Originally Posted By vbdad55 Funny, I stood in line for Forbidden Journey 8 times this summer and the line never stopped once, save for the time it went 101 and some idiot called the fire department. If the ride was in Disney, I'd have waited at least twice as long because the line would stop every time we moved a foot to let the fastpass people though. --------- I find it amazing people can say lines moved regulary w/o fastpass -- that was NEVER my experience thru th years- uncluding those when I had young kids in tow. Wsa it summer ( not in your example above) - was it 100 degrees ? Lets use this as an example- one of the first times I went to Uni we waited almost 2 hours for Back to the Future ( let's go with non Disney here)- - again it was hot as hell and summer when the crowds are always brutal but unfortuntely people with school age kids are almost tied to these times. So no one is going to convince me FP is the cause of thee long waits- pre FP memories at Disney and Uni are still burned into my brain
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Animal Kingdom is also a two FP park... for the Safari and EE. I usually just get one for the Safari and use the single rider line for EE. Again, no problem Kali is also absolutely a FP ride- trading 1 hr + wait for a realtively short ride-- and I've still yet to see Nemo because of the waits
Originally Posted By Labuda "I honestly would place it above EVERY WDW eatery I have been to with the exception of Victoria and Albert's." So, let me ask this... was it the food you place above all else at V&A or was it dining with two lovely women who were fabulous company in a dining room you had almost completely to yourselves?
Originally Posted By HMButler79 ""they can get rid of an attraction or change it without getting the traditionalists knickers in a knot."" You obviosuly weren't around during the whole "Jaws to go seasonal...so we can close it" drama. That was as close as UO got to MKs "Dont close Toad" drama
Originally Posted By HMButler79 ""She just chucked and said that would never happen."" That's all the managers know how to do is dismiss CM ideas and chuckle in a condesending manner in case they offend Her Royal Highness Queen Megara
Originally Posted By HMButler79 When i worked Jungle merge i NEVER stopped FP or Standby because both lines never merged. They went straight into the boat. FP went directly to the back of the boat and filled all that up and StandBy would fill the front/side of the boat. So i never stopped and kept both lines flowing. I only actually merged if FP got out the door. We ran JC without FP one day and the ride was a WALKON ALLLLL DAAAY
Originally Posted By Labuda "Disney pre FP was great - lines continued to move; misters and air con were used; queues were themed; and there was often live entertainment near the biggest lines. To me that was far better than what we have today." That reminds me of something that THRILLED me at Disneyland last month... O was in a VERY long queue for Pirates (all in all, I stood in line for about 45-60 minutes) and while winding around NOS, I passed twice in front of a little Dixieland Jazz band that was just out there, playing their music. I've *never* encountered that in any park at WDW (and for those who don't know me - I've got under my belt about 50 days total at WDW versus a mere 15 days at DLR), so it just thrilled me. I wish they'd do something like this in Florida. As is, though, my next trip to Florida will be my first trip to Universal, and I *may* hit Disney World on the side since I've got a 3-day park hopper in my wallet. Hey, Spirit - lemme know if you wanna be roomies at Portofino Bay when I head out there. I always dig having someone to share a room bill for an expensive hotel. Anyhow, it may be this fall, or maybe next fall or maybe even this coming winter - depends on if I make it out to Disneyland in October or not, and if I do, how many days I do in DL. Oh, and there's one bad thing about the job I have had within my company for the last 2 years - I don't feel like I can take any more than a week off at a time. As is, I took about 10 days off in the month of April, and my assistant and I are still catching up... that is EVIL, esp since we're coming up on the end of the FY here. It's only going to get worse over the next 8 weeks.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Epcot again is a two FP park... Soarin' and Test Track. Again, I don't find it at all difficult to get two FP's during a day.<<< Heck, not even. Get one for Soarin', ride TT while you wait. Stand in the TT queue and remember when it was a brilliant, funny AA attraction better than anything in Future World, now. Ride TT, enjoy it for about 5 mins, ride Soarin, winder why you got a FP for it, then, proceed to WS to drown your EPCOT sorrows. Can't WAIT for June! LOL
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>That reminds me of something that THRILLED me at Disneyland last month... O was in a VERY long queue for Pirates (all in all, I stood in line for about 45-60 minutes) and while winding around NOS, I passed twice in front of a little Dixieland Jazz band that was just out there, playing their music. I've *never* encountered that in any park at WDW (and for those who don't know me - I've got under my belt about 50 days total at WDW versus a mere 15 days at DLR), so it just thrilled me. I wish they'd do something like this in Florida.<<< See, now that is the Disney experience I grew up with. Hence why in the 70's and pre Epcot 80's family would return from WDW and feel like they wasted their time when they could have gone to Anaheim. Lol Of course now it is a different beasty, but I remember as a kid, sometimes the band would come to the New Orleans Square train station because it was busy!
Originally Posted By leobloom >> If the FP line gets backed up,which is does since we dont enforce the return time, the Standby line can sit for minutes while you empty the FP line. Merge can be a terrible place to work at times because of that. << Had a very similar experience working at the Land boat ride in the days before Soarin'. We were ordered to load 2 rows of standby and 10 rows of FP for the 12-row boats. And every fourth or fifth boat, you might load entirely with standby. The standby line would get ridiculously long, and the guests incredibly peeved. And then the FP guests would sometimes get mad if they had to wait at all! If you were in a confrontational mood, working merge could be a good thing. But if you're looking for loveable, cuddly guest experiences, it wasn't where you wanted to be from 11:00-5:00.
Originally Posted By leobloom And we also had several days when our FP machines were turned off and the standby lines never went over 30 minutes, where the wait with FP would run from 45 min to over an hour.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>So no one is going to convince me FP is the cause of thee long waits- pre FP memories at Disney and Uni are still burned into my brain<<< I never said that there were no long waits, what I said was they didn't stand still for long periods of time like they do now. Even if you only move a few feet, it is far better then just standing there, in one place. My feeling is that even then the waits were not as long in what is now standby lines. It depended on where you were in line as to the speed because it works just like a traffic jam on the highway. Those the furthest away from the front appear to be moving slowly or stopped all the while those up front are moving steadily. The reason is some type of physics formula but it is a common thing. Still you knew as you got closer that you were about to be enjoying it and unless the ride broke down it would just be a matter of moments before you were on the ride. Now you can be so close you can taste it and if your timing is off, you will stand there and watch others ride while you stand in the heat. I use Fastpass, but I wish I didn't have too. It was a so much more pleasant experience before than it is now. Those with Fastpasses are happy, those without frustrated. And if anyone wants to tell me that everyone can have a Fastpass...please don't, I'm liable to have a meltdown myself. This last paragraph was just to head off those that will try and say that without doing the math.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>So no one is going to convince me FP is the cause of thee long waits- pre FP memories at Disney and Uni are still burned into my brain<<< I never said that there were no long waits, what I said was they didn't stand still for long periods of time like they do now. Even if you only move a few feet, it is far better then just standing there, in one place. My feeling is that even then the waits were not as long in what is now standby lines. It depended on where you were in line as to the speed because it works just like a traffic jam on the highway. Those the furthest away from the front appear to be moving slowly or stopped all the while those up front are moving steadily. The reason is some type of physics formula but it is a common thing. Still you knew as you got closer that you were about to be enjoying it and unless the ride broke down it would just be a matter of moments before you were on the ride. Now you can be so close you can taste it and if your timing is off, you will stand there and watch others ride while you stand in the heat. I use Fastpass, but I wish I didn't have too. It was a so much more pleasant experience before than it is now. Those with Fastpasses are happy, those without frustrated. And if anyone wants to tell me that everyone can have a Fastpass...please don't, I'm liable to have a meltdown myself. This last paragraph was just to head off those that will try and say that without doing the math.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I am so convinced that I said it twice apparently. With any luck I said it better the second time.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 ^^Lol! Well, I completely agree with all you have said. And double posting for emphasis is fine when I agree.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 And if anyone wants to tell me that everyone can have a Fastpass...please don't, I'm liable to have a meltdown myself. This last paragraph was just to head off those that will try and say that without doing the math. --- no everyone in the parks cannot have a FP for every ride that offers it-- but anyone could have a FP for a particular ride at some time during the day if they wanted to since everyone does not choose the same attractions. as for those feeling poorly because they do not have one- that is why I view Uni's system as even worse- not only do you not have a front of the line pass- maybe you can't afford it either -- large families- that is a big hit.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<as for those feeling poorly because they do not have one- that is why I view Uni's system as even worse- not only do you not have a front of the line pass- maybe you can't afford it either -- large families- that is a big hit.>> But the Uni system has so many LESS front of the line passes, it barely affects the standbye lines at all. Compared to Disney's where you're stuck standing there while the fastpass line is completely emptied out. Also, if you're takinga vacation to just Universal, you're probably staying at their hotels, where you're provided with Express Pass.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 when you look at the size of their accomodations however- most people in the parks are not staying there. Majority would be locals and those taking 1-2 days away from Disney - who now have to pay not to be second class citizens. As far as number of attractions with Fastpass -- I am glad that has come down some and could come down some more likely also- that I agree with. It should only be for the big hitters ( and or those that just have brutally long lines ( i.e. Pan )
Originally Posted By vbdad55 what is capacity at the 3 hotels ( assuming they're all full) and what is park capacity ?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<when you look at the size of their accomodations however- most people in the parks are not staying there. Majority would be locals and those taking 1-2 days away from Disney>> That's exactly my point. There are a ton of people who don't have it there, and it doesn't effect stand-bye lines, nor does it affect guest satisfaction. I've never heard people bitching in Uni's lines about express pass. Can't say the same about Disney's lines. <<who now have to pay not to be second class citizens.>> Please. *rolls eyes*
