Pickles Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 There comes an extent where some disabilities should not count towards a pass. For example last week there were a family where the kid was perfectly able to queue as he was joining the stealth queue, riding then using his band to get on right afterwards. Just for the record that could have been a situation like mine. On a really bad day it can take up to 4/5 people to be around me with my asbergers. If I flip out then I need people to restrain me and people to calm me down. However on a good day I can queue quite happily and not freak out or flip out. That's why it's a maximum of 3, because sometimes people need extra help. I personally don't go to theme parks on a bad day and I cancel last minute usually but that's the way it is. I have been on a bad day and I was fine because of who I was with but it was risky. Just to let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFarmerDean Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 I use a disabled pass with my dad... But personally, unless you're in a wheelchair and need direct access to the ride I think disabled people should have to buy fast tracks, and be allowed them at a discounted price... And that was if the fast track system is sold properly the queues can be correct as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Why should disabled ambulant guests have to buy Fastrack if they don't want to queue? Hideous idea... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 I would have to agree that, that would be a hideous idea, and then you have the weeks and weeks of bad press afterwards. What Thorpe should do with fastracks is limit them to a very low percentage and up the price. Have it so there is only 1 or 2 types of passes and put an amazingly high price on them. Although the only way there going to manage that depends on the price elasticity of demand of fastracks. I imagine that they are quite inelastic with price as a lot of people will buy it regardless of price as they only visit once in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c1hrisin Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 there are now a load of premium merlin passes with unrestricted fastrack too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 At least there is only 1000 of the totally unlimited people, compared to the 9 million normal fastrackers on a singular day. c1hrisin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 At least there is only 1000 of the totally unlimited people, compared to the 9 million normal fastrackers on a singular day. At the moment. I have no doubt that by next year they will be selling these VIP passes to anyone and everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 At the moment. I have no doubt that by next year they will be selling these VIP passes to anyone and everyone. Even if they don't limit it, at £500 a pass, I'd be surprised if many more than 1000 people could actually afford them! Coaster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glitch Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 my favorite one for hating fast track has to be storm surge. That queue can take an hour or it can take 2hours 30 with a constant supply of fast trackers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Latecomer to the party! It certainly does (even if that is not their primary role) and, as someone who has been on the receiving end of that exciting split second of a ratchet slip (dueling dragons btw), they certainly can. Yes the ratchet systems do pop up, like Pluk says. Seatbelts are there for safety (as imagine in the G forces, your body would not be putting its full weight on the harness (unless going backwards) so a complete restraint failure would be fine with just a seatbelt. It's also really really useful for evacs. You want to have guests get off calmly and concisely.. majority of rides with seatbelts open more than one seat at a time, which can cause issues. Hence seatbelts. Gerstlaur don't do this and have individual openings and hence have no seatbelts. Vekoma do, because vekoma probably can't be trusted. No alton towers is worse in some places. The Smiler, Air and Rita are the top 3 rides I would rate as worsely done fastrack. T The three rides you mention have an allocated 10% of hourly throughput as fastrack and nothing more (there's worse rides with higher allocations such as Nemesis, Oblivion and Thirteen). The issue with the three you've mentioned are that they're the three worst throughput coasters (if we ignore sonic), so it would feel like they're the worst. Would love to see thorpes allocation of fastrack as I highly doubt what they mentioned a few years ago was actually correct (and if so, is a bonkers way to run a fastrack system!) pluk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Mad from a guests point of view, amazing from thorpes view. That way they can maxamise sales and make more money. Also I find it very hard to believe that the smiler has a 10% allocation. When there are no fastracks that queue moves almost twice as fast, not saying its a 50% allocation just that it seems an incredible amount more than 10%. Also locking systems use 2 or 3 ratchets, if you somehow manage to get all 3 to fail then the seat belt will act as a fail safe, however as that is so unlikely the purpose of a seat belt is to prevent all seats being released at the same time. They are not their as a 4th fail safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 The thing you've probably experienced with smiler is the non-timed allocation (gold and platinum fastrack) appearing at once, as obviously that's an allocation spread throughout the day whereas the solo ones are timed tickets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 The Smiler queue moves a lot faster after ride close, but it's not entirely due to fastrack, the closure of the disabled entrances makes a difference too. It's going to get much worse once more VIP passes come into use - it seems they just have to show their passes to gain fastrack entry, which means no-one is monitoring how many of them are in the park. This could cause problems at peak times like fright nights/scarefest/fireworks when it's likely a relatively large number of VIP pass holders will be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 The Smiler queue moves a lot faster after ride close, but it's not entirely due to fastrack, the closure of the disabled entrances makes a difference too. It's going to get much worse once more VIP passes come into use - it seems they just have to show their passes to gain fastrack entry, which means no-one is monitoring how many of them are in the park. This could cause problems at peak times like fright nights/scarefest/fireworks when it's likely a relatively large number of VIP pass holders will be there. To be fair, any ride with Fastrack/exit riders gains a suddenly faster queue after ride close... Will be interesting to see the effect of VIP passes, the question is can Merlin find 1000 people stupid/rich/goony enough to buy one? Yes probably... But that's a LOT of disposable income to be wasting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 It's going to get much worse once more VIP passes come into use - it seems they just have to show their passes to gain fastrack entry, which means no-one is monitoring how many of them are in the park. This could cause problems at peak times like fright nights/scarefest/fireworks when it's likely a relatively large number of VIP pass holders will be there. They need to get their unlimited wristband before riding - so they know every time a VIP guest is on park! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stageshoot Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 Will be interesting to see the effect of VIP passes, the question is can Merlin find 1000 people stupid/rich/goony enough to buy one? Yes probably... But that's a LOT of disposable income to be wasting... Some very strong comments there to assume someone is stupid rich or goony to spend as you say disposable income on something just because to you its not a sensible thing That's the great thing about disposable income. It's just that disposable for the person to use as they want. I don't drink alcohol or smoke but don't consider people who spend disposable income on that any of the above. .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 I am almost certain they will find 1000 people willing to part with £500 for unlimited fastracks. In fact I'm willing to bet in a few months time a reveal that the number of passes has gone up to 5000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 Doubt it, because they want to treat every VIP as a VIP - too many of them and the system goes kapuut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 Give it time, it will get watered down and slowly become less and less VIP but for a higher price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliOliOli Posted July 27, 2014 Report Share Posted July 27, 2014 Does anyone know, if you buy Fast Track (e.g. Full Throttle) online in advance, do you get to choose the times in advance or are they randomly allocated to you on the day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project LC Posted July 27, 2014 Report Share Posted July 27, 2014 They are pre-selected to ensure there is the correct allocation and prevents overallocation if someone buys one selects a time and then doesn't show up. You may not even need a fastrack. Just turn up early and don't leave until your thrown out. I haven't bought a fastrack in over 2 years and I easily get over 20 rides in a day. Also the park is highly likely to open at 9:30 not 10 like it says. OliOliOli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Image from Theme Park Guide's FB page  This is what confuses me about people and the Fastrack culture in general - people are happy to queue THAT long (which is surely a good 30-40 minute wait), just so they can skip a slightly longer queue, and pay for the privilege of doing so? TPJames and Glitch 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJames Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sheesh.. That's nearly as long as the queue for guest services was last Saturday when there were loads of angry customers due to reserve n ride in operation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glitch Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Guest services looking surprisingly quiet in that photo. Adam P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Overselling suits the current "I want it NOW!" culture in the UK... You'd ho home though if that queue greeted you... Sod that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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