Knott's Berry Farm introduces line-cutting pass

^Of course not, but it sucks for those who cannot afford it.

Are we the two saddest people in the world? It's not even a hour into the new year and we have nothing better to do. :)

It is new year here in Chicago, happy new year.

Sad? A little, but it's ok *collective hugs*

Here's to a GREAT year for everything especially coaster riding :)

I don't understand focusing on the old model. Those that do not mind lines are still getting their opportunity. The park is now offering a new experience that was not available before. Think about all those folks that work swing or night shift that were not capable of getting to the park at opening hour. Now they can show up whenever they want, pay the premium, and get to experience most of the park in a short amount of time.

In a world where amusement parks are competing for entertainment dollars, speeding up the process makes sense. A lot of folks want instant gratification. The parks are figuring out to appease those customers.

I agree with Kause...we will probably talk in circles. But if your focus is on the "poor souls" who now have to wait longer...maybe you can stomach this change a little better if you focus on the group of "poor souls" that could not experience the parks under the old system (late sleepers, late workers, etc)...who now have a new opportunity. Under EVERY system we can always find heartfelt situations to feel sorry for. For three decades the night-shift workers have had inequal access to amusement parks. If they were capable of getting there on time, they were groggy-headed the whole day. :) Let us rejoice that these poor folks will now have an opportunity to experience Knott's Berry Farm with a clear mind and soul!

...when looked at from that perspective does it "feel" a bit better?

I went to Knotts thrice in '10. Once on a Tuesday/ Wednesday in August (school was out), and then on a Sunday in December, while they were running their Toys for Tots drive ($15 admission), which was significantly busier than the days in August.

Lines? What lines???

The only lines encountered were in Camp Snoopy. If the place ever gets busy, I wouldn't know it. At Xcelerator, we got three rides in a row without leaving the station, just letting us switch seats because there was hardly anybody at the station when we finished the circuit. The wait for Silver Bullet did get up to 15 minutes once, due to a one train operation and ssssssllllooooowwww dispatches. Pony Express and Sierra Sidewinder were also 15 minute waits generally (side note: Pony was 2 train operation that barely made a difference with the constant stacking on the brake run for long periods of time, but whatev).

The only lines I have ever experienced at Knotts were during Solace ERT times. Somewhat ironic, really.

Now, if they offer Hate to Wait during Solace, I might attend the event again.

Billy and Gonch, I was here for a short time after midnight last night, but I didn't post. So can I please be included in the "Saddest People in the World" Club? :)

About pay-to-cut, I just want to proclaim that I held the "it will fail because everyone will be angry about it" opinion for a short time after flashpass was first introduced. I haven't said that in years, and I don't recall hearing that from anyone else in a long time, as well.

It makes lines longer, and that's my biggest problem with it. Another problem that I have with it is that is can, in some cases, lower capacity. I believe that capacity, especially with larger crowds, should be most important for a business that operates rides and attractions. It shows that after they get your admission money, they actually care about your experience at their park that day.

I feel that I must purchase the Six Flags flashpass add-on in most cases, because too many people are cutting in front of me. I compare that to a form of blackmail.

With systems that limit it enough that it doesn't disrupt my experiance as much if I don't participate in it, I don't feel as bitter about it, because I don't feel that I MUST partake.

That's how I feel about it, still.

Here at sf Great America, Demon's (hehe) 5th car is roped off most of the season - as to reserve those seats for flash pass folks. Even when there are NO flash pass holders, the seats are not filled - no matter how long the line is. There are garbage cans in the queue's for those seats... so they go out empty. Even on Saturday with over hour lines.

NOT 'nice.'

Well, there is a fine balance between letting the trains go out faster, or letting them go out full. I don't know the answer, but that IS frustrating, nonetheless.

Just because you can find one instance of a park being stupid doesn't invalidate the need/desire/morality of premium queueing systems. It just indicates that particular park is being stupid.

There are garbage cans in the queue's for those seats... so they go out empty. Even on Saturday with over hour lines.

If you would have said just this part without naming the park, I would have said Six Flags. Yet we seem to hear how much better the park/chain is getting. Any park that hires people that make these types of decisions is simply not capable of changing. They either don't "get it" or have no desire to "get it." They are what they are.

How many bankrupsies does it take to get one to change their ways?

Personally I wouldn't pony up the $40 for the Hate to Wait pass. But some people will. It seems to me like Cedar Fair is testing a skip the line pass out in a year-round park to gauge interest. If it popular and manageable expect to see it at your local Cedar Fair park in the spring.

I fail to see the downside of this. A small percentage of park guests will pay for this system. Those that do help keep the gate under priced. I'm just glad they aren't revisiting Freeway. Free systems are pretty pointless. You still have to wait in line to get a Fastpass.

Plus, in my case - I come from the school of 92/93 CP Blue Streak operation, where safety came first then capacity was king.

The ride was rated at 1250 max/hr, but we hit 1300 every once in a while, and hit 1400 once as well! That was pairing people up and sending out trains before the 'bell'. Great times :) We let people wait for the front too...

So, personally, it's hard to watch so many empty seats going out an any given coaster - especially B&M's where there are long lines.

Mulfinator said:
Free systems are pretty pointless. You still have to wait in line to get a Fastpass.

I have probably used a hundred Fastpasses by now, and I've never waited in a line for one. Ever. It's far from pointless to me.

I guess the main issue with free systems is that more people tend to use them and the length of the standby line becomes extremely long.

A pay service would attract less users and have a lesser impact on those waiting in the main line.

Jeff said:

I have probably used a hundred Fastpasses by now, and I've never waited in a line for one. Ever. It's far from pointless to me.

I guess we have different experiences with the Fastpass. It could be the time of year traveled.

Rick_UK said:
I guess the main issue with free systems is that more people tend to use them and the length of the standby line becomes extremely long.

Obviously, so you don't use stand-by lines. I don't understand why this is such a burden for people.

Hey - I have a radical new idea - I'm surprised no one has thought of it.

Let's set up a 'line' , hmm - lets call it a queue line, and have this new concept start say, at a predetermined point before the ride, with metal bars, in a switch back type pattern, forming a 'path' of sorts all the way up to where the station is, and have everyone wait one at a time in this new thing called a 'line' until they reach the ride! WOW - what a concept!!

Your first mistake would be calling it a "queue line."

Besides, that concept sucks. I don't want to wait in one of those queue lines to ride, I want to walk on to the ride. :)

coastrnut said:
WOW - what a concept!!

Meh. That's how they used to do it.