• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Should front row seats be a premium add on

I believe in the past RAP was predominantly (perhaps exclusively) for wheelchair users. Not sure when it changed but would guess it was only after the 2010 Equality Act.

Could well be the case. Given my time was on very non-accessible Vampire or Bubbleworks. However would also be just as likely that back then Facebook groups hadn't jumped onto this "free fastrack" that is still prevelant today.

Social media ruins everything.
 
I certainly never "noticed" anyone queuing up an exit path in the before times, unless they had crutches or wheels.... But that could be misconstrued and I'm certainly not implying anything about "visible" vs "invisible" disabilities, so let's not even go there....

*ahem*
Wasn't this topic supposed to be about front row seats?

No one wants to pay an upcharge for them.
Crazy idea.
[/thread]
 
I mean you do have the prerequisite of needing a disability to get one.
Absolutely, but if the actual pass has no charge then what’s the difference between this and fast pass if you scrapped RAP and gave the users fast pass instead so it’s one less queue?
 
Absolutely, but if the actual pass has no charge then what’s the difference between this and fast pass if you scrapped RAP and gave the users fast pass instead so it’s one less queue?

Fast Pass doesn't have a time out, RAP does (if we're talking Merlin). RAP users in theory aren't affecting the main queue, they are part of it, they're just not standing with you.
 
The old Disney system (free) was more fair, and still exists sort of (except now you have to pay $20-$30 or so for 3 timed FPs !). Kind of mandatory, but not so expensive if you are paying $200+ for an entry ticket.

There's nothing fair about charging people to jump the queue, be at the front, be more comfortable, etc, etc - but such differentials occur almost everywhere in life. Everyone has the opportunity to buy FPs - of course some people don't have resources to be able to do so, but many others prefer to spend their money in other ways.
 
Either way, having a normal queue, RAP queue and fast pass queue oh and also let’s not forget single rider queue that’s 4 separate queues the ride hosts have to batch, so I don’t buy the argument fast passes are the reason it all slows down when it hasn’t had that much of an impact in the past.
 
Either way, having a normal queue, RAP queue and fast pass queue oh and also let’s not forget single rider queue that’s 4 separate queues the ride hosts have to batch, so I don’t buy the argument fast passes are the reason it all slows down when it hasn’t had that much of an impact in the past.

I think the argument was fast pass slows the main queue because people are effectively pushing in front of you, potentially repeatedly. Single riders and RAP are not.
 
Without going into the whole RAP debate again, my point is we now have 4 separate queues for the ride hosts to batch, I guess 5 of we include front row queues too although these tend to be self service so to speak.

It’s no wonder the queues are longer. We had fast pass for many years without problem and it never affected the queue times like we see now, so for me personally, I don’t see fast pass as a problem.
 
FP of course affects the queue - hence it should be priced accordingly so as not to affect it too much. Compare to "Speedy boarding" where 3/4 of the flight have tickets to ensure their baggage isn't put in the hold.

It's always an emotive and divisive subject. For myself, I drive a 2011 Audi rather than a new Tesla - probably saving me £8k/year. I can get a lot of FPs instead!
 
Without going into the whole RAP debate again, my point is we now have 4 separate queues for the ride hosts to batch, I guess 5 of we include front row queues too although these tend to be self service so to speak.

It’s no wonder the queues are longer. We had fast pass for many years without problem and it never affected the queue times like we see now, so for me personally, I don’t see fast pass as a problem.

Your first paragraph refers to operations, which have many other variables to consider.

For example, Wickerman at Alton has bag storage and merging prior to a pre-show, so in theory the impact on operations is negligible. Everyone is boarding at the same point. Thus in this case, the only reason the main queue would move slower is due to the additional queue being prioritised at the merge point.

I can’t offhand think of any major Merlin rides where the batch host is also doing boarding and thus the multitude of queues are the cause of slowing things down. The merge point is generally why.
 
Regardless of whether or not RAP users are getting on more rides, they aren't coming through the main queue and that makes the main queue move more slowly. In theory the queue should have fewer people in it as a result but for a given queue time I'd rather be in a fast moving one with lots of people than a hardly moving one with fewer people (all other things being equal). It's a key reason why Europa is my favourite park.
 
@Bowser

One that stands out for me is Rita where the poor host is trying to keep the three queues happy. Or there 4 now with single rider? It also has a separate front row queue though this doesn’t require any host.

But you make a valid point I hadn’t thought about - if the front row seats were to be at a premium then another host would be needed on the rides to check their tickets.
 
But you make a valid point I hadn’t thought about - if the front row seats were to be at a premium then another host would be needed on the rides to check their tickets.

Could install a contactless card reader at the air gates?

I shouldn’t give them ideas 🫣
 
Top