Single-Use Fast Lane Arrives At Kings Dominion

[Ryan Carter]

Kings Dominion has marked the debut of Single Use Fast Lanes which allows guests to purchase 1 time priority access to Flight Of Fear, Backlot Stunt Coaster, and Tumbeli. Prices start at $12.50 per ride and can be purchased at these carts right in front of the ride entrances. We have been seeing these recently appear at parks throughout the Cedar Fair chain starting off with Kings Island, then Carowinds, and now Kings Dominion. I think this is a great opportunity for those who just want to pay to skip a long line just for 1 ride without the need of having to pay a lot of money for all day access to the Fast Lane wristband. All day Fast Lane wristbands are still available for purchase online.

 

[Zachary]

My problem with this is honestly just that it's a manned cart. Especially on busy days where someone may desire a single ride Fast Lane, that employee could (read: should) be making a positive impact on the guest experience somewhere else in the park.

One employee is enough to open an additional drink booth to cut down on drink lines. Add two of these employees to a coaster platform to significantly decrease load times and increase capacity. One employee is all it takes to add a single rider line to most attractions–that would boost hourly capacity too. Hell, on these busy days, I'm sure that one employee could be making a difference simply sweeping paths.

Basically, wasting precious manpower like this seems really shitty to me. Replace these carts with automated kiosks or have a sign directing people to a nearby gift shop/photo counter where they can buy single ride FastLane for the attraction in question. The park could still make their money without the opportunity cost of stealing an employee away from a more important job.

 

[Coasternerd]

If the way Busch has structured their staff is similar to Kings Dominion’s staff, then the person running the cart is likely under merchandise. The nearest gift shop to Flight of Fear is the i305 gift shop, and the nearest to Backlot and Tumbili is the Jungle X gift shop. Guests would have to walk quite a ways just to grab a single use FastLane. And, if it is similar to BGW’s setup, a person in merchandise can’t cross train in a completely different department (I.e., merchandise would not be able to go work, say, Anaconda). The only time I’ve seen that is lifeguards from Soak City. My understanding is that the guards and ride operators have to undergo the same general training procedures.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[warfelg]

If the way Busch has structured their staff is similar to Kings Dominion’s staff, then the person running the cart is likely under merchandise. The nearest gift shop to Flight of Fear is the i305 gift shop, and the nearest to Backlot and Tumbili is the Jungle X gift shop. Guests would have to walk quite a ways just to grab a single use FastLane. And, if it is similar to BGW’s setup, a person in merchandise can’t cross train in a completely different department (I.e., merchandise would not be able to go work, say, Anaconda). The only time I’ve seen that is lifeguards from Soak City. My understanding is that the guards and ride operators have to undergo the same general training procedures.

Just my 2 cents.

I feel like this strengthens the argument for @Zachary ’s point.

I would say additionally - I don’t think these should be right in front of rides. They should be out of the way a bit. 1 - I think right in front of the ride looks tacky and money grab like. 2 - it will prevent major clogging at tide entrances if they are in open plazas away from the ride entrances.

 

[rswashdc]

I feel like this strengthens the argument for @Zachary ’s point.

I would say additionally - I don’t think these should be right in front of rides. They should be out of the way a bit. 1 - I think right in front of the ride looks tacky and money grab like. 2 - it will prevent major clogging at tide entrances if they are in open plazas away from the ride entrances.

Why not just add this to the app with something simple operationally such as QR codes. It’s definitely tacky and an off putting reminder that the park is attempting to gouge you where possible.

 

[warfelg]

Why not just add this to the app with something simple operationally such as QR codes. It’s definitely tacky and an off putting reminder that the park is attempting to gouge you where possible.

I feel like if they are making you more and more leave phones behind they might not want to tie it to that.

 

[Mushroom]

I agree that having a person manning a stand in front of the queue looks tacky. It seems like the obvious solution is that automated kiosks would be easier, cheaper, and less tacky. Maybe this is a sort of temporary proof-of-concept test? It would make sense to pilot single-use Fast Lane sales with the relatively low upfront cost of a manned kiosk and see if the demand is there, before investing in the technology to automate the process.

 

[Blauer]

Fast Lane is a waste of money at KD except Saturdays. Lines are usually short otherwise.

 

[warfelg]

The more and more I think about it the less I like it.

It kinda feels like the old gaming micro-transactions in real world applications. “Oh the line is too long? Let me pay $20 to skip it.” I kinda feel like QQ needs to be its own thing you pay for before you even enter the park, not just when it bugs you to wait.

 

[rswashdc]

I’m not against these fast lane products, but the price needs to be comparable to the economic pain being inflicted on those in a regular line. All the guests in a regular line aren’t doing other things while spending more time in line, including not spending money in other parts of the park.

The single use fast lane at least puts a price on this, whereas unlimited I feel doesn’t even come close to charging what the cost is to non fast lane guests.

 

[RollyCoaster]

This is a corporate pilot program for most of the Cedar Fair parks on peak days.

This isn’t a long term solution. An App/QR system could be the result of this pilot if it goes well.

 

[R75]

Not only do they need to change the location of the stand, but if they really want to see if this will work, they should think about piloting this program for some of the more popular coasters in the park. FoF is still a decent, high traffic attraction. But Backlot? I’m kind of surprised about that one.