Fast Lane

For people who have gone to Cedar Point for a number of years, don't you want to actually see how Fast Lane plays out during the year rather than relying on what you hear on a message forum based on opening weekend before you skip the park for the year?

It would probably be less controversial if the Dragster merge point was located before the queue split into lines for two stations, but if there are not people lined up in the Fast Lane line, I'm sure they would allow the normal line into both stations. They are not going to send empty trains.

Here is why I don't agree that Fast Lane doubles the wait time on Dragster. Please note that this is a very simplistic example that does not account for re-riders. It also does not account for the fact that more people will enter Fast Lane as the line is being cleared, which would reduce access to the front station for normal riders. That is why I'm guessing Fast Lane might add about 20% to the normal wait time.

Let's say there are 500 riders in the Fast Lane line and 1000 riders in the normal line. Also, let's say the Dragster's capacity is 1000 riders per hour. It would take one hour to clear the Fast Lane and one hour to clear 500 normal riders. Then, after Fast Lane is cleared, they allow the normal line in both stations so it would take one half hour to clear the normal line. Total wait time for the normal line: 1.5 hrs

Without Fast Lane, 1500 riders in line. Total wait time: 1.5 hrs.

LIke I said, results in the real world will be different, but as long as they allow normal line riders into the front station if there is no Fast Lane line, the system is OK.

I will be heading down next Sunday and I have the Fast Lane passes, the only reason I do is because we go down as a big family event. My siblings have kids now as do I and a lot of the day is spent in the kiddie areas. So when a couple of us sneak out to go ride the big rides I think it will just be easier as we will be able to make it back to the kids stuff faster. Now a different family member offered to buy them for everyone or I would never pay myself, so i got kind of lucky. I do think situations like this will be nice, as I only come down a couple times a year now being 3 1/2 hours away with a kid. I don't intend on riding each major attraction more than once or twice. That's my thoughts on it anyway.

Pete said:
It would probably be less controversial if the Dragster merge point was located before the queue split into lines for two stations, but if there are not people lined up in the Fast Lane line, I'm sure they would allow the normal line into both stations. They are not going to send empty trains.

Here is why I don't agree that Fast Lane doubles the wait time on Dragster. Please note that this is a very simplistic example that does not account for re-riders. It also does not account for the fact that more people will enter Fast Lane as the line is being cleared, which would reduce access to the front station for normal riders. That is why I'm guessing Fast Lane might add about 20% to the normal wait time.

Let's say there are 500 riders in the Fast Lane line and 1000 riders in the normal line. Also, let's say the Dragster's capacity is 1000 riders per hour. It would take one hour to clear the Fast Lane and one hour to clear 500 normal riders. Then, after Fast Lane is cleared, they allow the normal line in both stations so it would take one half hour to clear the normal line. Total wait time for the normal line: 1.5 hrs

Without Fast Lane, 1500 riders in line. Total wait time: 1.5 hrs.

LIke I said, results in the real world will be different, but as long as they allow normal line riders into the front station if there is no Fast Lane line, the system is OK.

That's also assuming FL will empty. I would say on busy days, Mav, TTD, and MF will have a continuous line. But I'll be in that line and I know I'll be a reride patron as well. No sense in riding once then walking back later when I can get a few rides in back to back to back.

Pete said:

LIke I said, results in the real world will be different, but as long as they allow normal line riders into the front station if there is no Fast Lane line, the system is OK.

As of right now, they are not allowing standby into the front according to reports from this weekend.

There is a reason X2 operates as it does on the Flashpass system at Six Flags, that mentality and system operation needs to be instituted for Fastlane at Cedar Point on MForce, TTD, and Maverick (and I might add on other attractions at CF properties that barely can accomodate 1,000 riders an hour.)

What are the fast lane bracelets made of? Are they plastic or the crappy paper ones?

They look to be paper wrist bands.

Does Fast Lane operate during Early Entry?

We were there on Sunday and did not ride Dragster. But I did notice while on Iron Dragon the 1st load area had very few people in it. I wondered why - now I understand. I did see a few dragster trains launch empty but I just assumed they were having problems. Were they allowing non-FP folks into the FP side if they could not fill the train with just FP folks? Or were they launching partial/empty trains just because no one was on that side?

Its amazing to me that people here can just say "oh well CP wont miss you" when Ouimet just stated in the Pointbuzz interview how one of his main goals was to ensure that people had a good experience especially young families who then will transfer those good experiences on to their families who will hopefully return year after year. To me this was the most important part of the entire interview and its also the part where FL discriminates and hurts the most. If on your first trip you have to suffere endless lines or be coerced into spending an extra $50 per ticket, how is that going to affect this consumer group that is being targeted?

The people who chime in here with complaints after one or two days of FL's existence on the park's opening weekend aren't really the target demographic for the park.

The families that make a vacation out of a trip to CP are, because they tend to spend the most money.

Not to mention that any sort of protest doesn't work unless on a large scale. So unless you can convince a few hundred thousand friends to not go this year because of Fast Lane, then CP really won't miss you....

Truth be told, the future of entertainment experiences is "premium upgrades" and there really is no way around that. I personally don't think the word "discriminates" is appropriate in this instance because what Cedar Fair is trying to do is give people choices, anyone can participate in these "premium" experiences if they so choose. I am comfortable with that.

The awareness that needs to be raised is the simple fact that Cedar Fair has said they are limiting some of these premium options to 10%-20% of park guests. That being said, the company must be cognisant that 80%-90% of park guests not participating, such as in Fastlane, still remain the bread-and-butter of revenue for the parks. How premium experiences impact these "regular" folks could easily have long-term ramificiations. As an example that has been talked about here, closing off one whole load station on Dragster (and Maverick?) for Fastlane guests just doubled the wait time for standby line guests and has a direct impact on their experience AND their perception of what Cedar Fair is trying to do.

Another great example that Walt brought up is premium parking; there are now actually 3 different parking options at Cedar Fair parks, (1) general parking, (2)"gold pass" parking and (3) "premium" parking. Does anyone else not see the lack of integrity in this? Former Paramount Park gold pass guests have access to premium lots by the main gate yet at the same time traditional Cedar Fair parks only offer platinum pass holders general parking, otherwise they have to pay an upcharge for access to a premium lot. Why would you give a "gold pass" member better parking at certain parks and NOT offer anything for "platinum pass" holders at other parks? There needs to be some form of integrity brought to this issue.

Cedar Fair does a great job in so many areas, I just wish they would invest more time or resources to thinking some of the policies and procedures through better before implementing them.

How is "preferred parking" handled? Can you pre-purchase, or do they simply offer it at the booth, on a first come, first served basis? And how much does it cost?

You are allowed to use the gold pass parking at KI if you have a platinum pass. The thing is that the parking there is one of the selling points for their gold passes and has been for years. I don't see that as a lack of integrity across the parks. They are just using a system that was already in place.

Preferred parking is $20 (regular parking is $12). You can pre-purchase it on the park's website.

As best as I could tell, the Gold lot at KI has been disolved into the main lot

I'm from England and going to cedar point on 23 rd of may and got 4 days there I've brought fast lane for everyday I'm there cause I'm spending almost 1000 pounds to go to this awesome place and I don't wanna wait in line. Anyways you guys have it good for the price that these passes are at places like Thorpe park and Alton towers ( our themeparks ) fast lane tickets are about 150 pounds that's like 200 dollars and we have **** rides compared to MF and TTD lol
Getting welll excited now

I rarely park in the main lot anymore. However, I occasionally do when I'm with friends or family. Unfortunately, they often are not as enthusiastic about getting there as early as I would like. I'm wondering if, a platinum pass holder could pay the difference ($8) and upgrade to preferred parking. I'd guess not.

tcgolfer said:
You are allowed to use the gold pass parking at KI if you have a platinum pass. The thing is that the parking there is one of the selling points for their gold passes and has been for years. I don't see that as a lack of integrity across the parks. They are just using a system that was already in place.

Think about this for a minute. Pretend you are a platinum pass holder and live in Sandusky with Cedar Point being your home park. Any time you go to CP you are allowed free general parking and if you so choose you can pay extra for premium parking BUT if you choose to use your platinum pass at any former Paramount Park you are offered a premium parking experience automatically. Does that really make sense given that "platinum" is the highest status of season pass holders? I realize most people across the country wouldn't pick up on this but in Ohio guests would since Cedar Point, Wildwater Kingdom and Kings Island are close enough to each other.