Kennywood (8/7/10)

But, if I pay $15 to have my spot held in line - since I've actually waited the time (just while sitting at the 'Patch or whatever), I should be able to choose my seat just as anyone else who waited.

I don't understand what's so hard to grasp about virtual waits. The person still waits, they just wait somewhere else.

...or while doing something else.

I don't get it. How many people could you possibly have seen ride in front of you via VIP while in line? Does an additional one or two train wait really make that much of a difference?

And I agree, the program should be open to any of the seats. Otherwise it loses value in my opinion. I didn't consider BGW's Quick Queue when I realized they had specific rows reserved for their program. If I pay the extra money, I want to sit where I want.

Carrie M. said:
If I pay the extra money, I want to sit where I want.

If I pay extra, I just don't want to wait.

I'm not a seat diva. :)

Well, pardon me. I guess everyone's different.

Is that what you say when you cut in front of some poor sap who has been waiting in line for God knows how long and take his seat?

Heartless seat diva.

tsk. tsk.

Yep. Right after I wave my pass in their face and call them a sucka.

Nothin' but the best for my ass. That's my motto.

:)

Carrie M. said:
Nothin' but the best for my ass. That's my motto.

That would also be a good motto for Charmin Ultra.

The Mole said:
I'm just saying don't take the first row or back row, where people wait even longer to get on those. Hell, have a special row or two just for the VIP Tour so people getting in those lines know that they might have to wait longer.

It doesn't seem like you know how the system works.

Everyone in every line waits just as long for the VIP'ers. They sell one train per hour or half-hour, and the seats for the VIP people are assigned.

If you're in the middle row and it's an hour wait, your delay due to them will be a maximum of two trains. If you're in the front row, your delay will be a maximum of two trains. If you're in the back row, guess what? Your wait will be a maximum of two trains.

Two trains * 1:20-ish ride cycle = a delay of a whole 2:40, even if you're waiting for the front or back row. A one hour wait just became a little under 1:03. A half-hour wait is now about 31 minutes. Quite the inconvenience.

Good luck with that, man. I've been trying to explain it for years now.

WOW! I get home from a brief camping trip and I started a good debate. Anyways, my main concern with VIP Coaster Tour is getting the most popular seats which people wait exceptionally long times to get. When Paramount's Kings Island did Gold Pass, they had a car marked as the gold pass section. I remember on Son of Beast it was the second to last car. Even if they had a choice of which seat they want at Kennywood, the front and back should be for those who choose to wait longer for them.

But with Kennywood's VIP system, the most you are talking is a one train wait every 1/2 hour. How can that really be construed as a big deal?

Do they try to sell out every seat in a coaster train twice? I thought there was just one slot per seat, per ride per hour, and once those were filled up that was it.

Regardless, this is one case of a a pay-to-cut system being used in thoughtful moderation. It really doesn't impact the system the way some other parks exploit it, which is one of the reasons why I actually used it (and didn't feel particularly bad, either).

For the VIP tour, you are exactly right. It's only one train at the top of the hour. But they also sell individual passes that run on the 1/2 hour. Figuring this coaster has the longest line, I'm assuming they are selling those out, too, which would make it one train every half hour (VIP at the top of the hour and individual passes at the bottom.)

But it could also be less depending on how many of each pass type are sold. It's also possible fewer people will purchase the entire VIP package if it's not warranted for the other coasters. Then you'd only be looking at one train an hour for the individual passes.

But worst case scenario, it's one train every half hour. It may be even less than that.

I know its just one train every so often, but it's the principle that annoys me. I'm firm in my belief that the most popular seats, front and back, are to be reserved for those whom have waited the duration of the line. I would be much more tolerant if the VIP prohibited front or back seat rides. Believe me, I wasn't the only one complaining when I endured two operation stoppages just to have my chance delayed again for pay to cut. Yes, I waited an extra two minutes, but it's the principle that annoys me.

AJFelice said:
I'm firm in my belief that the most popular seats, front and back, are to be reserved for those whom have waited the duration of the line.

You're completely missing the point. Someone who has paid for VIP, does, in fact, wait the duration of the line. They way the same amount of time, just somewhere else.

Either way, I'm not really picky about seats, so you can have the front or back. It won't ruin my experience.

I still don't understand the difference if you have to wait two extra trainloads in the middle, or two extra trainloads in the front. It's still two trains, and it's your choice to wait longer for what you consider "premium" seats.

What's really ironic, is that the very same people who have a problem with VIP, take no issue with ERT for themselves or certain groups. That's kind of the same thing.

I guess it depends on whether the ERT in question is during the park's normal hours of operation -- which would make it pretty much the same thing -- or if it were outside those hours, in which case it would have no impact on regular riders whatsoever.