Opinions and Ideas for FreeWay?

I've only used FreeWay once or twice myself, but I was wondering what other people here think of it and whether your experiences using it have been good or bad. I liked the system a lot, my favorite aspect being that huge groups of FreeWay users are never released into the normal line all at once. I commend CP for gradually filtering the FreeWay users into the normal crowd, so even while waiting in the non-FreeWay line, you don't feel that you're being cut in front of or taken advantage of, and at the very most you'll have to wait one or two trains more than normal.

My one suggestion/complaint is that they should post signs in the queues and on the FreeWay booths themselves that explain how FreeWay works. While standing in line for WT and MF I've heard numerous people demand to know why they're being cut in front of, and most of the general public think that you have to pay for the special treatment. I've taken the time to explain to a few of these people what FreeWay is and that it's a first come, first serve type deal, and they all seemed very accepting and calm about the whole deal. Let's hear some other experiences and thoughts about CP's new system, and what else should be added to the FreeWay lineup? I agree with adding Raptor, but I also feel that Mantis would be a good choice, since their loading times seem to worse than ever this year.

It is a good system, but it sells out fast. Also, I have a question about FreeWay. When I was in line for Raptor, some people entered at the designated FreeWay line spot, but they pushed past everybody. Apparently they misunderstood the concept of FreeWay and thought that this was allowed by the handstamps. Am I wrong, or were these people just ignorant and uninformed? Hmm...

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Agent Stinky

Six Flags better than Cedar Point? I'll believe it when Raging Wolf Bobs flies...

It could be a combination of both. I've seen people try to go up the exits as well. I think signs saying "FreeWay enter here" or something of the sort would be a good idea, as well as signs at the booths and at the junction of the FreeWay line and normal line, so a lot of the hostility and confusion is put to rest.

I agree about the lack of signage explaining just exactly what the FreeWay system is. Many of my "GP" friends who have used the system told me that they only reason they did so was because they stumbled across the booth outside the ride's entrance. They had no intention of using it until it was explained to them. Placing signs outside of Cedar Point, outside ride entrances, or (as you said) in the lines themselves would help alleviate the lack of knowledge on the system itself.

As for how it works, I really like the way Cedar Point set it up. Unlike Ticket to Ride, this system allows people the choice of waiting in line still. The percentage of capacity that is granted to FreeWay'ers seems right on and you don't really notice much decrease in the speed of the line if you are waiting. Adding Raptor to the available rides was a very good idea if you ask me. Now if only they would incorporate Mantis as well for those days when the line is over an hour...

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James Draeger
"Make it stop!"
"There goes the body buggy"

I agree about a sign. I even had a few employees on smaller rides asking me how it worked!

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"Wheres the Callahan factory?!?!?"

I've used FreeWay before, and have used a stamp for both MF and WT, but do they always allow this or has it been changed to one ride per day?

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June 28th: LocoBazooka Tour (Sevendust headlining)
July 11th: Korn, Puddle of Mudd, and Deadsy

I think they should use tickets or something besides a hand stamp.

Just something about having this big black stamp on your hand all day...

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Rider
RIDE IT OUT!

MF: 5
WT: 0
MAG: Phh... After about 10 at once I stop counting. So take that as it is.

I found that my time stamp rubbed/washed off very easily, but the little cedar point stamp lasted almost a week, despite my best efforts of scrubbing at it. They definitely need some better ink, a ticket system, or maybe wristbands, like they used for Joe Cool last year. Wristbands would be more effective if they're trying to limit the number of FreeWays a person can have at a time, and they would sure stay on a lot longer.

They actually got new ink recently for the time stamp. I had to actually scrub off the time stamp when I got home. They also have different ink color coded as well an a some different names on the stamp for different days or times to prevent abuse . There goes my Idea to have a green "FORCE 5-6" tattooed onto my hand.

I noticed this problem when I was at IOA. People, seeing a "short" line (the Freeway line) and a longer line (the actual line) would go into the shorter line. This normally didn't happen at the monitored entrance but further into the que where the lines were parallel and people would jump over into the shorter line.

It is important for there to be signage and something written in the guidebook (if there isn't already).

I missed the Freeway cart the first trip. But once I knew what to look for, I used it on my last trip.

I agree that something that explains the system is needed, along with a sign in the queue. When my son and I used it, the ride op filtering the Freeway people into the queue was explaining the system to the regular line, so only a few people were disgruntled.

My stamp said Mill 3-4 in bright blue, and didn't come off easily. Although the black Cedar Point they stamped over it came right off. In fact, my son rubbed off the black stamp portion and you couldn't even tell he'd been stamped. He considered trying to get back into the Freeway line, but agreed that would be unfair and tacky.

I like the system, myself. It seems much more fair than the Ticket to Ride they had which virtually closed the ride down to anyone without a ticket for hours.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Have never used freepass, but would like to.
What time do the start giving it out for MF and where should I get it from.

Thanks,

Sam

We were at the park Friday and used it for MF. The only problem I had was not knowing when they opened the booth to start stamping hands. I asked the employee at the entrance and was told they start at 11:00am. We went and rode Mantis (a nice short line at 10:20am) and by the time we got off at 10:45 they were already stamping hands. When we came back in our allotted time we had no problems. The employee at the merge point was explaining to other riders the process. We ended up with about 15 minutes from time entering the queue to getting on the train.

All in all I think it is a good idea. I do agree that CP doesn't let folks know much about Freeway. However it is on their web site. Does anyone know how many (at least for MF) riders they stamp for each hour window? I expect it isn't much more than 150. They stopped the stamping line at least once when we were there to change the time on the sign and to change stamps. I expect that it only took about 1 1/2 hours to use up all the allotted stamps for the day.

We had no problems taking off the ink. I used just plain soap and hot water and with some scrubbing it came off just fine.
*** This post was edited by Cyclist Don 7/17/2002 12:24:34 PM ***

I think that they should allow more uses of freeway. Like, last time I went to Cedar Point, I got a stamp for MF, then I went to Wicked Twister, and they wouldn't give me one. I just think that it should be able to be used more than once.

I got a stamp for WT and after I used it, it came right off with just water and napkin (maybe its because it was a bounty napkin, lol ) but I could have easily got an MF one and a Raptor one without anyone knowing. I think you should be able to get one per ride.
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Nick
Webmaster
AmusementMania.com

I think Jeff mentioned them running FreeWay at about 10% of a ride's capacity. So for MF thats what...maybe 110 people an hour?

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James Draeger
"Make it stop!"
"There goes the body buggy"

Update: I was at CP for a couple hours last night, and there are now FreeWay merge point signs in each of the three lines. The signs don't explain the system, but hey, it's better than nothing. At least now people might not be so quick to complain about it, since it looks more "real" and less like people line jumping. :)

Hopefully they aren't about to replace the op that actually stands at the merge point with just a sign as it will surely lead to problems. I don't think CP is dumb enough not to realize that though. :)

I like the system the way it is. I think that if they increased the amount of stamps per hour, it'd bother me because the regular line (which I use most of the time) would slow down noticably. In my opinion CP really doesn't need this system because their lines move and rarely get completely out of control (say over 2 hours), but this is answer enough to people who say, "park XYZ has this thing where you can skip the line - why don't you?"

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

The wife and I used Freeway for our first and only ride on MF this season. Thanks to posts on this board, which I found way more informative than anything on the official site, we were able to secure a good ride time on our 1st visit this year.

We think it is a good thing. We really like the idea of a first come, first serve, special ride time to help keep the lines down, if only by 10-15%. In fact, I think that a true coaster fanatic would be insane to pass-up an oppurtunity to get an avg. 15-30 min wait bonus ride over the avg. wait that seems to be common for newer coasters such as MF or WT.
*** This post was edited by Grue 7/18/2002 10:34:23 PM ***

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but this is answer enough to people who say, "park XYZ has this thing where you can skip the line - why don't you?"

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Not only that, but I love the name. If Wicked Twister, as has been mentioned here, is two hoisted middle fingers at a certain park south east of Cleveland, then this is a third finger. Already on the refreshinglook.com board, some of the SFWoA regulars have posted hearing the guests complain about the cost of the "Q-Bots". Something like "they want how much? Cedar Point has this for free!" I think Freeway is a great idea, and even if the lines are fast moving, it gives guests the perception of extra value.

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It's very hard to drink all day...
Unless you start first thing in the morning.