vehicle from you. That's why a line of doubles is pointless. You wouldn't leave a full bench empty simply because the OTHER side of the vehicle is another party.

The holes to be filled are singles.. not doubles. And the point about being comfortable or not was mentioned in the first post.

You don't fill in singles for all the reasons already mentioned. The doubles line does really help to fill in when you have parties of 5 or 6 and nobody else to put with them.

 

[the-reason14]

Also I think the biggest issue with a singles line at TSM is that there's no height requirement. I didn't understand why mgm got rid of theirs but dca was able to keep theirs until much later when the idea of your kid sitting with a stranger. I remember back in 2009, teh CMs at DCA asking the parties that were in the regular line if they mind riding with a single rider. Some would say no, some yes. But singles lines works on the coasters/thrill rides. I just wish they'd get one for space mt. again.

 

[flynnibus]

You don't fill in singles for all the reasons already mentioned. The doubles line does really help to fill in when you have parties of 5 or 6 and nobody else to put with them.

If that were the case, and you didn't have any groups of two near load.. you'd simply take two single riders.

If you had a single hole.. you fill from the single rider.

The single's line works for BOTH scenarios.. the double line only works for one. It would be inefficent to setup a line just for that.. especially since groups of two are easy to find in the normal line. Everyone goes into the attraction expecting to ride with someone.. so getting a group of just two is like breathing.. it just comes naturally.

 

[RSoxNo1]

But you don't interact or compete with the people that sit on the otherside of the vehicle from you. That's why a line of doubles is pointless. You wouldn't leave a full bench empty simply because the OTHER side of the vehicle is another party.

The holes to be filled are singles.. not doubles. And the point about being comfortable or not was mentioned in the first post.

I'm not sure I follow your point. A Single rider would be sitting with a stranger. "Double Riders" would be filling a car that has 6 people. The fact that you don't compete or sit with the people on the other side of you makes the existence of a double rider lane more logical from the standpoint of "it's less awkward to sit with someone you know than a stranger." I'm not disputing whatsoever that a single rider lane will help improve efficiency for the attraction. What I'm saying is that the attraction is too "intimate" to get away with a single rider option.

Having said that, if given the choice of a 15 minute single rider lane, waiting 10 hours for my fastpass return window, or a 90 minute standby line, I'll gladly get cozy with a stranger.

 

[Hercules11]

If that were the case, and you didn't have any groups of two near load.. you'd simply take two single riders.

If you had a single hole.. you fill from the single rider.

The single's line works for BOTH scenarios.. the double line only works for one. It would be inefficent to setup a line just for that.. especially since groups of two are easy to find in the normal line. Everyone goes into the attraction expecting to ride with someone.. so getting a group of just two is like breathing.. it just comes naturally.

But as people have already mentioned, its often uncomfortable for guests to sit with strangers on a ride like TSM. On occasion I have placed a party of 3 with a party of 5 or something similar, but I would never do so without talking to each party separately to make sure they don't mind.

 

[flynnibus]

I'm not sure I follow your point. A Single rider would be sitting with a stranger. "Double Riders" would be filling a car that has 6 people. The fact that you don't compete or sit with the people on the other side of you makes the existence of a double rider lane more logical from the standpoint of "it's less awkward to sit with someone you know than a stranger." I'm not disputing whatsoever that a single rider lane will help improve efficiency for the attraction. What I'm saying is that the attraction is too "intimate" to get away with a single rider option.

The question is weather a doubles line is useful or not - forget about intimacy for a minute.

If you have a party of 6... 4 go in one car.. 2 go in another. There is absolutely nothing limited about those last 2 seats. It doesn't need to be a party of 2 in those seats, it can be 2 of a party of 4, 6, 8, whatever. There is such little difference between one dispatch of vehicles and the next. Additionally, even if you don't want to have a group split over batches of vehicles, two people willing to go together is so common because of the nature of the ride and human dynamics of couples and people's desires to travel with a companion.

The reason for a 'single rider line' is because single riders are not all that common. Groups of 2 or groups willing to go as groups of 2 is common.

There is no point in having an extra line of a common divisible unit.

 

[fosse76]

If they send too many than the guests waiting in that line are likely to spend more time waiting than they would have if they had stayed in the regular line.

Which is exactly what happened to me. If I hadn't been alone, I might have made a scene and demanded to speak to someone in charge. But since I was by myself and it wasn't that much longer, I let it go. It happens occasionally on rides without single rider lines: I am made to wait longer because the CM has their own idea on haw they want to fill the vehicles. Considering what little patience I actually have, I am surprised I haven't actually complained to guest relations about it.

 

[Tom]

Really, the only ride that legitimately justifies a Single Rider line is Test Track, since they designed ride vehicles with 3-person rows (quite inefficient).

If you send off a TT car with only even-numbered parties in it, you're sending a vehicle that's 1/6 or 1/3 empty. Those kinds of numbers KILL hourly capacity, relative to what the theoretical design capacity was.

If you send off a TSMM vehicle that has an empty space, that's a mere 1/8 void.

Thinking about the way TSMM load works, it almost seems like it might slow down the loading process, thus increasing dispatch intervals, if they had to coordinate single riders.

 

[fosse76]

The reason for a 'single rider line' is because single riders are not all that common. Groups of 2 or groups willing to go as groups of 2 is common.

People by themselves may not be that common, but the single rider line isn't restrictive to people who are in the parks alone. I've seen groups of 4 or 6 people get in them because they believe that they will have a shorter wait. It CAN be mostly true, but at a certain point it isn't. I've been in the single-rider line only to wait LONGER than the standby simply because too many of these large groups go in it. But I agree with your sentiment about a "doubles" line. It's completely unnecessary.