Would the virtual queues be better as a lottery?

[bobogator]

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.

 

[nickys]

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.

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.

 

[Weather_Lady]

The VQ system is an imperfect solution to a Disney-created problem. As @nickys said, a lottery system would have the same level of unfairness and technological vulnerability -- it would just randomize their effects more.

The only satisfactory solution is to build rides with sufficient capacity in the first place, or modify existing rides to add needed capacity, as Disney did with TSMM. (By "sufficient capacity," I don't necessarily mean that the capacity is sufficient for the first-year influx of guests wanting to try the next new thing, but rather, sufficient capacity for the ongoing average daily demand after that first year.)

As someone who planned a WDW trip for three years, only to get shut out from riding TRON for the very first time because of an app/wi-fi glitch (*we did get eventually get it the next day for the first boarding group, but still...), I can testify that while the failure of the VQ system isn't going to ruin your trip, it can certainly ruin your morning, and when you're paying $1,000/day to feed, house, and admit your family of 4 to parks where multiple rides may be inaccessible to you (or accessible only through an additional paywall), and you may not have another chance for years, that spoiled morning comes at a high financial and emotional cost.

 

[RoadiJeff]

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.

 

[Coaster Lover]

I see new ride openings at Disney similar to when a new gaming consol launches. If I want to experience it in the first month or so, I need to be hyper vigilant that I'm in the right place at the right time and clicking at exactly the right time and realizing that there may be some luck involved. Otherwise, I need to be able to anticipate spending some extra money to get it on the secondary market (or in the case of Disney, ILLs). However, if I am willing to wait a few months, the situation eases significantly.]

It doesn't bother me that (even now), the 7 am VQs for Tron and Guardians fill up in seconds even now given that (with limited exceptions) the afternoon VQs don't fill for quite some time (most days several minutes, but some days [especially Guardians] it's hours) basically making the rides accessible (for free) to anyone who even tries to get a VQ when the afternoon drop occurs.

 

[donsullivan]

No matter what method they utilize on these high demand attractions, some number of people who want to experience it will not be able to since demand is so far in excess of capacity. No change in the method of accessing one of those slots is going to change that. The rules are exactly the same for every single guest and the requirements are exactly the same for every guest. Nobody is getting any sort of preference or privilege which is probably the best possible variant. As many have said above, the 1PM drops seem to be much easier to get now (especially on Guardians) so it’s not like you can’t get on the attraction if you want to. And since every single slot is going so quickly each and every morning, there isn’t any benefit to changing the process- the same number of people will be able to ride each day no matter.

 

[NelleBelle]

I would hate a lottery. I’ve been able to get a VQ slot every time I’ve tried for one. My very first attempt for ROTR something glitched. I took a screen shot and went to HD and had it resolved. I have more faith in my ability to get a VQ then I would trusting a lottery system.

 

[RoadiJeff]

I liked how the system was done for ROTR after it first opened. Hundreds of people were standing at the gate by 4:30am, waiting for the 8:00am opening of HS. As the crowds grew larger they always opened the gates early. As soon as you had scanned into the park you could get a boarding group for ROTR. It rewarded those of us who were willing to put forth the effort.

On one of those days we were doing a park hop, starting out at the MK and going to HS that afternoon. I told my wife that I was going to join the HS crowd and hopefully get a high number BG that wouldn't be called until later in the afternoon. and I would meet her at MK when it opened. I was probably 20 people deep in the line I was in but unfortunately I ended up with BG #11.

I found a blue umbrella guest services person inside the HS park and explained to her what I wanted to do and asked her if she could bump it up to a higher BG. She instead gave me a wildcard BG, which was good for anytime that day. I was tempted to head for ROTR right then but I thanked her very much and headed for the exit and MK instead.

And here it is:

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

RunDisney has gone to a system somewhat similar to what you propose and it’s absolutely horrible, they open up the queue at 45 after and at the top of the hour it randomly assigns you a spot in the queue, it’s turned what used to be a few seconds of stress into an hour or more of stress, it sucks not getting a spot but I’d rather know after 10 seconds rather than worrying all day only to find out I didn’t get a spot.

There’s no fair way to do the VQ, with the current system something like a phone glitch or loss of cell signal can derail a vacation that costs thousands of dollars, with the proposed system it would be 100% luck, that’s not a good system either, the only fair solution is to go back to a standby queue and let people decide if they feel the ride is worth waiting several hours for, or forking out the additional money for an ILL.

 

[Weather_Lady]

RunDisney has gone to a system somewhat similar to what you propose and it’s absolutely horrible, they open up the queue at 45 after and at the top of the hour it randomly assigns you a spot in the queue, it’s turned what used to be a few seconds of stress into an hour or more of stress, it sucks not getting a spot but I’d rather know after 10 seconds rather than worrying all day only to find out I didn’t get a spot.

There’s no fair way to do the VQ, with the current system something like a phone glitch or loss of cell signal can derail a vacation that costs thousands of dollars, with the proposed system it would be 100% luck, that’s not a good system either, the only fair solution is to go back to a standby queue and let people decide if they feel the ride is worth waiting several hours for, or forking out the additional money for an ILL.

I agree with you, but would add that they should get rid of paid ILL altogether. (I know they won't, but I'll never stop seeing ILLs as a cheap, tacky move on Disney's part.)

 

[JIMINYCR]

Ive NEVER won a lottery but I have gotten VQ's multiple times. It does take knowledge in doing what you need to do, precision timing, and with so many others vying for a spot, I'd say it does take a bit of luck. I'd much rather rely on myself instead of a random lottery pick. Getting up early to make it happen is IMHO worth it. Even the times I got up early but missed out on getting a sopt, there were no regrets because I gave it my best.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Ive NEVER won a lottery but I have gotten VQ's multiple times. It does take knowledge in doing what you need to do, precision timing, and with so many others vying for a spot, I'd say it does take a bit of luck. I'd much rather rely on myself instead of a random lottery pick. Getting up early to make it happen is IMHO worth it. Even the times I got up early but missed out on getting a sopt, there were no regrets because I gave it my best.

We’ve had a lot of success with the VQ also but we did miss out on a Galaxies Edge VQ once because I had internet issues, very frustrating.

The other problem (benefit?) with the VQ is people have created computer programs to exploit it, we have a guy that charges $5 a person and his computer program has never failed to get us group 1 for any of the VQ rides, if we truly want to ride something we just use him. Adds one more layer of planning, and feels a bit like cheating, but if you want to take the chance out of it there are ways.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The only satisfactory solution is to build rides with sufficient capacity in the first place,

I agree with your post but we know this didn't happen and they have no incentive to fix it. Sad but true.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

How about none of the above? Let people who place value on experiencing a new attraction line up. If the queue is 2+ hours some people will do it, some will choose not to. The key word being choice.

I remember lining up towards the end of Main Street at Disneyland for Indy in its' first year and it was simply the reality if one wanted to experience the latest shiny thing.

It would also potentially shift availability from the regular visitors to the tourists. We see all the time where an annual passholder describes getting their 10th boarding group in 15 visits or whatever. Take that option away and I bet some of them would do it once or twice, and then avoid the standby queue until demand dies down, improving access for tourists.

 

[Disstevefan1]

How about none of the above? Let people who place value on experiencing a new attraction line up. If the queue is 2+ hours some people will do it, some will choose not to. The key word being choice.

This is what Universal Orlando does.

 

[donsullivan]

How about none of the above? Let people who place value on experiencing a new attraction line up. If the queue is 2+ hours some people will do it, some will choose not to. The key word being choice.

I remember lining up towards the end of Main Street at Disneyland for Indy in its' first year and it was simply the reality if one wanted to experience the latest shiny thing.

It would also potentially shift availability from the regular visitors to the tourists. We see all the time where an annual passholder describes getting their 10th boarding group in 15 visits or whatever. Take that option away and I bet some of them would do it once or twice, and then avoid the standby queue until demand dies down, improving access for tourists.

I too have stood in 3+ hour standby lines for new attractions like the first summer of Splash at DL or Space Mountain at MK on Easter weekend before FastPass. However, today's guests will whine relentlessly about the length of the lines, social media will have a meltdown with videos walking the length of the line and raging against it and then everyone will rage that all of their vacation time is being wasted in line, or complain about having to stand in the sun. There is no better way that puts every single guest on a level playing field for access. 3 hour+ standby lines are not the answer to this

 

[Disstevefan1]

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.

I would like a lottery because I feel like such a LOSER when I FAIL to get one within the first 2 seconds and they are GONE! Not a good feeling at 7AM on my vacation

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I too have stood in 3+ hour standby lines for new attractions like the first summer of Splash at DL or Space Mountain at MK on Easter weekend before FastPass. However, today's guests will whine relentlessly about the length of the lines, social media will have a meltdown with videos walking the length of the line and raging against it and then everyone will rage that all of their vacation time is being wasted in line, or complain about having to stand in the sun. There is no better way that puts every single guest on a level playing field for access. 3 hour+ standby lines are not the answer to this

I'd rather do standby than pay thousands of dollars on a vacation only to find out I can't even ride the latest attraction.

Riding the latest attraction is often a reason people book a trip. It should be a matter of how they get to ride, not if.

In my last few trips to DL and WDW I waited in the two hour range for Flight of Passage and Rise of the Resistance, and I survived.

 

[RoadiJeff]

I would like a lottery because I feel like such a LOSER when I FAIL to get one within the first 2 seconds and they are GONE! Not a good feeling at 7AM on my vacation

The VQs have never filled in the first two seconds. The fastest I've ever seen them fill is during spring break this year, which was 3.6 seconds.

 

[NelleBelle]

I can see the point if a VQ for the first few months, but after that, let people queue up for the wait if they want! Maybe don’t have LL or ILL for those newest attractions and that standby queue will move much faster. Oh wait, I forgot, Disney wouldn’t be getting their pound of flesh!