How Disney Uses Technology To Control Crowds In Their Theme Parks | Hacker News Reader

How Disney Uses Technology To Control Crowds In Their Theme Parks

nytimes.com

Somewhat related, the Touring Plans guys do an awful lot of analysis of Disney crowds and ride wait times to build itineraries for different types of park visitors.

http://touringplans.com

Yeah, they have been doing a bunch of great data mining

Where do they get the data from?

From Disney's fake future job postings:

   Experience Required:
   Roller Coaster Tycoon 5+ years

It's interesting to me that although there's someautomation in here they're also obviously using mostly human dispatchers. So it's more like air traffic control than road traffic management (which afaik is mostly automated these days).

I'd love to know if that's because humans are a better layer to the entertainers and other employees or because they require comprehensive oversight for machine decisions. Or maybe it's just cheaper to throw some Junior Imagineers at LCD screens and walkie-talkies than write the algorithms?

They've also done a great job with the Fast Pass system, which has saved me from an empty visit on more than one occasion.

If Pirates of the Caribbean, the ride that sends people on a spirited voyage through the Spanish Main, suddenly blinks from green to yellow, the center might respond by alerting managers to launch more boats.

Why not just have all the boats going at all times (assuming there is a line)?

average Magic Kingdom visitor has had time for only nine rides - out of more than 40 ... In the last few months, however, the operations center has managed to make enough nips and tucks to lift that average to 10.

Maybe it's just me but raising that average by only 1 ride doesn't seem like a very significant improvement for all that effort.

If they just allowed a fewer number of people into the park on any given day, would the customers be more likely to return again? I wonder if more people would spend money while inside the park if it was less crowded?

But letting people ride 10% more rides is pretty significant, and they don't have to compromise by making less money.

Why not just have all the boats going at all times (assuming there is a line)?

I presume each boat has an overhead... extra handler(s) required, wear and tear on the boat itself, boats that are out on the water aren't able to be repaired...

Maybe it's just me but raising that average by only 1 ride doesn't seem like a very significant improvement for all that effort.

Micro-optimizations on a large scale lead to a macro-optimization, no?

Why not just have all the boats going at all times (assuming there is a line)?

If there are too many boats, then the people on the ride will have to wait longer after finishing the ride to get off.

Parent is correct - it's a matter of staffing - you need extra people to load & unload all of those boats.

_If they just allowed a fewer number of people into the park on any given day, would the customers be more likely to return again?_

Well... not the ones that are turned away. They'll be mad.

Why not just have all the boats going at all times (assuming there is a line)?

Maybe to balance the wait time. If everyone is constantly satisfied, then maybe they don't get the same gratification. Hype and wait builds tension that helps gratification.

This is outstanding.

Just In Time Entertainment

Man I love Disney world but is this crowd control or manipulation?

“Control is Disney’s middle name, so they have always been on the cutting edge of this kind of thing"

Smart crowd control and deft manipulation. While the overarching goal is to make more money, the route to that is by giving visitors what they want from the park: faster fun and preoccupation.

"Control" is only a bad thing when there are nefarious motives, negative consequences or a lack of options for those being controlled. People willingly submitting to the Disney bear pit lap it up (as I have in the past).

It's both, and believe me, they need manipulation. The herd mentality really takes over, no matter who you are. I worked the attractions in Adventureland & Liberty Square for 4 years - you wouldn't believe how much work it is to convince people that yes, both queues are open.

All cutting edge technologists have to stretch social acceptability.

Social acceptability changes to fit technology, but lags behind innovators.

What I'm saying is that no one cares if it's manipulation - they want the Disney magic.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com