Best queue ever?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Disney seems to be testing a whole new queuing concept, starting with Rock 'n' Roller Coaster in Florida.

Details

Studios Central says that the test at the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster worked like this: Guests were assigned the group number, then led to a tented standby area where there was a DJ and video games (such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero.) There was also merchandise on sale in the standby area, which is not surprising. This is Disney, after all.

The waiting system that was tested this week isn't a scheduled appointment to ride where you could leave the ride and come back later. You are expected to stay in the designated waiting area. Signs warned that if you weren't there within 5 minutes of your group being called, you would lose your place in the queue.

[Alex]

Hmm....the description leaves plenty of questions but an interesting thought.

It seems to me the big problem from a park management perspective is that it balloons the amount of space needed for those waiting to ride. Imagine a Pirates queue on a crowded day and give all those people a space in which they can mill around, shop, play games, etc.

From the perspective of me, a lot would depend on where I"m expected to wait. Spending 90 minutes watching people play rock band over and over (playing is fun, watching strangers play is torture) through they day would quickly drive me to mass shooting.

[Pirate Bill]

Last line in the article: "It's hard to corral kids in a hour-long line."

No, that's easy. Corralling kids in an open space like a play-place or Innoventions is a pain. And even if not dealing with kids, but just a big group, rounding everybody up when you're number is called can be chaotic.

[CoasterMatt]

This also is another excellent excuse for Disney to NOT go with themed, interestingly designed queues.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

This also is another excellent excuse for Disney to NOT go with themed, interestingly designed queues.

Hmm, i was kinda thinking the opposite. I mean, even in this test version, they had Guitar Hero/Rock Band in the waiting are for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Of course, slapping in a couple existing video games in isn't ideal, but again this is just a test, and it at seems to show they're putting some thought towards theme. The right way to do it, if there is a right way, would be to create an elaborate interactive pre-show area that might conceivably keep your attention.

[Morrigoon]

This will be a disaster. Every group will have guests who wander off, miss their time, then get pissed off that they waited around in a freaking tent for an hour only to miss it and INSIST that you accommodate them.

Any system that requires educating the public on how to use it creates guests who fall through the cracks and get their day ruined by the complexity of the system.

[Morrigoon]

Just wait till you can't get your kid on the ride because he's been standing in line to play Guitar Hero.

[innerSpaceman]

Nope, the best queue is barely-themed at all. It's the Matterhorn queue, and it's the best queue because it's constantly moving and all you need do is spend a few quality moments chatting with friends and you've gone from the "back" of the Matterhorn to your very own bobsled.

Milling around for an appointment will never be as good as those well-designed queues that constantly flow.

There are less of those now that FastPass has stopped the constant flow on many. And this milling-about just sounds like their second shot at what FastPass was hoped to accomplish, i.e., more people buying things instead of wasting non-spending time trying to get on one of those pesky rides or attractions.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Nope, the best queue is barely-themed at all. It's the Matterhorn queue, and it's the best queue because it's constantly moving and all you need do is spend a few quality moments chatting with friends and you've gone from the "back" of the Matterhorn to your very own bobsled.

Milling around for an appointment will never be as good as those well-designed queues that constantly flow.

There are less of those now that FastPass has stopped the constant flow on many. And this milling-about just sounds like their second shot at what FastPass was hoped to accomplish, i.e., more people buying things instead of wasting non-spending time trying to get on one of those pesky rides or attractions.

Agreed, agreed, agreed. Insightful post. I didn't even think of the Matterhorn until you mentioned it.

Originally Posted by GD

To me it all depends on execution.

The most themed queues are also pretty irritating to stand in because of the NOISE of all the people stuck in the cavernous line with you. Indy, Roger Rabbit. The idea of being stuck in an arcade with a bunch of kids for an hour or more sounds like hell. Parents don't put up with Chuck E Cheese more than a couple times a year. Can you imagine waiting in more than one of these "lines" in one day?

The ideas you mention are intriguing but all I can think of is the noise, noise, noise.

[Morrigoon]

You make EXCELLENT points, Steve. The sensation of progress definitely contributes to guest happiness while waiting. Whereas just sitting around not knowing how long until your group is called will lead the wait to feel like forever.

Then there's that whole cattle corral thing...