Flash Passes & Other "Queue Skipping" systems

[ginzo]

IMO it is a sucker purchase.

 

It might be a sucker purchase for a visit to one's home park. But for a short visit to a large, out-of-town park it can be a real life saver.

 

How else am I going to get unlimited El Toro and Nitro rides on a Saturday in July?

[Scaparri]

Eh, I've never really cared for them, but that's because I never had a problem with the traditional way and I usually can't afford/don't want to pay the extra money. It annoyed me for the longest time because the system worked so well at Disney for free. Then places like Six Flags decided to charge a ton extra for it. If you can afford it though, I'm sure it's worth it. I don't feel the system is unfair in anyway, for the exact same reasons that Robb and so many others have pointed out. I know if it was something I was willing to cough up the money for on a regular basis, I'd probably love it.

 

I'm sure I'll be more accepting of it come next month, seeing how I'll not only be using it for the first time, but probably be using it three or four times within a couple weeks. Hopefully it'll save my arse during my Saturday visits to SFOT and SFFT, much like Ginzo just said.

[carolinacaniac]

FlashPasses are like $20 to $30 per person in most cases. And if you're already going on a big coaster trip that is costing you thousands of dollars, that's nothing.

 

I can see why people don't want to spend the money, but it is a choice to not spend that money. I am one of those who choose to go to a park, and may only have an extra 30 bucks or so to spend. I usually rather get a t-shirt if it is a park I have not gone to rather than the q-bot. If I had the extra cash then I would probably get one, but agian that is my choice. I fully agree with Robb that there is nothing wrong with people paying more for a better experience.

 

I see it at work in the meat department all the time. Some people will buy a tenderloin fillet for $24.99/lb versus a semi-boneless ribeye for $5.99/lb. It is a choice.

 

I can't think of the last time I went to Six Flags Over Georgia (my home park = several times a year) without one. If it is any weekend or any summer day at the park, I will buy a Gold Flash Pass. It is well worth it.

 

Would you recommend one for an early march saturday? Melissa and I are going on March 8th and I am debating on waiting to see how crowds are or if I just want to get one ahead of time

[ginzo]

Would you recommend one for an early march saturday? Melissa and I are going on March 8th and I am debating on waiting to see how crowds are or if I just want to get one ahead of time

 

I went to SFoG on a Sunday last March and the place was dead. I scored ~10 rides on Goliath with hardly any waiting. I rode every coaster in the place, except Deja and one of the kiddies because they were both closed.

 

Saturday might be busier, but you might be able to do OK by just hitting the more popular rides (Goliath, S:UF, Batman) first.

[krazekiddd]

I'm 100% for these systems. On the MidWest trip, we were given gold q-bots for SFGAm and without we would have been totally screwed. 4 hours to complete that park was awesome. If not, I could see us only getting 3 or 4 rides that day with the amount of people there.

 

With some people saying half the fun is waiting in lines with their friends, I'm going to have to disagree. Half the fun was being able to go at our own pace and enjoy the park and goof around knowing that we had plenty of time to do what we wanted.

[YoshiFan]

Spending more money at a restaurant or on an airplane seat doesn't affect the experience of those who chose to spend less. Yeah those who spent more will have a nicer meal or flight but it won't stop those who don't from having a nice time. Flash pass does, as non flashpass users get on less rides at the expense of those who bought flash pass

 

I just don't understand why it is so accepted that flash pass is ok. 10 years ago, no parks had it and everyone was content waiting their turn then all of the sudden Six Flags decides they can charge for this service and most don't seem to have a problem. If a store tried it, where for $5.00 extra on a busy Saturday during the holiday season you could skip to the front of the checkout line, people would be furious.

 

 

Something else to consider about capacity is how they block of certain rows on coasters for flash pass. Skull Mountain seats 28 riders, one of the middle cars is blocked off for flash pass even on days when the park is dead. Now if there is a line and no one from flash pass is riding, that car goes out empty each time. That's 1/7 of the train not being used which makes the line longer than neccessary.

 

The cost is more signifcant than $20 - $30 a person, especially if you go for gold flash pass, gold for 1 person is $71! With more people, the cost goes down but even with 4 people it's around $50 a person. So for a family of 4 it's, $160 admission, $200 flashpass, $15 parking, $100 food ($50 a meal) for a total of $475 and that doesn't include playing games or buying any items from stores.

 

I know it could also be said if I hate flash pass so much I shouldn't go to a park that has it. My answer to that is I won't visit on days where there are a lot of flash pass users. I bought a Great Adventure season pass this year because of the $59.99 special price (underpriced, I know). I will use it in April especially on weekdays in April, and weekdays in May, where the park will hopefully be dead. Once it gets into the summer season, I might visit once or twice on a weekday but there is no chance I'll visit in August or during Frightfest.

 

Had there been no flash pass, I'd probably visit more since lines would be shorter overall but I'm probably not the type of person SF wants visiting their parks anyway since I refuse to pay $6.49 for a slice of pizza or $4.99 for a soft pretzel and only spend money in the arcade (and that's only because I have no arcades near me and they have games that I can't find anywhere else)

[Teacups Make Me Sick]

Spending more money at a restaurant or on an airplane seat doesn't affect the experience of those who chose to spend less. Yeah those who spent more will have a nicer meal or flight but it won't stop those who don't from having a nice time. Flash pass does, as non flashpass users get on less rides at the expense of those who bought flash pass

 

 

I think you have a very valid point.

 

The system is wrong..its going to go on regardless b/c people open there wallets to the idea...but heck, when we live in a world where people buy there dogs gormet treats...they throw away there money.

[ernierocker]

10 years ago, no parks had it and everyone was content waiting their turn then all of the sudden Six Flags decides they can charge for this service and most don't seem to have a problem.

 

 

10 years ago or so, I went to Six Flags Over Georgia on a Saturday. It was the only day we could go that year. We got to ride 5 rides all day with every line being 90 to 120 minutes. I was not at all content with that arrangement. No one had an option back then but to wait. We were paying 40 bucks to only get to ride 20% of the park's rides. Obviously, people were not content with this or we wouldn't even have Flash Pass systems. They just didn't make this up. It was a solution to a problem.

I think the reason why Six Flags charges for their system is due to staffing issues. Six Flags could not handle the amount of users if the system was free like Disney can.

 

Now the capacity issues that arise from this system being in place depends on the parks itself. I have seen the system work very well at Dollywood. Maybe some of the naysayers have problems with how the system is run, not just the system itself.

[Purplepills]

Something else to consider about capacity is how they block of certain rows on coasters for flash pass. Skull Mountain seats 28 riders, one of the middle cars is blocked off for flash pass even on days when the park is dead. Now if there is a line and no one from flash pass is riding, that car goes out empty each time. That's 1/7 of the train not being used which makes the line longer than neccessary.

 

I see what you're saying, but frankly that is down to bad management/planning at the park.

 

 

Personally I like the idea of flash passes, and single rider lines. Mainly because I don't hold a season pass to any parks, and I don't often get to go to parks. When I do it costs me about $90 anyway in ticket prices and fuel, and I have to travel for well over 3 hours to get to one. So if I do all this, I want to get the best out of my day. Granted we always get there at opening, and get a few rides in with short wait times, but for an extra $14 or so I would rather guarantee myself another 4 rides with 5 to 10 min waits each than spend 2 hours+ of our day waiting for them.

 

We don't go on exceptionally busy days anyway, and if possible we go on a day when the flash passes aren't even available because its so quiet. I have read on other forums about people buying flash passes and having to wait an hour on a busy day in the flash pass line at Thorpe Park, in this case it's obviously been grossly oversold (in my opinion).

 

I'm for it in my current position, however should I live near a park and have a season pass I'd probably find myself a little less for it. But then in that case I wouldn't go on a busy day anyway.

[carolinacaniac]

^ Actually I am going March 1 and this may be one of the first times I don't get a Flash Pass. My guess is that the weather will directly affect the crowds. If it's cold and cloudy, it probably won't be too bad. I'm going to SFOG on 3/1 hoping it won't be crowded, but I am willing to pay for one if necessary.

 

I'll let you know how bad the crowds were once I get back though. It will be a good prediction of the following weekend.

 

I appreciate it! I think that your visit will be a good indicator of how the crowds will be with our visit.

 

Thank you for your info too ginzo. Sundays early in the season are always good for multiple rides, which is what I originally planed, but then Melissa and I saw that the Nascar race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway was that same weekend, and we thought it would be fun to check it out (especially since they had a deal for student tickets at 19 bucks each). So that is why we are doing SFOG on Saturday.

[SharkTums]

Spending more money at a restaurant or on an airplane seat doesn't affect the experience of those who chose to spend less. Yeah those who spent more will have a nicer meal or flight but it won't stop those who don't from having a nice time. Flash pass does, as non flashpass users get on less rides at the expense of those who bought flash pass

 

But it does!

 

First class gets the better Flight Attendants. They are friendlier, more effiicient, etc. The Coach Flight Attendants are worse, and treat you crapier. First Class gets cleaner nicer bathrooms that coach is not allowed to use. Because of that, there are longer lines for the bathrooms in coach and they are dirtier. If there were no classes on the airline, everyone would have access to more bathrooms and nicer flight attendants.

 

If the 'skip the line' programs bother you so much, go to parks on days where you don't need them and people don't buy them!

[robbalvey]

Spending more money at a restaurant or on an airplane seat doesn't affect the experience of those who chose to spend less.

You really are just looking for reason to justifty your point aren't you?

 

So you are saying that standing around the airport for LONGER while the first class passengers board first doesn't affect the experience?

 

So you're saying that the people stuck way up in the nosebleed seats of a concert are getting just as equal as a show as the people on the floor?

 

So you're saying that someone who has rented a Dodge Neon is just as comfortable as the person who has rented the Ford Mustang?

 

If a store tried it, where for $5.00 extra on a busy Saturday during the holiday season you could skip to the front of the checkout line, people would be furious.

That doesn't even make any sense! How often does a store checkout have an hour to two hour wait. If you are going to make comparisons, at least make GOOD comparisons.

 

Something else to consider about capacity is how they block of certain rows on coasters for flash pass. Skull Mountain seats 28 riders, one of the middle cars is blocked off for flash pass even on days when the park is dead. Now if there is a line and no one from flash pass is riding, that car goes out empty each time.

Bullshit. They were filling that car with riders if there was no one in Flash Pass when we were there this past year. Stop lying at an attempt to prove your point.

 

The cost is more signifcant than $20 - $30 a person, especially if you go for gold flash pass, gold for 1 person is $71!

 

Yes. *GOLD* Flash Pass. Again, someone is making a *CHOICE* to spend that additional money.

 

So for a family of 4 it's, $160 admission, $200 flashpass, $15 parking, $100 food ($50 a meal) for a total of $475 and that doesn't include playing games or buying any items from stores.

Even with your obviously inflated estimations at a sad attempt to make a point, it's still cheaper than a movie if you spend all day at a park.

 

Honestly, dude, you're grasping for reasoning, and it's very pathetic.

 

I have also been on both sides of the line when a queue jumping system is used. How often do HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE go passing you by?

 

Almost never.

 

At a Six Flags park, for example, while waiting in an average line you may see 20 or 30 people come up with a Flash Pass ticket or Q-Bot. If you're going to get bent out of shape over that, dude, you need Anger Management classes.

 

The place where I see the people get frustrated the most by it, is DISNEY. And their system is FREE.

 

You are sounding like one of those people who "can't afford" something, therefore you're going to hate it. If you can't afford it, here is some advice for you: MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES

 

At least on how you spend your money. And if you don't want to make different choices, don't complain about it because you had just an much of an opprotunity as the person who passed you up in line, to do exactly the same.

 

I don't complain about the people sitting in first class, because I choose to spend those dollars buying something else, like Flash Pass systems at every park I visit.

 

I choose to eat at less expensive restaurants because I choose to spend those dollars buying something else, like Flash Pass systems at every park I visit.

 

I choose to rent the Dodge Neon because I choose to spend those dollars buying something else, like Flash Pass systems at every park I visit.

 

 

These types of systems have been VERY well recevied by guests at every park they have been offered at. They are not going away.

 

Deal with it.

 

I'm probably not the type of person SF wants visiting their parks anyway

Then why do you even care or are posting in this thread in the first place?

 

--Robb "Some people just like to hear themselves talk..." Alvey

[denning]

The biggest problem with fast passes is getting spoiled by fast passes.

 

I am a newlywed and my wife has started to accompany to parks, and we started with the big ones.

 

Disneyland with a private guide (we won it in a contest)

Six Flags Great Adventure with a Gold Qbot

And then Universal Orlando staying onsite with unlimited express.

 

Having experienced the joy of "fastpass", we went to Cedar Point this summer and had a miserable time. Once you have experienced the joys of not waiting in line, doing the rides at your pace, waiting an hour plus for 90 seconds is unbearable.

 

Even with Disney's fastpass, you can go for lunch, a walk, ride another ride while waiting, instead of being stuck in a long, boring queue.

 

As it has been said above, when you factor in all of the costs of themeparking, even the gold qbot is the biggest steal there is.

 

At this point, even if money is tight we would rather go to a park every other year and do it right with fastpass, then go every year and wait in line.

 

I just hope that Behemoth brings to wonderland a nice fastpass system.

 

Heres to institutionalized bribery with respect to lines!

[ginzo]

This is one of my biggest pet peeves at theme parks - when guests waiting in line get mad at me when walking past them with my Gold Flash Pass.

 

No way. That's part of the fun. The best is when the same group of people keep sneering at you as you get 5 cycles in the time that it takes them to get through about half the line.

 

I remember hearing someone say "you know I'm getting sick of that" as I walked by them for the 5th or 6th time in the line for El Toro.

[SharkTums]

^^^LOL!! I totally know how you feel!

 

When I go to parks that don't have any kind of system I get so angry!!!!

[YoshiFan]

bull$#!%. They were filling that car with riders if there was no one in Flash Pass when we were there this past year. Stop lying at an attempt to prove your point.

 

I saw it myself last year. I didn't see one person with a flash pass entering the ride and they kept the car blocked off every time I was at the ride (4 times over a 6 hour visit)

 

I'm probably not the type of person SF wants visiting their parks anyway

Then why do you even care or are posting in this thread in the first place?

 

Because even if SF doesn't want me there, I still am visiting the park so I care because it affects my visit to the park.

[carolinacaniac]

I recall going to SFGAdv the same week El Toro opened, and I did see bunches of people going through with Q-Bots, but was it those with the Q-bots I was angry with? No. Was it Six Flags I was angry with? No. I was not angry at anyone, and that is because, as Robb said, I made the choice not to get one. I waited in-line like all of the other people who also chose not to get one, and my ride was just as enjoyable. If other people want to spend the money on a q-bot, cool, go right ahead.

 

And as far as saying that experiences at resturants and airlines and other such things are not effected the same way is not true. I have sat 7 rows up from the rink at a Carolina Hurricanes game, and I have also sat in the last row on the top deck. They are two compltely different experiences, but I chose to do each of those, and I don't see why I should be. Just as how I don't see how I should be angry with Six Flags for people choosing to pay for a q-bot.

[robbalvey]

Having experienced the joy of "fastpass", we went to Cedar Point this summer and had a miserable time. Once you have experienced the joys of not waiting in line, doing the rides at your pace, waiting an hour plus for 90 seconds is unbearable.

Agreed. I hate that Cedar Fair and Busch Parks have not implemented such a system yet.

 

But heck, if a person wants to buy into a product that promotes spending more $...thats fine by me...I just wanted to give my 2 cents.

That theory is flawed anyway since so many parks have vendors in long lines for more popular rides. So even if you are standing in line, you STILL have the ability to *choose* to spend more money.

 

I feel like I waste so much time in line when I could be doing other things. And if I choose to spend more money in the park instead of waiting in line, I'll do it.

 

A park is out to make money. If they have figured out a way to convince you to spend more money, they have reached their goal!

 

bull$#!%. They were filling that car with riders if there was no one in Flash Pass when we were there this past year. Stop lying at an attempt to prove your point.

 

I saw it myself last year. I didn't see one person with a flash pass entering the ride and they kept the car blocked off every time I was at the ride (4 times over a 6 hour visit)

Well, we saw differently. Obviously they must fill that car at some point, so perhaps you just witnessed bad operations? It does happen from time to time even at the best parks.

 

I'm probably not the type of person SF wants visiting their parks anyway

Then why do you even care or are posting in this thread in the first place?

 

Because even if SF doesn't want me there, I still am visiting the park so I care because it affects my visit to the park.

 

Why are you targeting just Six Flags? Do you not go to Universal parks? Disney Parks? Dollywood? Would you not go to Alton Towers? Thorpe Park?

 

You are being completely unreasonable and unfair.

 

--Robb

[Hercules]

I guess I'm what you might call a traditionalist. I think part of the experience of the park is standing in line with the hot sun beating down on you, trying to make meaningless conversation with the people in front of you, getting fed up with people trying to cut you, and steping in sticky lemonade and cotton candy messes. Of course, it does get a little old after a while, but for me, the entire experience of the park is how the line moves, how people treat each other in the line, and see how well the park keeps the queue healthy looking. However, if I had a chance to get something at Disney, Universal, or another park that I don't really see myself getting to a lot in my life, then I would jump at the chance at it. I just don't see myself paying $60 extra at a Six Flags park. I'll hang out with the punks in line all day before I even think about doing that.

 

If you are someone that gets the boosts up the line, good for you. I'm certainly not one of the people the heckle and snear. Though, it is pretty funny to watch people heckle and snear.

[ginzo]

A park is out to make money. If they have figured out a way to convince you to spend more money, they have reached their goal!

 

And the more money they take in the more they have to reinvest into the park in terms of upkeep and new attractions. How is this a bad thing?

[robbalvey]

And the more money they take in the more they have to reinvest into the park in terms of upkeep and new attractions. How is this a bad thing?

Some people aren't smart enough to figure that out.

 

Though, it is pretty funny to watch people heckle and snear.

It is...absolutely...but it's even funnier to do laps around those people and ride multiple times while they wait!

 

In fact, I would say that the more someone heckle's, the more inclined I am to come back around again. So it works both ways, really.

 

--Robb

[Mr.Six]

Totally! That means a whole NEW ride to stand in line for!

 

-Mike

[YoshiFan]

I am targeting Six Flags because I feel like they are worse then other parks in terms of trying to empty your pockets. They have the highest parking, food and drink prices and the VIP combined with flash pass just adds to it.

 

There were those rumors of the no re-entry policy to get you to spend more in the park (and it was even on the SF web page for a short time). Then there was the problem at SFNE with that law trying to get passed to make it illegal for anyone else but SF to charge for parking.

 

Would I go to those parks that were mentioned? Probably but only on a day where I could avoid lines and line cutting (unless it was very minimal), Disney being the exception since everyone can use Fast Pass. Dollywood doesn't seem as bad since the price for Q-Bot is much more reasonable but I still don't like it.

[Hercules]

And the vendors aren't placed to annoy you. They wouldn't be putting the vendors into the line if they weren't going to make money off of it. They do things like stragetic planning. If a park knows that a vendor going through a line is going to come back with zero of the 36 Icee's that he just went out with 30 minutes ago, of course they are going to send him back through that line again and again until nobody wants to buy anything anymore. Why mock people if they want to spend money? If you don't want to buy the stuff, then don't. I'm sure they aren't hassling you with some big sales pitch to get you to buy a candy bar. How is it an annoyance?

[BeemerBoy]

I can't afford to buy FlashPasses everytime I visit a park. You know what I can afford though? I can afford to use the knowledge I've acquired from enthusiast sites like TPR to efficiently plan park visits during "dead" times, thus eliminating the need for FlashPasses. I win.