Cedar Point Announces Fast Lane On Facebook

...and the comments are comedy gold.

They under-priced it.

Are we sure Mark Shapiro isn't running the show there now? :)

Lol at the comments. That's funny. I'm excited for this option this year, seriously.

Lord Gonchar said:
...and the comments are comedy gold.

True that!

I'll agree that they underpriced it. Make it WAY expensive or don't do it at all; that is my opinion.

This is really a shame. Cedar Point used to be about fast dispatches. Fast Lane will give them a good reason not to care about being fast anymore. Why would they? The faster the lines go, the less attractive Fast lane looks, and they lose money.

Cedar point has really been messing up a lot lately, as far as I am concerned. They take out the log ride (a favorite of many families), then they remove the unique and family-friendly Paddlewheel and replace it with another upcharge dino-eyesore attraction, and now this. Boo, Cedar Point... Boo...

And of course, I'll have to purchase it, to keep people from cutting in front of me. My Cedar Point ticket has gone up $40 or $50 more per day.

But I am really happy for all of you who are excited about it. Maybe I'll join you in strutting past all the losers with my nose in the air.

From the website:... "If we didn't tell you about Fast Lane - you might not even notice it's here! Separate ride entrances and exclusive access points make Fast Lane quick, easy and hassle-free for all our guests."
Really? I remember seeing Fast Lane at KI and it's readily apparent that there's another line, just over there, that's moving a lot faster! Maybe CP is planning to secretly beam the riders onto the platform, which would make the additional fee very, very worthwhile.

Not trying to jump on any particular bandwagon here, I don't care if there's Fast Lane or not. But I did hear from several friends who felt compelled (pressured?) to purchase it along with their on-line tickets only to get to the park and find out it wasn't busy anyway. If for some ungodly reason I found myself at CP on, say, a Halloweekends saturday? I'd definitely do it.

"Comments" usually make me nuts, and I try not to read them. However I love the guy here who complains about a 2 1/2 hr wait for Maverick in the heat surrounded by nothing but wood. (< ?)

I just hope they implement it well. If it's as poorly implemented as the way I've seen it done at other parks, KI included, the animosity will turn from Facebook comments to real life complaints. Most casual visitors I know are already very cynical about being "gouged" by in-park pricing at CP.

As long as they keep the lines moving, keep capacity high, and actually limit the number of Fast Lane passes sold (or limit the number flowing into any particular ride line at the same time), I don't think it'll be an issue.

I keep starting to worry about CP's Fast Pass, but in reality, I think it's only going to help me.

I usually only visit CP on the historically low-attendance days, and I hardly ever have waits. That shouldn't change.

In my mind, Cedar Point is closed late June though late August. Because of Fast Pass, it will now be open during that time period if the need arises.

LostKause said:
This is really a shame. Cedar Point used to be about fast dispatches. Fast Lane will give them a good reason not to care about being fast anymore. Why would they? The faster the lines go, the less attractive Fast lane looks, and they lose money.

Nonsense. You know how that park operates and you know that's how they roll. The park's GM and director of operations are total capacity nuts. They're not going to let that slide.

So how come Gemini can't run four trains without stacking, when historically it *never* stacked with six?

Note also capacity reductions on Corkscrew, Mine Ride, Iron Dragon, Blue Streak, Mean Streak and Mantis?

Just sayin'...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

You mean rides that typically have short wait times?

You know the answer to that, Dave. Air gates, seat belt/lapbar check and re-check and I'm sure there's something else that I'm missing.

No nonsense, Jeff. If it was my park, and I noticed that we weren't on target for making our profit goal for the year, lowering capacity would be a very obvious way to sell more Fast Lane passes and make more money. When lines are long, people will run to the Fast Lane booth so they don't have to wait in them, and shell out an additional $50 per person in their group.

That's how I would run things if profitability was my biggest concern. Not doing so could get the person in charge in big trouble with shareholders.

Six Flags did it all the time when I used to visit their parks. I don't know if they still operate that way, because I haven't been to a Six Flags in years.

Front-of-the-line access is a conflict of interests. Should they offer fast capacity for everyone, or make more money by offering fast capacity for people who will pay a lot more?

Cedar Point join the parks who now cater to two different classes, and I am going to be in the better class since I am a park fanatic. I just hate that they force me to decide to be one of the bad guys. I never cut in front of people before this classicism crap began. Now it's kill or be killed.

Right. Aliens landed in Roswell, Sasquatch was created by the government, and 9-11 was an inside job.

There's no conspiracy to make X amount of money here. There was a demand, from impatient people like me, and they filled it.

Except the thing about the Sasquatch, you could be right.

It's not a conspiracy theory. It's business. They have to make X amount of money. If they don't, they could get sued by the shareholders, right? I take a train off of my coasters on a busy day if my ultimate goal was to make money and I knew that doing so would make the park more money. Wouldn't you?

And if I am wrong, it has the potential to at least SEEM that way, which is just as bad.

No one has to agree with me at all either. I'm just happy to have the opportunity to give my perspective on the subject. :)

And if I am wrong, it has the potential to at least SEEM that way, which is just as bad.

Since I'm all about perception (facts are basically irrelevant in my world, LOL) - I'm going to say that there are going to be a number of people who agree with Travis. Based on our experiences with other parks, I think that number will start low and decrease from there as the new system gains acceptance....but *some* vocal opposition has obviously already arisen.

Me? I've spoken out enough - the issue for me isn't *IF* the implementation will occur (it will) or whether people will come to accept it (they will), but rather HOW it is implemented. Have the FL folks join the regular line after the "people mills" but before the station, have an employee at the merge point politely instructing guests where and when to go, and things will work out OK.

P.S. As always, I reserve the right to be wrong... ;)

LostKause said:
It's not a conspiracy theory. It's business.

The problem is that your business would fail...miserably.

You always seem to ignore the other side of that equation - the one where you're reducing capacity for the vast majority of guests not buying in.

Yes, reducing capacity would increase FOL sales.

No, reducing capacity and affecting 90%+ of your guests negatively isn't going to increase profits.

I always thought that having low capacity was a bad thing since your guests are going to spend more time in line, not spending their money elsewhere.

At least that's what I always thought in RCT.