Fast Lane (Six Flags) Explained

Fast Lane is an optional, pay-per-person line queue system offered on select rides at legacy Cedar Fair amusement parks, now Six Flags amusement parks. The system provides shorter lines, and guests who want access must pay a fee in addition to general park admission. They are given a wristband for identification, and an unspecified, limited number are sold each day to control wait times. First piloted in 2011 at Kings Island, the system was rolled out to the rest of the Cedar Fair chain in 2012. An upgrade called Fast Lane Plus featuring additional rides is available at some parks.

History

On July 18, 2011, Kings Island announced the introduction of Fast Lane, a separate line queue featuring shorter wait times.[1] The upcharge for access during its debut year was $50 per person, and the purchase did not include park admission.[2] It was also only active from noon until 7:00PM originally, but the system was later expanded to all-day availability. Cedar Fair wanted to test the system before deploying to every location, and Kings Island was chosen for that purpose.[3] Fast Lane received positive feedback, and it generated nearly $1 million in half a season. Cedar Fair deemed it a success and decided to roll out Fast Lane to the rest of their parks in 2012.[4] Cedar Fair's Fast Lane differs from the virtual queue system utilized at some competing parks such as Disney's Lightning Lane, which allows guests to reserve their place in line without actually standing in line.

Fright Lane, a Halloween version of Fast Lane, is also available during the fall season at Cedar Fair parks.[5] In 2013, Canada's Wonderland, Carowinds, Cedar Point, Kings Dominion, and Kings Island introduced an upgraded tier called Fast Lane Plus, which adds a few additional rides not available to the standard Fast Lane tier. Dorney Park and Worlds of Fun followed suit in 2014, introducing Fast Lane Plus for water park attractions at Wildwater Kingdom and Oceans of Fun.

In 2017, Michigan's Adventure launched a season pass add on which allowed users to receive a fast lane wristband every time they visit. This was later expanded to the other Cedar Fair parks in 2018 and 2019. Some parks in the Cedar Fair chain also offer Fast Lane during the Christmas season, often featuring a smaller number of rides due to limited ride operation.

Process

Visitors purchase Fast Lane access at the park or online, individually or as a group, with group pricing offering a lower price per group member. Access provides a wrist band to guests that allows them to enter the Fast Lane line queue at attractions that support it. The amount of Fast Lane wrist bands sold per day is restricted to help control wait times.

Reception

The priority queuing system was originally controversial. An earlier version implemented at Cedar Point in the early 2000s allowed guests to enter a virtual queue, similar to Disney's FastPass at the time, where riders would return to a ride several hours later and skip to the front of the line. The system was first called Ticket to Ride and was later renamed FreeWay. It was discontinued in 2004 due to negative reception, as guests were uncomfortable with the park "sanctioning line-jumping".[6] Fast Lane received higher marks when assessed internally by Cedar Fair, and the system has been in place at all Cedar Fair parks since 2012.

List of Fast Lane attractions

California's Great America

[7]

Fast Lane
Barney Oldfield Redwood RallyPacific Gliders
Celebration SwingsPatriot
DeliriumPsycho Mouse
Delta Flyer/Eagle's FlightRailBlazer
DemonRip Roaring Rapids
Drop TowerRue Le Dodge
Flight DeckThe Grizzly
Flying EaglesTiki Twirl
Gold Striker

Canada's Wonderland

[8]

Fast LaneFast Lane Plus
Backlot Stunt CoasterSledge HammerBehemoth
Drop TowerSoaring TimbersLeviathan
Flight DeckSwing of the CenturyYukon Striker
KlockwerksTimberwolf Falls
KrachenwagenTime Warp
LumberjackTundra Twister
Mighty Canadian MinebusterViking's Rage
PsycloneVortex
RiptideWilde Beast
ShockwaveWilde Knight Mares
SkyhawkWindSeeker

Carowinds

[9]

Fast Lane
AfterburnHover and Dodge
Air RacersHurler
Boo Blasters on Boo HillMountain Gliders
Carolina CycloneNighthawk
Carolina GoldrusherRock'N'Roller
Carolina SkytowerScrambler
Copperhead StrikeThe Air Walker
Do-Si-DoThe Flying Cobras
Drop TowerThunder Striker
Electro-SpinVortex
Flying Ace Balloon RaceWindSeeker
Fury 325Windstar
Gear SpinZephyr
Gyro Force

Cedar Point

[10]

Fast LaneFast Lane Plus
Atomic ScramblerLake Erie EaglesRougarouMaverick
Blue StreakMagnum XL-200SkyhawkMillennium Force
Cadillac CarsMatterhornSnake River FallsSteel Vengeance
CorkscrewmaXairTroikaValravn
DodgemMonsterWave Swinger
GateKeeperPipe ScreamWindseeker
GeminiPower Tower
Giant WheelRaptor

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

[11]

Fast Lane
Aqua RacerMT BucketsThunder Canyon
AquablastMusik ExpressThunderhawk
Boa BlastersPossessedTilt-A-Whirl
Cedar Creek CannonballPython PlummetWave Swinger
ConstrictorRevolutionWhip
DodgemRoad RallyWhite Water Landing
DominatorRunaway RiverWild Mouse
Hydra the RevengeScramblerWildwater River
Iron MenaceSteel Force
KaleidoscopeTalon

Kings Dominion

[12]

Fast Lane
Backlot Stunt CoasterDominatorShenandoah Lumber Company
Bad AppleDrop TowerTumbili
Blue Ridge TollwayFlight of FearTwisted Timbers
CarouselFlying EaglesWave Swinger
DeliriumProject 305White Water Canyon
DodgemReptilianWindSeeker

Kings Island

[13]

Fast Lane
Adventure ExpressFlight of FearSol Spin
Backlot Stunt CoasterFranklin’s FlyersSurf Dog
BansheeInvertigoThe Beast
Boo Blasters on Boo HillKings Mills Antique AutosThe Racer
Cargo LocoMonsterThunder Falls
Charlie Brown’s Rushing River Log RideMystic TimbersTropical Plunge
DeliriumOrionWindSeeker
DiamondbackRendezvous RunWoodstock’s Air Rail
DodgemScramblerZephyr
Drop TowerShake, Rattle & RollZoom Flume
Eiffel TowerSnoopy's Soap Box Racers

Knott's Berry Farm

[14]

Fast Lane
Calico Mine RideLos Voladores
Calico River RapidsPony Express
Coast RiderSierra Sidewinder
GhostRiderSilver Bullet
HangTimeSol Spin
Jaguar!Supreme Scream
Timber Mountain Log Ride
La RevolucionXcelerator

Michigan's Adventure

[15]

Fast Lane
Adventure FallsMad Mouse
DodgemScrambler
Flying TrapezeShivering Timbers
Giant Gondola WheelThunderhawk
Grand RapidsTilt-A-Whirl
Lakeside GlidersWolverine Wildcat
Logger's RunZach's Zoomer

Schlitterbahn Galveston

[16]

Fast Lane
Bahnzai PipelineLoopy Luge
Boogie Bahn Massiv
Dragon BlastersRohr!
Faust und FuriousThunder Tub
Guada LoopyWolfpack
Infinity Racers

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels

[17]

Fast Lane
Black KnightMaster Blaster Uphill Water Coaster
Boogie Bahn Surf RideRaging River Tube Chute
Congo River ExpeditionWhite Water Tube Chute
Dragon's RevengeWolf Pack Raft Slide
Hillside Tube Chute

Valleyfair

[18]

Fast Lane
Breakers Plunge & PipelinePower Tower
CorkscrewRenegade
DeliriousSteel Venom
ExcaliburSuperCat
Flying EaglesThe Wave
High RollerThunder Canyon
Mad MouseWheel of Fortune
MonsterWild Thing
North StarXtreme Swing
Northern Lights

Worlds of Fun

[19]

Fast LaneFast Lane Plus
BoomerangPredator's PlungeDetonator
ConstrictorProwlerHurricane Falls
Fury of the NileRiptide Raceways
Le Taxi TourShark's RevengeSpinning Dragons
MambaZambezi Zinger
Timber Wolf
PatriotViking Voyager

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NewsPlusNotes: Kings Island Announces Fast Lane . Newsplusnotes.blogspot.com . 2011-07-18 . 2012-03-11.
  2. Web site: Kings Island – Fast Lane. May 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20110722113111/http://tickets.visitkingsisland.com/shop/shopping_corporate_partners_list.cfm. July 22, 2011.
  3. News: Pay to get in the Fast Lane and you'll wait less at Cedar Point: close to home. Glaser. Susan. April 28, 2012. The Plain Dealer. May 8, 2018.
  4. Web site: Cedar Fair Is Looking Fun Forward. NewsPlusNotes. May 8, 2018. January 21, 2012.
  5. Web site: Cedar Point 2012 . PointBuzz . 2012-03-11 . April 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120415154012/http://pointbuzz.com/c/cedar-point-2012.aspx . dead .
  6. News: Amusement parks offer different ways of letting people skip long lines. Glaser. Susan. July 30, 2011. The Plain Dealer. July 25, 2018.
  7. Web site: Fast Lane . California's Great America . October 24, 2021.
  8. Web site: Fast Lane Passes & Deals. Canada's Wonderland. Cedar Fair Entertainment Company . October 24, 2021.
  9. Web site: Fast Lane . Carowinds . October 24, 2021.
  10. Web site: Fast Lane. Cedar Point . October 24, 2021.
  11. Web site: Fast Lane . Dorney Park . October 24, 2021.
  12. Web site: Fast Lane. Kings Dominion. October 25, 2021.
  13. Web site: Fast Lane . Kings Island . October 25, 2021.
  14. Web site: Fast Lane . Knott's Berry Farm . October 25, 2021.
  15. Web site: Fast Lane . Michigan's Adventure . October 25, 2021.
  16. Web site: Fast Lane . schlitterbahn galveston . August 5, 2022.
  17. Web site: Blast Pass . schlitterbahn New Braunfels . August 5, 2022.
  18. Web site: Fast Lane . Valleyfair . October 25, 2021.
  19. Web site: Fast Lane . Worlds of Fun . October 25, 2021.