Would the virtual queues be better as a lottery?

[larryz]

Please don't say "queue" and "lottery" in the same sentence... the Genie+ prices are high enough as it is.

 

[George]

The 7am VQ has to do with skill, not luck. It centers around the EXACT millisecond atomic clock time (hint). If you know the technique you will do well. If you futz around and lose a few seconds at that EXACT time you will miss out.

Also, I believe the fastest VQ closing time was around 3.6 seconds (yesterday). Usually, it is at least 4+ seconds. The 1pm VQ window is frequently open for over an hour.

I did the following on consecutive days when we were there last fall using technique, not luck.

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We did that once on our last trip. Actually got a BG for Guardians that was earlier than I would have liked. Also, regardless of luck vs skill I have other issues with getting up at 6:55 on vacation. Don’t like the system even when successful.

 

[George]

Please don't say "queue" and "lottery" in the same sentence... the Genie+ prices are high enough as it is.

We won 83 virtual queues and it only cost 27 grand!

 

[Tom P.]

We are most definitely not a family or morning people. Getting up early enough to be at rope drop on a vacation sounds horrible to me. From what I'm reading here, it sounds as if that will actually work to our advantage with VQ's, since I've seen multiple people say the 1 p.m. ones are much easier to get it. Is that true?

 

[RoadiJeff]

We are most definitely not a family or morning people. Getting up early enough to be at rope drop on a vacation sounds horrible to me. From what I'm reading here, it sounds as if that will actually work to our advantage with VQ's, since I've seen multiple people say the 1 p.m. ones are much easier to get it. Is that true?

Absolutely. For example, the VQ for TRON yesterday lasted for 2.2 seconds at 7am. The 1pm lasted for 4 minutes. The previous day 1pm VQ lasted for almost 8 hours.

 

[Rich T]

The vqs filling up within the first 2 seconds at 7am is such a clusterf*. It’s completely hit or miss (mostly miss), and it sucks getting up that early to be stressed and disappointed. You could be the fastest finger in the west and it’s still likely you won’t get it.

Why not go to a lottery? Registration is 7am to 7am, the drawing occurs at 7am for the current day, and the email/push notifications are sent immediately. You get up at 7ish, check your email, you got it or didn’t get it.

If the current vq process is supposed to give us a sense of ownership in the process and results, it really doesn’t…it’s just stress and disappointment for most.

The virtual queue system should be done away with entirely. It’s insulting and ridiculous. If people want to wait in a long line for a popular ride, let them wait. And if Disney frets that people in line aren’t in shops spending money, they can jolly well spread the crowds by building more attractions at the parks.

 

[NickMaio]

The vqs filling up within the first 2 seconds at 7am is such a clusterf*. It’s completely hit or miss (mostly miss), and it sucks getting up that early to be stressed and disappointed. You could be the fastest finger in the west and it’s still likely you won’t get it.

Why not go to a lottery? Registration is 7am to 7am, the drawing occurs at 7am for the current day, and the email/push notifications are sent immediately. You get up at 7ish, check your email, you got it or didn’t get it.

If the current vq process is supposed to give us a sense of ownership in the process and results, it really doesn’t…it’s just stress and disappointment for most.

Honestly WDW just wants to pick your pocket for ILL money on to of your genie money.

Why CR is virtual is beyond anyone with a reasonable intelligence.

Your lottery suggestion would be a happy medium.
I'd even argue that this lottery should give customers who have never been on it an advantage.

Still VQ on a 2 year old ride just shows how sleezy WDW can be with their new systems.

 

[NickMaio]

Please don't say "queue" and "lottery" in the same sentence... the Genie+ prices are high enough as it is.

This would be for VQ

 

[NickMaio]

The virtual queue system should be done away with entirely. It’s insulting and ridiculous. If people want to wait in a long line for a popular ride, let them wait. And if Disney frets that people in line aren’t in shops spending money, they can jolly well spread the crowds by building more attractions at the parks.

Amen!!!!!

 

[el_super]

And if Disney frets that people in line aren’t in shops spending money, they can jolly well spread the crowds by building more attractions at the parks.

It's to Disney's benefit for people to stand in line all day. That means fewer attractions needed, less entertainment and physical space needed. It's a win for Disney operationally. It also helps emphasize that people are really paying the entry fee to ride the most popular attraction and everything else is just a bonus.

 

[GhostHost1000]

It's to Disney's benefit for people to stand in line all day. That means fewer attractions needed, less entertainment and physical space needed. It's a win for Disney operationally. It also helps emphasize that people are really paying the entry fee to ride the most popular attraction and everything else is just a bonus.

It is to Disney’s benefit for guests to NOT be in line because when they are in line, they aren’t buying things and spending money.

 

[NickMaio]

It is to Disney’s benefit for guests to NOT be in line because when they are in line, they aren’t buying things and spending money.

Yes....
But is it for OUR benefit?
Nope......

Why do we put up with this forced out garbage
It's a new ride...I want to get in line and wait to ride it.....
That's why we drove 26 hours to be here.

Even the ILL sold out at 7:01.......how is this for guest experience......

Tron....
CR should ALL be standby now......

This is VERY poor customer service.
Man I miss the good ol' days.

 

[NickMaio]

It's to Disney's benefit for people to stand in line all day. That means fewer attractions needed, less entertainment and physical space needed. It's a win for Disney operationally. It also helps emphasize that people are really paying the entry fee to ride the most popular attraction and everything else is just a bonus.

Honestly....their current set up is making it almost impossible to get around the parks with so many people waiting for their time to ride......

It's getting unbearable now.

They really have it backwards.....
We spend money on our NON park days......
We want to experience the rides NOT go @#$&ING shopping.

 

[Cariad]

The vqs filling up within the first 2 seconds at 7am is such a clusterf*. It’s completely hit or miss (mostly miss), and it sucks getting up that early to be stressed and disappointed. You could be the fastest finger in the west and it’s still likely you won’t get it.

Why not go to a lottery? Registration is 7am to 7am, the drawing occurs at 7am for the current day, and the email/push notifications are sent immediately. You get up at 7ish, check your email, you got it or didn’t get it.

If the current vq process is supposed to give us a sense of ownership in the process and results, it really doesn’t…it’s just stress and disappointment for most.

You can always do it at 1pm, why does no one mention that VQ opens up again at that time.

 

[Cariad]

The best option would be just go back to FP+. Okay charge for it, but make it like the good old FP+, no LL, no VQ, you can start booking 60 days out if you are staying at a resort hotel as an extra perk and two tiers of rides: Tier 1 you can only have 1 fast pass per day, Tier 2 are unlimited if there is availibility. I'd be happy to pay for that.

 

[RoadiJeff]

You can always do it at 1pm, why does no one mention that VQ opens up again at that time.

The VQ at 1pm sometimes fills faster than the 7am queue, at least for Tiana's.

Also, there are some enterprising individuals who have written apps that can instantly join a VQ at the exact moment the atomic clock changes to 7am or 1pm. That's why there have been times where the VQs have filled completely in less than 3 seconds recently.

I believe they charge $5 per person for this service. They do not advertise how to contact them, so I don't know too many details other than what I already mentioned.

 

[Doberge]

Also, there are some enterprising individuals who have written apps that can instantly join a VQ at the exact moment the atomic clock changes to 7am or 1pm. That's why there have been times where the VQs have filled completely in less than 3 seconds recently.

I believe they charge $5 per person for this service. They do not advertise how to contact them, so I don't know too many details other than what I already mentioned.

I'd love to know what percentage of spots are filled through such systems. If clicking through the way Disney intends the system to be used and it's under 3 seconds then it really is like a lottery, as folks have said. But if using a third party service to effectively know the lottery numbers before the drawing then there's less to go around for everyone else playing. Applied here, it could drive down the time open. Or it's such a small percentage of booked VQs that it does not make a difference. I have no idea.

 

[RoadiJeff]

I'd love to know what percentage of spots are filled through such systems. If clicking through the way Disney intends the system to be used and it's under 3 seconds then it really is like a lottery, as folks have said. But if using a third party service to effectively know the lottery numbers before the drawing then there's less to go around for everyone else playing. Applied here, it could drive down the time open. Or it's such a small percentage of booked VQs that it does not make a difference. I have no idea.

It would be interesting to know, although I don't think there's any way to detect such systems.

When we were there last fall, I was able to get BG #1 on consecutive days for TRON and Guardians. I don't think there's any VQ lottery but I believe it is all a matter of timing and sometimes having a bit of a sixth sense at knowing when to precisely tap the Refresh button several milliseconds before the atomic clock time changes to the magic hour. I mentioned how I did it in other threads on here.

The government atomic clock time website is a good place to start: Official U.S. Time

 

[Cariad]

Honestly, it's a no brainer, which is probably why it is so difficult for the bods at Disney Towers to understand. Bring back the FP+ and charge for it.

 

[Disstevefan1]

A lottery would have the same effect.

Plus push notifications don’t work for everyone. There would be even more confusion from guests who don’t hear one way or the other.

Losing in a lottery feels better than failing to get a spot in the virtual queue in the .07 seconds to try to get in.

Nothing like the feeling of failure bright and early at 7AM on my family’s WDW vacation.

I know, I know, vacations are not for fun and relaxing, vacations are hard work……….. Wait?