Walls down - Fantasyland soft opening status

[maxairmike]

There will be waves when it's 80/20, but that's not the norm. As far as I know it's probably in the 50/50 to 60/40 range most of the time.

The operational policy for all attractions is at least 80/20, for some attractions it is actually higher. That is the ratio that they use for Merge training and the number that is regularly brought up to the operations Cast in reminders and updates. Smart CMs that have a high understanding of their attractions can generally operate at a lower ratio closer to 60/40 for stretches, but it will be recognized by their management and they will be pushed to do 80/20. At least, that has been the experience of my friends at FastPass attractions.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The operational policy for all attractions is at least 80/20, for some attractions it is actually higher. That is the ratio that they use for Merge training and the number that is regularly brought up to the operations Cast in reminders and updates. Smart CMs that have a high understanding of their attractions can generally operate at a lower ratio closer to 60/40 for stretches, but it will be recognized by their management and they will be pushed to do 80/20. At least, that has been the experience of my friends at FastPass attractions.

I didn't think FP distribution put that many people in the queue, the % of hourly capacity I've seen/calculated were in the 60-72% range, is that not accurate? Is the number of Fastpasses not used exceeded by GAC users?

 

[maxairmike]

I couldn't tell you the exact % they shoot for across the board in terms of distribution, because it can actually be adjusted during the day (I've heard of - and in one case actually saw them do it at the attraction FP computer - adjust the distribution amount upwards at attractions on very busy days), so I'd have to see if I could pull that number from some of my friends. I do know that certain attractions receive a very high amount of GAC use, and it can often be at a level higher than FP distribution accounts for. Then you also have the other FP line uses that are not really accounted for, like Guest service recovery, VIPs, etc. I know they've also done some tweaking at individual attractions. I've been told that at Big Thunder the FP ratio was increased right after it opened from the refurb, but I don't know if that was just a temporary thing or if they've kept that slightly higher ratio.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Given the strength of this statement, would you mind providing an exhaustive list of said botches?

Leaked blueprints cause a premature announcement. Lukewarm reception to meet-n-greet-land causes reevaluation of plans that takes several months, meanwhile TDO is in no hurry to actually build BatB/Mermaid. Staggs finally approves SDMT, which is pushed back to 2014, creating a lovely construction pit between the two areas now complete. Pixie Hollow vanishes from plans with no replacement. Construction moves along and finally nears completion, Disney refuses to release an opening date until they're forced to create good news in the face of bad quarterly report. Extended construction schedule misses traditional early October opening date. Builds something called Pete's Silly Sideshow - and doesn't include Pete.

And on top of it all, someone put a snack credit sticker next to Gaston's $8 pork shank.

 

[Triciari]

This will be our last opportunity to see FLE. I know there aren't any CM previews scheduled, but am wondering what you with inside info think the chances are of general guests being allowed in on this day?

Thanks so much.

 

[WED Purist]

New Fantasyland looks nice. They sure can build it...but can they maintain it?

The problem is: those who build it don't maintain it.

 

[janoimagine]

@wdwmagic
Steve I noticed on your schedule the CM previews are not taking place on Oct 27? Is that a typo or do they really not have CM Previews that day and its possible they may open it up to park guests?
Thanks for being so on top of it here ... great coverage.

 

[wdwmagic]

@wdwmagic
Steve I noticed on your schedule the CM previews are not taking place on Oct 27? Is that a typo or do they really not have CM Previews that day and its possible they may open it up to park guests?
Thanks for being so on top of it here ... great coverage.

Yep not a typo, nothing that day for cast that I know of, but that doesn't mean there isn't something, just that I am not aware of anything. Good luck!

 

[danlb_2000]

There is a certain time that people are willing to wait for an attraction. Fastpass makes that number shorter. Crowds in the park make that mindset change as well. Right now, demand for Little Mermaid exceeds capacity, as such your theory of fewer people in the standby line doesn't really play out. You have people that acquired Fastpass eating up some of that demand to ride, and then you have people in Standby that aren't dissuaded by a longer line. Yes, the people that are riding Fastpass for a brand new attraction probably would have also ridden standby, but once an attraction is established that's not always the case.

Many people would never wait 90 minutes for Toy Story Mania, but 15 minutes with Fastpass isn't a problem. The biggest thing is that the demand for riding an attraction isn't constant, it varies based on length of the wait. Some people will not go on an attraction if they have to wait more than 20 minutes, for others that number might be 40, 60 or 120 minutes. If you visit the park on New Year's Eve perfectly rational people like myself will wait 45 minutes to ride Journey Into Your Imagination with Figment, however any other day of the year I wouldn't wait 5 minutes for it.

Thanks, this was the piece of the puzzle that I was missing, Fastpass is actually increasing demand for the ride. That, along with the inefficiency introduced by the merging process are leading to the longer lines.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Leaked blueprints cause a premature announcement. Lukewarm reception to meet-n-greet-land causes reevaluation of plans that takes several months, meanwhile TDO is in no hurry to actually build BatB/Mermaid. Staggs finally approves SDMT, which is pushed back to 2014, creating a lovely construction pit between the two areas now complete. Pixie Hollow vanishes from plans with no replacement. Construction moves along and finally nears completion, Disney refuses to release an opening date until they're forced to create good news in the face of bad quarterly report. Extended construction schedule misses traditional early October opening date. Builds something called Pete's Silly Sideshow - and doesn't include Pete.

And on top of it all, someone put a snack credit sticker next to Gaston's $8 pork shank.

8 items, some arguably considered "botches", really pushes the envelope of "one botch after the other" on a project this size.

 

[danv3]

Rode Mermaid twice yesterday. Once FP started in the afternoon, the wait was much longer and involved a lot of inexplicable stopping in the queue. Like many of the attractions getting FP now, Mermaid does not seem like a ride that needs it.

 

[PirateFrank]

I didn't see it mentioned elsewhere. Fastpass for Mermaid opened today. Standby times went from 20 to 55 minutes.

TDO need to understand not everything needs Fastpass. They really do. And that's before NG.

proof positive that fastpass actually increases wait times....

 

[RandySavage]

The idea I'm getting is that the corporate strategy is to create artificial demand (in the form of longer wait times via increased fastpass presence) in order to sell the XPass system (ride reservations) in the near future (which will be the supposed payoff for the $1b next-gen investment). The new interactive queues popping up everywhere are to keep the non-XPass/Fastpass line-waiters less aggravated.

 

[WED Purist]

@wdwmagic
Steve I noticed on your schedule the CM previews are not taking place on Oct 27? Is that a typo or do they really not have CM Previews that day and its possible they may open it up to park guests?
Thanks for being so on top of it here ... great coverage.

I know the 27th is a WDI preview, it might be for construction workers too.

 

[flynnibus]

proof positive that fastpass actually increases wait times....

and yet you still get more done per day with it. FP pretty much by definition will increase standby waits.. but the model is not about a ride in isolation. So we can harp on this day in and day out.. doesn't matter.

Nevermind we are comparing an exaggeration.. the first day when only those 'in the know' the attraction is going to be open.. vs the weekend now where everyone knows its open.. and FP added on top of that.

 

[Triciari]

Wh

I know the 27th is a WDI preview, it might be for construction workers too.

What is WDI? Imagineers?

 

[flynnibus]

Wh

What is WDI? Imagineers?

Yes, WDI refers to 'Walt Disney Imagineering'

 

[jdmdisney99]

^
WOW

Edit: Just realized that I wasted my 100th message.

 

[Mansion Butler]

proof positive that fastpass actually increases wait times....

Of course it increases Stand By wait time. I didn't know anyone argued that.

It gives you the option to skip that stand by time, which I love in cases like Thunder Mountain and Peter Pan, and do not in cases like Buzz Lightyear and the Little Mermaid.

 

[Mansion Butler]

Is it really 80% fastpass at the merge? That much? I can understand 20%, but if you are having to dedicate 80% of your throughput to fastpass then you are giving out too many.

Why?

I'm specifically asking why 80% is too much, what number would be better than that, and what the reasoning is based on anything better than gut feeling.

Remember the system is designed to allow people to get on up to 8.5 attractions in 10 minutes or less.