Theme parks tend to be utilizing virtual queues all over the world and more recently it’s started to be introduced in the UK. Is it something that’s the future or does it not quite work? Let’s have a chat!
Paid Virtual Queues / Fast Pass:
The typical type of virtual queuing we’ve used the most is paid-for services at places such as Blackpool Pleasure Beach Speedy Pass. We’ve always found that system to work quite nicely and faultlessly. There’s rarely a backup in those queues, there’s not a tremendous ordeal of faff and it’s straightforward to use. Of course, you need to have a charged phone for this and it just works well in my opinion. It’s not something we opt for any more as we visit too regularly to justify it. But if you don’t visit as often as we do theme parks that offer this queue system then it could well be worth purchasing. Particularly, if you’re visiting on a busy day and want to make the utter most out of your trip and maximise your day then it’s beneficial. Whilst you’re virtually queuing you can hop into another rides queue and know you’re getting two rides done and making the most out of your time.
Free Virtual Queues:
When we visited Chessington the other week we are aware of the fact Mandrill Mayhem runs on a virtual ONLY queue system. Of course, that’s free. It seemed to be building a larger faff than necessary from the excessive groups of people awaiting their time slots to be scanned or checked to enter the queue. There were a lot of frustrated people around and rushing to their time slot. However, the former system that used to operate at Disneyland Paris worked amazingly as it wasn’t the ONLY selection for queueing. You scan your entrance ticket and earned a time slot for the said ride. You then show up at that time slot and you were pretty much straight on. Again, this is the kind of system I’d love to see used across the UK parks.
Are They The Future?
I feel if it’s done right and not completely dependent on a virtual-only queue system it could really work. The ticketing system that DLP once used was ace. It really enabled you to maximise your trip and ride count for the day. It hardly intrudes with the main queue and was never excessively crowded as there was always a capacity for each of the time slots given out. I definitely think the UK parks could quite efficiently benefit from this system even if it’s just only on selected popular rides. Give a maximum capacity for each time interval given and it could be great! Virtual ONLY queueing really isn’t an option in my opinion it builds faff and frustration amongst guests from what we’ve seen. Paid virtual queue systems again if there’s a maximum capacity also work well.
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What are your thoughts on this topic??
Thank you so much for reading
