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Disney World to Fight Long Lines with Underground Tech Bunker
The worst part about visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth is, without a doubt, waiting in those exhausting, long lines. But, according to the New York Times, Disney World is attempting to shorten waits at its attractions by building a new underground command center that would allow employees to intervene immediately when an area of the park becomes gridlocked, or when a ride becomes jam-packed. In the Disney Operational Command Center, banks of monitors show every nook and cranny of the park, and computers display wait times and crowd density by flashing green, yellow or red. To combat gridlock, employees can call for a parade in a less-crowded area of the park, or can send a Disney character to entertain visitors while they wait in line for a ride.Disney research claims that, on average, visitors to the Magic Kingdom ride only nine of the 40 attractions because of long lines and thick crowds. While that average has recently risen to ten rides, Disney still has to keep people entertained while they wait. In order to combat line fatigue, the park has installed 87 game stations, each with games lasting about 90 seconds, along the waiting area for its popular Space Mountain ride.
Naturally, the Times blames Disney visitors' lack of patience on the proliferation of smartphones and video games. In your writer's opinion, that argument doesn't stick. People were bored with waiting in line long before anybody uttered "iPhone" or "Xbox." But, if any tactic can make wait times at theme parks shorter, or at least more entertaining, we're all for it.
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Comments
12
Subscribe to commentsPhishfoodDec 28th 2010 4:06PM
No doubt they picked up this little trick from Rollercoaster Tycoon
BTDTDec 29th 2010 8:42AM
Went to Cedar Point back in the early seventies.
Took half an hour to get on a ride. Never went back.
ljsurf322Dec 29th 2010 11:51AM
@BTDT only a half hour? Man...that's short nowadays! It can easily get to 2-3 hours now...
tinaDec 29th 2010 8:50AM
my only suggestion to Disney is to put in benches in the lines so when you have to stand there for a long time you can sit down!! I went to Universal last summer and wished for a place sit in every line!! I didn't mind the wait too much just wanted to be able to sit down!
JeremyDec 29th 2010 9:04AM
This isn't the first time DIsney has been at the forefront of advances in crowd management. They're fast pass booths allow for patrons to get an admission ticket with a time frame on it. They can then return to the ride during that time and wait in a significantly shorter line. You're only allowed one at a time though, so my wife and I get one for a ride like space mountain which has a long line, and while we wait for our time to come up (usually about an hour or two) we ride the other rides nearby or grab a bite to eat.
Disney also came out with an app for Verizon smart phones that lets you know what parts of the park are busy and wait times for rides.
sandiDec 29th 2010 9:17AM
Maybe not let sooooo many people in the park, that way everyone can enjoy thier day and get on a few more rides. When we lived in Anaheim we had season tickets, so we always knew what days of the year were better to go. In the hot summer months, we could go early in the morning hit the good rides then leave and come back in the evening for the parades and fireworks.And of course, it used to be any cold rainy day was alwsys a no wait for the rides day! Just put on the Mickey Mouse parka and all set to go.
DanDec 29th 2010 9:24AM
Perhaps Disney could come up with a way that folks waiting in long lines could be seated rather than having to stand and be entertained with videos of classic Disney toons while waiting.
PaDec 29th 2010 12:31PM
When the park gets full, just close the entrance gate. Then four out/ four in. etc.
mamaDec 29th 2010 1:40PM
@Pa
OK and what happens... I am going to disney for vacation. I live in the northern part of the states, only there for 2 maybe 3 days. and I get to the gate and they won't let me in? I don't think so.
richpena22Dec 29th 2010 1:18PM
what an exhausting wait it was the entire day at the happiest place on earth. It wasn't too happy for the people inside, and worst for the people who were turned away. I can't believe that such an enterprise like Disney has not done something about it to anticipate these waits. Surely someone at the top was not doing their job, so get someone that can be more in touch with the experience, and get it done. We don't want excuses, we are paying way much for the value already. You also need to reward those who were not able to get in and give them a good discount to at least maintain your happy image. So, if you can hear me Disney, do your magic.
jburd1600Dec 29th 2010 2:07PM
Disney has been the innovator in getting people out of lines (Fast Pass) for only one reason...If you are in line, you are not spending money! So, we will give them a time to be at an attraction...and since you can't get multiple passes for other attractions...go eat something, or shop while you are waiting. This was a product of the Michael Eisner era, along with elimination of "General Admission", and many other "Walt" inspired ideas.
redrose3237lDec 29th 2010 3:20PM
It all comes down to less cast members to run rides and open other lines - Disney has felt the crunch too. They do know how to handle crowds however and for that I give them credit. They also hire "seasonal" workers so they do have a bit more help to keep things moving. All in all, they do a pretty good job but living next door (ok, 8 mi. away) and visiting often I can tell you that the lines and the wait times are getting longer. Fast Pass is a nice concept - spending more money while you wait it out, not so much. Better to take your camera and get some photos of the fam and maybe a Mickey Ears ice cream.