SoarN' to Test Interactive "Play Area" Queue Starting Early July 2007

[Figment!]

Play While You Wait

Christopher Boyd, Beth Kassab and Scott Powers | Staff Writers
Orlando Sentinel | Bussiness Breifcase
June 18, 2007

The typically long wait lines at Soarin', one of Walt Disney World's most popular attractions, are providing Disney with a new opportunity.

As a "play test," Disney engineers and designers are installing interactive video technology, motion detectors and other devices at the Epcot attraction, so that visitors might be able to entertain themselves while they make their way through Soarin's queue, which one day last week had a wait exceeding two hours.

The resulting games will feature leading-edge technology that will allow people to play together while interacting with video shown on large screens hanging in the high-ceilinged "Grand Hall" area, said Joe Garlington, vice president and executive producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney's attractions-design group. In one activity, people will race birds flying across a landscape.

The system should be up by mid-July. If it works, it could stay -- and perhaps inspire similar play areas for lines elsewhere.

"This seemed like a great place to do it," Garlington said.

Visitors undoubtedly would agree. Last week, a half-dozen members of the extended Doney-Gecewicz family from Massachusetts and New York found their 130-minute wait for Soarin' almost too much. Entertainment in the line would be welcome, said Tom Doney of Longmeadow, Mass.

"Spectacular ride," his brother-in-law, Joe Gecewicz of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., concluded after riding Soarin' -- though he added that he thought the line for it was still too long

[Scar]

I guess this is a good idea.

But, I mean, they would pretty much have to be giving away money to induce me to stand in a 2-hour line.

[JPL]

They should have called this attraction Waitin I had a FP Saturday and the posted wait time was 60 minutes for stand by and it took me 45 minutes with a FP I can't imagine what the stand by really was if FP was 45 minutes. Unfortunately even though it ius a high capacity attraction it has a very slow load time. While the line games maybe a good idea it won't entertain people for a full 2 hour wait no matter what they do.

[cgriff]

Might I suggest in-line food delivery?


cgriff

[MickeyandTink]

I don't think I'd wait two hours regardless, but if it makes waiting in line a little more tolerable then it's a very good thing.

Growing up near Six Flags in the 70's, they used to have TV screens placed throughout the queues. There was an animated character who interacted with the guests in line. It would be very cheesy by today's standards, but it did help pass the time.

At least Disney's doing something. I'll give theme an "E" ticket for the effort.

[gwfx1031]

Two Hours???

They could show a movie in that time. Charge admission to the queue and show Disney's latest big screen release.

[thrillme]

Soarin's an "OK" ride but hardly worth a 2 hour wait (I'd much rather be on Expedition Everest, Tower of Terror, Test Track etc). Although I'll support anything to pass time in any que.

[mudpuppysmom]

I think it is a decent idea, but as someone said -- I don't think any game will keep me entertained for two hours.......

I think that you have a better chance of winning the powerball than seeing me in ANY two hour line!!! That would just be downright torture for my DS (5)!!!! He could run like five robot races in that time!!!

[Lizzie]

I think this would be great.

[ghost999]

Might I suggest in-line food delivery?


cgriff

that's BRILLIANT. get some churros, dolewhips, turkey legs, stuff like that.

[glenpreece]

It's kinda funny that I have never waited for this ride. I have FP each time with no wait or I have walked on. Pays to go In Jan and Sept.

[disneydeb]

My family seems to always need a restroom break while waiting in line for that long. Could they do something about that?

[Dsnygirl]

what a great idea - I sure hope it works well enough for them to keep it! Thanks for sharing...

[beksy]

My family seems to always need a restroom break while waiting in line for that long. Could they do something about that?

that's BRILLIANT. get some churros, dolewhips, turkey legs, stuff like that.

I agree with both! It never failed that right before we FINALLY make it to the front of the line my sister HAD to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW!! Plus, food is always a plus! We could eat and pass the time and Disney could make a profit! Great ideas!

[MrIMAX]

I was trained on the queue game system a couple of days ago. I personally think that it works well with the standby queue guests. There are several interactive games; the most popular one is the bird race where the entire crowd has to lean left or right to guide their bird around obstacles.

[BrerSchultzy]

This is neat and all, but there's a far more obvious (though much more expensive) answer to the wait time troubles....

put something else in Epcot. As it is, there are so few real "rides" in Epcot, that Soarin' gets packed. Soarin' is a rarity in Disney (a thrill ride that families can go on), so most every demographic of Disney traveler goes on it. But if they built another dark ride, and maybe another E-ticket (that canadian raft ride would be cool), then maybe the queue lines would get smaller.

[WDWfanatic742]

Just saw a nice video of the new line last night. It's definately interactive and by far the best one looks like the bird race where you race the other people in line. Pretty cool

[WEDTOPIA]

This is neat and all, but there's a far more obvious (though much more expensive) answer to the wait time troubles....

put something else in Epcot. As it is, there are so few real "rides" in Epcot, that Soarin' gets packed. Soarin' is a rarity in Disney (a thrill ride that families can go on), so most every demographic of Disney traveler goes on it. But if they built another dark ride, and maybe another E-ticket (that canadian raft ride would be cool), then maybe the queue lines would get smaller.

Bingo ! I'm all for " plussing " in the parks ,but the answer to crowd control is more attractions.

Wonders of Life is sitting there rotting .The Journey into Imagination ride is always a walk on - re-doing it right would filter more guests over there. There's room between Nemos' Seas and The Land for another pavilion. And ( the biggest no-brainer ) add some countries to WS. It's been 18 years now since the last country ( Norway ) opened. Oh, and what about the old Odyssey complex ?

I love Epcot to death , but things seem to happen too slowly in our " park of the future ".

[ccp1]

I love Epcot to death , but things seem to happen too slowly in our " park of the future ".

I think I have to disagree with that comment.

I know it seems that way, but since 1999, we've seen:

Test Track (1999)
JIYI (1999)
JII w/ Figment (2002)
M:S (2003)
Soarin (2005)
The Seas w/ Nemo (2007)
El Rio refurbishment (2007)
SSE Renovation (Starts Monday)

Is that slow?

[WEDTOPIA]

I think I have to disagree with that comment.

I know it seems that way, but since 1999, we've seen:

Test Track (1999)
JIYI (1999)
JII w/ Figment (2002)
M:S (2003)
Soarin (2005)
The Seas w/ Nemo (2007)
El Rio refurbishment (2007)
SSE Renovation (Starts Monday)

Is that slow?

Actually , yes. Test Track was delayed almost 2 years from opening which meant there was about 4 years of nothing in that area of Epcot.

The 2 JII refurbs were a joke compared to the original. Even after several years of low attendance and high rate of complaints ,Disney still hasn't done anything about it.

The 2 years each between M:S , Soarin' , and Nemo are normal addition time frames, but nothing extraordinary for any other theme park, which would add at least one new attraction every year . Nemo simply brings back the ride conveyance that had been missing for several years . Although, it is much better than the old Sea Cabs.

The El Rio del Tiempo rehab was basically all video changes. It wasn't ground breaking. And it took 25 years to do that.

SSE reno is only keeping up with the " every 2 year " pattern. It hasn't been upgraded for many years.


The 2 biggest problems still remain - Wonders of Life has been in limbo for the last 5 years , opened all of 3 weeks per year. The worst part of this is that Disney has not made any announcement of their plans for this area.

World Showcase has not opened a new country since 1988. 19 years ago . And they have room for 7 more. That is extremely slow.

My point is - Epcot , of all the parks , was intended to be the most flexible and fastest growing . Disney has done some great things there , but they still have plenty of work to do.