Ok, debate elsewhere about crowd levels and big queues.
Thought it worth a topic.
Back in the day, we used to visit funfairs, big and small, for a few hours, spend a few quid on half a dozen rides, then go and do something else.
Queues were between walk on, and twenty minutes at worst...big new rides excepted.
Staff used to do checks at speed, one train out,next one on the platform.
Until I was in my twenties, I dont think ever queued more than ten minutes for the Grand National, as soon as the queue got to the steps, the second set of trains went on.
It took two minutes.
Now, to do the same number of rides on a summers day, takes all bloody day.
There is no incentive for parks with the POP system to maximise capacity...they have your money, you are at their mercy.
You want quicker rides, pay at least twenty quid extra, or get in the slow queue.
So, ban all bands and POP.
Pay per ride, either cash, ticket or electronically using witchcraft and moonbeams.
Great for those not too keen, knowing your mates will be back in ten minutes, not two hours.
For those with fat wallets who want to ride fifty rides in a day, extra money to build new rides.
And if the park wants to shut at five instead of seven, nobody feels cheated, you get your moneys worth with each ride.
Great for the parks, no skinflint pain in the bottom season passholders, and incentives to keep operations up to scratch.
Bet Merlin would have sorted out thirteens issues if they were missing out on a fiver per ride.
Ban all wristbands now.
They made parks crap.
Edit...and before anyone starts...sadly, I am aware it will never happen in a million years!
Lets not bring the truth into it.
Thought it worth a topic.
Back in the day, we used to visit funfairs, big and small, for a few hours, spend a few quid on half a dozen rides, then go and do something else.
Queues were between walk on, and twenty minutes at worst...big new rides excepted.
Staff used to do checks at speed, one train out,next one on the platform.
Until I was in my twenties, I dont think ever queued more than ten minutes for the Grand National, as soon as the queue got to the steps, the second set of trains went on.
It took two minutes.
Now, to do the same number of rides on a summers day, takes all bloody day.
There is no incentive for parks with the POP system to maximise capacity...they have your money, you are at their mercy.
You want quicker rides, pay at least twenty quid extra, or get in the slow queue.
So, ban all bands and POP.
Pay per ride, either cash, ticket or electronically using witchcraft and moonbeams.
Great for those not too keen, knowing your mates will be back in ten minutes, not two hours.
For those with fat wallets who want to ride fifty rides in a day, extra money to build new rides.
And if the park wants to shut at five instead of seven, nobody feels cheated, you get your moneys worth with each ride.
Great for the parks, no skinflint pain in the bottom season passholders, and incentives to keep operations up to scratch.
Bet Merlin would have sorted out thirteens issues if they were missing out on a fiver per ride.
Ban all wristbands now.
They made parks crap.
Edit...and before anyone starts...sadly, I am aware it will never happen in a million years!
Lets not bring the truth into it.
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