Maverick's single rider line.

Shoot the Rapids has a Single rider line. I used it Friday, it is right at the begining.

elmerfritz said:
i think the whole concept of single rider line is flawed. Too many things to go wrong, from abuse to embarrasment.

-Things only go wrong if the rider doesn't pay attention
-It is more embarrassing when they scream and ask for a single rider.
-It is a win win for the single rider line because: there it cuts down wait time, it helps people who want to get through the line faster, and they dispatch full trains.

It should be at the entrance. As far as fairness goes, a short wait for Maverick doesn't fully offset the shame of being a single rider, anyway. ;)

I tried the single rider line once on maverick durring it's opening year. I ended up waiting longer than if I just continued in the regular line. I had to stand there and wait for a single seat, while the people I was in line with got on and off the ride while I waited.

I have used the line several times and it always saved me time as opposed to walking up the left side of the steps. Though, I would agree that if there is more than a half a dozen or so in the SRL, than it might not be worth it. Admittedly, I don't know anything about requirements for safety in queue line construction. But, I don't see why they can't run the single rider line around the border of the old White Water Landing station house. It sure looks like there is enough room there. You would then be able to save as much as 30 minutes by using the SRL.

Ski resorts have single rider lines for the lifts that are right at the entrance to the queue. That works our very well, it does save a lot of time sometimes and if groups decide to use it and split up for the ride up, so be it, no one minds.

coolkid2345 said:

-I don't know why people give a crap when they are sitting next to strangers. There are 4 seats, use them.

I love riding next to strangers, as well as talking to them in line. My wife and I have met some of the coolest people and families in line and riding. The best ones are the families with kids who are there for the first time. Nothing better than seeing the smile on a kids face after their first ride on MF, or any other ride at CP.

Chase Gilbert said:
^Yes I have, both California and Florida, and hope to never go back.

Good. One less person cramping up the place. :)

Single rider lines can be really useful, espeically on rides with long queues and other than 2 seats per row. Universal Studios Orlando lets single riders fill up MIB (2 rows of three seats per car = LOTS of empty seats to fill) and ROTM (4 seats in each row) and the SRL is less than 5 minutes even when the regular line is 45 minutes.

Maverick's line is practically useless - why isn't there a cut-over at least at the start of the old WWL station? Case in point: After waiting an hour in line, I went up the empty SRL stairs. They were just dispatching two trains with a total of 3 empty seats (12.5% vacancy rate). Those might have been filled with a more practical SRL system, making that jam of humanity below just a little less crowded.

Next visit: Coasting for Kids. Hope to raise lots for this great cause!

Speaking of Universal Studios Orlando ... the Rip Riding Rocket and even the new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey have single rider lines and they work pretty flawlessly like MIB and ROTM. They all have a common thing though -- they all have a seprate queue line starting from the entrance all the way to loading platform area. Also, Universal and Disney do not let you pick your seats (even for the groups) a ride host assigns your row.

Do the single rider lines have their minor kinks? Sure -- most notably people not reading / or pretending to not know it's a single rider line. Universals answer: Sorry you will be split up, no exceptions. If you want to ride together go back out to the front and get in the regular line and wait like everyone else.

I loved the single rider lines at Universal a few weeks ago. It saved me tons of time. Yeah you might have to wait a few minutes for a seat but it still saves you a ton of time over the regular line and you don't have to deal with hosts screaming for a single rider and trying to shove ahead of people to get up in time before they have to dispatch to keep up their cycle times.

Heck Universal even figured out how to get in a single rider line on some of their rides they originally never built the queues with a single rider entrance in mind -- they just use their Express (resort guest/ pay to cut line) and filter off the single riders later up the Express queue line.

Universal does do one thing on their single rider line in their new Harry Potter ride that is kind of dumb though-- they have the regular line and the single rider line cross paths about 5 mins wait back from the load platform where they have 2 ride hosts manage traffic, holding one line back while the other crosses, (and they to do a last check on rider heights / manage child swap & guests in wheelchairs through a door off to the left of the queue lines).

Ffej said:
As it has been said, Maverick's single rider line is not done right.

Maverick's single-rider line needs to cut in right when entering the old WWL station. Then, on busy days, an employee should pre-fill one set of trains at a time. If only 1 person is in a pre-fill que, then the employee quietly can direct the pool of single riders. Simple.

I've only been to Cedar Point once single, and to be honest, the way they handled single riders kind of made me feel depressed. Since I was riding alone, the ride op's all started announcing "we have a single rider here" over the PA system...they said it 2 or 3 times while everyone just stared.

All the attention drawn to me riding alone made me feel a little down or embarrassed, seeing almost everyone as couples or friends. It was always a relief when the ride operators simply let me ride alone without the announcement...or if someone quickly just sat down next to me without asking.

Cedar Point is supposed to be a fun, positive experience; not an announcement that you're alone to the world imo. Though I didn't have to use it at King's Island, Diamondback's system appeared to work flawlessly. A clearly labeled line at the entrance for "Single Riders," making you feel normal. No single announcements. 100% fill rate the day I was there, and everything was going smoothly.

I don't see how you are embarrassed? I have been a single rider many times. Whenever they announce it and no one comes I'll just say "Hey, I don't think anyone is coming" and they start the ride. It gets announced almost every train that leaves and in reality, it's no big deal.