Assigning seats

As previously mentioned containing the crowd on the platform is usually all the intervention that is needed. I've seen the MF station have only a line for the front row, all other rows were empty. An employee directed people away from the front row and in to the others, which makes sense. Also has anyone noticed that TTD has split the platform between Fastlane and general admission guests? Do they really need to give Fastlane guests an exclusive train to reinforce that they are superior because they paid more money? It doesn't seem more efficient either.

Actually, I'm glad to see rides like TTD, Valravn and Steel Vengeance getting direct station access. Not having direct station access was one of the things at CP which made Fast Lane not as good as, let's say Canada's Wonderland. I'm glad to see that being corrected and it makes Fast Lane more enticing.

All of Kings Islands FL rides have direct station access also. When I was there only allowed 1-2 groups in each station or was a direct assignment. Opposite of CP where there is usually a packed station (unless they are assigning seats). Made FL a walk on for most rides and made for a great experience.

So what happens when there aren't enough Fastlane guests to fill a train? Do they divert the regular line at the ramp or in the station? Or not at all?

When I am there they have allowed standby guests to go to the left station at the turnstiles if there are no FL guests

Pete said:

Actually, I'm glad to see rides like TTD, Valravn and Steel Vengeance getting direct station access. Not having direct station access was one of the things at CP which made Fast Lane not as good as, let's say Canada's Wonderland. I'm glad to see that being corrected and it makes Fast Lane more enticing.

The only ride where FL+ is not good is MF b/c the merge point. I do like how on most days I have been rides like TTD, Maverick, etc.. are not letting the lanes overflow in the station going 5 or 6 groups deep. Makes FL even better going to right to the station with only 1 or 2 group lined up in each row.

FL at Wonderland is a necessity IMO and is cheap with the dollar conversion just $64 USD ast year when I went in August, CP FL enticing b/c Platinum discount just. $78

I remember when MF did have a direct FL entrance. It didn't work well because you had people entering from both sides of the platform (Very neat view though). Much better now with the merge point.

One could argue that you are elitist for having the means to go to a place like CP. Many can't and why you ask? Money. I'm not saying that some that buy a FL or fly first class aren't elitist assholes. However many are like me who work every damn day to have enough cash so that it's possible that 5-10 days out of the year they can have the best experience possible at a place they love, wherever that is.

Giving TTD's FL+ guests an entire train is a bit annoying. That is literally half of the ride's capacity. In my point of view, devoting a train to FL+ should only happen if it is absolutely necessary to keep the FL+ line a decent amount shorter than the main line. (Although for all I know that may be the case, I don't know how it works on TTD.)

As for assigning seats in general, some rides simply require it. Giant Wheel, for example, needs to be grouped so that the ride is balanced and the motors can perform optimally. Many other rotating flats do this to some extent as well.

Agreed with maintaining balance on the flats but for all of them except MaxAir there really isn't any difference in the ride regarding where you sit. I wouldn't really consider that assigning seats.

I want the color purple on Troika, I don't want yellow!

Indeed though, sorta weird but makes sense how it does matter where you sit on MaxAir, can be a different ride experience each time if you get a different seat.

Smooth Concrete said:
So what happens when there aren't enough Fastlane guests to fill a train? Do they divert the regular line at the ramp or in the station? Or not at all?

The front train is not exclusively for fast lane. The crowd host will pull guests from the regular line into the front train when there are not enough riders to fill the train to the given capacity.
I believe with the addition of the scanning turnstiles, the line is only for fast lane now, but the host can still pull people to fill the front train if there are not enough riders.

ImpulsivePhoenix said:
I want the color purple on Troika, I don't want yellow!

Indeed though, sorta weird but makes sense how it does matter where you sit on MaxAir, can be a different ride experience each time if you get a different seat.

I hear that one all the time, purple seems to be the color of choice on Troika. As a child, I was partial to orange, car #11. (I was a strange child.)

Some flats can have subtle differences between seats because of "sample variation" of sorts between the ride's sweeps. Watch Tiki Twirl sometime, some sweeps seem to rotate just a smidge faster than others.

^You are right about the variations. On Troika the yellow set has the most up & down movement followed by orange and lastly purple.

Ocean Motion has one additional row on one end so that one goes higher.

On Dodgem, the old dark green were the fastest. With the new cars they all are slow & sluggish.

I always preferred the green but never realized they were faster. Maybe it was subconscious.

jimmyburke said:
^You are right about the variations. On Troika the yellow set has the most up & down movement followed by orange and lastly purple.

Ocean Motion has one additional row on one end so that one goes higher.

On Dodgem, the old dark green were the fastest. With the new cars they all are slow & sluggish.

On Troika, I haven't noticed which sweep is best. I do believe Orange starts first. They start spinning one by one, then the "Lift" function (which is technically illuminated on the panel from the moment the ride starts) kicks in and starts lifting the sweeps. The entire ride starts to rotate at some point before the last sweep starts to spin, if memory serves.