No Lines for Walt Disney World (NYSE:DIS) Theme Park Rides?

April 9, 2010 by Debbie Dragon

p the notoriously long lines in Walt Disney World (NYSE:DIS) theme parks, Walt Disney World is testing a system which would have people wait in “holding areas” rather than in a queue for the most popular rides and attractions. Testing began on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, assigning group numbers to people who wanted to ride the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

The tests for eliminating lines at Walt Disney World are similar to the revamping of the Dumbo ride when Fantasyland undergoes it’s next expansion. Instead of having guests wait in line, people wanting to ride Dumbo will be taken into an air-conditioned circus tent near the ride, where they can play carnival games, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, dance to the music played by a DJ, or watch other forms of entertainment until their turn to ride on the popular flying elephant ride. Of course, there was also an area to purchase merchandise in the waiting area, as well.

You’re not supposed to leave the ride area and come back later, however. Once you enter the designated entertainment area for the ride, you’re supposed to stay there until your group is called. Otherwise, you lose your place and will have to wait again.

The new waiting system that was tested did not replace the “FastPass” system. With Disney’s FastPass, you obtain a ticket that assigns you a ride time. You can go off and experience other areas of the park and return at your designated ride time with a little to no wait time. The line-less waiting areas would not replace FastPass on rides that have it; but rides like Dumbo don’t all have a FastPass option. This test of the “queue-less” waiting area was just that – a test. When the Fantasyland expansion is completed in 2012 or 2013 – the actual system may be completely different.

There is no way to make the theme park completely wait-free for the rides – however, having a system that gives families a place to play while waiting for their turn to take a ride is a far better option than trying to wait in line for an hour or more with young children. While you’re still waiting for your turn, you at least have entertainment options to keep your mind off the fact that you’re “waiting” – and to young children, if the fun continues before each ride starts, it may make for a more pleasant experience.


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