More Phone-Based Virtual Queue Solutions

From the linked article:

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But now Flamingo Land has introduced a high-tech solution to the problem - "virtual queuing" using mobile phones.

Visitors to the theme park near Pickering who join the pioneering Q-Buster scheme will be issued with a wristband and a unique nine-digit number which they text to register.

"Market research has shown that queuing for rides is the number one reason why people choose not to visit theme parks."

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Sounds a lot like the Cell-Q thing that was responsible for starting this entire thread in the first place.

Online ordering is the best. :)

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Lord Gonchar said (awhile back)

Would there be an issue in scanning bar codes from an electronic image? (honest question)

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Well I have an honest answer: Not much. In fact, it is already being done. Just the other day I bought some baseball tickets and they offered me the chance to get "Mobile Phone Ticketing" according to this FAQ:

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How do I get in to the event?

You will need to enter through a designated gate at the venue; this gate location will be specified in your purchase confirmation e-mail and in the text message you receive on your phone with your tickets. To gain entry, you'll need to retrieve the barcode from your messages inbox and present it to be scanned. As each Tickets@Phone barcode is scanned, a paper ticket is automatically printed and presented to you as you enter the venue. Each ticket holder must retain their own paper ticket throughout the event.

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Sure, they do give a paper ticket too, but I think, in the context of the "FastExpressPassLane", you're right, it could easily be eliminated.
lata, jeremy
-- Obama '08 (Proud Obamacan) *** Edited 3/7/2008 2:45:23 PM UTC by 2Hostyl***

Bring this one back from the dead again. I figure it's a good place to keep sticking the little mobile device things.

I mentioned Bill Gates and his visual recognition technology talk and suggested it might be a neat/useful technology for amusement parks. Discussion ensued.

Well, 18 months later and we have a real demonstration of augmented reality.

Now imagine that same concept - your phone's GPS, compass and camera to determine location - and then have the overlay information provided by the park. You get show times, ride waits, directions, restaurant menus, ride/meal/show reservations, character appearances, etc

That's what I envisioned when I originally posted that back in January '08. Right now we have the mobile sites and apps that offer basic info like wait times, but this has the potential to take it to a whole new level.

I find the augmented reality thing to be very interesting - especially if you think about it in a theme park context.

let me get this straght. You pay a fee to be notified by cell phone, when lines are short at an amusement park? that is the most lame ass idea I have ever heard of! I'll bet cell phone companies are salavating over that one, especially ones that charge for text messages.

What makes parks so sure that everyone who visits their park is even going to have a cell phone? And, what about those people who don't? Will the parks who adopt this idiotic system, offer a different system to those people who don't have cell phones...including the people who have cell phones, but don't want to use them for that purpose? Or, is the park going to be handing out these phones? And, trust that people will return them, with no penalty if the phone comes up missing...or damaged?

All these Pay extra for the chance to get things done quicker programs baffle me. And, what baffles me about it, is that people contiue to line up to pay for these services no matter how much it costs...or what it involves, without caring what effect it has on themselves or people around them. Not, to mention that the parks make a butload of cash, because some people are just too impatient...with money to burn.

Even if the phone service was just based on wait times, crowds, weather, traffic, whatever. How could you be sure that it is even accruate 100 percent of the time, and who would be in control of getting out the information? And, how do you know that control could be even trusted? I would be very cautious.

For example, I once went to Cedar Point, and, noticed that the line for Raptor looked medium full, yet the wait time at the entrance was marked at 2 hours. I asked the girl at the entrance if it was really a 2 hour wait, and she said no...we are kind of trying to discourage people from riding, so they will go on some of the other rides, so that the lines even out. If you want to go on, you can. But, I suggest finding a ride with a shorter line...otherwise this line cold be 3 hours long...who knows. Well, I waited in line, and it ended up being only 45 minutes.

So, I would question this system. I couldn't possibly be acurate. Too many things change in a park inviroment. unless you want to walk around with your phone all day waiting for updates...It's just nuts.

I'm speachless.

Timber-Rider said:
I'm spe{e}chless.

Could've fooled me.

What makes parks so sure that everyone who visits their park is even going to have a cell phone? And, what about those people who don't? Will the parks who adopt this idiotic system, offer a different system to those people who don't have cell phones...including the people who have cell phones, but don't want to use them for that purpose? Or, is the park going to be handing out these phones? And, trust that people will return them, with no penalty if the phone comes up missing...or damaged?

I'd imagine that, if the small percentage of guests who don't have a cell phone of their own had the option to rent one provided by the park, it would be handled in much the same way as the Qbot system is now.

As for accuracy, if it's implemented right and maintained well, it can be done. Whether or not a system like this is trustworthy would be irrelevent to you, however, because I have just a hunch* you wouldn't buy into it...

*All these Pay extra for the chance to get things done quicker programs baffle me. And, what baffles me about it, is that people contiue to line up to pay for these services no matter how much it costs...or what it involves, without caring what effect it has on themselves or people around them. Not, to mention that the parks make a butload of cash, because some people are just too impatient...with money to burn.

You are like my clone 5 years ago, timber-rider...lol

You can get a Go-Phone from ATT for under $20, and the rates are pretty cheap too. If you have a job and friends, you pretty much need a cell phone these days.

I'll agree that virtual queuing sucks the fairness out of the length of time people wait for lines, and someone who uses virtual queuing get a lot more rides in than someone who doesn't, so I'm with you there. If it just told what the shortest lines in the park were though, I'd be all for it...especially if it was only 99 cents!

Sigh.

Timber-Rider said:
I'm speachless.

Me too.

LostKause said:You are like my clone 5 years ago, timber-rider...lol

Now I'm the "speachless" one (and performing a text type test...of a type). :)

edited for html dyslexia... ;)

If we really cared about people around us, wouldn't we be donating our money to charity instead of going to the park in the first place?

eightdotthree said:
I am in the group that like to have all of my contacts, my calendar etc, digital, and syncing back and fourth between my computer, phone and the web. All that information goes with me where ever I go so I can send post cards, get in touch with clients etc and not have to carry around a large address book and day planner. YMMV.

That said, I rarely ever bring my phone into a park, if I am at my local park Kennywood, I sometimes will, but if I am out of town, on vacation, my phone does not come with me.

Wow have things changed since I wrote this in 2007! I now have an iPhone and carry it everywhere.