After trips to Cedar Point and Six Flags Great America I've figured that parks should install a line (Maybe the ones they're currently using for fastpass) for single riders. This should result in better capacity on the trains and make the time you wait for a ride that much shorter. Thus, people would have more time to spend money on other things then simply waiting in line.
The problem with this is that some stations might not be set up to handle another line, so getting the single rider line to the station could be complicated.
Still, I think if parks reconstructed their queues and maybe even their stations it'd be worth it in the end.
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"Ooo. They have the Internet on computers now."
-Homer Simpson
I have always wondered what parks offer this option. It appears that none of the ones I have been to, let the public know there is a single-rider option. If anyone knows any parks that do, please list them, and also if possible a short description of how it works at that park.
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"Looks like you've been missing quite a bit of work lately"
"Well, I wouldn't say I've been MISSING it, Bob."
the line would only be shorter for those in the single line, and it wouldn't affect those in the normal line..
and IOA is the only one i know that does it
IOA has single rider. It is great.
Usually single rider only works on coasters with 4 seats in a row. Because sometimes 3people would be in it and there would be space for one.
Ahhh, IOA has shown once again that they are ahead of the game. Single rider lines for Dr. Doom, MIB and Hulk have saved me lots of time, and I applaud the effort. While strictly opposed to Fastpass/Fastlane-type virtual queueing systems, I favor single-rider lines.
Generally speaking, those guests using these lines are more knowledgeable, and don't take extra time getting into their assigned row, getting into their seats, buckling up, etc. Therefore, there is little or no reduction of the overall capacity of the ride - and the trains look much nicer running FULL of guests. I have to admit I sometimes get a little annoyed seeing bunches of empty seats on trains while waiting up to (or even over) an hour for a ride. At SFA, there is a row on every train reserved for Fastpass, and 90+% of the time, that row runs empty. Looks terrible, increases the wait for everyone...Single riders ROCK! Only exception is on rides like T-Bolt at Kennywood where two riders are required.
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you
I agree that it'd help more with B&M trains. I disagree however that it wouldn't shorten the time it takes to get on the ride. You'd be moving all the people in line that are just single riders and moving them as a filler to pack the trains.
Currently if you go to a slew of amusement parks without single rider lines you'll see seats open. If you're putting people in those seats then they're not waiting in line in front of you, hence a shorter wait in line.
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"Ooo. They have the Internet on computers now."
-Homer Simpson
Test Track at Disney has it also. I just realized. Last time I went a huge (I mean HUGE) tour group was doing single rider. The single rider line was backed up for 3 hours.
If you go to a ride and see a tour group walking into single rider I suggest not to wait behind them ;)
But whats nice about the Test Track is if you, or anyone in your group, works for GM you can have instant fast passes to get on whenever you want.
*** This post was edited by SonOfBeastRules on 8/17/2001. ***
They used to have a single rider line for AC. It hasn't been open for a while...
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Ricochet: Bouncing to you in 2002, Only at King's Dominion!
Apollo's Chariot had one, summer 2000 (when I was last there). Over two days in the same week, I rode it approx 8 times. I saw the single rider queue used twice; the single rider would go to a seat pointed out by the op. All other times the queue was closed, and there were single seats in some rows as the train left the station. I am sure there were single riders that would have benefitted. The concept seems like a good idea to me (of course! I visit parks solo a lot).
Bruce beat me by a few seconds!
*** This post was edited by MABrider on 8/17/2001. ***
Of course it would save time for people in line. If Every other train left with one open seat that could have filled with another single rider, and a train left every minute you could have put 60 more people per hour on that ride, or enough to fill 2 and 1/2 trains.
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Just a couple of G-force junkies!
The only one I have seen is on Apollo's Chariot. I was there about 20 times this year and the only time it was open was on the 4th of July. It really helped, I don't know why they don't use it all the time. A lot of seats get wasted each train.
I liked Wildfire's, then again I disliked it... It was really a hit or miss, many times I found the normal line to be shorter... It's never constant, that's for sure. Sometimes there's a bunch of empty seats, then there's none.
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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com