New virtual queue for Hagrids

[Mr. Drauer]

Looks like they have a new VQ they are testing for Hagrids. Not part of the USO app either.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1412822439659196419

 

[Adventureland]

W..Why would it not be in the app ? Wouldn't that be the best place for it? Or I guess that could be a way to reduce the amount of eyes on this so they don't overload the system right away.
I wouldn't mind this if it's still in place for my upcoming trip.

 

[gardenrooms]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Lisse24]

W..Why would it not be in the app ? Wouldn't that be the best place for it? Or I guess that could be a way to reduce the amount of eyes on this so they don't overload the system right away.
I wouldn't mind this if it's still in place for my upcoming trip.

My guess is that they are trying to make it easier on the casual parkgoer to get return times. One of the problems with the app version, is that the times would be gone relatively quickly after being dropped. Experienced parkgoers would usually be the ones who knew when to be on their phone and snatching up the slots to the detriment of people not as practiced in the system. If I'm right and that's the case, I think they're off base.

I've been thinking about virtual queues, especially with the announcement DisneyLand Paris made with their Standby Passes. IMO, virtual queues like the ones for Hagrid's and Rise of the Resistance don't work because they don't have an opportunity cost associated with them.

In normal lines, there's a cost for getting in a line. You can line up for two hours for that top attraction, but on the downside, you can't simultaneously wait for any other ride. You can't shop. You can't eat. So before you get in that line, you hesitate a moment. Do I care enough about Fast and Furious to do this? With a virtual line, there's none of this. You don't hesitate to scan your phone for a return time for Hagrid's because it's all upside, with no downside. You can still shop & eat & play with wands & ride rides.

I think if Universal (or Disney or whoever) wants to make virtual lines work, they need to add an opportunity cost to the mix. I think that perhaps the right cost would be to make virtual lines more line physical lines. You do this by making every attraction that is not a walk on a virtual line and you only allow people to be in one line at a time. Sure, people might still be on their phones grabbing up those Hagrid return slots right at 11 am, but if they do so, they won't be able to go on anything else until that return time actually hits and they're through the ride.

TLDR; this won't stop people from hoarding return times. Virtual line systems won't work the way designers want until most rides in a park are using virtual lines.

 

[skramer100]

My guess is that they are trying to make it easier on the casual parkgoer to get return times. One of the problems with the app version, is that the times would be gone relatively quickly after being dropped. Experienced parkgoers would usually be the ones who knew when to be on their phone and snatching up the slots to the detriment of people not as practiced in the system. If I'm right and that's the case, I think they're off base.

I've been thinking about virtual queues, especially with the announcement DisneyLand Paris made with their Standby Passes. IMO, virtual queues like the ones for Hagrid's and Rise of the Resistance don't work because they don't have an opportunity cost associated with them.

In normal lines, there's a cost for getting in a line. You can line up for two hours for that top attraction, but on the downside, you can't simultaneously wait for any other ride. You can't shop. You can't eat. So before you get in that line, you hesitate a moment. Do I care enough about Fast and Furious to do this? With a virtual line, there's none of this. You don't hesitate to scan your phone for a return time for Hagrid's because it's all upside, with no downside. You can still shop & eat & play with wands & ride rides.

I think if Universal (or Disney or whoever) wants to make virtual lines work, they need to add an opportunity cost to the mix. I think that perhaps the right cost would be to make virtual lines more line physical lines. You do this by making every attraction that is not a walk on a virtual line and you only allow people to be in one line at a time. Sure, people might still be on their phones grabbing up those Hagrid return slots right at 11 am, but if they do so, they won't be able to go on anything else until that return time actually hits and they're through the ride.

TLDR; this won't stop people from hoarding return times. Virtual line systems won't work the way designers want until most rides in a park are using virtual lines.

While I agree to an extent, they did that when we went to Volcano Bay 4 years ago. I scanned my watch thing for the straight down slide first thing in the AM, got a 3 hour wait that I couldn't ride anything else but lazy river. When I got the call to go and walked up there was 5 people all scared to go down.
Point being if the wait is over say 90 minutes you should be able to do other rides. If it is under you should have to sit there and wait.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

That sign was there 4 weeks ago. We still were able to secure a time on the app without scanning the QR code.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

That sign was there 4 weeks ago. We still were able to secure a time on the app without scanning the QR code.

That’s great, but the app now specifically says you can’t get a VQ using the app.

 

[Lisse24]

While I agree to an extent, they did that when we went to Volcano Bay 4 years ago. I scanned my watch thing for the straight down slide first thing in the AM, got a 3 hour wait that I couldn't ride anything else but lazy river. When I got the call to go and walked up there was 5 people all scared to go down.
Point being if the wait is over say 90 minutes you should be able to do other rides. If it is under you should have to sit there and wait.

I agree. If the key to getting a queue system to work is the ability to make an informed trade off, then the user needs to know line length, before getting in line, so that you can decide to back out and go do something else.

 

[thevolcanogod]

We used the queue yesterday. Took us 20 mins to figure out how to enable location services for safari because it was in 2 different places. They kept moving our time forward without asking. At the end it was practically a walk on when we went in for our time

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

That’s great, but the app now specifically says you can’t get a VQ using the app.

 

[soniam]

Weird. I didn’t think they were using VQ at all for Hagrid’s recently.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Weird. I didn’t think they were using VQ at all for Hagrid’s recently.

You're correct - it's only went to VQ a few times since Spring Break crowds.

 

[thevolcanogod]

It has been virtual for the past 3 days - rode it idk how many times. About every 3 hours if we wanted. Just keep refreshing the page and slots will open up. I hate how it automatically moves your time up even if you rescheduled times. We almost missed one because they moved us up while we were in mythos.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

It has been virtual for the past 3 days - rode it idk how many times. About every 3 hours if we wanted. Just keep refreshing the page and slots will open up. I hate how it automatically moves your time up even if you rescheduled times. We almost missed one because they moved us up while we were in mythos.

Just curious: With this new system, how long is your return window?

 

[thevolcanogod]

Half an hour - and it starts counting down without being able to reschedule once you hit the first entry time. We found it quicker to go in at the beginning of our time slot rather than the end.
Idk if it was coincidence or not.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Half an hour

Thanks for the reply - gotta say I don't like the moving the original assigned time thing if you only get 1/2 n hour to get back over there .

 

[wdwrule]

Half an hour - and it starts counting down without being able to reschedule once you hit the first entry time. We found it quicker to go in at the beginning of our time slot rather than the end.
Idk if it was coincidence or not.

To join a virtual queue, do you use the QR code in the parks or the website that’s stated in the app?

 

[thevolcanogod]

We used the QR code then bookmarked the website. You have to “activate” the virtual queue every day then you can make reservations. Even if it says at capacity just keep refreshing and slots will open up. It usually automatically put us 1.5 hours out so maybe it opens times in a rolling manner. Also sometimes rescheduling works sometimes not but it moves you up quite a bit. Like we got moved at least a half hour up from our original times quite a bit. Without being asked. It just did it. So keep checking.

 

[NicoleLarson]

So now we have to physically go into IOA, find the QR code to scan and then keep refreshing until we get a return time and you have to do that everyday?

 

[wdwrule]

We used the QR code then bookmarked the website. You have to “activate” the virtual queue every day then you can make reservations. Even if it says at capacity just keep refreshing and slots will open up. It usually automatically put us 1.5 hours out so maybe it opens times in a rolling manner. Also sometimes rescheduling works sometimes not but it moves you up quite a bit. Like we got moved at least a half hour up from our original times quite a bit. Without being asked. It just did it. So keep checking.

Thanks so much for this info! Truly helpful for an upcoming trip.