Volcano Bay

[captainkidd]

Well let's hope they're doing something positive for the people who've suffered. I read stories that some are being offered free express passes added to their existing tickets for the other parks (if they have them). This doesn't cost Universal anything but makes their guests feel they're getting something back, to me it's a bit of a cheap thing to do but financially it's a good idea for Universal.

I was reading that as well. Only issue to me would be if it were a resort guest who gets Express anyway. I mean, obviously I'm sure they're asking beforehand. The one issue we ever had at Universal was more of an issue of a stupid guest than anything else. We had waited about 30 minutes to go on The Simpsons, and these 4 adults got in the front row of the car so I had to sit with my 2 young boys in the back seat, and they couldn't see anything. I went to guest services on the way out and mentioned how they should really monitor that stuff. They should have raised the 2nd row when they designed the ride, but since it's not, always put kids in the front so they can see. The manager we spoke to was awesome. He agreed with me, got on his walkie talkie, asked if we would like to go on again, then walked us back to the ride. He got us right on again, dead center of the theater in the front row. That was awesome enough, but he talked to us all about the parks, asked what we thought of everything else, and told us to come to him if we had any other issues. That's what great customer service is. I made certain to send a letter to Universal about him.

 

[andysol]

TapuTapu is not the 1st virtual line system at theme parks. Six Flags has been using it for years. Again, difference is, you're not restricted to just the 1 attraction.

You clearly still don't understand Tapu Tapu, or you're refusing to acknowledge what it actually is simply because you can't be wrong on an Internet forum with a bunch of strangers. Ok...

Six Flags has a qbot that creates a virtual line- much like dozens of water and theme parks across the country.
What none of these parks offer is this service for free- for every single attraction- for every single one of its patrons.
Are we done trying to compare Tapu Tapu to other reservation or queuing systems? It's one of a kind- it's standby- just virtual. Period. No other comparisons need be made.

Where it has a flaw vs a traditional standby line are that more people are willing to queue for longer lines than if they saw a 5 hr wait. So now people who would have been eating, in a wave pool, lazy river, kid area, etc- who wouldn't have been in a physical line are all still in a virtual line.
This can be remedied by increasing ops efficiency, ride capacity or decreasing attendance. That's it.

Guess I've been lucky. Been 6 times since MB and FP+ came out. Never had a single problem with either.

I've driven thousands of times and never had a wreck. Guess they don't exist...

 

[mergatroid]

You clearly still don't understand Tapu Tapu, or you're refusing to acknowledge what it actually is simply because you can't be wrong on an Internet forum with a bunch of strangers. Ok...

Six Flags has a qbot that creates a virtual line- much like dozens of water and theme parks across the country.
What none of these parks offer is this service for free- for every single attraction- for every single one of its patrons.
Are we done trying to compare Tapu Tapu to other reservation or queuing systems? It's one of a kind- it's standby- just virtual. Period. No other comparisons need be made.

Where it has a flaw vs a traditional standby line are that more people are willing to queue for longer lines than if they saw a 5 hr wait. So now people who would have been eating, in a wave pool, lazy river, kid area, etc- would wouldn't have been in a physical line are all still in a virtual line.
This can be remedied by increasing ops efficiency, ride capacity or decreasing attendance. That's it.


I've driven thousands of times and never had a wreck. Guess they don't exist...

So they've created the worst 'system' out there for their park?

 

[Adam N]

So they've created the worst 'system' out there for their park?

It seems like they took the number one complaint that has plagued any popular tourist attraction for decades (waiting in line) and thought the remedy would be to not have people wait in a physical line. That if they're not confined, they'll feel more free to do other things with their time, and make the most of the visit. However, the problem is is that the complaint is the waiting part. Not the line itself. People can be annoyed that they can't leave the line to go to the restroom or get a drink, but the inherent frustration is not with the queue, it's with the wait itself. Which, unfortunately, cannot be remedied. There will be things you have to wait for. It's simply going to happen. But that's just my two cents. There is no feasible solution to waiting in line, apart from a West World experience where you create an extremely expensive boutique park that very few can attend.

 

[lazyboy97o]

So they've created the worst 'system' out there for their park?

Onky if you don't understand how it actually works beyond your immediate gratification.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Well, while we were all discussing how big a failure VB is, they seem to have, for the most part, brought the wait times under control. The ops are getting up to speed and the downtimes are being eliminated. For the first 2 hours, and the last 4 hours of the day, most slides are "ride now". Which, in fact, you can ride while waiting in a virtual queue for another attraction. You still have to Tap, but that is so they know how many people are queuing. It doesn't cancel your existing Tap. Only the aquacoaster and the drop slides are getting up to 120 mins.

They are also slowly bringing the interactive elements around the park online to give guests more to do during the busy hours.

Clearly, the place was no where near ready for opening, they still have a lot of actual construction going on around the park. Not just painting and landscaping. Three of the main structures don't even have their roof caps yet. They should have postponed the opening for 2 months. One for 24/7 construction and one for soft opens.

While the park, when they actually finish it, will be a very nice park, the opening was totally amateur hour.

 

[opshannon]

There's lots to do in the park that doesn't require Tapu Tapu or waiting in line. You're going to want to try the food. We spent a lot of time in the wave pool. If you get a lounger (and you should), you're going to want to chill out there too.

Yeah. That's not how I do a water park. I'm there for the slides. I've got a pool at home. I can sit in the sun or water whenever I want weather permitting. Nor would I assume that's what the majority of people dropping hundreds of dollars are wanting to do. "I know there are loads of slides, but how about another 50 minutes in the wave pool, then some lounging?"

 

[Eckert]

That's some of the biggest complaints I've overheard at VB..."Well, what if I WANT to wait in line?!" People want to wait in line to do what, check their phone? Sit on a lounge chair by the beach and check your phone.

 

[mergatroid]

Onky if you don't understand how it actually works beyond your immediate gratification.

That's like a plane manufacturer creating a new passenger jet and advertising it as having the best kitchen of any plane that can make every passengers steaks during flights. However they neglect to tell them that they've sacrificed having any toilets on board and the plane takes 16 hours to reach the UK instead of 8 hours and then somehow blame the passengers if they're unhappy

Whatever the cause of the problems it seems coincidental that the introduction of a new queue system (some say brand new, some say off the shelf?) coincides with major delays, problems and guest complaints. Had they not advertised it as a way to beat queuing in a more honest fashion (people still queue up to 30 mins after joining the line) then people might not blame the system you seem to think is the greatest invention of all time.

 

[mergatroid]

That's some of the biggest complaints I've overheard at VB..."Well, what if I WANT to wait in line?!" People want to wait in line to do what, check their phone? Sit on a lounge chair by the beach and check your phone.

People don't want to wait in line for no reason. A new park has opened BOASTING a new system of no queues. Now whatever the cause, lack of slides, too big capacity, badly performing staff or the great new system, people are complaining that they can only ride 3 or 4 slides in a day and they're not happy. Now your average person thinks "Hang on, water parks have been around for decades without queues that long or systems which mean I have to virtual queue for 3 hours between slides. I've never queued 3 hours for a water slide before, not in Disney, not in Wet n Wild, what's different about this park? What have they got so wrong? Maybe if they took the new virtual queue away I'd be able to ride more things like I can in other water parks that don't have virtual queues".

That's what they probably mean but it's quicker to just say "I'd prefer to wait in line"

 

[captainkidd]

You clearly still don't understand Tapu Tapu, or you're refusing to acknowledge what it actually is simply because you can't be wrong on an Internet forum with a bunch of strangers. Ok...

Six Flags has a qbot that creates a virtual line- much like dozens of water and theme parks across the country.
What none of these parks offer is this service for free- for every single attraction- for every single one of its patrons.
Are we done trying to compare Tapu Tapu to other reservation or queuing systems? It's one of a kind- it's standby- just virtual. Period. No other comparisons need be made.

To the first part, I understand exactly how it works.

To the 2nd, who cares if it's "free" if it doesn't work? You can put whatever spin you want to on this, but there's nothing you can say to make me believe there's any advantage to a system where I can avoid standing in line for 1 attraction, but can't experience another in the interim. I don't care if the wait is 30 minutes or 5 hours.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It doesn't matter if Tapu Tapu is no different then waiting in a physical line. I get it, you get it, we all get it... However from a psychological standpoint, the common guest is not going to get it or care. You tell them no waiting in line, this wrist band holds your place. Guess what... they are going to want to ride slides while they wait. You can explain until you are blue in the face that "technically you are waiting in a line so you can't do any other rides" but it does not matter. I repeat, it does not matter.

I work in the guest service industry, and I can tell you, the majority of our guests do not think the way you and I do. They do not understand the systems, why we have them in place, or why things are the way they are. They don't care. They want it there way, what makes sense to them. If the majority of guests at Volcano Bay are unhappy with Tapu Tapu in a years time, I guarantee it's going to the way of the Dodo, or they will figure out some way to change it.

I, in all honesty, would have just preferred the old fashioned method, which clearly a lot of people seem to agree with. Especially if this new method means only 3-4 slides in a day.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That's like a plane manufacturer creating a new passenger jet and advertising it as having the best kitchen of any plane that can make every passengers steaks during flights. However they neglect to tell them that they've sacrificed having any toilets on board and the plane takes 16 hours to reach the UK instead of 8 hours and then somehow blame the passengers if they're unhappy

Whatever the cause of the problems it seems coincidental that the introduction of a new queue system (some say brand new, some say off the shelf?) coincides with major delays, problems and guest complaints. Had they not advertised it as a way to beat queuing in a more honest fashion (people still queue up to 30 mins after joining the line) then people might not blame the system you seem to think is the greatest invention of all time.

It's not all similar to your analogy. And yes, it is a coincidence because the park just opened. Correlation is not causation and an effect doesn't come before the cause.

 

[mergatroid]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It doesn't matter if Tapu Tapu is no different then waiting in a physical line. I get it, you get it, we all get it... However from a psychological standpoint, the common guest is not going to get it or care. You tell them no waiting in line, this wrist band holds your place. Guess what... they are going to want to ride slides while they wait. You can explain until you are blue in the face that "technically you are waiting in a line so you can't do any other rides" but it does not matter. I repeat, it does not matter.

I work in the guest service industry, and I can tell you, the majority of our guests do not think the way you and I do. They do not understand the systems, why we have them in place, or why things are the way they are. They don't care. They want it there way, what makes sense to them. If the majority of guests at Volcano Bay are unhappy with Tapu Tapu in a years time, I guarantee it's going to the way of the Dodo, or they will figure out some way to change it.

I, in all honesty, would have just preferred the old fashioned method, which clearly a lot of people seem to agree with. Especially if this new method means only 3-4 slides in a day.

I agree 100%. Seems some are far more interested in arguing the technicalities of virtual queues though. I've even posted that even if it's only the perception that the system is to blame that people will be unhappy and it should be explained better within the park only to hear "It's not the system to blame, it works fine"

 

[mergatroid]

It's not all similar to your analogy. And yes, it is a coincidence because the park just opened. Correlation is not causation and an effect doesn't come before the cause.

Again I didn't say it was and have even previously conceded that there may be several causes. However the perception is that it's the cause and I'm pointing out that's understandable as it's not explained well to guests.

Again you seem to want to just say that Tapu, Tapu works fine, that's debatable depending on what you expect from a system. If what's expected by the public isn't delivered then I'm saying it's understandable for them to look at what's different (a 'new' system) and believe it's that. They were told it was a queue-less system and yet a major complaint is that you have to queue a further 30 mins after being told it's good to go.

Anyway it's been fun debating with you but we're probably at loggerheads so we'll see how it goes. I'm agreeing there's obviously many factors but I think that there's ways to improve how tapu, tapu is used that I don't know about. This may include knocking the 'virtual queue' system on the head and trying something new, you don't agree which is fine but it's getting rather repetitive now.

See you on another thread

 

[captainkidd]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It doesn't matter if Tapu Tapu is no different then waiting in a physical line. I get it, you get it, we all get it... However from a psychological standpoint, the common guest is not going to get it or care. You tell them no waiting in line, this wrist band holds your place. Guess what... they are going to want to ride slides while they wait. You can explain until you are blue in the face that "technically you are waiting in a line so you can't do any other rides" but it does not matter. I repeat, it does not matter.

I work in the guest service industry, and I can tell you, the majority of our guests do not think the way you and I do. They do not understand the systems, why we have them in place, or why things are the way they are. They don't care. They want it there way, what makes sense to them. If the majority of guests at Volcano Bay are unhappy with Tapu Tapu in a years time, I guarantee it's going to the way of the Dodo, or they will figure out some way to change it.

I, in all honesty, would have just preferred the old fashioned method, which clearly a lot of people seem to agree with. Especially if this new method means only 3-4 slides in a day.

This, a gazillion times over. I don't think anyone on here "doesn't get it". It's not difficult to get. It's very simple. It just doesn't work. There are potential ways to fix it, but in its current state, it's a failure.

 

[Disney Analyst]

You can create whatever revisionist history you want- but your previous posts don't lie. You clearly didn't get it. Glad you finally do.
Although you still don't fully grasp it- because it does work. It's just not as efficient as traditional standby. They need to make it a non factor through added capacity or reduced admission, then all will be perfect- in its current state, it's simply overwhelmed- but I trust they'll work it out. We're still only 10 days out.

I also don't know if a virtual system works on every ride. Some rides just shouldn't need it or have it.

Jimmy works because it's one ride out of a park full of rides.

 

[captainkidd]

You can create whatever revisionist history you want- but your previous posts don't lie. You clearly didn't get it. Glad you finally do.
Although you still don't fully grasp it- because it does work. It's just not as efficient as traditional standby. They need to make it a non factor through added capacity or reduced admission, then all will be perfect- in its current state, it's simply overwhelmed- but I trust they'll work it out. We're still only 10 days out.

Lol. Love posts like this. I fully understood the system from day 1 and understand it now. It's not rocket science. You can insult me all you want. You're not going to convince me it works. If you take 10,000 people, put them into a park with a capacity of 5,000, and then not allow standby lines, it won't work. The waits will always be too long. I've said it at least half a dozen times. It's very basic math. I mean, seriously, do you think all these people that are only riding 1 or 2 slides a day are doing it wrong? It's not just a handful of people. It's hundreds, and those are just the ones posting reviews.

 

[DDLand]

I think it's far too soon to decide the success of Tapu Tapu. The system is in its infancy, and things still need to be ironed out.

If we were conducting an experiment on the potential of queueless water parks, we would first have to make sure all the variables were in place. At this point the park is still getting efficiency up and operations normalized. The experiment is not ready.

It's ridiculous to draw any firm conclusions on the success of Tapu Tapu unless you wanted it to fail.

If on the other hand you're really trying to see what's going on, we can't draw any firm conclusions yet. This is a pretty bold move on the part of Universal. Kudos to them. Give them the benefit of the doubt.

I have said that I think pulling off a truly queueless theme park will be a Herculean task. It may even be impossible or not worth it. I've also said that I think there may be an opening with in Water Parks, which are inherently more about relaxation and slowing down.

A big part of this is changing more than a century of Amusment Park behavior in a matter minutes with how to videos. The queue is ingrained into our culture. Does it really go away?

Too soon to say. Volcano Bay is getting better and better though. Let's not get overly negative here. I think mistakes and shortcuts were made, but we still got a very impressive Water Park with some bold bets. This deserves a couple months of time to iron things out.

 

[mergatroid]

Has the water been turned down a bit that comes from the volcano top and cascades down the sides?