Here was my solution. When the map starts loading, set the thumbMovingRate high, when the map is done loading, return thumbMovingRate to normal: if (this._isVisible && this._timeSlider.playing){
if (!this._playShortCircuited){
this._timeSlider.setThumbMovingRate(999999999);
var self = this;
this._playShortCircuitStartSignal = this._esriMap.on('update-start', function(){
self._timeSlider.setThumbMovingRate(999999999);
});
this._playShortCircuitEndSignal = this._esriMap.on('update-end', function(){
self._timeSlider.setThumbMovingRate(self._thumbMovingRate);
});
this._playShortCircuited = true;
}
} else {
if (this._playShortCircuited){
this._timeSlider.setThumbMovingRate(this._thumbMovingRate);
this._playShortCircuitEndSignal.remove();
this._playShortCircuitStartSignal.remove();
this._playShortCircuitEndSignal = null;
this._playShortCircuitStartSignal = null;
this._playShortCircuited = false;
}
}