Originally Posted By CMM1 This is probably more a question for CMs: On my last trip to WDW, frequently CM's were handing out barcoded cards on lanyards to guests in line (I guess my wife looked "dependable" because she got these cards some 5 times in two days!) that the guests would turn in to the ride loaders. I would assume these were used to measure ride wait times. Makes sense - probably an easy way to take the guesswork out. Still, on Space Mt., the posted wait time varied between 20 mins and 45 mins over a matter of an hour - but when my daughter and I used an FP one could see that the entire tunnel from the entrance to SM to the "control tower" where the interior queue areas are located was packed (and they were not using any of the "cattle queue" area - how in the world could that number ever be 20 mins for standby with a constant flow of FPers coming in? Overall, aside from this one case, I would have to say that the posted standby times usually seemed to be pretty accurate. We did POTC, JC, BTMRR and HM on standby and the wait times pretty much matched the posted ones.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy The card and lanyard system is in fact for actually measuring queue wait times, so the computer can massage wait time displays. It's my understanding that the wait times that are posted are "rounded up" to some degree on purpose, so that the actual wait is at worst what is displayed. More often your actual wait will be LESS than that posted, so that people have the perception of the line moving faster.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros When Space Mountain doesn't use the queues after the split, it tends to move fairly quickly. The one line is feeding two seperate rides, and each side has a fairly decent capacity on its own. Add another just like it, and the line is essentially constantly moving. It is usually after the tower where the line slows down, because the people in front of you are only getting loaded half as fast. Add to the fact that you don't feel like you're moving anywhere because you have been there for 10 minutes already, and that area can be not much fun. I think I've waited standby in a line that stretched out past the FP machines, but there was no wait after the split, and it was about 20 minutes. I've also used FP's, where they had the area after the split completely full, and it was about 20 minutes. So, they can really pack a lot of people into that area, which will greately affect the wait time.
