Quick Queue Unlimited at BGW

Just nosing around the Busch Gardens Williamsburg site and noticed an option for Quick Queue Unlimited. Basically instead of the old "one FOL pass per included rides" Quick Queue, it's an "unlimited FOL access on the included rides" version.

When did this start? And why don't the other Busch - err, SeaWorld - parks offer the Unlimited option? Or will they be offering it?

Odd pricing... they're still offering the regular one for $15. The unlimited version is $40.

Not sure if it's worth it at that much more... you get 9 FOL opportunities for $15 ($1.67/ride), or unlimited FOL at 7 rides for $40. At that rate, you'd have to use it 24 times just to break even.

Also, Loch Ness is included in the standard version, but not the more expensive one.

...or you could just visit in June and find that the lines are so short the entire park (except, oddly, for Big Bad Wolf...the ride they retired) has walk-on conditions.

Yeah, that's always my choice. It's not hard to figure out when parks will be less busy (hint: it's not the days that they close at 11pm.) I'd be willing to pay for a fastpass if needed, but have only ever felt that I needed one once.

I think the difference in price is justifiable depending on your intentions.

I personally most likely wouldn't ride the water rides, but I'd love to hop on the coasters a few times each with little wait. $40 for the freedom to just play it by ear and do what I want might just work better.

And I wonder if LNM missing from the unlimited is simply an oversight. That seems weird.

But yeah, I've said it myself, common sense in visiting often defeats the need for this sort of thing, but it sure is nice that it's available if you happen to find yourself needing it.

Wow, Lost Kause hasn't chimed in on this yet?

Oh wait, it's not a Six Flags park. :)

Dare I answer these questions.... sigh...

Just don't be icky. ;) :)

Factual, simple answers are always appreciated. (yes/no works best, if possible)

And always remember that any criticism in park policy isn't a personal attack and should not be treated as such. Just because BGW does something stupid doesn't mean we don't like you or that you have to defend it as if it were your decision in some way.

^Translation: we'll still like you...just not as much :)

Agreed, Just dont read into everything I say in that way and you have a deal.

And dont be douchy.. ;) :)

As far as answers:

Whendid this start? -

Last Year

And why don't the other Busch - err, SeaWorld - parksoffer the Unlimited option?

Each park controls their own destiny.. They dont feel it within their best interest at this time.

Or will they be offering it?

Dont know yet.. No decision made Not this year.

And I wonder if LNM missing from the unlimited is simply an oversight. That seems weird. -

Not totally weird/Not oversight Design issues. Quick Queue "borrows" row 2 and you line up there. Unlimited funnels from a different location so you can get max ride and re ride times. There is no space in LNM queue for unlimited without being a safety issue.. They are currently looking into how to incorporate that at this time, but didnt want to hold unlimited for just that ride, as its lowest attended coaster anyways.

It's a deal. :)

That all makes sense.

Can't believe this slipped under my radar last season. I like to be up on all the latest FOL-access news. :)

Mamoosh said:
^Translation: we'll still like you...just not as much :)

::obtains end of line pass for Moosh:::

LOL Ken : )

Lord Gonchar said:

Can't believe this slipped under my radar last season. I like to be up on all the latest FOL-access news. :)

Yeah was going to mention that to you last year since I knew you were into that stuff when they released it. Kept forgetting...

Why would it be a good thing to offer this kind of thing during the busiest part of the season, when the lines are the longest? Wouldn't allowing people to ride all they want without waiting in line just make the wait times even longer for everyone else?

I like the limited ticket system that BGW offers better than anything else any other park offers. It is restrictive enough to only take away a few rides from us "regular folk" on a budget.

Offering unlimited rides will clog the lines more. For every person who buys into the unlimited system, there will be at least one more virtual person waiting in lines, artificially inflating the amount of people who are waiting in lines overall. Unlimited Quick Queue patrons will be like more than one person in the park, taking up line space. More people waiting in lines, both real and virtual, is nothing to get excited about.

Kudos to BGW for not including it on LNM, due to safety issues, if that's really the case. SFGAdv line cut system, for example, has several safety issues in the way it is implemented, and it causes trains to be dispatched at a slower rate, causing more of a demand for line the line cut system in the first place.

Lets hope that BGW doesn't get any ideas from SF on how to get the most from their line cut system. All it would take to be an even more profitable system would be:

1. closing down a few rides and attractions

2. and making the open ride's lines move slower, somehow

These two things would make the lines for the open rides even longer, and all the poor suckers would head straight to the Quick Queue booth. Six Flags Great Adventure demonstrates a great example of how to do this.

Chitown said:
Wow, Lost Kause hasn't chimed in on this yet?

Oh wait, it's not a Six Flags park. :)

But it still became about them somehow. :)

I mentioned SF in reply to Chitown's post. Ask and you shall receive. :)

I'm kinda bummed BGW would add this, for obvious reasons that have gotten discussed quite a bit in the past. To their credit though, I think they have some of the best operations out there. They really get people through the queue. Well... on some rides. Seems the 4-across B&M rides no body seems to know how to fill seats (while NOT assigning seats).

LostKause said:

Kudos to BGW for not including it on LNM, due to safety issues, if that's really the case.

Im pretty sure it really is :) Just no area in a tight space.

Course lets not speak of this like its the first year they had this system. I guess I default to Moosh or Dave who I walked around with last year.. Did the queues seem slow(er) even though the system was long since implemented?

::Moosh dont answer about Griffon on that ;) ::

I personally am a fan of all these park systems and dont see it changing my line experience that much to be problematic.

ridemcoaster said:
I personally am a fan of all these park systems and dont see it changing my line experience that much to be problematic.

Exactly. And it's not like it's rare or novel anymore. Most of the big parks have some sort of line management or FOL access in place. (pretty much only CF and their technophobe leader out of the loop)

It seems weird to me when I go to a larger park and something like that isn't available.

Seems so silly to still be having the bad/good discussion as opposed to talking about who has it, how to best use it and ways to improve/perfcect it - the same way we share tips and such on other aspects of visiting parks.