Does six flags have the answer to line jumping?

[thrillrider]

When at six flags over Georgia this past weekend, I found this sign in several of the lines. I don't get it. Someone had told me that they had actually called the number, only to be told that they could not do anything unless an employee actually witnessed the line jumping.

 

So whats the point of posting the number, if they can't do anything?

[jamesdillaman]

Like having an alarm sign in your yard when you don't actually have an alarm... It's a deterrent, or at least they hope it is.

[themeparkman25]

Deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[thrillrider]

Another thing I found weird, was that they were handing out numbered tickets at goliath. The ride only had a 15 min wait, and they were not even checking the numbers on the platform.

[jamesdillaman]

^ That actually is a way to catch people. Presumably, if someone had line jumped, they wouldn't have their ticket. You don't have to check everybody because they count on people to call out linejumpers. They can then verify that they don't have the correct number and kick them out of line. It's a way to catch them with more evidence than just the word of other patrons. Many parks will randomly use this strategy if reports of line jumping for certain rides get out of hand...

[themeparkman25]

Deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[thrillrider]

So basically what Disney has been doing with the fast pass system.

[themeparkman25]

Deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[thrillrider]

I agree.

 

I would be willing to pay a little more at the gate, if I did not have to stand in lines all day. I do get the flash pass when I am at a park, and I do find myself checking out the gift shops and snacking on things that I would not of if I was waiting in lines all day.

 

Same thing at Disney as well.

[themeparkman25]

Deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[jamesdillaman]

^ And when the system goes down? Mass chaos?

[themeparkman25]

Deleted by author

Edited January 20, 2011 by themeparkman25

[YoshiFan]

Every time I have seen line cutting reported at Great Adventure, the cutters don't get in trouble. Last year 2 guards went into the line for Superman to open up some more switchback chains and a group cut in the middle of that, they were reported to the guards and they not only didn't get kicked out of the park as the parks claims is what is supposed to happen, they weren't removed from line. The cutters then said to the group that reported them that they were from the hood in Philly and not to mess with them (their exact words). Again in Superman in 2008, a group was reported to security, they did nothing.

 

Even in Nitro's line, I saw someone smoking in line, the guard walked right by them in line and didn't say a word.

 

What they need is people monitoring the line at all times, at Dorney when there is a line for a coaster, even a short wait they have security standing in the line, sometimes on an elevated platform. I have seen line cutters dealt with much better there. Twice I saw people thrown out of line, another time security was not at a line (for a flat) but needed to be called and within a couple minutes they were there. The cutters were going to be removed from the line but I think got ejected from the park for then cursing at the people that reported them.

[thrillrider]

They have this lifeguard chair set up at KD, to watch for line jumpers. I have only seen it used once in 4 visits to the park.

[Jerrykoala2112]

The highlight of my trip to SFGADv was the security standing around the queue's for the river rapids ride. They always sent the cutters and the group they were with to the back of the line, I was pleased

[SFA Regular]

(Thrill Rider) is right about Kings Dominion. At Six Flags America they use to have life chairs set up at all the major rides like Batwing, Superman, and Jokers Jinx. Shortly after Dan Snyder took over the company and fired our park GM, which would have been in 2006, you didn't see anymore of the security guards in the life chairs. I wonder why? Back when we had our old park general manager, we had security guards in the life chairs all day long. When one went on break or finished their shift, another one was there to replace him/her. This way, there was no line cutting. Now all they do is have a security guard stand in the station for like 5 minutes, if not even that long, and pretend to watch things. All major rides should have security sitting in life chairs throughout the whole day to stop line jumping and to keep the line moving once inside the station.

 

With our new CEO, Alexander Weber, being from Paramounts, he should have a quick solution for this. I would start building more rides that have a themed line queue. That way, they can put up walls in order to prevent people from jumping the line. Don't make any more line queue's where the only thing you have separating the are hand rails. Flight of Fear at Kings Dominion is nearly impossible to line cut with the line always being packed and the wall for the haunted house blocking off the rest of the line queue.

 

Additional theme's inside the line is one solution.

[DBru]

^There you go. You can be the case and point for my argument that full scale q bots would make sense for a park. The guest wants to ride Coaster XYZ, but it currently has a 1.5 hour queue. So guest can go see a show and be bombarded with snacks, go sit down in a restaurant, or maybe just browse for that perfect gift for their nephew. Sure the initial investment costs would be high but I have to believe the roi would be pretty quick.

 

Further, you throw RFID technology in the device and then have scanners at the exit to ensure no one walks out with it.

 

I think this is an awesome idea.

 

Would it be cheaper just to print out small receipts at each (major) attraction for guests, telling them what time they should report to the ride?

[thrillrider]

It would be cheaper, but I thought Disney own the patent on that type of system?

[DOCTOR DOOM!!!]

I am not sure how feasible this is financially and in actuality, but I think if every guest was given a q bot at entry then you would be able to eliminate line jumping. And from the parks perspective, the guests are then happier that they are not waiting in line and end up spending money in stores and dining establishments.

 

 

Didn't Cedar Point try this a good while ago with their more popular rides?! EPIC FAIL!!!

[thrillrider]

They had a hideous hand stamp type system.

 

It did not work well, because it was designed to fail.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Every time I have seen line cutting reported at Great Adventure, the cutters don't get in trouble. Last year 2 guards went into the line for Superman to open up some more switchback chains and a group cut in the middle of that, they were reported to the guards and they not only didn't get kicked out of the park as the parks claims is what is supposed to happen, they weren't removed from line. The cutters then said to the group that reported them that they were from the hood in Philly and not to mess with them (their exact words). Again in Superman in 2008, a group was reported to security, they did nothing.

 

Even in Nitro's line, I saw someone smoking in line, the guard walked right by them in line and didn't say a word.

 

What they need is people monitoring the line at all times, at Dorney when there is a line for a coaster, even a short wait they have security standing in the line, sometimes on an elevated platform. I have seen line cutters dealt with much better there. Twice I saw people thrown out of line, another time security was not at a line (for a flat) but needed to be called and within a couple minutes they were there. The cutters were going to be removed from the line but I think got ejected from the park for then cursing at the people that reported them.

 

What can you expect?These thugs aren't afraid of the "rent a cop" style security officials that most every park chain hires....now if they were to replace their rent a cop personnel with full fledged state/county PD officers then we'd probably see some results.

[YoshiFan]

Maybe that is why line cutting is taken more seriously at Dorney, I don't know about other CF parks but some of the guards at Dorney carry guns.

[BeemerBoy]

Tasers. The answer is tasers.

[Meteornotes]

^The answer is always Tasers. Or sharks.

 

dt

[DBru]

It would be cheaper, but I thought Disney own the patent on that type of system?

 

Oops...I guess they do. Haha. But I'm sure the idea could be altered a bit so that it wouldn't fit the terms of the patent.

 

 

^^^And I'm not really sure what to think about park security guards carrying guns. That doesn't really seem to emit a "family friendly" atmosphere...but, whatever works, I guess?