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Farce-track

I think the issue is partially to do with the fact that Fastrack is advertised on the ride entrance and in the queue. Also the fact that every ride (almost) on park has Fastrack means guests have been assuming The Smiler did too.

Now, the fact that people assume it straight off shows how screwed the whole system is, but part of me thinks that Towers might be selling this severely limited number purely to say to people that they offer it but it's sold out. If the demand is there, they'll go for it - whether we think it's totally wrong or not.
 
This topic couldn't have popped up at a better time as Walibi Belgium have recently added the "Speedy Pass" to their parks and have received a lot of criticism for it. Screamscape have a little bit of info on it here, and for anyone who has a browser that can translate, here's a full news report on the matter. It seems that this has caused many other attractions over there to start telling guests that they don't offer the same system so that they don't receive the same kind of negative response.

Hahaha! :p
 
It seems the the Farce-Track Hate Campaign is divided into two camps; those who hate the very notion of paying your way to the front, and those who just dislike the way it is implemented within Merlin attractions, particularly Thorpe and Alton.

I for one use Fastrack; I don't often get to visit major theme parks, and when I do, I want to get the most of the day I have - and so I am more than willing to fork out extra cash to ensure that I get the maximum amount of rides within my time. However I hate that this is at the expense of other guests' enjoyment. I pay extra to avoid wasting time in queues, not to hinder others, and there are ways and means of implementing Fastrack that do not require others to suffer because of my queue-priority systems.

It definitely needs reviewing at Alton, A.S.A.P. :/
 
A new low. The Nemesis queue is in Area 3, and Fastrack is being sold IN the sodding queue!
936468_10151439039995373_1423145938_n.jpg


(Photo courtesy of Jordan)

This seriously cannot go on. Towers really need to review Fastrack usage and upselling. Selling it at ride entrances is bad enough, but IN the queues?!
 
Stop selling fast track and the queue won't be that big *shakes fist*
 
Selling fastrack in the queue itself is totally unacceptable. When you see things like this you do seriously worry about how fastrack is being managed, it's just completely wrong. It should only be sold from Sales and Info points and the Box Office.

:)
 
How can it even work mid-way through the queue? Unless they're selling it for other attractions...

The sales team managers need a slap round the head... With a hammer... On fire...
 
soon they will come up with the idea of ultrafastrack, it sold in fastrack queues to jump the fastrack queue. :D :D :D
 
I wonder if they are on set targets and are going into the queues under their own initiative without Towers HQ knowing....might be worth writing something on their facebook, see if you get a response...
 
I think you're underestimating Merlin/Towers management. I'd be surprised if they hadn't been told to go through the queue.
 
GaryH said:
might be worth writing something on their facebook, see if you get a response...

It's likely that would lead to the staff member in that image being given praise for such a superb idea.
 
They're shooting themselves in the foot in a big way. I'd say big queues are the biggest threat to levels of guest satisfaction. Fundamentally, no one wants to be stood doing nothing. However, this is an unavoidable side effect of popular themeparks. The best the park can do is keep through-put and maintenance at the highest standards possible to reduce waiting times while changing the queue experience to make it feel as short as possible. Themeing, interesting ride angles, music, un-repetitive queue layouts, even snack shops play their part while earning a quick buck.

Fastrack should not be considered a solution among these tactics. They should be considered as a premium service offered in manageably small quantities. Selling them at entrances and in queues only tantalises guests with the idea that they needn't be stood in line and makes them feel much worse about having to do so, despite its fairness.

So bad. So so bad.
 
Just to explain a bit more about that photo - the Nemesis queue was well into Area 3 today and the staff member in the picture was offering people Fastrack in the queue as they passed the (closed) gate from Area 2. Those who bought Fastrack were then sent back out the main queue via that gate, and told to use the Fastrack entrance.
 
Jordan said:
Just to explain a bit more about that photo - the Nemesis queue was well into Area 3 today and the staff member in the picture was offering people Fastrack in the queue as they passed the (closed) gate from Area 2. Those who bought Fastrack were then sent back out the main queue via that gate, and told to use the Fastrack entrance.
Wow towers have hit a low, how's that expectable
 
So presumably people had queued up to half an hour already by that point? Then there was probably a short fastrack queue as well, though hopefully not as crazy as it got last year when it was to the main entrance.

Still, it hardly seems worth the hassle, she'd probably have sold more at the ride entrance.
 
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