A cure for line jumping, PKD's way

Yes, the line was roughly 2-3 1/2 hours on Thursday the 17'th, and they were handing it out to everyone nearly right when you walked into the queue, and took it back right where the line splits up to go on the left or right side of the station.

They've also done it for Psyclone during the Haunt in 95, believe it or not (MASSIVE lines that day).

You al with the basketballs just dont get it! *If* they were to give them out deflated, it would not have the same impact. Sure you people that cant handle it would be happy, but there would be a direct effect on game sales. You see, it's a sumbliminal thing. Even if you dont *see* the balls, you will *hear* the balls and that will put 'basketball' in your brain. For some people, that will translate into them playing the game just because now they are thinking about basketball. True, *seeing* a basketball can have the same effect, but as we all know, you can *hear* things, even if you don *see* them.

So that's why the b-ball prizes will never be deflated. (IMO)

As for the ticket thing, if you stop in line to visit a vending machine, they will still let you on. Remember, your ticket number will be *ahead* of the people in front of you, so, if anything, the people ahead of you might be questioned. But basically, from what I gathered from talking with an attendant on B:TR @ SFGAm way back in 1993, they only check the general range, not the *specific* number. So I guess you could line jump about 20 people, but any more than that would look supicious.

BTW: it would be stupid for them to look at the *specifc* number sequence. There are going to be people who leave the line for all types of reasons (school bus leaving, menstrual cramps, chicken shyt...). There has to be some discrection used. :)

lata, jeremy

--who has never had to leave a line due to menstrual cramps

Then why use numbers at all? Use color. ;)

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

"Red, Green, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Orange, Green..
Hey you're supposed to be Red! Back a the line buddy!" :)

Only one time did I witness a line jumping that wasn't caught. I wonder if the problem is really as bad as some people make it out to be.

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Kevin Stone
NoLimits Roller Coaster Simulator
http://www.nolimitscoaster.de
*** This post was edited by Phyter 7/30/2003 1:52:55 PM ***

Depends on the crowd that day.

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

We did this on some rides where jumping was a particularly big problem on heavy days at the SFOG. It works very well.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I thought I was the only one who hated the dang basketballs. When one comes my way, I usually act like I'm looking a different direction and casually kick it further from whoever is chasing it. And yes, I make sure not to kick into the path of other park patrons. I don't want to see anyone get hurt. Maybe in an effort to catch the park's attention and get them to give them out deflated, I could "accidently" fall over one, Hit my head on the ground, pull a blade out of my pocket, and gig my forehead open. But I can't do that, because I'd be bringing a weapon of sorts(only a quarter inch razor piece of blade) and that's against policy. But it would be fun. Stupid basketballs. Shut em up.

And to stay with the topic, whenever I go to CP, if there is a line jumper that I notice, a CP employee usuall does too and problem solved. But, I do like the idea of the number handout. Just because I don't see a lot of line jumping doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
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Shut it up!

I hate basketballs. Why would you go to a theme park to play basketball. I watch people spend $10-$15 at SFGA to win a $5 basebasket ball. I usually wing back any balls heading my way. I HATE IT!!! They should give out baseball bats for the non basketball people so we can wack the $h*t out of those people!

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The funny thing about those basketballs is that they're very cheaply made and won't last long after you get it. And people still spend lots of bucks to get one, even though they could go to a department store and get a better quality ball for (sometimes) not much more at all.

I was told by a games supervisor last year that the basketballs only "move" when they're inflated. Revnues decline sharply (at the basketball games) when they're given away flat.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

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Crashmando said:
Why would you go to a theme park to play basketball.

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Uhhhhh, cuz you gots game?

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I watch people spend $10-$15 at SFGA to win a $5 basebasket ball.

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Well not everybody has a 'game' but don't hate on people who do (or believe they do). I mean, I drop at least $11 on my favorite VF games weekly and walk away with two medium prizes each week. I don't need yo hatin' cuz 70% of the other players subsidize my non-noisy winnings.

Besides, lots of annoying folks with annoying b-balls = in-park spending = roller coasters that get you in the same dorklike state. It's a necessary evil.

-'Playa

(who will trade in the last three week's mediums for a large prize per CBaby's thinkin')

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

Shoot, at least they aren't those fricking inflatable pastic hammers they used to give away at the Hi-Striker on the carnival I worked. Nothing worse than gangs of kids running amock smacking each other with those squeaky things up and down the midway, on and off the rides all day!!!!

But I must concur with the fact that a functional prize makes more sense from a visual/aural standpoint than a deflated prize in plastic wrap that does nothing to satisfy the instant gratification that comes from winning a prize.

Even if it is a stuffed animal and the only annoyance/noise made is that of my wife squealing for more (stuffed animals that is).

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Thats right, we got the speed ya need, the rock and roll for your soul, we're gonna pick ya up, spin ya round, drop ya down, one more time, here we go! One more blast of the super-fast for your @ss!

Ah yes, the annoyance of the basketballs. You know how much of a problem they cause with ride-ops at the Point. UGH!! Even us at Raptor had to deal with it (b-balls aren't allowed on any of the rides).

During our training, someone asked why the games people didn't let the people know they couldnt' take large stuffed animals and b-balls in line with them. The answer. ......marketing. That's right, when they're carrying them around the park, playing with them, other people see them and think maybe they too could win one. Games employees weren't allowed to tell the patrons about the bin rentals at the front gate because games makes more money when the GP sees them. Therefore, us ride ops had the enjoyment of dealing with them. "What you mean I can't take it in line wif me?? I ain't payin for no locker".

UGH!!! As for line jumping, I have seen a few get kicked out of the park for it. However it was only after they tried to attack the security officers escorting them from line.

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Kyle
-Raptor Crew-
2000-01

I been to cedar point about 15 times and I never been annoyed by basketballs like I was at Six Flags NJ and Six Flags America. Six Flags NJ is horrible. Worst park ever for prizes and what not. Followed by PKI. I think we should start checking ID at the gates because people are dumb thinking they can take a stuff animal on the ride with them. Although I can understand the basketballs. IF you paid $37 to win one wouldn't you want to keep it by your side?

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Basketballs its one thing if there little kids playing with them its the people who are over the age of 16 or so esp the ones in their 30's or 40's that run you over when there playing keep away, if I ever play any games which i rarely do I run the crap we win out to the car, next ball that hits me is getting drop kicked over a fence. I also love all the morons who get pissed and have to argue with the line ops at the front of MF insisting they can take what ever they want on the ride and block the line while doing so. And like I said earlier I dont remember them being a prob to me at CP until the last few years of so, couldn't they give out voucher coupons to be picked up at the main gate on your way out of the park, I know some baseball parks have been doing this with voucher coupons, like at CP with those paintings or sketches you can pick them up later that day so you don't have to carry them around the park .

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