Visitors at Walt Disney World's EPCOT who request specific seats on popular attractions may be directed to a separate waiting area, potentially adding significant time to their experience. This operational procedure is most common on rides like Soarin' Around the World and Test Track, where seating can alter the guest's perspective.
Key Takeaways
- Requesting specific rows on certain EPCOT rides often requires an additional wait in a designated area.
- The policy is designed to maintain operational efficiency and prevent delays in the main queue.
- Soarin' Around the World and Test Track are the primary attractions where this procedure is frequently used.
- The extra wait time can range from a few minutes to a duration comparable to the original standby line.
Understanding the Seating Request Process
At several EPCOT attractions, guests have the option to request a particular seat or row to enhance their ride experience. However, accommodating these requests requires deviating from the standard boarding process. To manage this, Cast Members often guide guests who make such requests to a separate, designated waiting area.
This secondary queue allows the main line to continue moving without interruption. Guests in the special request line must wait for a ride vehicle with their desired seating to become available. This system ensures that overall ride capacity and throughput are maintained, minimizing delays for the majority of visitors.
Operational Efficiency is Key
Theme park ride operations are carefully timed to maximize the number of guests served per hour. The primary goal of the loading process is to fill every available seat on every ride vehicle. Allowing widespread seat selection would create gaps and slow down boarding, leading to longer standby wait times for everyone. The separate waiting area is a compromise that accommodates special requests without disrupting the entire system.
Which EPCOT Attractions Are Most Affected?
While the policy can be applied at any attraction, it is most consistently enforced at rides where the seating position has a noticeable impact on the experience. Guests should be prepared for a potential extra wait at the following locations.
Soarin’ Around the World
Soarin’ is perhaps the most well-known example of this policy. Many experienced park-goers request Section B, Row 1. This seat is located in the top center of the theater, offering the most direct and least distorted view of the massive concave screen. Views from side sections or lower rows can result in curved images of landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or seeing other guests' feet.
Because of its popularity, the wait for this specific row can be substantial. It is not uncommon for guests to wait an additional 10 to 20 minutes after completing the main queue just for this specific seating assignment.
Test Track
On Test Track, many guests request the front row of the six-passenger vehicle. This position offers an unobstructed view during the high-speed outdoor loop, which is the climax of the attraction. The feeling of speed and wind is often perceived as more intense from the front.
Similar to Soarin', guests asking for the front row will typically be asked to step aside and wait for the next available car with an open front row. This wait depends entirely on how many other groups ahead have the correct party size to fill the back rows of upcoming vehicles.
Did You Know?
The high-speed loop on Test Track reaches a top speed of 65 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest attractions at any Disney park worldwide. The front row provides the most direct experience of this speed test.
Other Notable Attractions
The practice of waiting for specific seats can also occur on other popular EPCOT rides, though often in a less formalized manner.
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: While there isn't an officially designated "best" seat, some guests request the front for the views or the back for a more intense ride experience. Cast Members may accommodate these requests if possible, which might involve a short additional wait.
- Frozen Ever After & Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: On these boat and trackless dark rides, guests sometimes ask for the front row for a clearer view of the animatronics and show scenes. A Cast Member might ask the party to wait for the next available vehicle to fulfill the request.
How to Navigate the Process
If you decide that a specific seat is essential for your experience, a few simple steps can make the process smoother. The key is to be patient and polite.
You should make your seating request to the Cast Member who is grouping parties just before the final loading area. A simple, polite question like, "Is it possible for us to wait for the front row?" is the best approach. Cast Members are trained to handle these requests and will direct you to the appropriate waiting spot if one is available.
"The policy is in place to be fair to all guests. By having a separate waiting area, we can accommodate specific requests without making everyone in the main line wait longer." - Anonymous Walt Disney World Cast Member
It is crucial to weigh the benefits of a preferred seat against the cost of additional time. On a day with high crowd levels, an extra 15-minute wait could be the time needed to get to another attraction or a dining reservation. For rides like Soarin', where the view changes dramatically, many find the wait worthwhile. For others, the difference may be negligible.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal priority. For first-time visitors or those on a tight schedule, taking the first available seat is often the most practical choice. For returning visitors looking to have a specific, perfected experience, the additional wait may be a small price to pay for the best possible view.
