Rides run faster during busy seasons???

[rmsongs]

I was just watching some vacation videos and I couldn't help but notice that some rides (TTA & Jungle Cruise to name a couple) seemed to run a lot faster in June than they did in November. In the video, I mentioned it to one of my kids and suggested that perhaps the rides run faster when the parks are busier. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it true, or am I just nuts??? "Enquiring minds want to know!"

[Capt_redshirt]

If thats the case could explain why the TTA is always breaking down

[Hazmat]

They, can't run faster. But they can have more ride vehicles on, so the queue will move faster

[K8screen]

Why cant they run faster? Not all rides of course, but I dont see why they couldnt turn the power up on TTA for example, or are they only made to do one speed? I know on horror nights at Universal they run the carousel slowly, so presumably alterations of speed are sometimes possible. Anyone well informed on ride technology? I have never thought about this before, but now I am really curious.

[btharvey]

I felt that our last visit the speeds were a bit greater when we rode Splash Mountain, POTC, at least. SM was down for a couple hours at the start of the day, and I think the flow was higher. Not as 'languid.'

POTC, the flow seemed faster, too.

And Expedition Everest seemed to really slam us up the hills rather than just pull.

I'd like to get a CM to confirm whether they can up the ante when they need to (not putting slides or roller coaster dives any faster, perhaps, but getting them to the hill and up it faster).

[Ian]

I will admit I don't know for sure, but I feel relatively confident in saying that for certain rides (Omnimover types, for example) they most definitely turn up the belt speed during busier times.

I don't think they can run coasters any "faster" necessarily, but they can add more cars and run them as close together as safety standards allow.

[Rosanne]

Former cast member perspective:

I don't think they "turn up" TTA and other attractions. However- I used to work at Space Mountain and I can tell you the following for sure:
When it is running at a higher capacity (meaning, there is always a line, steady stream of full rockets, etc.) the dispatch rate does move up. For example, when the park is slower and in order to ensure that there are full trains going out, cast members have the ability to increase the amount of time in between rocket ships. When it's busier, the amount of time between rocket ships leaving dispatch decreases. Rocket ships leave more frequently.

This doesn't exactly refer to your question, but I thought it was an interesting tidbit to share with you!

[Melanie]

I will admit I don't know for sure, but I feel relatively confident in saying that for certain rides (Omnimover types, for example) they most definitely turn up the belt speed during busier times.

In particular, I think of Haunted Mansion here and how I'm always trying to take in all the details in the Bride Room. I find that room fascinating. Anyway, sometimes it seems like we FLY through there and I can't make anything out, and sometimes I can get all the dates on the portraits and compare.

Interesting.

[akaDisneyDreamer]

Mission Space sure seemed a shorter ride in August than it was when we rode it the year before in May. Seems like it had a more abrubt ending when we went in August. I don't know if it in fact was cut short due to crowds or if it was my imagination (or wanting more!) but my daughters also thought it seemed shorter.

[BrerGnat]

They absolutely either speed up certain attractions, or REDUCE the number of rotations (on the carousel, dumbo, astro orbiter, teacups, and those types of rides) at the Disney parks according to time of year/crowds, weather, etc.

I have visited Disneyland often enough to have proof of this, as I eventually began timing rides to compare them when I first noticed this happening a few years ago.

For example, the Teacup ride at Disneyland can range anywhere from 30 sec-90 sec "ride time". The Carousel can do anywhere from 5-15 rotations. These are just some concrete examples from my own observations.

I have also noticed that Small World has variable "cruising speeds" and almost every ride can adjust capacity as needed.

So, it's definitely not all in your head. It is a real thing.

[Mogie]

Disney successfully implements a manufacturing model called "1 Piece Flow". This is a "Lean" Principle. Lean is a business model that eliminates waste from a business. It goes hand in hand with Value Based Six Sigma.
That means in terms of a manufacturing line a piece to be manufactured does not enter the manufacturing line until a completed piece comes off.
So on a ride like Pirates of the Caribbean, a new boat is not packed with people and does not depart from the queue until one boat ends the ride and all the riders come off. What this does is makes each ride a "revolving door" so to speak, instead of a funnel. The revolving door is much more efficient and easier on park goers, because the line is constantly moving instead of jamming as many people as you can through a funnel.
Capacity for the ride is determined by the speed of the ride, number of riders per boat, and they adjust the length of the queue pathways accordingly.
Have you ever been on a ride and been given a red card at the front of the line and then you have to pass it to the castmember as you get on the ride? They are measuring the time you waited on line so that they can adjust the capacity of the ride. They can add or take a car away to adjust.
Now keep in mind they also take into account estimates of what the total park crowd will be, and how many Cast Members will be needed to run each ride and manage each queue. They may be able to estimate what park levels will be like, but even Disney gets caught by surprise sometimes, and wait times are affected. But Disney does a pretty good job at managing each queue wait time, and does a good job of informing the crowd how long the waits are.
Pretty cool huh?

[Mousemates]

.....I eventually began timing rides to compare them when I first noticed this happening a few years ago.

For example, the Teacup ride at Disneyland can range anywhere from 30 sec-90 sec "ride time". The Carousel can do anywhere from 5-15 rotations. These are just some concrete examples from my own observations.

I have also noticed that Small World has variable "cruising speeds" and almost every ride can adjust capacity as needed.

Wow...timing "length of ride" variations...this points to a genuine passion for things Disney which is one of the reasons I enjoy Intercot so much. Passion is always more interesting than apathy.

[darthmacho]

I can't prove it, but way back in 1999, we rode Pirates of the Caribbean very late at night and the crowd had thinned to the point where there was no one in the boats fore and aft, I swear our boat was moving more slowly than usual, giving us a great chance to observe details! In contrast, in 2003, when we rode Peter Pan during peak park hours, I would testify that they had put the ride on maximum overdrive. I was whipping my head around trying to catch a glimpse of anything before it was too late, and the ride seemed short.

[BrerGnat]

Wow...timing "length of ride" variations...this points to a genuine passion for things Disney which is one of the reasons I enjoy Intercot so much. Passion is always more interesting than apathy.

Ha ha! It was mostly so I could make sure I wasn't going insane. I used to go about once a week, and sometimes consecutive days in a row. My kids are a bit OCD about which rides they will go on, to the point where our park time went like this every time (these would always be the first five rides, in that order):
-Teacups
-Carousel
-Circus Train
-Dumbo
-Small World

Sometimes, that would be all we'd do, and so I got VERY intimately involved in the operation of these rides. For my own sanity, and to change things up a bit, I started keeping track of the length of the rides when I noticed that they were not fixed.

[B.O.B]

Other than adjusting the number and departure times of vehicles I don't think they could speed up a ride. Mission Space on the other hand in my opinion has been shortened to make it a less intense experience.

[Poohluv85]

I had wondered about this too. Me and my friend were watching Youtube videos of Storybookland at DL and noticed that on the first video you could really see details and the "tour Guide" was able to take her time and even throw some jokes in and on the second video we missed alot of details and the guide seemed very rushed...on the first the boat didnt seem as full as it was in the second. Very good question )

[Melanie]

Other than adjusting the number and departure times of vehicles I don't think they could speed up a ride. Mission Space on the other hand in my opinion has been shortened to make it a less intense experience.

I think it's the opposite. I'm fairly certain Mission:Space hasn't been shortened, just the spinning has been removed for less G's (aka less intense) in the Green version.

I do think it's possible to speed up the Omni mover and boat rides.

[Ian]

I do think it's possible to speed up the Omni mover and boat rides.

If you think about it duh ... we all know for a fact that they can adjust the speed of the rides.

Remember how Spaceship Earth or Haunted Mansion or Buzz Lightyear will slow down suddenly while you're riding? That's because they slow the ride mechanism down to let disabled riders board. I've witnessed it happening firsthand. They first slow the ride down to allow them additional time to board. If, for some reason, that isn't enough then they'll stop the ride altogether.

Don't know why I didn't think of it before, but I think it's safe to say that if they can slow the ride down they can speed it up and I don't see why they wouldn't want to do that to help with ride throughput during busier times.

[Stu29573]

The last time I was on Peter Pan, I was amazed at how fast we were going. The ships were actually swinging out a little on the turns, which I don't remember before. Also, the ride seemed like it was about half the length as normal...

[Ian]

The last time I was on Peter Pan, I was amazed at how fast we were going. The ships were actually swinging out a little on the turns, which I don't remember before. Also, the ride seemed like it was about half the length as normal...

It's funny, but that's the ride I notice it the most on, as well. In fact, when I first read the OP the ride that immediately popped into my head was Peter Pan.