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Article
Publication date: 5 September 2018

Noriaki Sakamoto

This paper aims to examine a congestion situation of a certain type of restaurant in a theme park (Tokyo Disney Resort) by a simulation based on Little’s law, which is a basic…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine a congestion situation of a certain type of restaurant in a theme park (Tokyo Disney Resort) by a simulation based on Little’s law, which is a basic principle in Queueing theory. In the restaurant, a guest (customer) lines up to order, pay and receive dishes. A problem is that even when a guest can easily find vacant tables, it takes a long time to receive dishes. Because guests can see there are vacant tables, there are many tweets of complaints. This situation is a factor to undermine customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes dedicated special menu lines only providing special set as one solution that can be realized at a low cost to reduce vacant tables. Here, if the number of special menu lines is fixed, the difference between a queue in regular lines and that in special menu lines will be big. To shorten the difference, the author proposes a technique to regulate by using feedback control (Proportional control or Fuzzy control).

Findings

The simulation result shows that the number of vacant tables decreases by about 16 per cent compared with the current situation.

Originality/value

This paper considers a specific restaurant, but the proposed method can be applied to the same type of restaurant in the theme park. If the restaurant in the theme park is crowded, the feedback control of the queue brings new possibilities.

研究目的

本论文旨在检验主题公园(日本迪士尼)内饭店的拥堵情境。本论文采用同步模拟的方式,以等候理论的基础原则—科特尔法则为基础,来进行检验。在一家饭店中,客人(顾客)排队点餐、付款、以及拿到食物。其中问题是,即使客人能够轻松找到空桌位,而等餐的时间非常长。因为客人看到有空桌位,所以客人会有很多抱怨。这种情境会严重影响顾客满意度。

研究设计/方法/途径

本论文提出一种特别菜单行数设计来用低成本的方式解决空桌位的问题。如果特别菜单行数是固定的,那么使用常规菜单和特别菜单所产生的排队现象会大有不同。本论文借助反馈控制(比例控制或模糊控制),提供一种调节方法以减少这种差别。

研究结果

模拟结果表明空桌位的数量同现有情境相比,减少了16%.

研究原创性/价值

本论文采用特定的饭店,但是提出的方法可以推广到同种类型的主题公园饭店。如果主题公园饭店人满为患,那么使用反馈控制来调价排队情况将带来新可能。

关键词

主题公园、饭店、等候理论、科特尔法则、模糊控制、比例控制

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, vol. 10 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9880

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 September 2020

Noriaki Sakamoto

This study examined the waiting times to board an attraction at a theme park (Tokyo DisneySea in Japan) using a simulation based on measured values. Park visitors often complain…

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined the waiting times to board an attraction at a theme park (Tokyo DisneySea in Japan) using a simulation based on measured values. Park visitors often complain that waiting times are too long; guests (Disney's term for park visitors) must stand in long, slow-moving queues outdoors in all weather, enduring heat, cold, rain and wind. This can undermine their health and reduce customer satisfaction. To date, no research has offered a scientific approach to solve the problem in the context of theme park queues.

Design/methodology/approach

The attraction examined two queues: a short waiting queue for guests with priority entry tickets and a long waiting queue for guests without priority entry tickets. The total number of guests with priority entry tickets remained a constant value, as in the current system; however, the author designed the number as a monotonically increasing function to reduce the waiting times for nonpriority entry. It was impractical to analyze queues or try to explain proposed wait time reduction methods using theories and mathematical models alone. Therefore, the author used a simulation study based on real data to demonstrate the proposed method of this study.

Findings

The simulation results indicated that the proposed method significantly decreased guests' waiting times in the nonpriority entry queue, without changing the number of guests in both priority and nonpriority entry queues.

Research limitations/implications

Simple queues can be analyzed using theoretical calculations, but complicated queue systems require simulation methods. Therefore, this paper cannot provide a theoretical basis for the method.

Practical implications

The proposed method offers benefits to managers of any event or location seeking to manage queue times and not just theme parks (e.g. exhibitions, concerts, etc.). Advance tickets are equivalent to priority entry tickets, so applying the proposed method can shorten waiting times on the day of the event.

Originality/value

This study has important practical implications for queues management, and the proposed approach is a unique system that reduces waiting times, thus increasing customer satisfaction. The proposed method can be applied to similar types of priority entry systems.

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, vol. 4 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9792

Keywords

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