Freeway for Resort Guest

Over on Coasterbuzz, there's a news topic about Universal taking away its free virtual queue service for another that cost $15. But, Universal also has another service that allows resort guest to skip the lines.

Every year CP pushes its resorts more and more. Do you think a special virtual queue system for resort guest only would work? I'm sure more people would enjoy that perk over a 1/2 hour ERT on just two rides every morning.

It'd prolly get me to stay there when I go, although I'm not 21 untill October...

When you are a resort guest, lines aren't an issue. Since you are staying on Point, you just go when it isn't busy and hang out at the resort when it is.

MrScott

It would definitely make more people want to stay at their resorts considering there's no freeway system anymore and people want the most for their money nowadays.Instead of paying $250 a night with no real benefits except for the ERT in the morning and the proximity to the park they will just go to a hotel down the road people will feel theres benefits of staying on the point. *** Edited 2/14/2006 9:27:33 PM UTC by RICHARD LYMAN***

MrScott said:
When you are a resort guest, lines aren't an issue. Since you are staying on Point, you just go when it isn't busy and hang out at the resort when it is.

MrScott

I know I only have enough money to stay for one night and if I were to go to the park in July, no waiting would be a great benefit. CP does overprice their resorts, a benefit such as this one would get me to stay there at least once a year.

This would be a good fit for the resorts. I think the question is how would you set it up? You would pretty much have to set it up like disney does, where you put your ticket or room key in the machine and the fastpass comes out. Wouldn't that be cheaper then paying some guy to sit out at that booth and stamp peoples hands?

But if your staying on Point, you don't need it.

But it would probably be a good marketing tool...

MrScott

Disney still has a lot of problems with their machines and they have been around for almost 10 years now. They have to have at least one person at each distribution point, if not more, and instead of being there for an hour or two like CP's stamp people, they have to be there all day, or at least until all the Fast Passes are gone.

I like the sound of this.

MrScott said:
But if your staying on Point, you don't need it.

But it would probably be a good marketing tool...

MrScott

A two hour wait is still a long time not matter where you are staying. Some view it as, "I can ride more"; others view it as "I don't have to stand in a huge line for hours".

It looks like Universal has cut their fastpass system as well. http://www.screamscape.com/html/universal_orlando.htm

I like this too. We have stayed at the resorts 2-3 times each year for the past couple years. There's something to be said for having your morning coffee listening to the coasters warm up. Ever since they did away with freeway, getting on MF has become an ordeal since we have a toddler that can't ride and we still haven't made it on TTD! We end up getting in real early and doing the parent swap pass. Please don't give us dirty looks when the ride op lets us in line in front of you, I just spent an hour+ entertaining an unhappy toddler waiting for everyone else to ride. Well by the time we do this, it's lunch time and the toddler hasn't been on anything yet, so we are pretty much done with long lines, even with parent swap. Maybe I'll finally get a chance to ride TTD some day!

I would welcome the idea of FastPass for hotel guests. We normally stay there anyway and shorter waits on a busy day would be a bonus.

We were Universal resort guests last week, and the Express system for hotel guests was fantastic. We noticed (and wondered why) the regular machines were covered up, not knowing it had been discontinued. With only resort guests using Express it allowed us to see every major attraction at the park on a busy day that had short hours anyway. On most rides (including Mummy) we were the only ones in the Express line.

If Cedar Point were to adopt a similar system, impact on the G.P.'s wait time would be minimal and it would stand to increase business at their resorts. I'm all for it.

I am staying at an area hotel this summer. I refuse to pay $200+ a night with no real perks. We do not have young children so being close to our room is not necessary. I don't believe entering the park 1/2 hour early is a real perk. However this summer will be our first trip to CP so I guess I will have to wait to make that determination.

My family went to Universal the summer of 2003. we stayed at the Hard Rock and loved it. The front of the line access was why we stayed on site. My kids even commented on how the did not have to wait in line like the "regular" people. I had to tell them not to get use to it because at Seaworld and Busch Gardens we were the regular people.

I would consider staying on site if CP had seprate lines for resort guests like Universal.

At Universal a 90min wait for Spiderman was 10min for us.

Z

I forgot something. If you stay off site most hotels offer a continental breakfast which can save a family at least $20+ a day. We have found continental breakfasts at various hotels to be a great way to start the day. It is like breakfast we would eat at home. We don't start our day with a stomach full of grease which does not sit well if you are riding a roller coaster.

Z