I've noticed from watching Rob and Erick's videos that their actual wait-times in standby queues are usually much less than the posted wait-times. Are the posted wait-times usually exaggerated? If so, why?
Here are some possible explanations that come to mind:
1. There is an inherent delay in updating the posted wait-times, and Rob and Erick tend to choose attractions where the wait-times are decreasing therefore the actual wait-time has decreased since it was posted. But if this were the case, you would experience longer than posted wait-times when the standby queue is increasing, and I haven't seen many instances of this in any of the videos.
2. Disney intentionally errs on the side of over-estimating wait-times since they know it is a better guest experience when the wait-time is less than anticipated. 3. Disney wants it to appear that wait-times are longer to make Lightning Lanes look more valuable. (but maybe this is too cynical?) Am I right that the wait-times are usually less than what is posted? Any thoughts on the reasoning?
Another reason they exaggerate wait times is to try and push guests to another area of the park. This makes more sense at closing. If Big Thunder is showing 60 minutes at 10pm,, they’re trying to get you to leave lol. This has been true for decades, but FastPass+ was designed to help them manage crowds and give them the ability to nudge them wherever they want the people to go. (And sadly, #3 isn’t cynical at all lol. It’s a business. They want the $$. 😂)