Season pass holder files class action suit against Worlds of Adventure for FastLane program
Posted
According to the West Geauga Sun, a season pass holder has filed a law suit against Six Flags Worlds of Adventure contending that the FastLane program, where guests can buy coupons that allow them to bypass lines, diminishes the value of the season passes and general admission tickets.
Read the story from Sun Newspapers.
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"We know our lines don't move very well and capacity is low, but we're not going to bother trying to improve that. But we will offer, for the low price of $10, a chance to cut straight to the front of the line."
That's what I feel SFWoA is saying with their FL program.
Consider this:
Let's say a park like CP all of a sudden decided to only run one train on every coaster from now on. But, for an additional cost, you could buy your way to the front. Would you Fastlane supporters be ok with that? Of course not. But it is ok for SFWoA to run their coasters inefficiently and then turn around and charge you to avoid the lines. It would be one thing if all of the rides consistently ran as many trains as possible with no stacking -- then they can say that there is nothing else they can do to shorten the wait times. But, when a coaster that is designed to run three trains is only running one, and the wait is over an hour, offering me the opportunity to buy my way to the front is a bit of a slap in the face, I think.
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Aaron
That's what I feel SFWoA is saying with their FL program.
Consider this:
Let's say a park like CP all of a sudden decided to only run one train on every coaster from now on. But, for an additional cost, you could buy your way to the front. Would you Fastlane supporters be ok with that? Of course not. But it is ok for SFWoA to run their coasters inefficiently and then turn around and charge you to avoid the lines. It would be one thing if all of the rides consistently ran as many trains as possible with no stacking -- then they can say that there is nothing else they can do to shorten the wait times. But, when a coaster that is designed to run three trains is only running one, and the wait is over an hour, offering me the opportunity to buy my way to the front is a bit of a slap in the face, I think.
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Aaron
2hostyl, I already offered up several options, all of which SF is too cheap to apply. I also stated that the system might work if the park has their crap together, and is running rides at FULL capacity. But to just throw these systems out there while still running 1 or 2 trains on their rides is putting the cart before the horse, and asking for trouble. Disney's system works because their rides are run correctly and (key word) CONSISTENTLY through out their parks. Six Flags simply does not do this, and it's unfair to expect people to wait 3 hours due to and 1 train operation, then say guess what? Joe blow gets to go before you because he has a little extra money. Some of you must not have any kids. Do the math, you pay $125 to get your family into the park, then the park tells you, guess what? That's not good enough.
BTW, using Cedar Point as an example is kinda silly. They have 15 coasters and tons of other things to do. Only 2 SF parks come anywhere close to that.
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I'd like a tall CCI out and back, and a grande nonfat Latte to go please! *** This post was edited by DWeaver on 8/8/2001. ***
BTW, using Cedar Point as an example is kinda silly. They have 15 coasters and tons of other things to do. Only 2 SF parks come anywhere close to that.
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I'd like a tall CCI out and back, and a grande nonfat Latte to go please! *** This post was edited by DWeaver on 8/8/2001. ***
2Hostyl:
The reason it doesn't work is simple...yes, certain people are in fact getting an opportunity to ride everything, but this comes at the price of others who are getting to ride less.
What about the family of 5 who waited all summer to save enough money to take the family to SF, then they find out that they need to shell out another $50 just to allow everyone to ride all the big rides? (ok, it may be an extreme example, but you get the point)
Cedar Point is not SFWoA - you pretty much need to plan to spend 2 days at CP to ride everything. They have many more world-class coasters and draw a much bigger crowd than SFWoA. When we went to SFWoA this year, we got in 2 rides in the first 6 hours we were there, mostly because of line-jumpers...I mean Fast Lane holders.
I guess the fact that SFWoA runs one train on most of their coasters doesn't help either (*cough**cough* capacity sucks) *** This post was edited by SFDLSuperman on 8/8/2001. ***
The reason it doesn't work is simple...yes, certain people are in fact getting an opportunity to ride everything, but this comes at the price of others who are getting to ride less.
What about the family of 5 who waited all summer to save enough money to take the family to SF, then they find out that they need to shell out another $50 just to allow everyone to ride all the big rides? (ok, it may be an extreme example, but you get the point)
Cedar Point is not SFWoA - you pretty much need to plan to spend 2 days at CP to ride everything. They have many more world-class coasters and draw a much bigger crowd than SFWoA. When we went to SFWoA this year, we got in 2 rides in the first 6 hours we were there, mostly because of line-jumpers...I mean Fast Lane holders.
I guess the fact that SFWoA runs one train on most of their coasters doesn't help either (*cough**cough* capacity sucks) *** This post was edited by SFDLSuperman on 8/8/2001. ***
I agree with supermandl. your season pass entitles you to nothing else but to get into the park for free... unlimited times. It gives you free access to 3 sections with in the park. It also entitles you to visit any other 6 flags park for free. Jeez some people want everything for nothing. I think fastpass works fine.. I'll never buy it !but I'll pick a day the park is not so busy to get my rides in. I think it is great for
out of town visitors.
what this lady going to do sue cp as well because she did pay extra for joe cool on her season pass ? I paid extra for it so I can get in 1 hour earlier in the park. is this unfair to all the other cedar point season pass holders? I don't think so.
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Roller coaster of Love ~ ooi ~ ooi ~ ooi
When I used the Fastlane Pass on Iron Wolf, people were yelling at me and I didn't like that. It sucks. I would like it to go away but if a person is only going to be there for one day, then I can see why the Fastlane would work.
I'm just glad that no one has got in a fight with a Fastlane person and a person who waits 45 minutes.
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"Duff Man Says... Ohhhhh Yaaaaa!"
Current Favorite Coasters:
1)Raging Bull 2)Millennium Force 3)Medusa (SFMW) 4)Vertical Velocity (SFGAm) 5)Dueling Dragons (Ice)
*** This post was edited by StealthmF5m3 on 8/8/2001. ***
I'm just glad that no one has got in a fight with a Fastlane person and a person who waits 45 minutes.
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"Duff Man Says... Ohhhhh Yaaaaa!"
Current Favorite Coasters:
1)Raging Bull 2)Millennium Force 3)Medusa (SFMW) 4)Vertical Velocity (SFGAm) 5)Dueling Dragons (Ice)
*** This post was edited by StealthmF5m3 on 8/8/2001. ***
I hafta agree with StealthmF5m3, "Ohhhhh Yaaaaa!". My issue with Fastpass/Fastlane, whatever, is that rides come close to maximum capacity only when it is easiest to load/unload trains and push people through the queues quickly. The more you have people walking up ride exits and disturbing the normal free flow of guests from the queue to the ride to the exit, the further you depart from these theoretical maximums of riders. Suing over Fastpass is a great way to get parks to recognize that this MAY increase revenues, but at a GREAT cost- guest satisfaction.
To make a bad situation even worse, consider the scenario from SFA. They have 1 row in every station blocked off with a sign "Fastlane passes only". Then they run 90% of their coaster trains with a nice empty row reserved for people who aren't even there. This reduces capacity even further, and it always looks great to see a couple of empty seats enjoying a ride, on every coaster, on every train, all day! Ticks off even the most easy-going of "guests", and ride-ops are delayed even further by having to continually remind people that those seats are reserved, and cannot be used by "normal" guests who waited in line - they MUST remain empty.
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you *** This post was edited by gatorwoodie on 8/8/2001. ***
To make a bad situation even worse, consider the scenario from SFA. They have 1 row in every station blocked off with a sign "Fastlane passes only". Then they run 90% of their coaster trains with a nice empty row reserved for people who aren't even there. This reduces capacity even further, and it always looks great to see a couple of empty seats enjoying a ride, on every coaster, on every train, all day! Ticks off even the most easy-going of "guests", and ride-ops are delayed even further by having to continually remind people that those seats are reserved, and cannot be used by "normal" guests who waited in line - they MUST remain empty.
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you *** This post was edited by gatorwoodie on 8/8/2001. ***
The sad thing is some of these comments bring out your true colors. I didn't think I was among so many snobs who think that you should be able to get whatever you want if you pay for it. How about next they just make a rollercoaster for people in the highest tax bracket.
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Hold on Tight, Because the Mamba is about to Stirke!
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Hold on Tight, Because the Mamba is about to Stirke!
The Hostyl One said:
DWeaver: You and I agree that SFWoA needs to work on other things first. I specifically asked you to come up with an alternate solution for Disney.
And why cant I compare to CP (people around here do it all the time)? SFWoA in particular has a ton of things to do as well when you figure in all the stuff on the life side not to mention Hurricane Harbor (or whatever they call the water park). However, I used CP as an example of how a pass can help.
And SFDLSuperman: You think that staying two days is any less expensive than a FastLane? With staying an extra day that is an extra day of meals and extra driving or hotel costs. Not to mention the time thing. I'd gladly pay an extra few dollars per person to do what I really wanted than pay the huge costs of a whole 'nother day when really all I wanted was an extra hour or so.
And I'm still not convinced that it makes coaster lines any longer (on the average) than without it. I'll cop that it makes the smaller rides and shops more busy, but I dont think that it increases the number of people that are riding or want to ride the coasters. If coaster waits are being extended, it's from shoddy operation, not increased people.
Just because the line looks shorter because you cant see the virtual queuers does not mean the line would be the same physical lenght as it would be if the people were physically standing there. I think people's perceptions weigh heavily into it.
jeremy
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"I agree that parks like SFWoA need to address other issues before resorting to a line-avoidance system. But for places like Disney, I think it was the best thing they could have done. YOU offer up a better solution."
DWeaver: You and I agree that SFWoA needs to work on other things first. I specifically asked you to come up with an alternate solution for Disney.
And why cant I compare to CP (people around here do it all the time)? SFWoA in particular has a ton of things to do as well when you figure in all the stuff on the life side not to mention Hurricane Harbor (or whatever they call the water park). However, I used CP as an example of how a pass can help.
And SFDLSuperman: You think that staying two days is any less expensive than a FastLane? With staying an extra day that is an extra day of meals and extra driving or hotel costs. Not to mention the time thing. I'd gladly pay an extra few dollars per person to do what I really wanted than pay the huge costs of a whole 'nother day when really all I wanted was an extra hour or so.
And I'm still not convinced that it makes coaster lines any longer (on the average) than without it. I'll cop that it makes the smaller rides and shops more busy, but I dont think that it increases the number of people that are riding or want to ride the coasters. If coaster waits are being extended, it's from shoddy operation, not increased people.
Just because the line looks shorter because you cant see the virtual queuers does not mean the line would be the same physical lenght as it would be if the people were physically standing there. I think people's perceptions weigh heavily into it.
jeremy
--- (this space intentionally left blank)
I haven't been to any Six Flags parks to "experience" the fast lane system...so I have a question.
Do they allow just so many people from the fast lane line in (even if there are more people left), and allow some people in from the regular line...or do they empty out the fast lane line until there are no more people in it?
Is it like the second one where the normal line theoretically won't advance at all if there are too many people in the fast lane line?
I hope that made sense...
Do they allow just so many people from the fast lane line in (even if there are more people left), and allow some people in from the regular line...or do they empty out the fast lane line until there are no more people in it?
Is it like the second one where the normal line theoretically won't advance at all if there are too many people in the fast lane line?
I hope that made sense...
You compair SF and Disneys programs like thay are the same type of program at disney you go to the ride get a FREE virtual line ticket the tells you a time of when to be back at the ride thay only give out enough tickets an hour so that it will not conjest other riders.
What it sounds like is Six Flags is just you go at the begining of the day and BUY your ticket and then can use it when ever you please. If the line is short and you will want to ride again then you will not use it but at disney it does not matter how long the line is when you come back you still have to use it because that is the only time in the day that it is good.
What it sounds like is Six Flags is just you go at the begining of the day and BUY your ticket and then can use it when ever you please. If the line is short and you will want to ride again then you will not use it but at disney it does not matter how long the line is when you come back you still have to use it because that is the only time in the day that it is good.
Well, Raging Bull runs three trains and when I went in the normal line for only one time, the queve was just kept moving. It only stopped about 4 times. The capacity on Raging Bull is great :)
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"Duff Man Says... Ohhhhh Yaaaaa!"
Current Favorite Coasters:
1)Raging Bull 2)Millennium Force 3)Medusa (SFMW) 4)Vertical Velocity (SFGAm) 5)Dueling Dragons (Ice)
*** This post was edited by StealthmF5m3 on 8/8/2001. ***
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"Duff Man Says... Ohhhhh Yaaaaa!"
Current Favorite Coasters:
1)Raging Bull 2)Millennium Force 3)Medusa (SFMW) 4)Vertical Velocity (SFGAm) 5)Dueling Dragons (Ice)
*** This post was edited by StealthmF5m3 on 8/8/2001. ***
Fastpass: May be a good idea.
Fastlane: Isn't a good idea.
When you're talking about systems, could you at least make it clear which one? People are referring to both pay and non-pay systems as "fastpass" and I have no idea what you're saying.
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A bad day at Cedar Point is better than a good day at work. *** This post was edited by Jmstuckman on 8/8/2001. ***
Fastlane: Isn't a good idea.
When you're talking about systems, could you at least make it clear which one? People are referring to both pay and non-pay systems as "fastpass" and I have no idea what you're saying.
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A bad day at Cedar Point is better than a good day at work. *** This post was edited by Jmstuckman on 8/8/2001. ***
First off u all suck. You are mad, because somone decides to spend a little more money than you! Do you think every person who purchases a fast lane pass is rich or is in a higher class than you. I'm 14 and I bought it myself.I thought it was a good idea All you're worried about is someone having something more than you.
I bought it at SFWoA, because I thought it was a good idea. All I got was looks every time i got in the fast lane line. I thought it was pretty funny looking at all the mad faces. I was there on a full capacity day. The lines still moved smoothly (except X-Flight, but they did run the 2nd train). The fast lane line didn't take 45 minutes on any ride. This lady is one of those people who was staring at me.
One more thing. Tell me one ride at SFWoA(exept X-Flight) that dosen't run at capacity? BKF runs three trains, S:UE Can only run one train, Serial thriller can only run 2.
I bought it at SFWoA, because I thought it was a good idea. All I got was looks every time i got in the fast lane line. I thought it was pretty funny looking at all the mad faces. I was there on a full capacity day. The lines still moved smoothly (except X-Flight, but they did run the 2nd train). The fast lane line didn't take 45 minutes on any ride. This lady is one of those people who was staring at me.
One more thing. Tell me one ride at SFWoA(exept X-Flight) that dosen't run at capacity? BKF runs three trains, S:UE Can only run one train, Serial thriller can only run 2.
When I was at SFWOA, BKF was running 2 trains and Xflight 2 trains. So they DO NOT always run 3 trains.
Of course if you buy the damn thing you'll think it's great. Try buying eight of them when you have a car load of kids.
.....selfish teenagers. ;)
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I'd like a tall CCI out and back, and a grande nonfat Latte to go please!
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