A couple of ideas to improve Volcano Bay waits and ride capacity.

[RalphinSC]

I've been reading with interest the Volcano Bay reviews, both good and bad. One of the common themes thus far seems to be the long waits for the slides with the Tapu system. A lot of these things will get better as the park breaks in but I'm just thinking along the lines of ways that Universal could improve ride capacity.

Looking at ride POV's it seems that some of the issues with the lines is that ride loading is going really slow right now. Much slower than the rides themselves can theoretically handle for capacity. Sometimes it is a good thirty seconds after a slide is "clear" before another tube goes down. That can be improved upon as the operators get better. For example, lets look here at something I picked up on from others:

At 1:35 in the video, the ride clears for the next tube. The next tube does not start getting sent down until 2:10. 35 "lost" seconds on theoretical capacity. That adds up. I'm sure as the operators get better, it will improve and these lines stacking up on the stairs will get better. It's an adjustment process to get that theoretical ride capacity and actual ride capacity in the same range. I think both the tapu system and the operations will inch closer towards a middle ground as the throughput of the rides improve along with the Tapu capacity in the system more accurately reflecting an actual ride capacity based on real data. It will get better.

Also, a couple of other things on slide capcity that I think Universal could use but somehow missed the ball on. The first is not easy to fix, the second could be a bit easier:

1. Double sided load stations. For the group rides and aqua coaster, it seems that all the load platforms and load areas only work in single. This slows down loading by only allowing one group at a time to weigh, load the tube, and be dispatched. They could cut down significantly on lost time by having loads being done in tandem and riders being dispatched as soon as the slide clears. I've seen other parks have this, I don't know why Universal missed something so easy to add in that could significantly improve ride capacity.

2. Single rider lines for the group slides. As it is right now, there are far too many group slides going down with only 3 or 4 people per tube. Adding a non-tapu single rider line could improve ride capacity by allowing fuller tubes to go down. And it can also add in a "traditional" standby for the four group slides, to partly alleviate that claim.

Hoping things get better as they go along and downtime improves. Tough to see the reports of long waits and upset guest. I'll be down there a week from today myself and I'll be sure to report on what I hope is a steadily improving park experience at Volcano Bay.

 

[kbelle8995]

Single rider lines can be an issue sometimes. For Example you have issues when you have someone who takes it because it is the shorter line but don't want to get split up from the group and they are willing to fight. You just have to have a TM there to strongly state that the party will be split.

At Disney, Test Track CMS are known to be very tough about this rule. I've seen them escort guests out the line if they argue with them too much.

But some interesting ideas for sure

 

[damo]

Once the efficiency of the entire park is improved, food service included, customers will be much happier.

 

[RalphinSC]

Once the efficiency of the entire park is improved, food service included, customers will be much happier.

And it will most definitely get much better. The video was such a good illustration of just how much improvement can be done in load times as the slide staff and guests get better at understanding how everything works. I know a lot of people are tough on the park, but we have to all remember that every single attraction, shop, restaurant, everything is brand new and all breaking in at the same time. Going to be much smoother in a couple of months.

 

[suzy021372]

My understanding with the family raft ride is that 5 adults may exceed the weight limit.

 

[SweetMimi]

Yes, on the family rides there are weight requirements. We were a family of 5 basically adults and we always got split up. They try to do the weighing inconspicuously so I don't know if say when they split us into 2/3 that it would be more of a time waster to get another party of 2 to come up to see if they can ride with the 2 party,etc to fill the raft or just load it as it was split to keep the line moving. They DID do that sometimes if the original party was only 2 people but not a larger party split.
I will say that once we got called back to the ride the que moved fairly well. Be ready for several flights of stairs. The lazy river was nice. There were full circular tubes and semi circle tubes that you could sit in like a chair with your legs in the water. Lots of people walked it as well. My kids never found the faster running lazy river.