Quantcast I Don't Trust Stand By Times Anymore
 
INTERCOT: Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Mousehut Mail WebDisney News INTERCOT: Walt Disney World Vacation Guide
News Discussion Theme Parks Resorts Info Central Shop Interactive Podcast INTERCOT Navigtion
Site Sponsors
  magical journeys travel agency
  INTERCOT shop

INTERCOT Affiliates
  disney magicbands & accessories
  disneystore.com
  disney fathead
  disney check designs
  amazon.com
  priceline.com

News
  site search
  headlines
  past updates
  discussion boards
  email update

INTERCOT Other
  advertising
  sponsors
  link to us
  contact us
     

INTERCOT Ads
 

 
 

Results 1 to 11 of 11
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    Hayden, AL
    Posts
    115
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default I Don't Trust Stand By Times Anymore

    Just came back from WDW a couple of weeks ago. Though a traditionalist, I'm excited about the Epcot changes and the preview in the old Odyssey center. However, this trip taught me to be VERY skeptical about the wait times. I wrote previously that the new AK premier rides seemed to be overstated but it seems to be a general park thing now since they don't do the Time Lord card to random people in line (or those of us who used to request it).

    SEVERAL lines were as many as 20 minutes overstated. It makes a bigger difference when VoTLM was advertising a standby of 35 minutes and we were on in less than 15. I'm sure they are calculating by algorithms and FP is probably messing up the projections but there are attractions that I'd pass at 35 minute wait that I'd ride at 15 min. I'm not expecting Swiss time accuracy, but a consistent spread of 15-20 minutes when standby times are incremented in those amounts seems like an area that needs attention. Bring back the Time Lords!
    "Just a dream away"

    Number of visits:
    Lost count a long time ago!

  2.     Please Support INTERCOT's Sponsors:
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    774
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I have not been in a more than 8 years to Walt Disney World - because I sold my Florida house . As a result, I have been going elsewhere due to changing family circumstances. This has been fun & entertaining too. However, when I did go to WDW regularly, sometimes a cast member would hand a lanyard with a card clipped to it to a random rider entering the regular standby line. When that rider was about to board, they were supposed to give that same lanyard to a cast member at the front of the line. This would track the actual time spent in line. Are these the "Time Lords" to which you are referring? If so, I had it explained to me that those "real times" were then "slightly inflated" to give guests the feeling that they are being served faster, being given better service, making waiting in line less seem daunting and more tolerable. Those inflated times are placed on the boards in the form of wait times.
    If that is not what you are referring to, sorry - I have no idea - After-all, I have not been there since they instituted wrist bands and eliminated paper fastpasses. My guess is that they can ascertain the same information from your wrist bands, and if so - the time inflation principle might still be in place for the same purpose.
    P.S. - I am planning to revisit WDW when Epcot is completed, maybe sooner - but I am enjoying the posts here at Intercot in the meantime.
    Journey into your...Lego® Imagination Center
    If you can dream it...you can build it!

    Still journeying & dreaming for over 30 years now to new vacation destinations & WDW.

  4. Likes RhodeHog liked this post
  5. #3
    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    Hayden, AL
    Posts
    115
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Yes, those are the Time Lords It does make sense to under-promise and over-deliver and I was used to about a less than 10 minute variation but so many were way off the last couple of times that I didn't know what to trust. Good thoughts on the band, hadn't thought of that. Good thinking!
    "Just a dream away"

    Number of visits:
    Lost count a long time ago!

  6. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    40,874
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ILoveLegos View Post
    However, when I did go to WDW regularly, sometimes a cast member would hand a lanyard with a card clipped to it to a random rider entering the regular standby line. When that rider was about to board, they were supposed to give that same lanyard to a cast member at the front of the line. This would track the actual time spent in line. Are these the "Time Lords" to which you are referring? If so, I had it explained to me that those "real times" were then "slightly inflated" to give guests the feeling that they are being served faster, being given better service, making waiting in line less seem daunting and more tolerable. Those inflated times are placed on the boards in the form of wait times.
    I think this is what the original poster was referring with (with a potential typo in the post). However, they don't seem to use these lanyards any more. I haven't seen anyone being handed a lanyard to assess wait times in quite a long while now.
    Linda aka: Faline
    INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
    [email protected]

  7. Likes RhodeHog liked this post
  8. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    774
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Thanks!
    Journey into your...Lego® Imagination Center
    If you can dream it...you can build it!

    Still journeying & dreaming for over 30 years now to new vacation destinations & WDW.

  9. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 1999
    Location
    Orlando, U.S.
    Posts
    406
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Actually, I have gotten used to this understatement lately and every once in while it catches me. Last weekend I walked off Pirates and saw a 35 minute wait for Jungle Cruise. Wow, 35 minutes must be more like 20. Ended up being 50.

  10. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    774
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Yikes, that's not fun!
    Journey into your...Lego® Imagination Center
    If you can dream it...you can build it!

    Still journeying & dreaming for over 30 years now to new vacation destinations & WDW.

  11. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    York, PA
    Posts
    3,128
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by faline View Post
    I think this is what the original poster was referring with (with a potential typo in the post). However, they don't seem to use these lanyards any more. I haven't seen anyone being handed a lanyard to assess wait times in quite a long while now.
    I would expect that they are using the MB 'tap points' to determine wait times now. I believe, and I could be wrong as it has been over a year since I visited, that there are two 'tap points' for each attraction -- One when you join the queue and one where you actually get on the ride. This would make sense to me, and for them to add 10% to the wait time would give you a 'nice' cushion to mke people feel like they are getting on more quickly.
    -Bud

    Walt Disney World:
    9/03 - CBR
    1/09 - BWV
    9/05; 2/07; 12/07; 9/08; 9/09; 9/10; 9/11; 12/13; 12/17; 4/18; 10/18, 4/23 - PC
    5/15 - POR
    1/22 - ASMO
    10/22 - ASMU

    Disneyland: 12/15 - Paradise Pier Hotel

    Next up: ???

  12. Likes RhodeHog liked this post
  13. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    8,532
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    On our last trip I found that "wait time" really usually meant "wait + ride time", so the waiting time was less. Not sure if they are trying to keep people out of the SB lines, or if it is a case of under promise and over deliver, but they were much less accurate than in the past.
    Heather aka ibelieveindisneymagic
    INTERCOT Staff


    Engaged at the castle!
    My Disney Home is POFQ

  14. Likes RhodeHog liked this post
  15. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    40,874
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by PopPhan View Post
    I would expect that they are using the MB 'tap points' to determine wait times now. I believe, and I could be wrong as it has been over a year since I visited, that there are two 'tap points' for each attraction -- One when you join the queue and one where you actually get on the ride. This would make sense to me, and for them to add 10% to the wait time would give you a 'nice' cushion to mke people feel like they are getting on more quickly.
    Some rides are using the second tap point; others are not. I have been on some rides where the second tap point has had a bag of the machine and you just continue on through without having to tap a second time.
    Linda aka: Faline
    INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
    [email protected]

  16. Thanks PopPhan thanked for this post
  17. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    2,422
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Tap points are irrelevant, as are the lanyards. With the Magic Bands, they can track anyone and everyone they want who has a MB with a working transceiver. All they have to do is pick up a signal and track it through the queue. Pretty straightforward.

    Steve
    First visit: Disneyland, July 17, 1955 (well, somebody had to be there on opening day!)

    Most Recent Visit:
    Disneyland - June 21-25, 2017
    WDW - Sep 22 - Oct 5, 2019
    Next up: WDW - May 9 - 16, 2020 at Riviera!
    Dec 5 - 16, 2020 at Poly

  18. Likes RhodeHog liked this post

Share This Thread On Social Media:

Share This Thread On Social Media:

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

 
Company
Advertising
Guest Relations
Community
Discussion Boards
Podcast
Newsletter
Shop
Social
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive our newsletter:
INTERCOT Logo PRIVACY STATEMENT / DISCLAIMER | DISCUSSION BOARD RULES
© Since 1997 INTERCOT - a Levelbest Communications Website. This is not an official Disney website.
> Levelbest Network Site