An idea for CP concerning a new system.

So I think it would be great if the park had the system that displayed ride wait times. I understand they have been expansive to implement, but has anyone ever thought of this.

Alerts available VIA cell phone concerning ride waits.

You send a text message to a line CP owns and they text you back the current ride wait times.

You could have simply 8 buttons for the ride operator to push. Each one specifies a time. They change the sign at the line, and push the button which could then send a wireless signal to a server updating the telephone line.

I would go as far as to say I would pay $1 a text message to CP to get text message alerts for the rides. You could even text "maxair" to a number for specific rides, as one single text message wouldn't work for all the rides really (exceed text message length).

It is something ingenious that sounds easy to implement.

What do you guys think?

Honestly, I don't think it would be the cost of the system but rather that it's too much of a pain to keep updated. Supervisors and employees don't have a chance to sit all day and to add this to their job duties, to keep the system updated, I doubt would go over well, enough to make it worth it.

Actually, if they set it up like Disney, the employees would have to do very little. What Disney does is during set intervals (or when the employee thinks the line length has changed dramatically) he/she scans a magnetic card on a string to start a clock and then gives it to a guest to give to a ride op in the station. That ride op then scans the card again, the computer does some simple subtraction, and volia new time to ride, with neither employee needing to move (provided the scan box is near their station.)

Perhaps, instead of text messaging they just put up digital boards around the park with the major rides listed and their time to wait. This would work a bit better than text messaging, and be cheaper. And, not everyone has text messaging, or a cell phone.

^That would just look ugly. I don't think I'd like all these screens showing ride times and such. Takes away from the experience.

To be honest, put one at each entrance. That's all you'd need. Heck I think I only noticed one when at Disney and it was at EPCOT. And it told me that Test Track had a 3 hour wait, so I knew to not even bother.

Personally I see nothing wrong with the manual signs that they have now.

I really would not want a bunch of text messages to sort through, though the electronic boards would be ok. But, It's not a meaningful improvement over what they have now, so why bother?

I think it is idiotic for parks to encourage systems that use cell phones. It's bad enough people use their cell phones so much at the parks now. But, if you encourage people to bring their cell phones to participate in some type of activity at the park, you're just asking for trouble. Cell phones are dangerous on rides that go 120mph. Don't give them another reason to have them.

The electronic boards would allow you to see what MF's wait time is when getting off Magnum.

Or to check Maverick as you get into the park up front, is it worth rushing back there or is it at its peak, and you might as well wait.

So it would help in that you don't have to walk all the way around the park to find that a ride has a longer wait than you'd like.

The problem with Disney's system is that I cannot imagine CP guests actually carrying the things through the line. I imagine they'd get dropped/thrown away or just stolen.

This would do nothing for me, while I agree it would be nice to know various wait times without having to walk all over the park, I never have my phone with me. After I lost a cell phone in a freak accident, (the phone was in a deep pocket under the seatbelt on Magnum) I leave my cell phone locked in the car. Besides, not everybody has texts. I don't even have text service on my phone because if I add it, my bill would probably skyrocket. I'd rather see the digital signs. Perhaps just update the signs every half hour or so. If they put even just three or four throughout the park, it would be useful, but then again, I don't see this as a necessity.

^^ that would be issue number 2 in implementing the system.

Cargo pants with zippers guys...with zippers.

I was just trying to think of the most "universal system". Everyone has cell phones, lockers are everywhere, and to know the various wait times I could save myself a trip from the Skyhawk to Raptor.

My idea is a "basic box" by the telephones at the front of the rides that like I said you just press a button, and it would send a signal to the system.

Yes the carrying a phone idea would "suck", but judging by how many people carry them around cedar point talking I think it isn't far fetched.

Digital boards are cool, but don't quote me but someone said the costs of such a disney digital system costed as much as our new rollercoaster.

*** Edited 9/7/2007 3:16:34 PM UTC by factory81***

Disney also implemented it on every ride that uses fastpass. The system not only relays information to the electronic boards and the ride entrances, but also ties into the FP system to provide an accurate window.

If the line is long, the wait before your FP becomes good will be long.

If it is short, it could be as quick as 30 minutes.

So there is a lot more to their queue management system than simply reporting times.

I also thought of this idea. You could insert a built in switch to the ride board. So when the ride operator at the front changes the sandwich sign, it automatically signals the computer.

Seems how easy it is to text to get virtually anything I believe the cost of starting an endeavor isn't too expensive.

Think of how many times you see it on T.V. channels like MTV

Oh, that'll be fun when you get people like me (when I was younger and a stupid teenager) who would absently spin the wheel as I walked past. You'll have people at the electronic signs placing bets on what number will come up next.

But I do like the idea, and I would like to see Cedar Point implement some sort of system.

I think it would be helpful. Having at least an idea what the line is like for given rides all over the park can save you time in moving from one part of the park to another only to find out there is a huge line for the ride you wanted to ride. I suspect such a system would have a tendency to even out wait times somewhat. As people saw huge lines at ride x and short lines at ride y, they would avoid ride x and go to ride y which would tend to reduce the line for x and increase the line for y.

If they put some type of system in place, I think they would need to further refine their estimation of wait times to make it really beneficial. I have found the posted wait times to be all over the board in terms of under/over estimating wait times.

I would say that the digital boards at the entrance of each ride displaying each rides wait time would be best. I heard this might be happening within the next few years anyway. Not only that, but I also heard of a new system that might take place with the parks entrance gates and turnstiles!

*** Edited 9/7/2007 4:20:36 PM UTC by Ryan06***
*** Edited 9/7/2007 4:38:30 PM UTC by Ryan06***

I would even be happy if they constructed one blackboard stand (somewhere near Coasters) and staffed it with one employee and a walky talky. Said employee would then regularly (every 15-30 min) radio the ride ops at the entrance to the major rides (who would also have walky talkies) and then update the board. With the rest of their time the employee at the board would greet guests and answer their questions.

With the electronic signs above the entrances of the rides showing the wait time, it would be also easier to find the entrance for the ride as well.

For instance, Magnum?