Did we finally win the "Fight Against FastLane"?

Chewman,

 You may have thought the Fast Lane at Great Adventure worked for you, but think about what it did for those that didn't use it.

 Case in point, last year I had a horrible time at Great Adventure mainly because of the very poor Fast Lane operations that were being used that day.  The park wasn't very crowded to begin with but for some reason, there was a HUGE line of Fast Lane users on almost all the major rides that used the program.

 On Medusa, I decided to wait for a back seat. I was originally going to be on the next train out, but thanks to the huge line of Fast Lane users on the other side, it took over 20 minutes, and at least 5 full trains of Fast Lane users before I got a ride on Medusa.........and that was by accident.

 There were two rows roped off for Fast Lane users but the operators were not sitting the Fast Lane users in those rows, but rather letting them pick any seat, then tried and made those not using Fast Lane to fill in all the empty seats.  I was with three other people and we wanted to ride together.  We decided to wait it out to see how long it would take.

 The ride operators would let in about 28 people at a time to fill any any seats they wanted. After those people were seated, the air gates would open and we were told to fill in the rest of the seats. One time the air gates opened and the 4 of us made it to our back row before the Fast Lane guests were allowed to enter.

 A Fast Lane user approached me and told me she wanted to sit where I was sitting. I simply told her I was her first. She then became irrate and called for a ride op. The ride op asked if I would mind sitting in another row. I told the ride op that I had been waiting 20 minutes in a NON Fast Lane row and thought I deserved to sit where I was.  Some more bickering followed finished by the ride operator asking the irrate Fast Lane guest to move to an empty seat.

  At Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, they had the last row or so on X-Flight blocked off for Fast Lane users. Now, if there isn't any Fast Lane users, I believe non-Fast Lane guests should be able to fill in those empty rows if they want to.  However, the train was sent out with two complete rows. With a one train operation, this got the guests waiting in line furious as you could imagine.

 Last Saturday, I split the cost of Fast Lane with someone at SFMM so we could get another ride on X. While the normal line was around 1 hour, we waited 45 minutes. It may just be me, but I don't see a huge bargin there.  Lo-Q from what I have experianced, worked the best out of the ones I have tested, but I still don't see the big need for one.

 I agree with Mamoosh.  There never was a problem with waiting in line before. Perhaps the problem was in the gift shop sales or something. You would think there would be a better way of getting guests into stores other than a Fast Lane program.  Possibly by cutting the outrageous prices found in some of the stores?

-Sean

It looks as though we're going to be stuck with some sort of system, like it or not. So the question becomes, which is the lesser evil?
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I'm a reasonable man, get off my case, get off my case. -Radiohead(Amnesiac)

*** This post was edited by DWeaver on 2/1/2002. ***

Can someone tell me the difference between fastlane and Lo-Q please.
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My SFGAdv Website:
www.geocties.com/dannyrc2001

I agree with Jim Fischer why should the guest be in 2 different classes just because you pay an extra $10.

Even though I'm opposed to fastlane/fastpass/Lo-Q, I think that Lo-Q would work the best out of the three of them, because after you  reserve your time your free to do what you want until then possibly ride a ride with a shorter wait.

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Bobby
DOT crew 2000
Flight of Fear/Wave Swinger crew 2001-2002

was there a real problem before?  no.  was there a perceived problem beofre?  yes.  and that's where the real problem is.  if people believe that there should be some way to virtually queue then it becomes a real problem for them to wait in the regular lines.  now the last system was a horrible one that obviously failed horribly (a few honorable mentions, but the system was still unfair).  the Lo-Q system is a fair system that solves the "problem" of waiting in line.  it isn't going to make lines shorter, it isn't going to make lines longer.  no one will cut and no trains will be sent out empty (hopefully).  if you want to wait in line, fine, but don't expect everyone to conform to your idea of a good time.  some people want to do other thing than physically wait and this system sloves that without being unfair or POing people.
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Knott's Berry Farm Cuba ~South Park

Okay, the Q-bot will cost 10$ to rent, but is there a q-bot you can buy for yourself if you go there a few times a season instead of renting one every time?
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My SFGAdv Website:
www.geocties.com/dannyrc2001

Sean F, point taken.  But I must state that a system in its first year may have its flaws.  I also must state that I can only speak for the FL versions that are free as those are the only one's I've experienced.  I am a season pass holder at Great Adventure so I went over ten times last year.  I only used Fast Lane on about 5 of those visits, so I have a good perspective of both sides.  On those visits I did use it, I experieced one problem on Nitro where the Fast Lane line was backed up and guests were getting irritated (but granted this was on week 3 of the 2001 season, in late April).  On the times that I did not use Fast Lane, Great Adventure's extremely high capacity coasters (Nitro, Medusa, Batman, Scream Machine) gave me no trouble at all with waits (40 minutes was the longest I ever had to wait with no FL for Nitro with the line filling all queues and backed up to Looney Tunes Seaport).  Though I may never see eye-to-eye with those of you who were screwed over by the other parks, or even on one or two occasions at SFNE, SFA, or Great Adventure, I and many others will still speak in favor of Fast Lane as it was a good system.
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http://www.gadv.com

It seems that the only people that like FastLane are the people who have home parks that have *FREE FL passes*. Even then FL is not a solution towards anything. It just makes matters worse.
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SFWoA Online
http://sfwoa.coasterbuzz.com

It's really a no win, no loose situation. One, people act like they're being tortured in line. A five to ten minute wait is like an hour to some of these people. Some people act as if there's no reason for THEM to have to stand in line. Well, it doesn't matter. People follow other people around these parks and they all pile into the same lines, & want some kind of personal touch. Everybody wants to feel "ripped off" or some other silly things, so FastLane and junk was invinted. I don't agree with it, for the same reasons as Jim Fisher, but then again, if it makes some of these people feel better give it to them. If 5 dudes rent a Lo-Q, that's 5 people that will not be freaking out about spending 30 minutes in a line with me.

Issuing it free, that's giving a few people some value added in arriving at the park early, which IMO is the same as having "premium" admission/FastLane.

"Single riders line", those are good until some woman splits all her kids up there, you know? But I like the SRL on AC @ BGW.

What's next, everyone getting an itinarary when you buy your admision ticket to the park? Will it be an itinarary that what will list what ride you should go to at a certain time? COME ON! The whole part of riding a coaster is the build-up, adrenaline building, heart pounding and enthusiasm while waiting in line. But i do have to say its a great idea on trying to keep lines short and people out in the park more. So its better then fast pass because its like a South Park episode where there was the regular line and a even a "fast-pass" line and lines everywhere. I did see build-up of lines just for fast pass near the end of the season.
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Coaster131 said:
Chewman...the reason you liked FastLane so muh was because SFGAdv was the only park that had it for FREE!  All other parks made you pay an additional $10 for 6 passes.  Bullcrap if you ask me.  But they certainly have no right to charge for these Q-Bots, too! Look at Disney.  FastPass is free to all customers, and it is the world's greatest invention.  C'mon people, let's protest the prices now!  We got them to convert into electronic systems, now let's get them to realize they already make too much damn to charge us for this!
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-Kyle Brylczyk
SAVE INVADER ZIM!

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They can charge whatever they want, its their park, not yours =)

*** This post was edited by KurtCobain on 2/3/2002. ***

I think that   for season pass owners they shopuld have scan bar where you scan your season pass in it prints a ticket and you come back at the designated time.

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The Scream Site
http://www.screamsite.cjb.net

IMO, there's only one way to "win" this fight.  Don't pick up a "sword" (i.e., fast-pass, Q-bot, whatever) in the first place.  The market will speak, our words are just that, words.  If they find these schemes to be PROFITABLE, all the complaining in the world won't help...

I've met several great enthusiasts while waiting in line...(Hi, Will!)...and feel that rides run AT CAPACITY, and decent theming, provide a short and entertaining wait for a good ride...and can even IMPROVE the ride experience...

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Off-season coaster blues got you down, stop by the 'buzz and turn your frown upside-down...
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Well, Q-bot certainly won't be eliminating the "waiting in line" process, just adding another option. And if the extra money SF gets from this system helps in continuing to build cutting edge coasters and thrillrides, I'm *partially* for it.

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Have you ever considered that maybe it's not the park that's the problem, but YOU?