People and their junk...
Y'know, one of the most aggravating things about Millennium Force, apart from its long lines, is its inability to handle people's junk. What makes this aggravating is the confrontations that happen at the queue entrance when people are told that they need to stow their junk before getting in line.
Now here's the problem: The Millennium Force queue is a very long, slow-moving queue containing about 3,000 people. One of the main reasons people seem to carry so much crap with them in the park is to provide them with materials with which to occupy themselves during the inevitable long waits (for the 3,000 people ahead of them to get on board the coaster). When these people stow their junk in the midway lockers, suddenly they are stuck for two or three hours without the very stuff they had planned to occupy that time. I imagine that most people are just as annoyed at that issue as they are at the $0.75 locker fee.
But it seems to me that technology ought to be able to provide a solution. There now exist lockers which do not use keys...instead, a group of lockers has a central electronic keypad on which you enter a combination to get the door open. What is to stop a manufacturer from constructing such a locker, and equipping said locker with *two* doors, one in the front, and one in the back, programmed so that only one door can be opened at a time. A set of such lockers could be positioned not at the queue entrance, but rather someplace considerably closer to the coaster station, between the entrance and exit paths. People carry their junk through most of the queue, then rent a locker space just before heading up to the ride platform. They stow their junk, ride the ride, then pick the stuff up at the ride exit through the other door.
The first benefit to such a system is, of course, that people can carry their junk with them through most of the long wait. A less obvious benefit is that fewer lockers would be needed, as each person would most likely use the locker for a shorter period of time. Then there is the lack of lost keys and such.
Any comments?
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Who doesn't use park lockers, but also doesn't carry a gigantic backpack through the park, either...
Now here's the problem: The Millennium Force queue is a very long, slow-moving queue containing about 3,000 people. One of the main reasons people seem to carry so much crap with them in the park is to provide them with materials with which to occupy themselves during the inevitable long waits (for the 3,000 people ahead of them to get on board the coaster). When these people stow their junk in the midway lockers, suddenly they are stuck for two or three hours without the very stuff they had planned to occupy that time. I imagine that most people are just as annoyed at that issue as they are at the $0.75 locker fee.
But it seems to me that technology ought to be able to provide a solution. There now exist lockers which do not use keys...instead, a group of lockers has a central electronic keypad on which you enter a combination to get the door open. What is to stop a manufacturer from constructing such a locker, and equipping said locker with *two* doors, one in the front, and one in the back, programmed so that only one door can be opened at a time. A set of such lockers could be positioned not at the queue entrance, but rather someplace considerably closer to the coaster station, between the entrance and exit paths. People carry their junk through most of the queue, then rent a locker space just before heading up to the ride platform. They stow their junk, ride the ride, then pick the stuff up at the ride exit through the other door.
The first benefit to such a system is, of course, that people can carry their junk with them through most of the long wait. A less obvious benefit is that fewer lockers would be needed, as each person would most likely use the locker for a shorter period of time. Then there is the lack of lost keys and such.
Any comments?
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Who doesn't use park lockers, but also doesn't carry a gigantic backpack through the park, either...
Actually, a better solution to the electronic keypad would be some sort of card reader. To follow Disney's lead with Fastpass, put a mag strip on all tickets and season passes (I know they're already there). Swipe card. Insert money into locker and receive receipt stating locker number, time, etc. Insert goods and lock locker. Ride the coaster. Upon exit, swipe card on exit side to open locker. Remove goods. Computer marks locker as free. Repeat. Why? Electronic keypad combinations are easily lifted by those who wait in the wings watching combinations being entered. If you're gonna go for the technology, Dave, you might as well go all the way!! :)
There's even an ideal place for it but due to large crowds it wouldn't work. Build it between the queue and the unload station over the exit ramp. The only problem is the exiting train would rush over to the lockers and clog up the exit station. It might take a little exit ramp redesign to make it work, but that's the only place I can think of where such a system would work.
I really need something to do here at work today :)
-------------
Scott W. Short
sshort@mediaone.net
http://welcome.to/midwestcoastercentral
There's even an ideal place for it but due to large crowds it wouldn't work. Build it between the queue and the unload station over the exit ramp. The only problem is the exiting train would rush over to the lockers and clog up the exit station. It might take a little exit ramp redesign to make it work, but that's the only place I can think of where such a system would work.
I really need something to do here at work today :)
-------------
Scott W. Short
sshort@mediaone.net
http://welcome.to/midwestcoastercentral
Even better...the computer prints up a self-adhesive paper wristband with a bar code on it...user sticks it in pocket or wraps it around wrist...barcode scanner on machine opens locker and cancels barcode. I don't much like the idea of forcing people to keep their tickets, particularly when some of the day tickets are not scannable forms but rather just printed receipts.
Lost wristbands can be treated like lost keys. Malfunctions could be handled by a maintenance guy with a key..."Now, describe the contents of the locker in question..."
Remember, CP tickets and passes do not have mag stripes. Passes and advance tickets have bar-codes, but I don't think today-only tickets are coded at all.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Lost wristbands can be treated like lost keys. Malfunctions could be handled by a maintenance guy with a key..."Now, describe the contents of the locker in question..."
Remember, CP tickets and passes do not have mag stripes. Passes and advance tickets have bar-codes, but I don't think today-only tickets are coded at all.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
I think people should just put their STUFF in the locker or NOT carry it around. Comfort and convience do come with a price.
I'd rather see the smoking policy in the ride queues properly enforced first. Smoking is a privelege, not a right. If people want to smoke, that's o.k. with me as long as my RIGHT to breathe is not infringed upon:) Smokers most of the time forget that they have had to adjust to the effects of the smoke over a long period of time.
Just like people who don't bathe their dogs and their house SMELLS, but yet they never notice it because they are used to it. Maybe the MF line could have a smokers booth?
-------------
MF and that's my Final Answer ;)
MF count:12 *** This post was edited by Gooober on 5/24/2000. ***
I'd rather see the smoking policy in the ride queues properly enforced first. Smoking is a privelege, not a right. If people want to smoke, that's o.k. with me as long as my RIGHT to breathe is not infringed upon:) Smokers most of the time forget that they have had to adjust to the effects of the smoke over a long period of time.
Just like people who don't bathe their dogs and their house SMELLS, but yet they never notice it because they are used to it. Maybe the MF line could have a smokers booth?
-------------
MF and that's my Final Answer ;)
MF count:12 *** This post was edited by Gooober on 5/24/2000. ***
Some parks, have "cubby holes" (remember that term from kindergarden?) on there loading docks so you can put your stuff in there. When ridding batman and robin the chiller in Six Flags in Jersy they have these and people used them and the stuff wasnt scattered on the ground. Alot of people loved this and think its a good idea. And I know there are those few who are scared to do this because of theft. But someone is always going to be unhappy, either about that or locker prices or etc. And how many times do we have to mention smokers?? I said I havent smoked in MF's line yet!!!! LOL :)
-------------
The more you ride it, the more you want it!
~~~Darla~~~
-------------
The more you ride it, the more you want it!
~~~Darla~~~
I wish peolpe would leave their backpacks at home!
They're so annoying! You get onto a platform crammed with people,then someone turns and about knocks you over with their backpack! My waistpack gets in my way sometimes,I can't imagine lugging around a backpack all day! If a person wants to take something into the line to do,they should consider a waistpack. it would solve their problems. Then there is the damn stuffed animals! People,if you win a big stuffed animal,take them to your car and come back into the park. I sit at a ride entrance alot and see how ignorant some guests are! They're carrying a 5ft+ tall stuffed animal and get mad when told they can't take it on the ride!
All I can say is...WE HAVE A LOT OF STUPID PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD!! HERE'S YOUR SIGN!!
They're so annoying! You get onto a platform crammed with people,then someone turns and about knocks you over with their backpack! My waistpack gets in my way sometimes,I can't imagine lugging around a backpack all day! If a person wants to take something into the line to do,they should consider a waistpack. it would solve their problems. Then there is the damn stuffed animals! People,if you win a big stuffed animal,take them to your car and come back into the park. I sit at a ride entrance alot and see how ignorant some guests are! They're carrying a 5ft+ tall stuffed animal and get mad when told they can't take it on the ride!
All I can say is...WE HAVE A LOT OF STUPID PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD!! HERE'S YOUR SIGN!!
About 3 years ago I saw a teenager with a stuffed animal ( about 4 feet long), that wasn't allowed to leave it at the Corkscrew station. He was right behind me, and had the animal placed between his legs. All I can remember is him saying "Oh S***! That was close!!!" On the 2nd hill. I talked to him after and he said that he almost lost it.
I think they should do what they do at HersheyPark with the Great Bear. On the opposite side of the station there is a wall of "cubby holes," two for every person. There is a sliding door that covers one half which holds the items from the train on the course, and then when that train comes back they slide the door over to the other side. This prevents theft and works very well. I realize this wouldn't work for Millennium Force, but for other rides. It is the best way to store belongings I have ever seen.
*** This post was edited by eggs on 6/2/2000. ***
You must be logged in to post