Virtual queuing techniques
The virtual queue system includes a virtual queue controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor and is configured to receive a request, the request being associated with an individual guest, for a position in a virtual queue of an attraction, assign the individual guest to the position in the virtual queue in response to the request, receive ride schedule data for the attraction comprising information about a change in status of individual rides of the attraction, and determine a wait time for the individual guest for the attraction based at least on the position of the individual guest in the virtual queue, the ride schedule data, and historical guest throughput at the attraction. The virtual queue system is further configured to output a signal to a guest-associated device indicating the wait time for the attraction.
1 . A virtual queue method, comprising:
receiving, at one or more processors, a request from an individual guest for a position in a virtual queue of an attraction, wherein the attraction comprises a plurality of ride vehicles that are accessed by the virtual queue from a common dispatch area;
assigning, via the one or more processors, the individual guest to the position in the virtual queue of the attraction in response to the request;
determining, via the one or more processors, an average wait time for the attraction, wherein the average wait time is based on queue condition sensor data and a dynamic wait time buffer that changes in duration based on a time of day, wherein the queue condition sensor data is indicative of guest group sizes in the common dispatch area;
disabling, via the one or more processors, an ability of a virtual queue controller to add new guests to the virtual queue upon determining that the average wait time is above a threshold wait time;
communicating, via communication circuitry, responsive to the disabling, a wireless signal to a plurality of guest-associated devices to cause the plurality of guest- associated devices to disable a user input for requesting positions in the virtual queue via the user input responsive to the average wait time being above the threshold wait time;
determining, via the one or more processors, an updated average wait time for the attraction; and
enabling, via the one or more processors, the ability of the virtual queue controller to add new guests to the virtual queue upon determining that the updated average wait time is below the threshold wait time.
2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising communicating, via the communication circuitry, responsive to the disabling, a queue modification signal to a guest kiosk to cause the guest kiosk to disable a kiosk user input in response to receiving the queue modification signal, wherein the guest kiosk is configured to transmit a request for a position in the virtual queue of the attraction based on the kiosk user input.
3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising, communicating, via the communication circuitry, responsive to the enabling, an updated wireless signal to the plurality of guest-associated devices to cause the plurality of guest-associated devices to enable the user input for requesting positions in the virtual queue.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless signal causes a message to be displayed relating to the disabling.
5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
automatically removing, via the one or more processors, the individual guest from the virtual queue upon deteremining that the individual guest has been in the virtual queue over a certain period of time; and
determining, via the one or more processors, responsive to the removing, the updated average wait time for the attraction.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the certain period of time is determined based on the average wait time.
7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
blocking or permitting, via the one or more processors, access to the common dispatch area based on the position in the virtual queue.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the queue condition sensor data comprises guest recognition information.
9 . A virtual queue system, comprising:
at least one monitoring device configured to monitor current queue conditions of an attraction and output a queue condition signal; and
a virtual queue controller comprising one or more processors and communications circuitry, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
receive a request from an individual guest for a position in a virtual queue of an attraction, wherein the attraction comprises a plurality of ride vehicles that are accessed by the virtual queue from a common dispatch area;
assign the individual guest to the position in the virtual queue of the attraction in response to the request;
determine an average wait time for the attraction, wherein the average wait time is based on queue condition sensor data and a dynamic wait time buffer that changes in duration based on a time of day, wherein the queue condition sensor data is indicative of guest group sizes in the common dispatch area;
disable an ability of a virtual queue controller to add new guests to the virtual queue upon determining that the average wait time is above a threshold wait time;
communicate, responsive to the disabling, a wireless signal to a plurality of guest-associated devices to cause the plurality of guest-associated devices to disable a user input for requesting positions in the virtual queue via the user input responsive to the average wait time being above the threshold wait time;
determine an updated average wait time for the attraction; and
enable the ability of the virtual queue controller to add new guests to the virtual queue upon determining that the updated average wait time is below the threshold wait time.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to
communicate, responsive to the disabling, a queue modification signal to a guest kiosk to cause the guest kiosk to disable a kiosk user input in response to receiving the queue modification signal, wherein the guest kiosk is configured to transmit a request for a position in the virtual queue of the attraction based on the kiosk user input.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
communicate, responsive to the enabling, an updated wireless signal to the plurality of guest-associated devices to cause the plurality of guest-associated devices to enable the user input for requesting positions in the virtual queue.
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the wireless signal causes a message to be displayed relating to the disabling.
13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
automatically remove the individual guest from the virtual queue upon deteremining that the individual guest has been in the virtual queue over a certain period of time; and
determine, responsive to the removing, the updated average wait time for the attraction.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the certain period of time is determined based on the average wait time.
15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
block or permit access to the common dispatch area based on the position in the virtual queue.
16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the queue condition sensor data comprises guest recognition information.
17 . A virtual queue system, comprising:
at least one monitoring device configured to monitor current queue conditions of an attraction and output a queue condition signal; and
a virtual queue controller comprising one or more processors and communications circuitry, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
receive a request from an individual guest for a position in a virtual queue of an attraction, wherein the attraction comprises a plurality of ride vehicles that are accessed by the virtual queue from a common dispatch area;
assign the individual guest to the position in the virtual queue of the attraction in response to the request;
determine an average wait time for the attraction, wherein the average wait time is based on a dynamic wait time buffer that changes in duration based on a time of day and on queue condition sensor data, wherein the queue condition sensor data is indicative of guest throughput rates in the common dispatch area;
disable an ability of a virtual queue controller to add new guests to the virtual queue upon determining that the average wait time is above a threshold wait time;
communicate responsive to the disabling, a wireless signal to a plurality of guest-associated devices to cause the plurality of guest-associated devices to disable a user input for requesting positions in the virtual queue via the user input responsive to the average wait time being above the threshold wait time;
determine an updated average wait time for the attraction; and
enable the ability of the virtual queue controller to add new guests to the virtual queue upon determining that the updated average wait time is below the threshold wait time.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one monitoring device comprises an optical sensor.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein wherein the virtual queue controller is configured to:
block or permit access to the common dispatch area based on the guest throughput rates, the position in the virtual queue of the attraction associated with the individual guest, or both.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein wherein the virtual queue controller is configured to:
determine the updated average wait time for the attraction; and
disable or enable the ability of a virtual queue controller to add new guests to the virtual queue upon determining that the average wait time.