Observations from FOP wait times (2 trips this year)

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sporter

Earning My Ears

Joined

Aug 4, 2013

• Nov 22, 2017

• #1

Ok, so humble brag, yeah we made two trips to WDW & USF this year.

Both times, we were able to ride FOP and the first trip the Navi River Journey.

Down to brass tacks here, the posted wait times were over stated in my opinion.

One time we got in line, late July summer night (10pm or so). Wait time stated 170 minutes. We waited roughly 70 minutes until we rode.

Another time, a similar 150 minute wait time posted, and the actual wait was right at 60 minutes.

I have a theory about this: Crowd control...and park times. Posting big wait times discourages people from waiting in line and they tend to tour Pandora and then go somewhere else in AK.

The other, I noticed at park close time drew closer, the posted wait time increased or didn't change. When in reality the line diminished and the actual wait time was much less.

Strategy for park management. It works. Just remember, that it's worth getting in line at certain times as the projected wait time might not be so accurate.

 

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DavidNYC

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 20, 1999

• Nov 22, 2017

• #2

It's well documented at the end of the night that times are inflated. But I would not count on that during the rest of the day. I just got back -luckily had a FP for FoP - but in talking to people past the merge point who were in the regular line - the wait time was pretty much spot on!

 

BigAlsGal

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jun 16, 2013

• Nov 22, 2017

• #3

We stood in line for Splash with a posted wait time of 75 minutes. We thought “why not? We have nothing better to do.” We only waited about 30 minutes.

My only other theory is maybe they’re posting inflated wait times to increase guests satisfaction when the wait comes in way under schedule.

 

DOOM1001

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 23, 2003

• Nov 22, 2017

• #4

Yeah its a well known fact that many wait times near closing times are inflated.Its not always the case but it definitely happens,its not done to increase guest satisfaction,its done to get the people to choose not to ride and go home.I've done the wait near closing time for FoP several times but only one time could I say it had inflated wait times,it said 140 minutes,I waited 55,the other times it was pretty close and we waited around 2 hours.

 

dwheaton

DIS Veteran

Joined

Dec 13, 2006

• Nov 22, 2017

• #5

I've seen this often at Space Mountain, where it says around an hour and the wait is basically 15 minutes (if that). Disney doesn't want to have people waiting in line for a long time after closing time. So it discourages people from getting in line a short time before closing. While I haven't seen it at Flight of Passage (visiting for the first time to Pandora in January!), but I suspect it's similar like others have said.

 

AngiTN

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 7, 2011

• Nov 22, 2017

• #6

You must have missed the posts this past week where folks got in line with a 1 or 2 hour wait and waited 4 hours.

They do over inflate waits most of the time. Reason is not so nefarious as you think it is. The reason is, folks rarely complain about waiting less time than posted. But you can bet that folks who waited longer than posted complained. Guess which side they prefer to err on?

 

Babe the Blue Ox

DIS Veteran

Joined

Apr 2, 2007

• Nov 22, 2017

• #7

Disney uses a process called Line Stacking late at night to make the lines appear longer than they really are. This, combined with inflated wait times are in place to discourage late night riders.

They're theory is that guests will be more likely to make one last visit to the gift shops before the park closes, even though the shops are open well past closing time.

I first read about this in the 1999 unofficial guide so it's nothing new.

Late night is the best time of day for multiple rerides on the headliners with little to no wait.

 

BigredNole

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 17, 2007

• Nov 23, 2017

• #8

All they have to do to discourage me from getting in line is advertising anything over 30 minutes. There is no ride at WDW worth waiting more than that for. If all lines are longer than that, I am perfectly find just taking in the sights, sounds, scents, and atmosphere.

 

coolmark18

Mouseketeer

Joined

Dec 18, 2008

• Nov 23, 2017

• #9

Can anyone help with where the FP and Standby lines merge? I have FP but dont want to miss a good queue. Will be still see the Avatar in the tank etc?

 

gap2368

DIS Veteran

Joined

Feb 27, 2015

• Nov 23, 2017

• #10

coolmark18 said:

Can anyone help with where the FP and Standby lines merge? I have FP but dont want to miss a good queue. Will be still see the Avatar in the tank etc?

Click to expand...

You will miss this but if you look to your left there is a window into the room and you can see the avatar, not as well as if you are in the room